Monday, May 30, 2011
“Friends of God”
Scripture:
Psalm 25:14
Friendship with the LORD is reserved for those who fear Him.
With them He shares the secrets of His covenant. (NLT)
Observation:
Like good friends who walk side by side sharing the most secret inner parts of their hearts, so it is with God and His children. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross we can once again walk in the presence of God, sharing our deepest secrets, and learning God’s (John 15:15).
Application:
When you humbly go to the foot of the cross and fully accept the gift of forgiveness, the Holy Spirit will begin to reveal the secrets of God concerning life (Daniel 2:28). It was the covenant of old that kept mankind separated from God by a sacred curtain, but we now live under a new covenant of grace that was paid once for all by the blood of Christ Jesus (the perfect sacrificial Lamb of God). Jesus’ sacrifice tore that sacred curtain in two making it possible for us to come back into God’s Holy Presence so that we could again become His friends. And by becoming friends with God, He fills our heart with His Spirit, giving us understanding (2 Timothy 2:7) as we read and study His Book on His unending love and compassion, and His faithful mercy and grace. When you have true fellowship with the Author of Life, my friends, He will listen closely to your troubled heart and not only speak words of comfort and peace, but He will also give you His secret knowledge and wisdom. And we should never take for granted the mercy and grace of the LORD our God, because without it; this dark world would be even darker and more frightening than it already is—and even more disheartening—there would be no way out!
Prayer:
Thank You, dear Jesus, for making it possible for all those who ask to be forgiven their past rebellion against our Sovereign God. Thank You for allowing us back into His Holy Presence so that we can know the joy’s of life while in the midst of this troubled and fallen world. Help me to better understand Your Word, so that I can point out to others the only Light that can reveal Your Truth, which is so dearly needed in this dying world that groans for Your return.
Amen
“Stay Close”
Scripture:
Hebrews 4:16
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace,
that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (NKJV)
Observation:
Because our Lord, Christ Jesus, shed His precious and perfect blood as the finial sacrificial Lamb of God, we who believe in Him are able to come into His Presence for both forgiveness and help in our times of need. Our highest of High Priests now sits on the throne in heaven providing His people with the mercy and grace that is needed everyday while living in this fallen world which groans for His return.
Application:
We have at our beck and call, the Good Shepherd who can provide the people of His flock with everything they need (Psalm 23:1-3) for living a life of peace and protection in a world that is anything but friendly; one that is filled with wild and hungry enemies ready to feast on the weak and helpless. The Lord, our wise and mighty Shepherd, has paid a dear price for each one in His fold; therefore, they belong to Him; they are His possession and He puts great value on each one by providing all they will ever need. When we remain close to our Shepherd, He will call us by name (John 10:3) and lead us safely to the greenest of pastures where we will find living water to refresh our souls and His Word to feed on; giving us the strength for the difficult battles that lie ahead. There is no One greater, my dear friends, that we can fully trust our lives with, because He knows all and sees all and there is nothing He cannot do (John 10:29-30). When He calls your name, go to Him; for He will take you in His mighty arms and heal your deadly wounds. He will then refresh and nourish your life so you will stand strong upon solid ground and confidently follow Him Home where nothing nor will anyone ever hurt you again.
Prayer:
How great You are, O God! For I know that no matter what difficulties or hardships that are around the corner; You have victory over them all. And when we come under the protection of the shadow of Your wings we can confidently trust in You to see us through with the peace of God in our souls and His joy in our hearts.
Amen
Scripture:
Hebrews 4:16
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace,
that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (NKJV)
Observation:
Because our Lord, Christ Jesus, shed His precious and perfect blood as the finial sacrificial Lamb of God, we who believe in Him are able to come into His Presence for both forgiveness and help in our times of need. Our highest of High Priests now sits on the throne in heaven providing His people with the mercy and grace that is needed everyday while living in this fallen world which groans for His return.
Application:
We have at our beck and call, the Good Shepherd who can provide the people of His flock with everything they need (Psalm 23:1-3) for living a life of peace and protection in a world that is anything but friendly; one that is filled with wild and hungry enemies ready to feast on the weak and helpless. The Lord, our wise and mighty Shepherd, has paid a dear price for each one in His fold; therefore, they belong to Him; they are His possession and He puts great value on each one by providing all they will ever need. When we remain close to our Shepherd, He will call us by name (John 10:3) and lead us safely to the greenest of pastures where we will find living water to refresh our souls and His Word to feed on; giving us the strength for the difficult battles that lie ahead. There is no One greater, my dear friends, that we can fully trust our lives with, because He knows all and sees all and there is nothing He cannot do (John 10:29-30). When He calls your name, go to Him; for He will take you in His mighty arms and heal your deadly wounds. He will then refresh and nourish your life so you will stand strong upon solid ground and confidently follow Him Home where nothing nor will anyone ever hurt you again.
Prayer:
How great You are, O God! For I know that no matter what difficulties or hardships that are around the corner; You have victory over them all. And when we come under the protection of the shadow of Your wings we can confidently trust in You to see us through with the peace of God in our souls and His joy in our hearts.
Amen
“Watcher of Men”
Scripture:
Psalm 16:1
Preserve me, O God, for in You
I put my trust. (NKJV)
Observation:
Even though He was holy and pure (without sin), our Lord Jesus did not put His confidence in that purity, but as an example for His followers and all of humanity, He looked to the Lord, His Father, for protection, just as David did in singing this song of trust.
Application:
One of the many great names of God is “the Watcher of Men” (Job 7:20), and even His Son, Christ Jesus, was promised by God that He would be watched over and persevered (Isaiah 49:7). And in like manner, we, too, are persevered in Christ Jesus when we are as one with Him. Our perfect and holy Lord Jesus so emptied Himself and had so truly taken the form of a servant that as a man, He needed and relied on divine keeping just as we do. And just as Jesus cried to Jehovah for strength, so must we cry out to our Redeemer—the Holy One of Israel. If Jesus who was fully divine looked outside Himself for protection, how much more must we, His flawed and sin filled followers, do the same! Oh, that we should fully trust in our Omnipotent Protector with unwavering faith (1 John 5:4), for this one great rule of heaven is, indeed, so graciously handed out to those of us in need of divine intervention. When we sincerely declare that we are exercising strong faith in the Almighty God regarding the mercy and grace that we seek, we can surely be filled with the utmost confidence that our plea will prevail in God’s perfect timing. As our Savior prayed let us also pray, for the Lord Jesus became so much more than a conqueror, and so, too, will we through Him. When you are ravaged by the storms of life, my dear friends, know that you can bravely cry out to the LORD as Jesus did; “I put my trust in You alone, O Great and Mighty God,” and a heavenly peace will surely bring comfort to your troubled heart as you confidently wait for His perfect resolve.
Prayer:
Thank You, O LORD, for all the mercy and grace that You pour out on Your creation. Thank You for providing the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Our souls would be lost without You and our lives would be lived in vain. How awesome it is that You remain faithful and true to Your Word, for we cannot. It is for this reason, Lord, that we can turn to You in trust, knowing that we are safely in Your hands.
Amen
“Wisdom for Life”
Scripture:
Colossians 2:2-3
I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love.
I want them to have complete confidence that they understand
God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ Himself.
In Him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (NLT)
Observation:
In these verses a concerned apostle Paul is writing to the believers in Colosse, including the Church in Laodicea, telling them how to avoid being deceived by the teachers of false doctrine, which is even today a concern for believers around the world.
Application:
Because of Satan’s strength in this fallen world the meaningless messages of self-induced sovereignty is creeping into the populous (including the Christian Church) at an alarming rate. The world is bursting at the seams with false teachings of deceiving ideologies and smooth sounding philosophy, telling us things like; all wisdom and knowledge are hidden away and are only found by mystical experiences and higher knowledge. Many of these false teachers are claiming that this “secret knowledge” is only available to a few selected elite. Do not be duped into believing any of this fine-sounding nonsense, my friends, because all it will do is confuse you into complacency; drawing you away from the Truth. And the truth is; all wisdom and knowledge are hidden in one place only, and that place is in our God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He is all the wisdom and knowledge that anyone needs. Christ Jesus is the fullness of deity, the complete forgiver of sins, and the conqueror of Satan and all his satanic forces. He is the Lord of creation, and the Lord of our lives (Hebrews 1:10-12). But with that said, I believe that it is still critical that we remain alert and aware of the onslaught of lies that come disguised as smooth and persuasive speech (Romans (16:17-18), for when you stay grounded in the Word, He will be your shield; the Protector of your faith. The Spirit of God has all the wisdom and knowledge that you will ever need. All you have to do, my friends, is sincerely ask for it and believe that He, the Creator and Sustainer of life, will give you all the wisdom and knowledge that you can handle.
Prayer:
My dear Lord, I pray that as I draw closer to You, that You will give me the strength and wisdom I need to remain faithful and transparent as I trust in You . I pray that You will help me discern what is true about this life and what is not. Even thought I know You will give me all I need when I need it, I ask in Your mighty Name to help me remain steadfast in my trust that You, the Savior and Provider, are the only true source that can save a life.
Amen
Scripture:
Colossians 2:2-3
I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love.
I want them to have complete confidence that they understand
God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ Himself.
In Him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (NLT)
Observation:
In these verses a concerned apostle Paul is writing to the believers in Colosse, including the Church in Laodicea, telling them how to avoid being deceived by the teachers of false doctrine, which is even today a concern for believers around the world.
Application:
Because of Satan’s strength in this fallen world the meaningless messages of self-induced sovereignty is creeping into the populous (including the Christian Church) at an alarming rate. The world is bursting at the seams with false teachings of deceiving ideologies and smooth sounding philosophy, telling us things like; all wisdom and knowledge are hidden away and are only found by mystical experiences and higher knowledge. Many of these false teachers are claiming that this “secret knowledge” is only available to a few selected elite. Do not be duped into believing any of this fine-sounding nonsense, my friends, because all it will do is confuse you into complacency; drawing you away from the Truth. And the truth is; all wisdom and knowledge are hidden in one place only, and that place is in our God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He is all the wisdom and knowledge that anyone needs. Christ Jesus is the fullness of deity, the complete forgiver of sins, and the conqueror of Satan and all his satanic forces. He is the Lord of creation, and the Lord of our lives (Hebrews 1:10-12). But with that said, I believe that it is still critical that we remain alert and aware of the onslaught of lies that come disguised as smooth and persuasive speech (Romans (16:17-18), for when you stay grounded in the Word, He will be your shield; the Protector of your faith. The Spirit of God has all the wisdom and knowledge that you will ever need. All you have to do, my friends, is sincerely ask for it and believe that He, the Creator and Sustainer of life, will give you all the wisdom and knowledge that you can handle.
Prayer:
My dear Lord, I pray that as I draw closer to You, that You will give me the strength and wisdom I need to remain faithful and transparent as I trust in You . I pray that You will help me discern what is true about this life and what is not. Even thought I know You will give me all I need when I need it, I ask in Your mighty Name to help me remain steadfast in my trust that You, the Savior and Provider, are the only true source that can save a life.
Amen
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
A Higher Tolerance
"Extol" comes from the Middle English, extollere (ex = up or out; and tollere = tolerate). "Tolerate" means "to allow to be or to be done without prohibition, hinderance, or contradiction."
Thus, every day, I will "tolerate" God's sovereign goodness in whatever way He in His tender mercy decides is best--even when my soul is wanting to prohibit, hinder, or contradict His design; even when my understanding is tormented or my emotions are confused. Frankly, that's a pleasant gift He provides for people. We are sometimes easily bewildered; sometimes we are appropriately bewildered... or so we think.
Lord, my God and my King, I delight in praising You, especially when "circumstances" instead of Truth tempt me to distrust Your goodness and faithfulness. Bewildered? (How curiously funny that bewilderment immediately precedes bewitch in the dictionary.)
Why would I ever choose to "be wilder, confused, or jumbled?" Your Spirit is ever brooding over the dark voids of Your creation (Genesis 1:1-3), bringing light to darkness and order to confusion and substance to emptiness. Lord, as a humble corner of Your creation, I eagerly await Your new dawn on this day in my life! Really! Eagerly! Happily!
Thus, every day, I will "tolerate" God's sovereign goodness in whatever way He in His tender mercy decides is best--even when my soul is wanting to prohibit, hinder, or contradict His design; even when my understanding is tormented or my emotions are confused. Frankly, that's a pleasant gift He provides for people. We are sometimes easily bewildered; sometimes we are appropriately bewildered... or so we think.
Lord, my God and my King, I delight in praising You, especially when "circumstances" instead of Truth tempt me to distrust Your goodness and faithfulness. Bewildered? (How curiously funny that bewilderment immediately precedes bewitch in the dictionary.)
Why would I ever choose to "be wilder, confused, or jumbled?" Your Spirit is ever brooding over the dark voids of Your creation (Genesis 1:1-3), bringing light to darkness and order to confusion and substance to emptiness. Lord, as a humble corner of Your creation, I eagerly await Your new dawn on this day in my life! Really! Eagerly! Happily!
Sunday, May 15, 2011
“Good Meditation”
Scripture:
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true,
whatever things are noble, whatever things are just,
whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely,
whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue
and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. (NKJV)
Observation:
The apostle Paul is telling the believers in Philippi that living in this out-of-control world has a way of distracting our thoughts away from the glory of God and His will for our lives. As imperfect people being bombarded daily by the lies of the Enemy, most of our anxiety really comes from not trusting in the truth that is found in the Lord our God, Jesus Christ. Because of our many natural weaknesses most of us tend to trust more in the things of this fallen world rather than trusting in the Creator of life. All things that are true and noble and just and pure and lovely originated from the LORD Himself, for these are the characteristics that radiate who He is and His perfect attributes will never change.
Application:
It is these kinds of godly characteristics that He wants us to develop for both our benefit and for the sake of His Kingdom. Because this ungodly world thrives on deceit and untruths, and the world’s dirt and scandal, and sexual immorality and perversion, and shameless self-seeking gain, it has never been, nor will it ever be an easy task to meditate only on those things that are truly praiseworthy--that is, the admirable things of God. Satan and this fallen world will do everything in their power to draw us away from the goodness of God and all that He stands for. But the truth is, my friends, when you praise the Lord and glorify His mighty deeds, praying for His sovereign power to help you stay focused on those things that edify His character, He will put deep into your heart the desire to become the kind of person that He wants you to be. And in the process, the anxiety and worry that once consumed both your thoughts and your life will steadily be lifted away and replaced with the joy and peace that can only come from Heaven; praiseworthy things that you will find hard to keep to yourself (Psalm 31:1-5).
Prayer:
I ask You, dear Lord, to help me keep my eyes on You, the giver of life and all that is good. You have given me the wisdom to know that I need to rely on You alone to survive in this world that hates You, Your followers, and everything You are. I know that because of who You are and what You have accomplished that I, too, can overcome this hard and difficult world to find true peace and joy that will get me through anything this fallen world can throw at me.
Amen
Scripture:
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true,
whatever things are noble, whatever things are just,
whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely,
whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue
and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. (NKJV)
Observation:
The apostle Paul is telling the believers in Philippi that living in this out-of-control world has a way of distracting our thoughts away from the glory of God and His will for our lives. As imperfect people being bombarded daily by the lies of the Enemy, most of our anxiety really comes from not trusting in the truth that is found in the Lord our God, Jesus Christ. Because of our many natural weaknesses most of us tend to trust more in the things of this fallen world rather than trusting in the Creator of life. All things that are true and noble and just and pure and lovely originated from the LORD Himself, for these are the characteristics that radiate who He is and His perfect attributes will never change.
Application:
It is these kinds of godly characteristics that He wants us to develop for both our benefit and for the sake of His Kingdom. Because this ungodly world thrives on deceit and untruths, and the world’s dirt and scandal, and sexual immorality and perversion, and shameless self-seeking gain, it has never been, nor will it ever be an easy task to meditate only on those things that are truly praiseworthy--that is, the admirable things of God. Satan and this fallen world will do everything in their power to draw us away from the goodness of God and all that He stands for. But the truth is, my friends, when you praise the Lord and glorify His mighty deeds, praying for His sovereign power to help you stay focused on those things that edify His character, He will put deep into your heart the desire to become the kind of person that He wants you to be. And in the process, the anxiety and worry that once consumed both your thoughts and your life will steadily be lifted away and replaced with the joy and peace that can only come from Heaven; praiseworthy things that you will find hard to keep to yourself (Psalm 31:1-5).
Prayer:
I ask You, dear Lord, to help me keep my eyes on You, the giver of life and all that is good. You have given me the wisdom to know that I need to rely on You alone to survive in this world that hates You, Your followers, and everything You are. I know that because of who You are and what You have accomplished that I, too, can overcome this hard and difficult world to find true peace and joy that will get me through anything this fallen world can throw at me.
Amen
“His Nature to Save”
Scripture:
Psalm 145:14
The LORD upholds all who fall,
And raises up all those who are bowed down. (NKJV)
Observation:
As the Lord our God draws me closer to Himself, the greater the desire I have in praising Him for His mighty deeds, just as David does in writing this extolling psalm. And the more I learn about our glorious God, the greater my need becomes that I honor Him with as much praise and glory that is within my abilities to do so (Psalm 47:1-2).
Application:
Our kind and loving Lord, who reigns in glorious majesty, has always taken pity upon the lowly; those who have either fallen in defeat or those who are bent beneath the heavy loads inflicted by this hard and unforgiving world. The Lord is always busy holding up His beloved people, giving them the strength and wisdom they need to persevere the hardships that come with living in this fallen world. The Lord is always lifting up His fallen ones who cry out in desperation for His saving touch. This is who He is, my friends, and this is what He does. He is a loving and kind God; One who is full of unending mercy and grace (Psalm 103:8). It is His very nature to rescue the hopeless and to save the helpless. It is rather amazing how the Lord will bring down the lofty and lift up the lowly in order to bring about His message of truth; that everyone is in dire need of a Savior, and their salvation can only be found in Christ Jesus, our Lord (Acts 4:11-12). Whether you are walking in pride or crawling in shame, the Lord is calling you to come as you are, for there is no one too high, nor is there anyone too low who is beyond the incredible touch of God’s healing grace. For His plan is redemption; His goal is perfection. And there is absolutely nothing, my friends, that can stand in His Way!
Prayer:
I thank You, Lord God, for all the mercy and grace that You pour out on Your people. What an overwhelming peace it brings to a soul knowing that the Lord of the universe is always protecting and providing, keeping His people close to Himself. What a blessing it is to be in Your mighty hands, and what an honor it is to praise Your mighty Name.
Amen
Scripture:
Psalm 145:14
The LORD upholds all who fall,
And raises up all those who are bowed down. (NKJV)
Observation:
As the Lord our God draws me closer to Himself, the greater the desire I have in praising Him for His mighty deeds, just as David does in writing this extolling psalm. And the more I learn about our glorious God, the greater my need becomes that I honor Him with as much praise and glory that is within my abilities to do so (Psalm 47:1-2).
Application:
Our kind and loving Lord, who reigns in glorious majesty, has always taken pity upon the lowly; those who have either fallen in defeat or those who are bent beneath the heavy loads inflicted by this hard and unforgiving world. The Lord is always busy holding up His beloved people, giving them the strength and wisdom they need to persevere the hardships that come with living in this fallen world. The Lord is always lifting up His fallen ones who cry out in desperation for His saving touch. This is who He is, my friends, and this is what He does. He is a loving and kind God; One who is full of unending mercy and grace (Psalm 103:8). It is His very nature to rescue the hopeless and to save the helpless. It is rather amazing how the Lord will bring down the lofty and lift up the lowly in order to bring about His message of truth; that everyone is in dire need of a Savior, and their salvation can only be found in Christ Jesus, our Lord (Acts 4:11-12). Whether you are walking in pride or crawling in shame, the Lord is calling you to come as you are, for there is no one too high, nor is there anyone too low who is beyond the incredible touch of God’s healing grace. For His plan is redemption; His goal is perfection. And there is absolutely nothing, my friends, that can stand in His Way!
Prayer:
I thank You, Lord God, for all the mercy and grace that You pour out on Your people. What an overwhelming peace it brings to a soul knowing that the Lord of the universe is always protecting and providing, keeping His people close to Himself. What a blessing it is to be in Your mighty hands, and what an honor it is to praise Your mighty Name.
Amen
“The Perfect Bedfellow”
Scripture:
Psalm 4:8
I will both lie down in peace, and sleep;
For You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. (NKJV)
Observation:
This man David; a man after God’s own heart, could lie down to sleep soundly in peace even though his bed was the hard barren ground and his enemies were close by hunting him down. He was able to sleep restfully because he was confident that the Lord was protecting him (Proverbs 29:25).
Application:
We, too, even in this age, are being hunted down and pursued by a relentless enemy who wants to destroy our souls (1 Peter 5:8). Satan and this fallen world will never grow weary in the quest to destroy all that God stands for. And this sinister and powerful enemy of God will succeed in destroying your soul without the mighty protection of God’s wings over you (Psalm 17:8-9). From the moment you give our life to Christ the battle for your soul begins and you will spend the rest of your days fighting off the relentless attacks of the ungodly. As Christians we become soldiers for God; warriors for righteousness and truth. God does not want us to become complacent or comfortable in our journey to heaven because the enemy is sly and he uses deceit in order to lull us away from the Truth. God calls us to fight for those who are loosing the battle and bring them into God’s protection so they, too, will learn how to battle the enemy. Never doubt the spiritual warfare that is raging and growing in intensity as we get closer to Jesus’ return. Satan’s turmoil is surrounding us in every direction and is quickly closing in. And the only way, dear friend, that you will ever be able to lay down and sleep in peace, is by knowing (without a doubt) that the mightiest of warriors has you safely under the protection of His wings. There is no better covering, my friends, and there is no better way to find rest you so desperately need. A quiet conscience is, indeed, a good bedfellow!
Prayer:
What awesome comfort it is in knowing You are close, O LORD—so close, in fact, that all who know You can sleep in peace trusting in You alone to keep them safe and out of the hands of the Enemy. Living a fearless life in You, my God, is a far cry from what the world offers to comfort me. Thank You, from the deepest depth of my heart for the promises I can hold tight to; promises that give us battered people rest and the kind of sleep that is, indeed, heavenly.
Amen
Scripture:
Psalm 4:8
I will both lie down in peace, and sleep;
For You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. (NKJV)
Observation:
This man David; a man after God’s own heart, could lie down to sleep soundly in peace even though his bed was the hard barren ground and his enemies were close by hunting him down. He was able to sleep restfully because he was confident that the Lord was protecting him (Proverbs 29:25).
Application:
We, too, even in this age, are being hunted down and pursued by a relentless enemy who wants to destroy our souls (1 Peter 5:8). Satan and this fallen world will never grow weary in the quest to destroy all that God stands for. And this sinister and powerful enemy of God will succeed in destroying your soul without the mighty protection of God’s wings over you (Psalm 17:8-9). From the moment you give our life to Christ the battle for your soul begins and you will spend the rest of your days fighting off the relentless attacks of the ungodly. As Christians we become soldiers for God; warriors for righteousness and truth. God does not want us to become complacent or comfortable in our journey to heaven because the enemy is sly and he uses deceit in order to lull us away from the Truth. God calls us to fight for those who are loosing the battle and bring them into God’s protection so they, too, will learn how to battle the enemy. Never doubt the spiritual warfare that is raging and growing in intensity as we get closer to Jesus’ return. Satan’s turmoil is surrounding us in every direction and is quickly closing in. And the only way, dear friend, that you will ever be able to lay down and sleep in peace, is by knowing (without a doubt) that the mightiest of warriors has you safely under the protection of His wings. There is no better covering, my friends, and there is no better way to find rest you so desperately need. A quiet conscience is, indeed, a good bedfellow!
Prayer:
What awesome comfort it is in knowing You are close, O LORD—so close, in fact, that all who know You can sleep in peace trusting in You alone to keep them safe and out of the hands of the Enemy. Living a fearless life in You, my God, is a far cry from what the world offers to comfort me. Thank You, from the deepest depth of my heart for the promises I can hold tight to; promises that give us battered people rest and the kind of sleep that is, indeed, heavenly.
Amen
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
“Nailed in Freedom”
Scripture:
Galatians 5:24
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed
the passions and desires of their sinful nature
to His cross and crucified them there. (NLT)
Observation:
Our Creator and Lord has paid a hefty price indeed, so that we can be called His sons and daughters; His very own possession (Ephesians 1:14). We should never take this truth lightly, my friends, because it has given us the freedom from the power that sin has over our lives.
Application:
When we claim Jesus as the Lord over our lives He gives us all that we need to break the chains that have bound us in our slavery to sin; giving us the freedom to nail our sin-filled past to His cross. Does that mean you will never sin again? No it does not, but the power of sin that once controlled the way you thought will have been broken (Colossians 1:13-14). What peace it brings knowing that you are no longer held in bondage to sin. And there is no greater joy in my life than knowing that our God (the Creator and Sustainer of the universe) allowed evil men to beat, torture, mock, and then nail Him to a tree to die a criminals death because He did not want me to suffer the final wrath which I deserved; the wrath that I could not have avoided on my own. It was not until I began to understand who God was and why He did what He did that I started to comprehend that which had been so graciously given to me—an incredible amazing gift of love and everlasting life. Once you know the truth of where you stand in this adventure called life and once you grasp the price that was paid in full for your salvation, you will start learning how to live a life that not only brings honor to the One who gave you life, but the Lord will return that honor to you (2 Timothy 2:21) and bless your life in ways that make living in this hard and difficult world well worth the trouble it brings.
Prayer:
You, my Lord, paid the ultimate price for the peace I now have. It will take an eternity to show my deepest gratitude for the gift of life that You paid dearly for. How anyone can turn their back on You, knowing what You did for them, I will never understand. But no matter what this fallen world does, I will always praise and honor Your Holy Name. You are my God and I am fully Yours!
Amen
“Only Two Endings”
Scripture:
Galatians 5:17
The old sinful nature loves to do evil, which is just opposite
from what the Holy Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us
desires that are opposite from what the sinful nature desires.
These two forces are constantly fighting each other,
and your choices are never free from the conflict. (NLT)
Observation:
The battle for our soul begins the moment we are born into this fallen world. We have all inherited a self-indulged sinful nature that comes indirectly from the Enemy of our soul (Romans 5:12). This enemy, the Devil, is indeed the second most powerful force that must be reckoned with every second of our lives. This unseen evil has engulfed the world since the beginning of time and will be ever so present until that day when the Lord throws Satan into the Lake of Fire forever. Until that time, the battle rages on; one that we must fight until that moment we breathe our last breath; one we will most certainly lose when we live by our own understanding and power.
Application:
The only Hope we have in assuring ourselves from following Satan into his permanent residence is found in the first and foremost powerful force in existence—the Living God, Jehovah. It is only through the power of the Holy Spirit working in our lives that anyone can overcome the power that sin has over us. For it is by the renewing of our hearts and minds that we can fend off the fiery darts of the enemy. It is only by surrendering our will and our lives over to the care and control of Christ Jesus, that we have any chance of saving our precious souls (Romans 3:23-26)—souls that our loving God has personally and individually created for Himself. Never doubt the power of sin that Satan has over your life, and never doubt the inherent weaknesses you possess in fighting that power. For without the power of our Creator, Jesus Christ (the One who is LORD over all) living deep within your heart and guiding the way, your life will easily fall prey to the delight of Satan, whose only desire is to destroy anything and everything that is good (Genesis 1:31).
Prayer:
Thank You, LORD God, for the power to fight this sinful nature that never rests. Thank You for providing the resources needed to fend off the enemy of my soul, for without You as my shield I would have no chance of overcoming the temptations that lead to death. How I praise You, O Lord, for all the protection You provide; for it is indeed, a great and awesome blessing that’s undeserved.
Amen
“Living in Vain”
Scripture:
Psalm 127:1
Unless the LORD builds the house,
They labor in vain who builds it;
Unless the LORD guards the city,
The watchman stays awake in vain. (NKJV)
Observation:
Unless we know and fear the LORD, our lives are lived in vain (Psalm 25:14). When we live our lives apart from the One who gives us life, all that we do is done in vain. Without God our lives are meaningless. Without God we are nothing (John 15:6).
Application:
It is because of the mercy and grace of God that He shares with us the secrets of life; those truths which gives life its true meaning and value. This life that we have is not an accident, my friends, but a well thought out plan of the Living God; the almighty, all knowing, all perfect, all holy and pure God. Without God our lives become unmanageable and we tend to seek after those things that are only temporal; things that we think will satisfy but always leaves us wanting more. Without God there will always be an emptiness that can never be filled. Without God we are left unprotected and helpless; left alone as fair prey for the jaws of an enemy who will devour us without mercy, for he seeks only to kill and destroy all that God has created. Our only hope lies in our dependency on His divine grace (Ephesians 2:8). We can obtain all the skills and wisdom of a master builder, but without Jehovah all that we build will crumble and be no more—we will have labored in vain without a trace of our efforts left. Whatever you are building, my dear friends, unless the Lord is in it and honored by it, it will eventually fall in hopeless ruin. You can do much and labor hard, but without the Lord it is all done in vain and accomplishes nothing.
Prayer:
Create in me, dear Lord, the desire to continue building my new life in You that honors You; a life that will reflect Your amazing glory. I know that those who hold to a world view will mock and try to discourage my new life building process, but I know that You will give me the strength and wisdom to persevere the storms that lie ahead. For I know that You, the Master Builder, only designs the perfect life for Your imperfect children.
Amen
Scripture:
Psalm 127:1
Unless the LORD builds the house,
They labor in vain who builds it;
Unless the LORD guards the city,
The watchman stays awake in vain. (NKJV)
Observation:
Unless we know and fear the LORD, our lives are lived in vain (Psalm 25:14). When we live our lives apart from the One who gives us life, all that we do is done in vain. Without God our lives are meaningless. Without God we are nothing (John 15:6).
Application:
It is because of the mercy and grace of God that He shares with us the secrets of life; those truths which gives life its true meaning and value. This life that we have is not an accident, my friends, but a well thought out plan of the Living God; the almighty, all knowing, all perfect, all holy and pure God. Without God our lives become unmanageable and we tend to seek after those things that are only temporal; things that we think will satisfy but always leaves us wanting more. Without God there will always be an emptiness that can never be filled. Without God we are left unprotected and helpless; left alone as fair prey for the jaws of an enemy who will devour us without mercy, for he seeks only to kill and destroy all that God has created. Our only hope lies in our dependency on His divine grace (Ephesians 2:8). We can obtain all the skills and wisdom of a master builder, but without Jehovah all that we build will crumble and be no more—we will have labored in vain without a trace of our efforts left. Whatever you are building, my dear friends, unless the Lord is in it and honored by it, it will eventually fall in hopeless ruin. You can do much and labor hard, but without the Lord it is all done in vain and accomplishes nothing.
Prayer:
Create in me, dear Lord, the desire to continue building my new life in You that honors You; a life that will reflect Your amazing glory. I know that those who hold to a world view will mock and try to discourage my new life building process, but I know that You will give me the strength and wisdom to persevere the storms that lie ahead. For I know that You, the Master Builder, only designs the perfect life for Your imperfect children.
Amen
“Message of the Cross”
Scripture:
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live,
but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh
I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. (NASB)
Observation:
What an incredible and freeing truth this is for anyone who can grasp its meaning and then embrace its significance as did the apostle Paul.
Application:
As flawed human beings born into this sin filled world we have both the privilege and the freedom to choose how we are to live our lives when we believe in the God of creation and the truth about eternity. We can either rely on our own abilities and power to achieve a right standing before a Holy and Righteous God or we can accept the punishment that was paid in full and nailed to the cross of the Son of God, our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus. The Son of God not only took upon Himself the worst that the evil of mankind could give, but He also accepted the full punishment of God’s wrath against all the sinfulness of mankind; an indescribable punishment that we cannot even begin to imagine, and one we fully deserve. When you embrace the reality of this most amazing gift; one which was freely given and borne out of love, you will surrender your life over to the care and control of the Lord our God, Jesus Christ, and He will lead you down the only path that leads to everlasting life. Don’t believe in the lies of this desperate world, my friends, for there is only one way that anyone can live a life that is pleasing to God and stand in His Holy Presence; you must nail your old sin-filled life to the cross of Christ and let Him create in you a new creature; one that will honor and glorify the Father of Life. You must (each and every day) take up your cross and cover yourself with Christ, for the LORD came down from the Glory of Heaven to do for you what you could never do for yourself. You can either embrace this Truth or not, but you must remember that this choice will be the most important choice you will ever make, because its consequences has no end. So embrace the message of the cross with all your hearts and souls, dear friends, for the reality of the cross is the only Hope we have!
Prayer:
What You did for all of mankind, O LORD, is beyond our understanding, but brings us the hope we need to experience the peace of God; a peace that brings true joy to this difficult life. Thank You for Your mercy and grace and for taking our place in God’s wrath. You paid our debt in full so that we could come back into the Presence of the Living God. What better gift is there? None!
Amen
“Point to God”
Scripture:
Jeremiah 9:24
But let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands
and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness,
justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in theses things, declares the LORD. (NASB)
Observation:
As sin filled people living in a fallen world we have little to boast about other than the mercy and grace of our Creator. Those who hold themselves in the highest esteem are really living a life of denial by placing themselves above their Creator; the One who sustains all life (Job 34:14-15).
Application:
Billions of people have been sucked into the many lies of the Enemy, who wants us to believe that we are the captain of our souls and the driving force behind our destiny. We are not! We have two choices, my friends; we can either get behind the devil and allow him to build on our inherited sinful natures, or we can turn our lives over to the control and care of the LORD. The first choice leads to everlasting death and the second leads to everlasting life. When we choose the latter, we must fully understand that our success depends solely on the wisdom and strength of the Lord. It is He who shapes and molds us into the kind of person we were meant to be. It is He who puts the desire in our hearts to follow Him. We can do nothing good on our own (John 15:5). When we try doing what is good on own power we always fall short of God’s standard. It is impossible for us to live righteously without God’s help. The flesh is weak and our spirit is flawed and this is why we all need Jesus. It is only through our Lord, Christ Jesus, that we can be saved and transformed. So if we are to boast at all, my friends, let us boast in the LORD our God (2 Corinthians 10:17).
Prayer:
Thank You, dear Lord, for all that you are, for without You there would be no good life at all. Without the goodness that is who You are this life would be no life worth living. It is only because of You that we have the hope we have. How I praise and honor You; the Living God of all.
Amen
Scripture:
Jeremiah 9:24
But let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands
and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness,
justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in theses things, declares the LORD. (NASB)
Observation:
As sin filled people living in a fallen world we have little to boast about other than the mercy and grace of our Creator. Those who hold themselves in the highest esteem are really living a life of denial by placing themselves above their Creator; the One who sustains all life (Job 34:14-15).
Application:
Billions of people have been sucked into the many lies of the Enemy, who wants us to believe that we are the captain of our souls and the driving force behind our destiny. We are not! We have two choices, my friends; we can either get behind the devil and allow him to build on our inherited sinful natures, or we can turn our lives over to the control and care of the LORD. The first choice leads to everlasting death and the second leads to everlasting life. When we choose the latter, we must fully understand that our success depends solely on the wisdom and strength of the Lord. It is He who shapes and molds us into the kind of person we were meant to be. It is He who puts the desire in our hearts to follow Him. We can do nothing good on our own (John 15:5). When we try doing what is good on own power we always fall short of God’s standard. It is impossible for us to live righteously without God’s help. The flesh is weak and our spirit is flawed and this is why we all need Jesus. It is only through our Lord, Christ Jesus, that we can be saved and transformed. So if we are to boast at all, my friends, let us boast in the LORD our God (2 Corinthians 10:17).
Prayer:
Thank You, dear Lord, for all that you are, for without You there would be no good life at all. Without the goodness that is who You are this life would be no life worth living. It is only because of You that we have the hope we have. How I praise and honor You; the Living God of all.
Amen
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