Psalm (NLT) 42:1 As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. 2 I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him? 3 Day and night I have only tears for food, while my enemies continually taunt me, saying, “Where is this God of yours?” 4 My heart is breaking as I remember how it used to be: I walked among the crowds of worshipers, leading a great procession to the house of God, singing for joy and giving thanks amid the sound of a great celebration! 5 Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and 6 my God! Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember you— even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan, from the land of Mount Mizar. 7 I hear the tumult of the raging seas as your waves and surging tides sweep over me. 8 But each day the LORD pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life. 9 “O God my rock,” I cry, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I wander around in grief, oppressed by my enemies?” 10 Their taunts break my bones. They scoff, “Where is this God of yours?” 11 Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God!
Sometimes… life just doesn’t make sense. You are going along just great and then something happens to shatters your world. You feel as if you’re the only person going through that difficulty and that no one else understands. Even God seems to be distant and far away. David felt like this. He had questions about life and about God. He had to dig deep into his belief systems and values about what he had been taught about God in the past. He reminded himself that God hadn’t left him and that God was not going to leave him or abandon him. He put what little hope he had into God and His ability to put things back into place. He knew that although He didn’t see the answers – God would not fail him. He knew that God would be victorious and that he would give praise to God. Its at time like these that we all need to stay God-centered and place our hope and our focus on who God is and what He’s doing in our lives. God will take care of His kids!
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
Victorious
Psalms 52:8-9 (NLT) 52:8 But I am like an olive tree, thriving in the house of God. I will always trust in God’s unfailing love. 9 I will praise you forever, O God, for what you have done. I will trust in your good name in the presence of your faithful people.
This is a Psalm of victory. Other trees had been cut to the ground but this tree is still standing. It’s still growing and it’s still thriving. As Christians we should be like this tree – totally trusting in God for what He’s done and what’s He’s doing in our lives. We don’t always see the whys and the hows but we need to know that God is working on our behalf and making us strong to withstand the enemy that would try to destroy our souls. Like the Olive tree we should constantly growing and constantly thriving in the house of the Lord. God’s goodness should be heard on our lips and His goodness should be seen in our lives. “I will praise you forever, O God, for what you have done.”
This is a Psalm of victory. Other trees had been cut to the ground but this tree is still standing. It’s still growing and it’s still thriving. As Christians we should be like this tree – totally trusting in God for what He’s done and what’s He’s doing in our lives. We don’t always see the whys and the hows but we need to know that God is working on our behalf and making us strong to withstand the enemy that would try to destroy our souls. Like the Olive tree we should constantly growing and constantly thriving in the house of the Lord. God’s goodness should be heard on our lips and His goodness should be seen in our lives. “I will praise you forever, O God, for what you have done.”
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Loving Well
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NLT) 13:4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
If there’s anything that God has ingrained into my life – it is the concept of love. I know that if I’m less then perfect in other areas of my life – I need to do extremely well in this area. I need to be at the top of my game in my love toward God, my family, my church and yes – others. It’s not always easy as there are some people who make it very difficult to love but I get to practice forgiveness over and over and God gives me the strength to do that. I am blessed when people give me compliments about my sermon or the church, etc. But I am most gratified when someone tells me “thank you for loving me.” I pray that at the end of my life my God will be able to say, “You loved well.”
If there’s anything that God has ingrained into my life – it is the concept of love. I know that if I’m less then perfect in other areas of my life – I need to do extremely well in this area. I need to be at the top of my game in my love toward God, my family, my church and yes – others. It’s not always easy as there are some people who make it very difficult to love but I get to practice forgiveness over and over and God gives me the strength to do that. I am blessed when people give me compliments about my sermon or the church, etc. But I am most gratified when someone tells me “thank you for loving me.” I pray that at the end of my life my God will be able to say, “You loved well.”
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Overcoming
1 Corinthians 10:12-13 (NLT) 10:12 If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. 13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
It saddens me to see so many caught up in the sin of temptation. The lure of temptation absolutely destroys people. I have a lot of people who come into my office with “regrets” about their life decisions. It’s interesting that most people know of the consequences of their sin but do it anyway. They then spend the rest of their life trying to ‘undo’ those moments of bad decision. We are warned here – that if we think we are strong in regards to temptation – that we be careful that we don’t fall. Temptation can affect the weak or the strong. We must be so careful to do what God wants us to do.
It saddens me to see so many caught up in the sin of temptation. The lure of temptation absolutely destroys people. I have a lot of people who come into my office with “regrets” about their life decisions. It’s interesting that most people know of the consequences of their sin but do it anyway. They then spend the rest of their life trying to ‘undo’ those moments of bad decision. We are warned here – that if we think we are strong in regards to temptation – that we be careful that we don’t fall. Temptation can affect the weak or the strong. We must be so careful to do what God wants us to do.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NLT) 9:24 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 25 All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 26 So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. 27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.
As a kid our house was backed up against a mountain. Whereas some kids had a small yard to play in – we had the whole mountain. It was interesting, during the spring of every year – the local High School track team would bring the team in the afternoons to practice running up and down the mountain. My brother and myself, although smaller and younger would run with them for the fun of it. What really struck me though was what they did in training every day – they would tie weights on their ankles to give them more resistance in running, the idea being that this discipline would enable them to run faster when competing against other schools.
This passage teaches us about the disciplines of the Christian life. We are to be like an athlete in training every day for the sake of Christ. There are too many people being disqualified out there in the Christian race. As an athlete trains and disciplines his body, we must do the same thing spiritually. It is too easy to become lax about these disciplines and later find out that we are not fit for the race. We must train in order to win. We must keep the prize and goal in mind and not give up because of the obstacles that come our way. The reward is a great reward to those who continue in the race on a daily basis.
As a kid our house was backed up against a mountain. Whereas some kids had a small yard to play in – we had the whole mountain. It was interesting, during the spring of every year – the local High School track team would bring the team in the afternoons to practice running up and down the mountain. My brother and myself, although smaller and younger would run with them for the fun of it. What really struck me though was what they did in training every day – they would tie weights on their ankles to give them more resistance in running, the idea being that this discipline would enable them to run faster when competing against other schools.
This passage teaches us about the disciplines of the Christian life. We are to be like an athlete in training every day for the sake of Christ. There are too many people being disqualified out there in the Christian race. As an athlete trains and disciplines his body, we must do the same thing spiritually. It is too easy to become lax about these disciplines and later find out that we are not fit for the race. We must train in order to win. We must keep the prize and goal in mind and not give up because of the obstacles that come our way. The reward is a great reward to those who continue in the race on a daily basis.
Monday, March 22, 2010
No Regrets
Joshua 14:6-8 (NLT) 14:6 A delegation from the tribe of Judah, led by Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite, came to Joshua at Gilgal. Caleb said to Joshua, “Remember what the LORD said to Moses, the man of God, about you and me when we were at Kadesh-barnea. 7 I was forty years old when Moses, the servant of the LORD, sent me from Kadesh-barnea to explore the land of Canaan. I returned and gave an honest report, 8 but my brothers who went with me frightened the people from entering the Promised Land. For my part, I wholeheartedly followed the LORD my God.
Caleb was around 80 years young when this event took place. He wasn’t going to get boxed into a corner by anyone who said that he was too old. His attitude was – “I am still strong and I can still take this mountain.” He also stated “for my part, I wholeheartedly followed the LORD my God.” For Caleb – getting old was not an excuse. He knew what God had called him to and he stuck to it. He was focused on the goal. Think about what will be said about you in your later years. Will people look at you with disdain or pity? Will people applaud you for living a faithful life? Caleb lived his life with no regrets. He knew God’s calling on his life and lived life to the full. It is a lesson for all of us!
Caleb was around 80 years young when this event took place. He wasn’t going to get boxed into a corner by anyone who said that he was too old. His attitude was – “I am still strong and I can still take this mountain.” He also stated “for my part, I wholeheartedly followed the LORD my God.” For Caleb – getting old was not an excuse. He knew what God had called him to and he stuck to it. He was focused on the goal. Think about what will be said about you in your later years. Will people look at you with disdain or pity? Will people applaud you for living a faithful life? Caleb lived his life with no regrets. He knew God’s calling on his life and lived life to the full. It is a lesson for all of us!
Friday, March 19, 2010
Be Still!
Psalms 37:7 (NLT) Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act.
One of the most difficult things in my life is being still – especially my mind. I might be able to be still physically but my mind is constantly going. It never stops. I am always processing things over and over. But to look at this verse without the context of the previous verses is a crime.
Psalms 37:3-5 (NLT) 37:3 Trust in the LORD and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. 4 Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires. 5 Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you.
To be honest, in myself I can’t be still and I won’t find peace. God is there for me and with me to help me be at peace – to help me be still. I just need to trust in the Lord – take delight in Him – commit everything to Him AND HE WILL HELP ME. It is only at that point that I can be still.
One of the most difficult things in my life is being still – especially my mind. I might be able to be still physically but my mind is constantly going. It never stops. I am always processing things over and over. But to look at this verse without the context of the previous verses is a crime.
Psalms 37:3-5 (NLT) 37:3 Trust in the LORD and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. 4 Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires. 5 Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you.
To be honest, in myself I can’t be still and I won’t find peace. God is there for me and with me to help me be at peace – to help me be still. I just need to trust in the Lord – take delight in Him – commit everything to Him AND HE WILL HELP ME. It is only at that point that I can be still.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
My Testimony
Psalms 40:1-3 (NKJV) 40:1 I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry. 2 He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps. 3 He has put a new song in my mouth-- Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the LORD.
Every time I read this passage I am reminded again of what my God has done for me. He allowed me to go through a season of extreme darkness. Life closed in around me and I wasn’t able to any light at the end of the tunnel. Friends evaporated and it took every breath just to move forward. All I had was God. I cried out to Him every day and night. My pillow was often soaked from the tears that fell from my face. But… as the Psalmist says, “I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined to me, And heard my cry. He also brought me up out of the horrible pit…” I am so glad and thankful for His mercy. God has brought me into a new season and I give Praise to Him today. I pray that my life will be a testimony to others of the faithfulness of God. I want to meet my later years reaching out and helping those with no hope and remind them that I once was like them BUT GOD came through then and He can come through now.
Every time I read this passage I am reminded again of what my God has done for me. He allowed me to go through a season of extreme darkness. Life closed in around me and I wasn’t able to any light at the end of the tunnel. Friends evaporated and it took every breath just to move forward. All I had was God. I cried out to Him every day and night. My pillow was often soaked from the tears that fell from my face. But… as the Psalmist says, “I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined to me, And heard my cry. He also brought me up out of the horrible pit…” I am so glad and thankful for His mercy. God has brought me into a new season and I give Praise to Him today. I pray that my life will be a testimony to others of the faithfulness of God. I want to meet my later years reaching out and helping those with no hope and remind them that I once was like them BUT GOD came through then and He can come through now.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Reaping and Sowing
Reaping And Sowing
Galatians 6:7-10 (NLT) 6:7 Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. 8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. 9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. 10 Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.
I think that we sometimes overlook the basic principles that God has laid before us. A case in point would be the principle of reaping and sowing. We often live our lives with no concern for tomorrow and the consequences that might come our way. God is very clear – for every action there will be a reaction. If we sow good things – we will reap good things. If we sow bad things – we will reap its just reward. The admonition here is that we never let our guard down and that we never stop doing what is right and good. God is watching – always and He sees everything we do and say. He says, “at just the right time – we will reap a harvest of blessing.” Let’s keep our focus on the Lord today and not miss any opportunities to do the right thing. It is the key to sustainable success in the Lord.
Galatians 6:7-10 (NLT) 6:7 Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. 8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. 9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. 10 Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.
I think that we sometimes overlook the basic principles that God has laid before us. A case in point would be the principle of reaping and sowing. We often live our lives with no concern for tomorrow and the consequences that might come our way. God is very clear – for every action there will be a reaction. If we sow good things – we will reap good things. If we sow bad things – we will reap its just reward. The admonition here is that we never let our guard down and that we never stop doing what is right and good. God is watching – always and He sees everything we do and say. He says, “at just the right time – we will reap a harvest of blessing.” Let’s keep our focus on the Lord today and not miss any opportunities to do the right thing. It is the key to sustainable success in the Lord.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Battle Advice
Deuteronomy 20:1-4 (NLT) 20:1 “When you go out to fight your enemies and you face horses and chariots and an army greater than your own, do not be afraid. The LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you! 2 When you prepare for battle, the priest must come forward to speak to the troops. 3 He will say to them, ‘Listen to me, all you men of Israel! Do not be afraid as you go out to fight your enemies today! Do not lose heart or panic or tremble before them. 4 For the LORD your God is going with you! He will fight for you against your enemies, and he will give you victory!’
Every man goes into battle at sometime in their life. It might not be a physical battle as seen in this scripture but it definitely will happen spiritually. There will be enemies that are bigger then you and problems that seem insurmountable. The Lord gives a simple word of encouragement – “Don’t be afraid.” Why? Because God will be with us. We often try and fight our battles with our own strength and end up failing miserably. God simply says, “Let me fight this battle for you. Trust in me and I will take care of you.” That is good battle advice. It’s a sure way to win.
Every man goes into battle at sometime in their life. It might not be a physical battle as seen in this scripture but it definitely will happen spiritually. There will be enemies that are bigger then you and problems that seem insurmountable. The Lord gives a simple word of encouragement – “Don’t be afraid.” Why? Because God will be with us. We often try and fight our battles with our own strength and end up failing miserably. God simply says, “Let me fight this battle for you. Trust in me and I will take care of you.” That is good battle advice. It’s a sure way to win.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
God's Grace
Galatians 2:21 (NLT) I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless…”
This simple but often overlooked scripture has a world of meaning attached to it. Paul says that he doesn’t “treat the grace of God as meaningless.” Other translations say that he doesn’t “frustrate the grace of God” meaning to “make void.” I think that I’ve learned more about God’s grace in the past few years then my whole life. I am a product of God’s grace and I so appreciate what He’s done for me. Everyone has their story but I can honestly say that mine is unique – made just for me. I laid out the plans for my life but God definitely laid out the path for my life. I could have fought it but I have submitted to it with a thankful heart and have seen the benefits on the other side. There have been days, weeks and even months that didn’t make sense to me. Dark clouds rolled in and tried to destroy me in a lot of ways. I cried out to God and prayed for help and deliverance. It came but it didn’t come in the way that many would think but it came in the cloak of adversity. God brought me to such a place that the only thing I could do was to trust Him and His grace for my life. He had to take me to such a place that I didn’t trust in people but in Him alone. If felt like David in Psalms 38:21-22 (NLT) 38:21 Do not abandon me, O LORD. Do not stand at a distance, my God. 22 Come quickly to help me, O Lord my savior. I can honestly say – that God’s grace came through. He did bring me through and He has healed my heart. I know that there are many lessons yet to learn but as for today “I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless.”
This simple but often overlooked scripture has a world of meaning attached to it. Paul says that he doesn’t “treat the grace of God as meaningless.” Other translations say that he doesn’t “frustrate the grace of God” meaning to “make void.” I think that I’ve learned more about God’s grace in the past few years then my whole life. I am a product of God’s grace and I so appreciate what He’s done for me. Everyone has their story but I can honestly say that mine is unique – made just for me. I laid out the plans for my life but God definitely laid out the path for my life. I could have fought it but I have submitted to it with a thankful heart and have seen the benefits on the other side. There have been days, weeks and even months that didn’t make sense to me. Dark clouds rolled in and tried to destroy me in a lot of ways. I cried out to God and prayed for help and deliverance. It came but it didn’t come in the way that many would think but it came in the cloak of adversity. God brought me to such a place that the only thing I could do was to trust Him and His grace for my life. He had to take me to such a place that I didn’t trust in people but in Him alone. If felt like David in Psalms 38:21-22 (NLT) 38:21 Do not abandon me, O LORD. Do not stand at a distance, my God. 22 Come quickly to help me, O Lord my savior. I can honestly say – that God’s grace came through. He did bring me through and He has healed my heart. I know that there are many lessons yet to learn but as for today “I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless.”
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Pleasing God
Galatians 1:10 (NLT) Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.
I think one of the greatest struggles a lot of people have is the choice of trying to please man or to please God. Obviously, we would all probably say that we want to please God but our actions in most cases show otherwise. We try so hard to win the approval of people (whose opinion doesn’t really count when it comes to eternal perspectives) rather then to try and please God Almighty whose opinion is the only one that counts in regards to life and eternity. I am guilty also and I have often failed in this area. We must all look at our lives and who it is that we are trying to please. If it is man – then we need to repent and turn to God. If it is God – then we need to do it with all our heart, soul and mind.
I think one of the greatest struggles a lot of people have is the choice of trying to please man or to please God. Obviously, we would all probably say that we want to please God but our actions in most cases show otherwise. We try so hard to win the approval of people (whose opinion doesn’t really count when it comes to eternal perspectives) rather then to try and please God Almighty whose opinion is the only one that counts in regards to life and eternity. I am guilty also and I have often failed in this area. We must all look at our lives and who it is that we are trying to please. If it is man – then we need to repent and turn to God. If it is God – then we need to do it with all our heart, soul and mind.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
A Simple Warning
Deuteronomy 11:16-17 (NLT) 11:16 “But be careful. Don’t let your heart be deceived so that you turn away from the LORD and serve and worship other gods. 17 If you do, the LORD’s anger will burn against you. He will shut up the sky and hold back the rain, and the ground will fail to produce its harvests. Then you will quickly die in that good land the LORD is giving you.
I told someone the other day that getting old isn’t for wimps. Every day it seems that I’m dealing with one thing or another physically. One of the things I really don’t like is that my eye sight is not the same. Without glasses I would not be able to function very well on a day by day basis. Spiritually speaking, on the other hand, is just the opposite. My spiritual eyes are becoming more and more focused. I can see things now that I wasn’t able to see before. One of the things that I’m seeing clearer now is how people are so easily deceived. This passage is a simple warning to not let our heart be deceived about worshipping the true God. There are many things vying for our attention. It is easy to get sucked into following little bread crumbs or shiny trinkets that look like truth but are not. It is interesting - It is not always the most obvious things that deceive us but the little things – like how we spend our money or how we spend our time that take us down little rabbit trails that take us away from the presence of God. The warning here is that in doing that we will put a block on God’s blessings in our lives and we will walk away from the favor of the Lord. The admonition is this – Be careful. Make it a high priority to do what is right and follow God with your whole heart, mind and spirit. Take it from someone who’s been around the block for a while – God is a jealous God. He won’t be shared with another.
I told someone the other day that getting old isn’t for wimps. Every day it seems that I’m dealing with one thing or another physically. One of the things I really don’t like is that my eye sight is not the same. Without glasses I would not be able to function very well on a day by day basis. Spiritually speaking, on the other hand, is just the opposite. My spiritual eyes are becoming more and more focused. I can see things now that I wasn’t able to see before. One of the things that I’m seeing clearer now is how people are so easily deceived. This passage is a simple warning to not let our heart be deceived about worshipping the true God. There are many things vying for our attention. It is easy to get sucked into following little bread crumbs or shiny trinkets that look like truth but are not. It is interesting - It is not always the most obvious things that deceive us but the little things – like how we spend our money or how we spend our time that take us down little rabbit trails that take us away from the presence of God. The warning here is that in doing that we will put a block on God’s blessings in our lives and we will walk away from the favor of the Lord. The admonition is this – Be careful. Make it a high priority to do what is right and follow God with your whole heart, mind and spirit. Take it from someone who’s been around the block for a while – God is a jealous God. He won’t be shared with another.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Just Because
Deuteronomy 7:7-9 (NLT) 7:7 “The LORD did not set his heart on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other nations, for you were the smallest of all nations! 8 Rather, it was simply that the LORD loves you, and he was keeping the oath he had sworn to your ancestors. That is why the LORD rescued you with such a strong hand from your slavery and from the oppressive hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. 9 Understand, therefore, that the LORD your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands.
What a simple truth today - God set His heart on me and chose me just because He loves me. I am the apple of His eye and He cares so much for me. My journey on life has been very blessed in that I have received many blessings from the Lord. There have also been difficult seasons that I’ve had to endure also. But the thing that I can say without reservation today is this – God is good all the time and His love and mercy has surrounded me and protected me through life. I don’t want to be like some who grow old and are bitter toward everyone and everything. I want to be that man who stands proudly with thanksgiving to God for all that He has done in my generation. I am so thankful and grateful this morning for God’s faithfulness.
What a simple truth today - God set His heart on me and chose me just because He loves me. I am the apple of His eye and He cares so much for me. My journey on life has been very blessed in that I have received many blessings from the Lord. There have also been difficult seasons that I’ve had to endure also. But the thing that I can say without reservation today is this – God is good all the time and His love and mercy has surrounded me and protected me through life. I don’t want to be like some who grow old and are bitter toward everyone and everything. I want to be that man who stands proudly with thanksgiving to God for all that He has done in my generation. I am so thankful and grateful this morning for God’s faithfulness.
Friday, March 5, 2010
A Picture Of God
Deuteronomy 4:24 (NLT) The LORD your God is a devouring fire; he is a jealous God.
There are many pictures and descriptions that are given of God but I think this one is a very revealing description of God’s nature. First, He is described as a “devouring fire.” It is consuming and complete. Like a consuming fire He would purify what is precious (just as fire purifies precious metals) and destroy what is worthless. Secondly, He is seen as a jealous God. He will not allow another to have the honor that is due Him alone. Therefore Israel needed to be extremely careful to remember the covenant that was given them. I think that it is extremely important that we don’t forget this image of God. It should weigh upon how we live our life and how we make our decision. It should be the driving point of our conscience. Yes, God is a God of love but He is a God of emotion and passion also.
There are many pictures and descriptions that are given of God but I think this one is a very revealing description of God’s nature. First, He is described as a “devouring fire.” It is consuming and complete. Like a consuming fire He would purify what is precious (just as fire purifies precious metals) and destroy what is worthless. Secondly, He is seen as a jealous God. He will not allow another to have the honor that is due Him alone. Therefore Israel needed to be extremely careful to remember the covenant that was given them. I think that it is extremely important that we don’t forget this image of God. It should weigh upon how we live our life and how we make our decision. It should be the driving point of our conscience. Yes, God is a God of love but He is a God of emotion and passion also.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
The Lord Needs You
Mark 11:1-10 (NLT) 11:1 As Jesus and his disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead. 2 “Go into that village over there,” he told them. “As soon as you enter it, you will see a young donkey tied there that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks, ‘What are you doing?’ just say, ‘The Lord needs it and will return it soon.’” 4 The two disciples left and found the colt standing in the street, tied outside the front door. 5 As they were untying it, some bystanders demanded, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” 6 They said what Jesus had told them to say, and they were permitted to take it. 7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it, and he sat on it. 8 Many in the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others spread leafy branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting, “Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the LORD! 10 Blessings on the coming Kingdom of our ancestor David! Praise God in highest heaven!”
I was struck by the phrase – “The Lord needs it.” Here is a “lowly” donkey that is owned by and “unnamed person” that the Lord needs for the work that He was doing. I wonder how many people feel that they don’t have anything to offer – that they are some obscure person without any talent to offer the Lord. We know nothing about the owner and we know nothing about the donkey. Yet, God used both for furthering his kingdom. Are you willing to use what you have? Are you willing to make available your gift to the Lord whether large or small? When Jesus was preaching on the Sea of Galilee the crowds we’re so big that He needed to preach from a boat. One was provided to him and He preached from it. When the crowds we’re hungry He used the lunch from a little boy to multiply it. You might think that you are not the most gifted person in life but consider this: a little in the hands of the Lord is a lot. Give what you have to God and watch how He uses it. You will be SO blessed if you do this.
I was struck by the phrase – “The Lord needs it.” Here is a “lowly” donkey that is owned by and “unnamed person” that the Lord needs for the work that He was doing. I wonder how many people feel that they don’t have anything to offer – that they are some obscure person without any talent to offer the Lord. We know nothing about the owner and we know nothing about the donkey. Yet, God used both for furthering his kingdom. Are you willing to use what you have? Are you willing to make available your gift to the Lord whether large or small? When Jesus was preaching on the Sea of Galilee the crowds we’re so big that He needed to preach from a boat. One was provided to him and He preached from it. When the crowds we’re hungry He used the lunch from a little boy to multiply it. You might think that you are not the most gifted person in life but consider this: a little in the hands of the Lord is a lot. Give what you have to God and watch how He uses it. You will be SO blessed if you do this.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
A Different Type Of Leader
Mark 10:42-45 (NLT) 10:42 So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 43 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Jesus turns man’s perspective around here. He teaches us that true leadership comes from servant hood and not dictatorship. It comes from giving and not taking. That is just the opposite of what many of us have been taught and modeled in life. Jesus not only taught this but He lived it out by the way He lived. To those who learn this lesson become the type of leader that God can use over and over again. I pray that each and every one of us will take seriously this lesson and begin to serve our community with such a heart of love that people’s lives will be changed. It is then that God's rich and wonderful blessing will be poured out on our lives.
Jesus turns man’s perspective around here. He teaches us that true leadership comes from servant hood and not dictatorship. It comes from giving and not taking. That is just the opposite of what many of us have been taught and modeled in life. Jesus not only taught this but He lived it out by the way He lived. To those who learn this lesson become the type of leader that God can use over and over again. I pray that each and every one of us will take seriously this lesson and begin to serve our community with such a heart of love that people’s lives will be changed. It is then that God's rich and wonderful blessing will be poured out on our lives.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Powerless Christians
Mark 9:15-29 (NLT) 9:15 When the crowd saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with awe, and they ran to greet him. 16 “What is all this arguing about?” Jesus asked. 17 One of the men in the crowd spoke up and said, “Teacher, I brought my son so you could heal him. He is possessed by an evil spirit that won’t let him talk. 18 And whenever this spirit seizes him, it throws him violently to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast out the evil spirit, but they couldn’t do it.” 19 Jesus said to them, “You faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” 20 So they brought the boy. But when the evil spirit saw Jesus, it threw the child into a violent convulsion, and he fell to the ground, writhing and foaming at the mouth. 21 “How long has this been happening?” Jesus asked the boy’s father. He replied, “Since he was a little boy. 22 The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.” 23 “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” 24 The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” 25 When Jesus saw that the crowd of onlookers was growing, he rebuked the evil spirit. “Listen, you spirit that makes this boy unable to hear and speak,” he said. “I command you to come out of this child and never enter him again!” 26 Then the spirit screamed and threw the boy into another violent convulsion and left him. The boy appeared to be dead. A murmur ran through the crowd as people said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him to his feet, and he stood up. 28 Afterward, when Jesus was alone in the house with his disciples, they asked him, “Why couldn’t we cast out that evil spirit?” 29 Jesus replied, “This kind can be cast out only by prayer.”
It’s frustrating sometimes to see the ineptness of some people in regards to their Christian walk. They know the truth and have accepted Christ in their heart. They even go to church and worship on a regular basis. Yet there is no power and anointing to their lives. It’s almost as if they live their lives in different compartments – the spiritual compartment on Sunday for a few hours only and the flesh compartment the rest of the week. There is so much more for them. They don’t need to live in frustration discouragement and defeat. They use Christ when they need Him but live like the world the rest of the time. It doesn’t have to be that way. The truth is this - A person can have a power filled ongoing walk with the Lord if they just surrender completely to Him. It is the most satisfied place to be – with Christ at the helm of your life. I chose this many years ago and I’m glad I did.
It’s frustrating sometimes to see the ineptness of some people in regards to their Christian walk. They know the truth and have accepted Christ in their heart. They even go to church and worship on a regular basis. Yet there is no power and anointing to their lives. It’s almost as if they live their lives in different compartments – the spiritual compartment on Sunday for a few hours only and the flesh compartment the rest of the week. There is so much more for them. They don’t need to live in frustration discouragement and defeat. They use Christ when they need Him but live like the world the rest of the time. It doesn’t have to be that way. The truth is this - A person can have a power filled ongoing walk with the Lord if they just surrender completely to Him. It is the most satisfied place to be – with Christ at the helm of your life. I chose this many years ago and I’m glad I did.
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