"I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands." Psalm 143:5
I just love David's testimony here. I really enjoy walking outside and looking up and seeing the works of the hand of God. I see more of it than ever before and I see it in more places than ever before. I muse on the work that God has done in my life. I am awestruck at God's continued faithfulness in what God speaks into my life.
Don't be afraid to meditate on the Word of God and don't fear God meeting you there and revealing more of Himself to you than ever before. God is close, very close and can be closer yet. Set you mind toward heaven and muse on the things of God. You will be filled with more of God and then more and then more. Have you ever wondered how you can be filled, but there is still more? That's because when you are filled the sides of the cup grow and make room for more.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Daily Devotional February 27 - Have you been duped?
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." 1 Peter 1:3-5
If you have been living under the auspices of God rejecting you because of..., ??? you have been duped. God foresees the future of every person and does not start what He does not finish. Unlike you and I, who are very capable of starting something and then getting side-tracked and not completing it or changing our mind about it, God does not do this. What God starts, God finishes. Has God begun a good work in you? Are you being tugged on to turn your eyes toward heaven more often than ever before? God knows all about your current situation. God is going to take you across the finish line, even while you are sleeping.
It is a shame to the gospel that so many preachers have taught us that God simply calls you and then you are on your own to somehow meet up to His standards or you don't qualify anymore. That's man's insecurities speaking. You are kept by the power of God through faith, not by other mechanisms/theologies/philosophies with unnecessary requirements, unsubstantiated mandates and unreliable results. You are kept by God to fulfill what God spoke about you and nothing can stand in the way and prevent you from crossing the finish line.
If you have been living under the auspices of God rejecting you because of..., ??? you have been duped. God foresees the future of every person and does not start what He does not finish. Unlike you and I, who are very capable of starting something and then getting side-tracked and not completing it or changing our mind about it, God does not do this. What God starts, God finishes. Has God begun a good work in you? Are you being tugged on to turn your eyes toward heaven more often than ever before? God knows all about your current situation. God is going to take you across the finish line, even while you are sleeping.
It is a shame to the gospel that so many preachers have taught us that God simply calls you and then you are on your own to somehow meet up to His standards or you don't qualify anymore. That's man's insecurities speaking. You are kept by the power of God through faith, not by other mechanisms/theologies/philosophies with unnecessary requirements, unsubstantiated mandates and unreliable results. You are kept by God to fulfill what God spoke about you and nothing can stand in the way and prevent you from crossing the finish line.
Daily Devotional February 26 - Is Jesus your peace?
"For He is our peace, who hath made both one, (the chosen people of Israel and the gentiles) and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;" Ephesians 2:14
Is Jesus your peace?
Answer these questions and you will have your answer.
Do you know Jesus in the way that you look to him in more than formal or corporate prayer?
Do you count on Jesus having a role in your everyday affairs?
Have you set your goals around Jesus having a say in your direction?
Do you look to Jesus for your sustenance?
Do you talk to Jesus and listen carefully for a response?
Do you follow Jesus in the way you interact with others?
Do you have a daily interest in the things of God?
Do you have joy in your heart because you have come to trust Jesus in even your worst circumstances and situations?
Do you wake up knowing that Jesus is in control and Jesus is totally committed to meeting your needs for the day as well as helping you fulfill the desires of your heart?
Do you believe every Word from your Bible?
Do you even want Jesus to be your peace?
I know many Christians who like their Church situation, but have no interest in Jesus being any more than a figure head. One thing about God that never changes; He will take you as you are, in your current condition,with all of your hang-ups, indiscretions and even the un-repented sins that you still hold on to and operate in (the ones that nobody knows about), and offer you His peace today. God does not live in the past and neither will He hold your past to your account if you simply look to Jesus and call on His name and ask Him to take you as you are and give you His peace.
All of the changes that get made to make you more like Christ will come in time. Jesus will walk you through the process at a speed conducive to your nature and He will change you from the inside out by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. And Jesus will become your peace. It is here, at this place in time, where Jesus wants you to become like Him. Even if there were only one more day ahead of you and 80 years behind you; one day with Jesus as your peace accounts for more than a lifetime without.
Is Jesus your peace?
Answer these questions and you will have your answer.
Do you know Jesus in the way that you look to him in more than formal or corporate prayer?
Do you count on Jesus having a role in your everyday affairs?
Have you set your goals around Jesus having a say in your direction?
Do you look to Jesus for your sustenance?
Do you talk to Jesus and listen carefully for a response?
Do you follow Jesus in the way you interact with others?
Do you have a daily interest in the things of God?
Do you have joy in your heart because you have come to trust Jesus in even your worst circumstances and situations?
Do you wake up knowing that Jesus is in control and Jesus is totally committed to meeting your needs for the day as well as helping you fulfill the desires of your heart?
Do you believe every Word from your Bible?
Do you even want Jesus to be your peace?
I know many Christians who like their Church situation, but have no interest in Jesus being any more than a figure head. One thing about God that never changes; He will take you as you are, in your current condition,with all of your hang-ups, indiscretions and even the un-repented sins that you still hold on to and operate in (the ones that nobody knows about), and offer you His peace today. God does not live in the past and neither will He hold your past to your account if you simply look to Jesus and call on His name and ask Him to take you as you are and give you His peace.
All of the changes that get made to make you more like Christ will come in time. Jesus will walk you through the process at a speed conducive to your nature and He will change you from the inside out by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. And Jesus will become your peace. It is here, at this place in time, where Jesus wants you to become like Him. Even if there were only one more day ahead of you and 80 years behind you; one day with Jesus as your peace accounts for more than a lifetime without.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Daily Devotional February 25 - Tell somebody
"Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God." Isaiah 44:6
If you have been saved by the grace of God and if you have met the Savior; if you have put your faith in the person of Jesus Christ, it is because the Holy Spirit has come to reside in your heart. You know there is only God in the person of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. You do not need to try to convince others to be faithful to God, but you do have to bear witness that Jesus is the only Son of God and that God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Other religions have different gods. That's OK. God knows all about it. God is not in a fret because many people call on other gods. Do you have it right? Do you know the God of Israel? Do you place 100% of your faith in Jesus? When you get this right, you can stop worrying about all those who believe differently. Our God is about a personal relationship between you and God, period. Of course we need missionaries and of course they and you are to tell the world about Jesus. But the right way to evangelize is to speak from personal experience about your relationship with God and not to deface or otherwise condemn others who believe differently. If you tell someone about your relationship with God, the Holy Spirit will take it from there.
Foolish and unnecessary arguments with those who believe differently is not the way. Personal testimony is. God gives personal testimony of Himself in this verse of scripture. Maybe we should do the same.
If you have been saved by the grace of God and if you have met the Savior; if you have put your faith in the person of Jesus Christ, it is because the Holy Spirit has come to reside in your heart. You know there is only God in the person of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. You do not need to try to convince others to be faithful to God, but you do have to bear witness that Jesus is the only Son of God and that God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Other religions have different gods. That's OK. God knows all about it. God is not in a fret because many people call on other gods. Do you have it right? Do you know the God of Israel? Do you place 100% of your faith in Jesus? When you get this right, you can stop worrying about all those who believe differently. Our God is about a personal relationship between you and God, period. Of course we need missionaries and of course they and you are to tell the world about Jesus. But the right way to evangelize is to speak from personal experience about your relationship with God and not to deface or otherwise condemn others who believe differently. If you tell someone about your relationship with God, the Holy Spirit will take it from there.
Foolish and unnecessary arguments with those who believe differently is not the way. Personal testimony is. God gives personal testimony of Himself in this verse of scripture. Maybe we should do the same.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Daily Devotional February 24 - God is not fair
"He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities." Psalm 103:10
Aren't you glad? I wish there was a way to get every believer in every church to believe what God says about us. If we could just set aside the foolishness that has been taught and preached over the years and see the beauty of God's Word. If we could:
Aren't you glad? I wish there was a way to get every believer in every church to believe what God says about us. If we could just set aside the foolishness that has been taught and preached over the years and see the beauty of God's Word. If we could:
- You would see that you are cleared of all transgressions.
- You would see that you are pure and holy before God, not because you have been such a great example in every situation, but because Christ died for you and stands in the way of your sins.
- You would see that you are forgiven for all your intolerable times of impatience and indiscretions; your planned events where God was not even considered; your impure thoughts and prejudice toward others, even if they earned it.
- You would see that you waste precious time messing with things that have no meaning or reward and that you should dispose the day in a way that includes talking with and listening to what God has for you today.
- You would see that you are beautiful and altogether righteous and full of holy things.
- You would see that there is no more need for payment for your sins. You can't pay for your sins. And what a slap in the face of God to think that if you could pay for your sins that somehow that would have more efficacy than what Jesus did to pay for your sins.
- If God dealt with you according to your sins you would not have lived long. No, God is different than we are. And He has not rewarded us according to our iniquities. Aren't you glad?
Daily Devotional February 23 - Open the door
"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." Revelation 3:20
Jesus is doing the knocking on the door to your mind and your heart. He is calling out to you right now. Jesus has something to say to you and you need to hear it. But you have got to let Him in. With all the din of modernity, you really need the door open to hear what God is saying to you. This door is not a physical door. It is the door to allow for Holy Spirit intervention in your mind. If you are closed off to listening and responding to the Word of God or the voice of God you will not hear what God is saying to you. Remember, God does not yell at you. God will speak to you in a small still voice. God will not barge into your mind and re-arrange your thinking. You must invite Him in and make a place for Him.
Open the door and allow Jesus in. He will sup with you. I am so excited about this verse. Jesus wants to sup with me. You only invite your friends over to your house for dinner. Jesus wants to come and dine with you. Do you make this easy for God? Have you set a place in your heart for the entrance and company of the Holy Spirit? If you have a closed door with a lock on it and a small peep hole to see out, that's not very inviting for a Holy God that has given you life and everything in it. There's no question that Jesus is knocking. Open the door. Go ahead. Just close your eyes and say something like this:
Jesus, come in and sup with me. I'm sorry I am so unavailable. I'm sorry I've kept you outside of my intimate place. Please come in and sup with me. You are welcome in my heart and my soul, for this day and this hour. I want to hear what you have for me.
Jesus is doing the knocking on the door to your mind and your heart. He is calling out to you right now. Jesus has something to say to you and you need to hear it. But you have got to let Him in. With all the din of modernity, you really need the door open to hear what God is saying to you. This door is not a physical door. It is the door to allow for Holy Spirit intervention in your mind. If you are closed off to listening and responding to the Word of God or the voice of God you will not hear what God is saying to you. Remember, God does not yell at you. God will speak to you in a small still voice. God will not barge into your mind and re-arrange your thinking. You must invite Him in and make a place for Him.
Open the door and allow Jesus in. He will sup with you. I am so excited about this verse. Jesus wants to sup with me. You only invite your friends over to your house for dinner. Jesus wants to come and dine with you. Do you make this easy for God? Have you set a place in your heart for the entrance and company of the Holy Spirit? If you have a closed door with a lock on it and a small peep hole to see out, that's not very inviting for a Holy God that has given you life and everything in it. There's no question that Jesus is knocking. Open the door. Go ahead. Just close your eyes and say something like this:
Jesus, come in and sup with me. I'm sorry I am so unavailable. I'm sorry I've kept you outside of my intimate place. Please come in and sup with me. You are welcome in my heart and my soul, for this day and this hour. I want to hear what you have for me.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Daily Devotional February 22 - Help in time of need
"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:16
Sounds like an invitation to me. Boldly doesn't mean cocky, nor does it mean foolishly or inappropriately. But it does mean with enthusiasm and vigor, heartily. It also means without reservation, without apprehension and without doubt. You know, God knows that you have needs and that you need help. God made a way for you. Come boldly to the throne of grace. God is merciful and reveals that mercy as we approach Him with truth.
The reason this invitation is so important is that it comes with a promise, i. e., "help in time of need." Many people come part way, they mosey up the trail toward the throne of grace; they put on like they stopped by for a chat with God; they talk big like they brought it to God's attention, but this is just not the kind of problem that God deals with, but for whatever reason they don't come to the throne of grace, much less boldly. I think a lot of people think of prayer as their eternal complaint department, where they either just moan and groan about life (as if God were not really there listening), or they utter out last minute requests based on poorly devised plans, (plans that never considered God's way, plans that did not consult with God before jumping in.) Either way you can't come boldly to the throne of grace with that kind of thinking.
This throne is important, in that this is where God wants us to come. Modernity has allowed a lessor way to run rampart and ruined any chance for man to see his inability without the hand of God. Men and women today want to integrate God into their devices in a way that God must ask us and come to our throne if there is to be any real reconciliation. If history has taught us anything, it is that mankind, unchecked by the indwelling Holy Spirit brings the things to God to ruin about every two thousand years. Where does that put us today?
Sounds like an invitation to me. Boldly doesn't mean cocky, nor does it mean foolishly or inappropriately. But it does mean with enthusiasm and vigor, heartily. It also means without reservation, without apprehension and without doubt. You know, God knows that you have needs and that you need help. God made a way for you. Come boldly to the throne of grace. God is merciful and reveals that mercy as we approach Him with truth.
The reason this invitation is so important is that it comes with a promise, i. e., "help in time of need." Many people come part way, they mosey up the trail toward the throne of grace; they put on like they stopped by for a chat with God; they talk big like they brought it to God's attention, but this is just not the kind of problem that God deals with, but for whatever reason they don't come to the throne of grace, much less boldly. I think a lot of people think of prayer as their eternal complaint department, where they either just moan and groan about life (as if God were not really there listening), or they utter out last minute requests based on poorly devised plans, (plans that never considered God's way, plans that did not consult with God before jumping in.) Either way you can't come boldly to the throne of grace with that kind of thinking.
This throne is important, in that this is where God wants us to come. Modernity has allowed a lessor way to run rampart and ruined any chance for man to see his inability without the hand of God. Men and women today want to integrate God into their devices in a way that God must ask us and come to our throne if there is to be any real reconciliation. If history has taught us anything, it is that mankind, unchecked by the indwelling Holy Spirit brings the things to God to ruin about every two thousand years. Where does that put us today?
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