Daily Devotional August 15 - Good advice

"Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God will peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will."  2 Timothy 2:22-26

Let's look at this from the end back to the beginning. First of all you must believe that the devil exists and that the devil has power and that power is capable of being disguised in a way that can draw you and entice you to step away from the truth and live against the will of God. Even if it is only for a short season, the devil has power to take you captive. That being said, if you are born again, you have the power, not only to resist the devil, but to move forward with the power to overcome future temptations and to start taking back lost ground from past mistakes in judgement.

If you believe that the devil has power, then you will probably believe that you can recover from past errors. If you believe that you can recover from past errors, then you can believe that the method for recovery is repentance (turning around and heading in the opposite direction).

The Christian man or woman is to be strong in the knowledge of the Lord and not to be found arguing frivolously with those who don't know their right hand from their left. Christians arguing with non-Christians and Christians arguing with Christians about subjects that they are unsure of is not profitable, nor is it godly, nor are they doing anyone a favor by arguing about topics that they are not sure of.

Working our way to the beginning of the verse the scripture says follow after righteousness, faith, charity and peace. I have found that too many people are too concerned about too many subjects that have no real meaning, when if they had taken the same time and effort to just follow the scripture, everyone would be better off. This is a really big problem today; people making their own rules about Christianity and Christian behavior.

And then the verse begins with "Flee youthful lusts." This is good advice. I know that God is patient with us and goes the extra million miles explaining to us why we should or shouldn't do certain things, but if we were to follow the simple instruction from God, all would be well.

Daily Devotional August 14 - Are you robbing God?

"What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."  1 Corinthians 6:19-20
The way that I see it, is that most people don't know that their body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Most people think of the Holy Spirit as a distant ethereal power and not as God within. Most people don't really like the idea of God being that close, but more so they don't like the idea that they should live for someone else, even if it is God. Most people think they own their own bodies and will do with it as it d--- well pleases them. I'm talking about Christians too.

Our generation is not very devoted to the things of God. Those who live a life of the high standards of godliness and holiness are few and far in-between. Why is that? Everything with God in it is better than anything without. Why then is it like pulling teeth to get people to live a lifestyle congruent with the teachings of Jesus?

I think it is mainly because people are spiritually lazy. They like the idea of God, but not the responsibility of having to participate in the plan of God. The plan of God is for all mankind. What we do and say affects what others do and say and this is universal. Gods plan is to assist every person to become like His Son. What is your plan?

If you are working a different plan doesn't it seem logical that there has been a miscommunication?
And if God has been clear about His concerns and direction for the world and if you are travelling on another path, doesn't it seem logical that there is a misunderstanding?

And if God has given you all the tools and the power to live in His will and you are not, hasn't there been misappropriation of spiritual funds?
And if God has provided you with every opportunity to live according to His word and you are living out a worldly life, hasn't there been serious mismanagement?

There's no reason to 'mis' anything. All that God has is available for anyone who will pick up the baton and run with it, or walk, or crawl or ride in a wheelchair or hobble on crutches, whatever it takes other than not grabbing the baton and not moving forward. You have been commissioned to glorify God in your body. It's simple. If you are not working that plan, you are robbing God.

Daily Devotional August 13 - God thoughts are remarkable

"And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. And Peter said, silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk....and when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?...And His name (Jesus) through faith in His name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith by which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all."  The Acts 3:2-6, 12, 16

Peter and John were vessels for the glory of God to work through, nothing more and nothing less. They could heal no one, just like no one can heal today either, but they were operating in faith and the power of God that God allows to be in us that did heal the man. It was activated faith that healed the man.
Now some would contend that everyone is healed that has faith. But you know that is not true. There are many faithful servants of God that are not healed miraculously and many others die having never been healed. God is in charge of that department, not you and me. But God does still heal. There is an element of mystery here that bothers a great many believers and non-believers alike. They don't understand why God allows so many awful things to happen to so many good people. I look at it this way and I hope this helps you. The question shouldn't be, "why did God allow something to happen." The question should be, "what am I going to do with what God allowed to happen?"

The answer to "what am I going to do with what God allowed to happen," is the direct result of your own personal measure of faith. This perspective allows for the movement of God in your life without tying God down to have to do everything your way. I don't understand, nor do I agree with every outcome in life. I have felt many times that God should have done it differently, but I am the clay. What could I possibly know about being God?

Also, God has already explained to us that every wicked thing that happens, every sickness, every evil thought, every evil action and all that is not pure comes from three sources:
The fall of man
The evil one (satan and his emissaries)
Our own selfish actions

Everything that goes wrong can be attributed to one of these sources. Unfortunately, too many come from our own disobedience. We mess it up and then beg God to fix it. I'm not saying it is that way in your case, but overall, we played a huge role in our current situation and along with the unfair actions of others and the actions of the spiritual underworld, we might not be living out what we thought we would be at this point in life. But the answer to this dilemma is this. What are you going to do with what God allowed to happen?
Why not turn things around?
Why not use your gifts and talents to bring in a little income and benefit the world also?
Why not drop the bitter attitude and replace it with faith for the future?
Why not increase your faith and be better prepared the next time evil comes knocking at the door?
Why not give God your very best for a season?
Remember Peter said, "Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have I give thee."

Daily Devotional August 12 - Is your view of God a God sized view?

"These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."  John 16:33

When Jesus says, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace" Jesus had just explained to His disciples about His death, resurrection, the condition of the world, and some expectations concerning suffering while in the world. Let me get this straight. You tell me about your death and how difficult things are going to be for the believer as they manage being in the world but not of the world and I should be at peace? Yes. Jesus has expectations too, expectations that you and I are listening and comprehending what He is saying.

Keep in mind, this is not after His resurrection. Jesus overcame the world before He was crucified. Because He overcame the world while He was crucified, so can you. You really need to get the part about Jesus speaking. "These things I have spoken unto you." What Jesus speaks comes to pass. IF Jesus has spoken unto you, what Jesus spoke unto you will come to pass. Every word that Jesus spoke that is recorded for us has come to pass or will come to pass in its time. The time you now live in is a time Jesus spoke of and Jesus says to be of good cheer. Jesus says He has overcome the world. We are joint heirs with Christ and every available tool of God has been and is being used to take us through the world as overcomers and in good cheer.

Its possible that in your current situation you just don't feel like having good cheer. There are many things that fit that premise. Part of why we have so much disappointment is because we have such a myopic view of life. If we were to truly look at the events of the day and the situations of life through the eyes of Jesus, we would have a God size view of God. With a God size view of life, it all works and there is reason to have good cheer.

Daily Devotional August 11 - Don't be afraid to understand

"And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh."  Luke 21:20

There are hundreds of prophesies in the Bible. Some of the prophesies are from the prophets, some from God in the Old Testament and some from Jesus. There is much controversy concerning modern prophesies. But concerning prophesies in the Bible, there should be no controversy or question. On many issues the Bible tells forth what will happen based on God having seen the outcome in advance. It's not that God makes these things happen, God sees the things happen, good and bad that mankind does to itself.

God tells what He sees and that is prophesy. There should be no question at all that if the Bible says such an event will happen, it will happen, and if the event happening is the same event spoken of in the scripture, it will be conspicuous and raise no doubt in the heart of the believer. The above event is going to happen and many other events that precede this event are going to happen. God told us about the events so that those who are following His plan can be prepared.

I would say that in most cases those who are prepared have a greater chance of receiving a benefit from opportunities that arise in life. Just the same those who are prepared have a better understanding of the events in our lifetime that were spoken of in the Bible. God doesn't tell us what is going to happen so we can go around acting like we know something that someone else doesn't. It is so that we can always be operating in the will of God, cooperating and co-creating with God as the prophesies of the scripture unfold. Isn't that what you do for your own children? How much so God for us. Don't be afraid to understand the events spoken of in scripture as you see the signs of them approaching. They were written to enlighten you, benefit you and protect you.

Daily Devotional August 10 - Consequences for actions

"Now also many nations are gathered against thee, (Zion, Jerusalem) that say, let her (Israel) be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion. But they know not the thoughts of the LORD; neither understand they His counsel: for He shall gather them as sheaves into the floor."  Micah 4:11-12

There are large groups of people that do not have the thoughts of the Lord in their mind. They don't know what God intends. They don't know the story of life. They don't have the thoughts of God in their mind. They are bent on following after their own devices. They are driven by their own pride and self-serving ideals. They hate another people because they don't have the thoughts of God in their minds, neither do they understand God's ways. They are fighting a battle of a few thousand years ago. They've let the hatred pass down from generation to generation, without suppressing it or stamping it out for the better good of all. God has called them, but they answer with gestures of hate. This is what happens when we deny God His rightful place in our life design. We become bitter and full of pride.

Not knowing the thoughts of God is a choice. Every day you choose:
Whether to move forward with God and dig deeper into His thoughts
or to stay comfortably where you are and ride the fence
or to move away from God and let the weeds grow in your garden

The problem is that there are consequences to your actions. The consequences are not acts of God against you as some think. They are natural results that are the outcome of your actions.
If you are moving closer to God each day, the outcome is that of growing in grace and understanding the will of God and the results of your decisions are favorable. Even when things go wrong, you have confidence that through prayer hard work you can turn it around. Even in the deep valleys you have assurance that with God all things are possible. Even during the most bottom of times, you have within you the knowledge that being in the valley in God's will is far better than being on the mountaintop out of God's will.

If you are staying comfortably on the fence, you don't have the same confidence. You question your every move. You aren't quite sure if you are protected. Decisions are difficult, because you are making too many of them without consulting God and getting His counsel. Sitting on the fence keeps you from your adventure. It keeps you stagnant and it can eventually cause you to give up and go the other way, because you want to see God move on your behalf, but God is not always moving right at the edge of the fence line. And sometimes God needs you to put feet to your prayers and that's hard to do while sitting on the fence.

If you are moving away from God, you are having a hard time at every crossroads of life. Everything is skewed. You have no confidence except in your own devices. You should know from experience that your own devices are lacking and have no real power. Life is hard on this road, because there is no protection nor is there ever-present help in trouble. You start it, you have to water it, weed it, prune it, fertilize it, harvest it, all on your own. It is a rough and tiresome road with rest. You can get bitter and resentful because when you fail you blame God. You can get hateful because you begin to think that God is unfair and that you deserve a different lot in life. The bitterness grows until it turns into callousness against the things of God and then your heart hardens like a stone and the distance away from God seems greater than ever.

Daily Devotional August 9 - The truth is exciting

"I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through Thy truth; Thy word is truth." John 17:16-17

If God wanted us to be removed from the world when we got saved, that's how it would be, but that is not the will of God. It is the will of God that we remain in the world, but not influenced by the world to go against the teaching of scripture. There is a way to be in the world, work at a job, have a family and friends and not be corrupted by the world. That is to be sanctified by the truth.

If anything you and I should be revealing God's economy to the world, by our participation in the church and our dis-interest in the things of the world. If we would stop buying all the paraphernalia that the world system proffers we would have much more money and the world would be seeking a better way. But we are constantly spending our money on the vices that are of the world. Jesus says we are not of the world. That should resonate with you. You are to set an example of what is acceptable and what is not and the best way is with your purchasing power. If you don't buy it, (all the things that are against God and have no real purpose in the life of a Christian), don't worry, it won't be long and what was being sold will change.

You can have a wonderful life, full of adventure, filled with excitement and all the while serving God. You can live right, follow Christ and keep your job. You can have morals, tenets of faith, be a family man/woman and still have a great time. You can raise your children to do the same and deny them the right to participate in evil devices and all will work out just fine.

You are sanctified by the truth. It will always be that way. God's wonderful standards are for our benefit and for the benefit of those around us. Purity is enlightenment, not a fun stealer. Holiness is exciting, not a desire buster. Following Christ is an unparalleled adventure, not a stiff and religious way of life. Maybe you've been reading the wrong books.