June 9, 2012

 “From Listener to Doer”

Scripture:

James 1:22
Prove yourselves doers of the Word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. (NASB)

Observation:

We cannot not truly call ourselves “children of God” and expect to enjoy the many blessings that our salvation in Christ Jesus brings without actually doing the will of God, because thinking otherwise is not only foolish, but deadly as well. It is delusional and dangerous to think you can hear God’s Word, and then knowingly disobey it without retribution. It is written in Scripture that there is a price to be paid for those who claim to hear the Word of God but blindly go about their everyday lives in total disregard of what it says (Matthew 7:21).

Application:

The Church gatherings around the world are filled with people who listen to the sermons, but their lives never really change—and sadly, they spend their short lives here on the earth going about the business of this fallen world believing their salvation is in the bag. And how terrible it will be on the “Day of the Lord” when they hear Jesus say; “I never knew you” (Matthew 7:22-23). It is impossible to understand the true meaning of God’s Word without the Holy Spirit as our Interpreter, who takes up residence in our hearts when we selflessly take up the Lord’s offer and live as God’s children should. Apart from ourselves, only God knows the motivation found in our heart, for we cannot hide in our darkness from Him. Our flawed human hearts are deceitful and malevolent in its fallen state (Jeremiah 17:9-10), especially when it comes to things which we know are righteous and godly—even when our conscience opposes our sinful behavior. We cannot win the battles against our sinful nature if we don’t apply the Word of God to our lives, and it is useless going into battle against the evil forces that rule this world without the armor of God and the Holy Spirit leading the way. If you truly believe in the Word of God and replace your own flawed will with the perfect will of the Father you will be changed from a listener to a doer, and in the process your life will experience a transformation that lasts forever—For one day you will hear Jesus, the King of kings and the Lord of lords say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant,” rather than, “I never knew you.”

Prayer:

Thank You, O God, for Your mercy and grace for forgiving my sins and giving me life. There are many voices calling for my allegiance to the world. But you have opened the eyes of my heart so Your Truth drowns them out. You are our only Hope in this decaying world—our eternal Hope!   Amen

June 2, 2012

 

 “Living Anew”

Scripture:

1 Peter 1:23
For you have been born again. Your new life did not come from your earthly parents because the life they gave you will end in death. But this new life will last forever because it comes from the Eternal Living Word of God. (NLT)

Observation:

The Son of God tells us clearly in His own Words that in order for anyone to receive the gift of eternal life in the Kingdom of God they must be born again (John 3:3), and this rebirth comes not from this dying world but from the infinite Almighty God Himself (John 1:13). Experiencing true rebirthing means that you have been chosen by God the Father, cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ, and renewed by the Holy Spirit, who does the good work of transforming our hearts and minds until our sanctification is completed to perfection and we are glorified—perfect in every way and in union with God forever.

Application:

I still find it so incredibly amazing that after all of my dysfunctional behaviors and many years of rebellion against God that He would cleanse my ugly past and give me a new beginning that has no end. Not long after my rebirth, as the Holy Spirit began to reveal the true meaning of life and what my new future held, did the thought of eternal life really hit me hard, for I had no problem accepting the renewing of my lost and troubled life in the here and now, but the thought of having to continually live forever appealed to me about as much as swimming with hungry sharks did. But as the Lord transformed my heart and my dysfunctional world view I began to see how wonderful and exciting this forever new life was going to be. And as I keep on learning and changing and realizing how infinitely big our God is, the more I look forward to living in His Presence for eternity. As God’s redeemed people we should all be excitedly awaiting that glorious day when Jesus physically returns to the Earth with His angles and saints to eradicate the evil forces that rule this world and establish His Kingdom on Earth for a millennium. And after His thousand year reign the Lord will restore His creation to perfection, bringing the New Jerusalem and the New Heaven down to Earth where His glorified people will reign with Him forever (Revelation 22:5). And this, my friends, is how all of God’s redeemed people will forever live—reigning with Christ in new glorified bodies, never bored, never sad or lonely, and never in pain—exploring the immensity of our infinite and sovereign God who has made it possible for us to, once again, physically live in His Presence forever!

Prayer:

Thank You, dear LORD, for this new life and bright future in Your Presence. Thank You for rescuing me from the fate of this fallen world to give me a clearer picture of who You are and who I am not. Life without knowing these things has a tragic end indeed.   Amen

May 26, 2012

 “Staying Alive”

Scripture:

John 15:4
Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful apart from Me. (NLT)

Observation:

It is absolutely essential for every Christian, no matter where they are in their walk with the Lord, to stay connected to God and His will by daily reading and meditating on every Word of God. For it is not only infallible in its truth, but it’s the heavenly food that nourishes our hearts, minds, and souls as we develop and share the kind of fruit which helps us remain as clean as freshly fallen snow and as white as wool even though our sins are as deep as crimson red (Isaiah 1:18).

Application

In order for our lives to grow and produce this heavenly fruit which is filled with the transforming power of God, we must have the Holy Spirit living in us to prune out that which is diseased and rotten and growing in the wrong direction, and to nourish our new growth with God’s life-giving food. Without this everyday spiritual nourishing the stems of our new life will weaken and the fruit which began to develop will soon shrivel up and die, dropping away from the Branch to lie rotting and useless. And it is there, back in the decaying world from which we came, that we await the burning (John 15:6). Without this nourishing power from Heaven helping us stay healthy and connected to the Branch, we are destined to fall away and return to the world to partake of its deadly poisonous food which kills and condemns our eternal life. Many hungry souls will taste of God’s Heavenly food only to feed upon it when it’s convenient or desperately needed, then sadly will return to the lust filling diet of the world when it’s not. Don’t be one of those who uses the Word of God to pacify their worldly feeding frenzy, because the Truth tells us that we would be better off never having tasted of God’s heavenly food in the first place (2 Peter 2:21-22). Instead, bathe in the glory of God’s goodness and mercy and grace and be nourished by His Word, which will keep you alive during this difficult life-journey. And one day you will partake in God’s true fruit from the Tree of Life that will be found in the new Heaven on the New Earth. Reject the addictive and poisonous food of this evil world ruled by Satan, my friends, and replace it with the Word of God. For if don’t you will surely die an unrepentant sinner’s death, which is far more deadly than the first death that is a reality for everyone living on this earth.

Prayer:

Thank You O God, for taking care of my every need. Now help me stay strong and committed to You and Your Way. And help me discern what is healthy for my soul and what is not, for when I know the difference I will remain connected to You and be able to stay alive!           Amen

May 20, 2012

 “Our Every Breath”

Scripture:

 

Psalm 116:12

What can I offer the LORD for all He has done for me? (NLT)

Observation:

There was a time, not so long ago, that all I could offer the LORD was nothing, but a broken down shell of a man with an awful distaste for life and everything it had to offer. I was displeased with God, myself, and the world I was forced to live in. I hated God, myself, and most of everything that the world was. I was hopelessly lost on a journey I didn’t like and didn’t want; a journey that didn’t really have a destination. So I had nothing to offer the LORD even if I wanted to, for very little good had come my way.

Application:

I always thought that I did my best to do the right things, while never really understanding why I did them. I tried to live the golden rule, but never seemed to benefit from it. But deep within my heart I knew there was a meaningful reason for this life (that it was no accident), but could never really put my finger on it. This life was indeed a mystery to me and the next life was even more so……Then our Savior revealed Himself to me and changed the direction of my life-journey forever, discovering that I actually had something worth giving that I could offer the LORD—something that I always had but never realized what they were really capable of. And that dear friends, was my heart, mind, and soul and the very life that I breathed. I could now offer God my love, trust, and deepest thanksgiving, for I had His promise and commitment to see me safely Home, no matter what (Psalm 118:13-14). The LORD, our gracious and merciful God, shined the Light of Truth into my life which set me free from the bondage that kept me in darkness most of my life. What the LORD did for me was give me the right reasons I needed to keep on living, and a Heaven bond purpose that keeps me traveling in the right direction. What I can now offer the LORD for all He has done in my life is every living part of my being which is His and His alone. When we truly belong to God we will live in ways that honor His commands and glorify His Name (Hebrews 13:15). The LORD needs nothing from mankind, but we are in dire need of everything that God is (Acts 17:24-25). For the LORD has given us the Way to everlasting life in Paradise if we surrender to His will and give back to Him what He has so graciously given us—our every breath of life.

Prayer:

Thank You, my Lord, for the precious gift of life that keeps on living. How I praise Your Holy Name and proclaim Your awesome glory. There is no other God like You and my life is but a small offering compared to all the wonderful things you have done.

Amen

May 12, 2012

 “One Way Home”

Scripture:

Proverbs 15:3

The eyes of the LORD are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good. (NKJ)

Observation:

There are some who believe there is a creator but after creating the universe decided to abandon the creation to evolve on its own. They believe this creator god is an impersonal being who has moved on to other things, thus, allowing the creation to function on the laws of probability and chance. Many religions in the world believe in a god or god’s who do interact with human beings but are not infinite in their nature, while other religions have a god who is so superior in his nature that it is impossible for him to react in a way that humans make a difference, or even matter to him. But Yahweh, the LORD God of the Bible, is not only an infinite God in His knowledge and power and being, but He is actively involved in His creation as well, especially in and for the lives of people. He is the Creator who provides for every living thing He creates. He is the only God who gives His people everything they need for healthy living in this life as well as the one to come (Isaiah 42:5). He is a God who protects and comforts all those who seek shelter under the shadow of His Wings (Psalm 57:1). But most importantly, He is the only living God who has the ability to save us (Psalm 80:3) from the self-destructive consequences of our sinful nature and give us a new life that never ends. The LORD our God carefully watches over His entire creation. He sees all things; nothing can hide from His Presence. The LORD hears every word spoken and every thought that formed—He knows what’s in every heart and every mind.

Application:

God is both the beginning and the end of all things. We have a Holy God who has personally set a standard for us to live by and provides the Way for us to stand holy in His Presence. But unfortunately for those who refuse His way, He is also righteously just in His condemnation of all those who refuse His Way to follow the world’s ways. If by knowing these things about our Triune God makes you feel uncomfortable, they should, because believing in the Truth holds you personally accountable for all your thoughts as well as all your deeds. No one can escape the Truth. God’s eyes are always open, His ears are always listening. Will you to choose to hide from Him in the darkness of this world, hoping to escape His just punishment, or come boldly into His Light just as you are—broken and in need of His mercy and grace? There is only One choice that makes any sense at all; all other choices are foolish ones indeed. But remember this, my dear friends; that our living God is always Home, and His door is always open, for our kind and loving and merciful God is patiently waiting for His children to follow Him Home.

Prayer:

Thank You, dear Lord, for Your patience with me. Seeing and hearing all those years of my confusion and rebellion tells me a lot about who You are—the God of mercy and grace. Thank You for opening my eyes to the Truth and for showing me the only Way Home.
Amen

May 5, 2012

 “Truth Seeker”

 

Scripture:

Psalm 105:4
Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face evermore. (NKJ)

Observation:

Because this world is in a fallen state of sin and rebellion against the Holy God of creation, our lives are in constant conflict; not only to overcome the battles for our hearts and minds and the eternal life of our souls, but it is also an everyday struggle to physically survive as well (1 John 2:16-17). There is not a person alive that doesn’t face these very real and very difficult realities; realities that are reaching new heights with each passing day. Nothing that God has ever created was meant to survive on its own without the sovereign power of the Creator to hold it all together (Colossians 1:15, 17).

Application:

Everything creation is depends upon God alone to maintain its existence. There is no One or anything else that has the power or the ability to sustain all that has been created, especially the delicate balance it takes to keep mankind alive and breathing. We are weak in our physical strength, small in our stature, and powerless against the sin that holds every soul captive and in chains—a bondage that is impossible to break by human power alone. Many persons have tried and all have failed. The power of sin is often disguised not as sin, but as human rights—to take all that the world has to offer and seek its pleasures at all cost. Many try to fulfill their worldly lusts by ignoring the Provider altogether and seek only those things that satisfy the flesh, and then live in constant fear of loosing it, or they feel duped in their failure and hate life. There are still others who, in their pride, think they have gained it all, but wake up one day finding themselves eternally separated from God and trapped in a place of utter hopelessness, pain and suffering, and darkness. The best solution to this life’s hard realities, my friends, is to seek God, and do it before it’s too late. Seek to learn who you were created to be. Seek the knowledge of who God is and why He created what He did. Seek His strength in everything you do and you will gain the peace that overcomes this sin-filled, difficult life-journey. And as you seek the only True Living God, you will discover that we are all equally created to spend our life-journeys seeking God’s Face, His Heart, His Will, and praising His Holy Name. And although all the Honor & Glory belongs to God alone, He will share His Honor & Glory with everyone who faithfully becomes a loyal and trusted Truth seeker (Romans 2:10).

Prayer:

Please help me always, my Lord, to discern what is from You and what is not. The world is full of false prophets who cleverly disguise Your Truth or stretch it to the limit. Help us all, Your children, to remain in Your Light and keep our focus on You alone.

Amen

April 28, 2012

 

“News Worthy”

 

Scripture:

Psalm 98:1
Oh sing to the LORD a new song! For He has done marvelous things;
   His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory. (NKJ)

 

Observation:

Before the LORD rescued me from drowning in a sea of self-loathing and pity, the only song I was able to sing was one of regret, defeat, and disdain for the Author of Life—the Living God who created me to live a miserable existence (so I thought), for I was unable to see any of the marvelous things that God had done for mankind, especially in my own life.

 

Application:

I lived the majority of my life in doubt and depression because I believed in the lies of this fallen world that taught me to focus on myself first and then on how much I could accomplish and gain in the shortest amount of what little time I had. But as I began to act upon these falsehoods I began to question the world’s defining reasons for this cursed thing called life; reasons which seemed to be both shallow and short sighted, and quite meaningless when it was all said and done. And so my desires to excel and gain what the world classified as “the good life” slowly began to dissipate and my desire for the real truth began to fester. Although I gained a few of the goals that I had set for my life, I always had this gnawing feeling in my gut that there was so much more to life than what I had been told, for a small still voice was whispering to me that something was missing—that something was terribly wrong here. Where was the “Joy in Living” that my heart longed for? Why did I always feel either incompetent or incomplete? What was wrong with me? What was wrong with the world? What was the point in living anyways? For all the hard work and pain and suffering, where was the reward and where did it all lead to? A little contentment, a little happiness, but in the end it would all be taken away. And it seemed that no matter what I did or what I accomplished, it never felt good enough, nor did it leave me with the peace that my heart had always longed for. And then, out of the blue, the Living God whom I thought hated me reached down from Heaven and with His Mighty Right Arm saved my precious life (a life that He carefully knitted together in my mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13) from self-destruction. The Lord then cleansed me (1 John 1:7) and blessed me with the vision to see this fallen world as it really is, not as I saw it. He carefully explained the reason He sent His Son to the Cross and what this selfless act of love accomplished. This blessed hope that most people long for can only be found in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And when you have Jesus, my friend, you have it all; unconditional love and forgiveness; peace of mind and heart in spite of all the troubles; the Way to stand blameless before God; the Truth to live righteously, and last but not least, you have the promise of Heaven on Earth where all God’s people will walk with Him in all His glory—Face to face, Hand in hand—for eternity. There is no news that is more exciting or better than this—News that is worthy of sharing!

 

Prayer:

Thank You, dear God, for the Good News that surpasses all other news—news that is indeed worthy.
Amen