"Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go." Isaiah 48:17
Don't get confused by those who have not found their way, trying to lead the way. God leads and God teaches as we permit. In this verse God says "by the way thou shouldest go" inferring that you can certainly go another way. It's not difficult at all to go another way; just don't be who God says you are and don't do things God's way. It's also not difficult to go the God way either; just be who God says you are and follow the leading of the Spirit of God.
Have you been taught to profit? Is God mistaken? Sometimes the truth of a matter is so simple we complicate right past it.
God gives us a simple straight path and we look for a labyrinth.
God gives us simple instruction and we call out for a king.
God leads the way by a small still voice and we listen for a loud clanking sound.
God provides for us all that we need and we search in vain through multiple credit cards and purchase what is not ours.
God gives us proof of Him and we look to the din of others to fill our minds with the science of doubt.
Be receptive to the teaching of God and see His mighty hand working out in three weeks what you have been striving at for years.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Daily Devotional February 6 - Wisdom
"Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches." Prov. 24:3-4
Wisdom, understanding and knowledge: How do you get these precious jewels? There is only one access to these heavenly gifts from God; Faith by the indwelling Holy Spirit. Faith isn't just something you obtain so that you can be saved. Faith is the the essence of a direct connect with God so that God can fill you with wisdom, understanding and knowledge. And by drawing close to God on all levels our chambers will be filled with the great treasure of gifts from God.
Is there a pre-requisite for obtaining wisdom, understanding and knowledge? Yes. Simple faith mingled with simple faithfulness. Nothing else will do. Do's and don'ts won't get you there. Being a member of a particular denomination would do it. Acting spiritual while prejudice, avarice and inconsistency are being nurtured won't get it. Acting spiritual while living worldly won't get it either, even if you have tons of faith. No, none of these are pre-requisites. Simple faith with simple faithfulness is the only way.
Wisdom, understanding and knowledge: How do you get these precious jewels? There is only one access to these heavenly gifts from God; Faith by the indwelling Holy Spirit. Faith isn't just something you obtain so that you can be saved. Faith is the the essence of a direct connect with God so that God can fill you with wisdom, understanding and knowledge. And by drawing close to God on all levels our chambers will be filled with the great treasure of gifts from God.
Is there a pre-requisite for obtaining wisdom, understanding and knowledge? Yes. Simple faith mingled with simple faithfulness. Nothing else will do. Do's and don'ts won't get you there. Being a member of a particular denomination would do it. Acting spiritual while prejudice, avarice and inconsistency are being nurtured won't get it. Acting spiritual while living worldly won't get it either, even if you have tons of faith. No, none of these are pre-requisites. Simple faith with simple faithfulness is the only way.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Daily Devotional February 5 - Spiritual gifts
"Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all." 1 Co. 12:4-6
I have watched as many Christians have split over their interpretation of the workings of the Holy Spirit. There is dissension, thoughtless remarks, sedition, even hatred from one group to another because of their interpretation of the workings of the Holy Spirit. If you cannot get beyond the differences and find enough common ground to stand on,its obvious you are in this for yourself. Don't be too surprised that I said for yourself. Many Christians never get past the second grade in their faith.
Mature Christians will go out of their way to see beyond their differences. I have seen people in both camps making outrageous claims against the other as if they were sure enemies. God is not the author of confusion and the way we personally interpret a verse does not make us more faithful than another. I have seen many Christians throwing stones at others who are serving God as if they were faultless and had within them perfect theology. That's proof alone that God is sovereign. Why we would have annihilated ourselves long ago had it not been for the Holy Spirit of God giving us good sense and keeping us from ourselves.
If you are at war with others Christians, you're in the fight alone. God is not taking up your cause. God is taking up His cause and you should be finding out what that is. It's possible that the very ones you are ostracizing have the very message from God for you. You are trying to get the answers, but not willing to go outside some very tiny and insignificant parameters.
I have watched as many Christians have split over their interpretation of the workings of the Holy Spirit. There is dissension, thoughtless remarks, sedition, even hatred from one group to another because of their interpretation of the workings of the Holy Spirit. If you cannot get beyond the differences and find enough common ground to stand on,its obvious you are in this for yourself. Don't be too surprised that I said for yourself. Many Christians never get past the second grade in their faith.
Mature Christians will go out of their way to see beyond their differences. I have seen people in both camps making outrageous claims against the other as if they were sure enemies. God is not the author of confusion and the way we personally interpret a verse does not make us more faithful than another. I have seen many Christians throwing stones at others who are serving God as if they were faultless and had within them perfect theology. That's proof alone that God is sovereign. Why we would have annihilated ourselves long ago had it not been for the Holy Spirit of God giving us good sense and keeping us from ourselves.
If you are at war with others Christians, you're in the fight alone. God is not taking up your cause. God is taking up His cause and you should be finding out what that is. It's possible that the very ones you are ostracizing have the very message from God for you. You are trying to get the answers, but not willing to go outside some very tiny and insignificant parameters.
Daily Devotional February 4 - God is right by your side
"The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is long suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9
For just a moment try to comprehend your life with God not ever having done anything to or for you. Have you ever had the thought that God is just not on the job? Have you ever thought that all that you accomplished was of your own doing and that you really didn't need God's assistance? If you have I hope you have come to find out what I found out. I've had these same thoughts, but I know better now. Of all the doubt I've had over the years, it cannot begin to compare with what I know to be true about God.
Of course there are moments of doubt, but just one thought about our loving god and it can be washed away. I have seen how God intertwines His handiwork with our faith. I have seen the results when I choose to go the other way. It is empty and vain, futile and mundane. God is and has always been right by your side and then inside your being after you received Christ as your Savior. He is not slack concerning His promise or anything. God is holding you up right now. God is preparing a way for you right now. You have never been alone, nor will God let you go into this next thing alone. And if even the tiniest thought of unworthiness has entered your mind, shake it off. You and I were never worthy. God cannot help but to be God, in spite of ourselves.
For just a moment try to comprehend your life with God not ever having done anything to or for you. Have you ever had the thought that God is just not on the job? Have you ever thought that all that you accomplished was of your own doing and that you really didn't need God's assistance? If you have I hope you have come to find out what I found out. I've had these same thoughts, but I know better now. Of all the doubt I've had over the years, it cannot begin to compare with what I know to be true about God.
Of course there are moments of doubt, but just one thought about our loving god and it can be washed away. I have seen how God intertwines His handiwork with our faith. I have seen the results when I choose to go the other way. It is empty and vain, futile and mundane. God is and has always been right by your side and then inside your being after you received Christ as your Savior. He is not slack concerning His promise or anything. God is holding you up right now. God is preparing a way for you right now. You have never been alone, nor will God let you go into this next thing alone. And if even the tiniest thought of unworthiness has entered your mind, shake it off. You and I were never worthy. God cannot help but to be God, in spite of ourselves.
Daily Devotional February 3 - Spiritual titles
"Now there were in the church that was in Antioch certain prophets and teachers;..." Acts 13:1
This was around AD 44 about twelve years after the resurrection of Jesus. Antioch was the first place where people stood out as Christ followers, i. e., Christians. The body of believers that was in Antioch probably wasn't any more faithful than Christ followers in other area, but they were beginning to become organized. I wish that I would hear , much less often, how the organized church is somehow less spiritual than the un-organized church. Or that those who meet in their home are somehow more spiritual than those who go to church on a regular basis at a particular facility.
The truth is that each of us are a part of this great organism, 'the Church,' and we shouldn't be thinking of ourselves more spiritual than others or talking badly about our brothers and sisters in the Lord. As you can see from the scripture, even 12 years after the resurrection of Jesus, some of those followers were called teachers and some prophets. Do we really need to get our back up just because someone wears a title that we might not approve of. I know people who have thrown stones at some of these 'titled' ministers, all the while living a life far less honorable.
It's not the title, but the faithfulness of the individual that really gives them title. I've found that when I can get past the title, sometimes I see a man or woman in love with the Lord, serving Him with depth and inspiring me to step up to the pump. Let's serve with gladness and not be too concerned with semantics.
This was around AD 44 about twelve years after the resurrection of Jesus. Antioch was the first place where people stood out as Christ followers, i. e., Christians. The body of believers that was in Antioch probably wasn't any more faithful than Christ followers in other area, but they were beginning to become organized. I wish that I would hear , much less often, how the organized church is somehow less spiritual than the un-organized church. Or that those who meet in their home are somehow more spiritual than those who go to church on a regular basis at a particular facility.
The truth is that each of us are a part of this great organism, 'the Church,' and we shouldn't be thinking of ourselves more spiritual than others or talking badly about our brothers and sisters in the Lord. As you can see from the scripture, even 12 years after the resurrection of Jesus, some of those followers were called teachers and some prophets. Do we really need to get our back up just because someone wears a title that we might not approve of. I know people who have thrown stones at some of these 'titled' ministers, all the while living a life far less honorable.
It's not the title, but the faithfulness of the individual that really gives them title. I've found that when I can get past the title, sometimes I see a man or woman in love with the Lord, serving Him with depth and inspiring me to step up to the pump. Let's serve with gladness and not be too concerned with semantics.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Daily Devotional February 2 - The Lord is on your side
"Plead my cause , O Lord, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me." Psalm 35:1
Do you believe that God goes before us and interacts with others on our behalf? If not, you are missing out on one of God's wonderful gifts to you; the gift of assisting in the management of your affairs so that the results are not solely based upon your own actions. If life was life without the personal intervention of a personal God, there would be no life at all. Man would have annihilated themselves far before now. You are not the creator of your own destiny as so many proclaim. You are co-creator and be thankful for that. Can you imagine what you are capable of if not for the check of the Holy Spirit?
Do you believe that God goes before us and interacts with others on our behalf? If not, you are missing out on one of God's wonderful gifts to you; the gift of assisting in the management of your affairs so that the results are not solely based upon your own actions. If life was life without the personal intervention of a personal God, there would be no life at all. Man would have annihilated themselves far before now. You are not the creator of your own destiny as so many proclaim. You are co-creator and be thankful for that. Can you imagine what you are capable of if not for the check of the Holy Spirit?
Monday, February 1, 2010
Daily Devotional February 1 - God has made a way
"And I saw in the right hand of Him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals." Rev. 5:1
God has not left you without understanding. Over and over again, God goes ahead of us and makes a way. God has made a way for you today. There has been a time of seasoning and maturing, but now God is about to breath into your situation and bring to pass the impossible. Did you notice in this verse that John (the writer) made copious notes about what he was seeing. John noticed that the book was written within and on the backside. Are you ready to take copious notes as God unfolds the day?
God has not left you without understanding. Over and over again, God goes ahead of us and makes a way. God has made a way for you today. There has been a time of seasoning and maturing, but now God is about to breath into your situation and bring to pass the impossible. Did you notice in this verse that John (the writer) made copious notes about what he was seeing. John noticed that the book was written within and on the backside. Are you ready to take copious notes as God unfolds the day?
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