September 23, 2012

“Most Holy One”

Scripture:

But now, O Israel, the LORD who created you says: “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. (Isaiah 43:1-2, 3) NLT

Observation:

Although the LORD is speaking to His people Israel through the prophet Isaiah, these Living Words from God are also speaking to His Church today. This incredible, life changing truth is God’s promise to everyone who belongs to Him.

Application:

When we become a part of the Body of Christ, His Church, we are no longer like a lone wolf hungrily searching to satisfy its instinctive animal appetites to survive. But unlike the wolf that is driven by survival, we choose to consciously feed on the worldly things that bring pleasure to our sinful flesh, rather than feeding on every word of God in order to nourish our eternal souls (1 Peter 2:2). As sinful human beings we tend to spend more time feeding on the things that are spiritually unhealthy and lead us away from the Savior. But when we give our lives to God, He breaks the chains that hold us captive to the pleasures of sin that lead to Hell. Instead, we are adopted into God’s family, receiving everything we need to satisfy our spiritual hunger and thirst for God and eternity. And once we accept Christ’s sacrificial death on the Cross as the price paid for our sin-filled rebellion against God, we become His very own possessions—our lives are no longer our own, for we have not only been set free from our bondage to sin and death, but we are also made a new creation in Christ Jesus, our Lord (2 Corinthians 5:17). The price for your redemption has been paid in full, my friends. Your life has now been purchased by God and all He really wants in return is your love and obedience (1 Peter 1:14) and to live your life in ways that bring Him glory. One of the most incredible sensations you will ever experience is when you realize that you now belong to the Kingdom of God—you are now a citizen of Heaven. You will feel such an awesome sense of belonging to Something and Some One that is so incredibly greater than anything this fallen world has to offer. You will find yourself joyously praising the LORD Almighty—the Living God who saved you, for He will begin immediately rewarding you with an everlasting peace amidst the chaos, an everlasting joy in your deepest sorrow, and the unshakable confidence in knowing that you are a child of God. Realizing these amazing things about our Most Holy God allows you to be bold and unafraid, for He will give you both the Wisdom and Power to not only live righteously with the unrighteous, but to tell other lost souls about their desperate need to surrender to the Savior—the Most Holy One of Israel.

Prayer:

Thank You O God, for paying the price for our redemption. Thank You for setting us free from the power of sin and death. Thank You for giving me another chance to live righteously for You.  Amen

September 15, 2012

“A Time to Choose”

Scripture:

So we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be accepted by God because of our faith in Christ—and not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be saved by obeying the law.
(Galatians 2:16) NLT

Observation:

No living person has the ability nor the power to stand justified before the Most Holy One of Israel. In order for anyone to stand holy and blameless in the eyes of the Living God, we, too, must be holy as He is Holy. And the only way for our justification and holiness (so we can escape God’s final punishment) is through His forgiveness of sin and the holy covering of our Lord, Jesus Christ (Romans 3:23-25).

Application:

Because of the sinful nature we all inherit, we are cursed with the human weakness to fight the evil, God hating power of sin, and thus, we need the blood of Christ to cleanse us and His holiness to save us. There is no other Way, for our inherent human weakness to sin is our condemnation. We cannot save ourselves no matter how righteous we try to be, or how righteous we think we are. We all have the tendency to do whatever we feel like doing, rather than doing what is righteous and pleasing to God. Many of us only come to God when we are in desperate need of something greater than ourselves, because we hate to admit that we are powerless in our own circumstances. And God hates pride! Pride is the reason that Lucifer, the greatest and most beautiful of God’s angels was thrown out of Heaven and condemned to the eternal Lake of Fire with no chance for redemption. It was the human pride of Jewish leaders that led to the murder of the Son of Man. It is our stubborn pride that is our ticket to Hell. But there is very good news, for we now live in the Age of the Church and we know there is only One Truth, because the Lord our God has poured out His Holy Spirit to reveal His Truth and give us the Resurrection Power that not only helps us walk through the sanctification process, but gives us the strength to maintain the holiness that God calls us to have (Leviticus 19:2). Upon our acceptance of God’s redemptive plan through Christ Jesus, we have the sacrificial blood of Christ to cleanse us, His sacrificial death that saves us, God’s resurrection power to sustain us, and God’s promise of eternal life to reward us. God had His plan for mankind before the foundation of the earth was laid. And unlike the waves of the sea, the Creator does not waver in His ways. Unlike the finite creatures that we are, God knows that we cannot live without Him. His infinite Wisdom and Power and Mercy is all the grace we need. For He knows that we are mere humans, not god’s; that we are weak and vulnerable, and are lives are but a dream—once realized, but soon forgotten. Our earthly lives are just a blink of an eye, but our souls (our very spirits themselves) are eternal. This is why our Holy and Just God has given us all fair warning—why He has given us the Way and the time to choose. God wants no one to perish, but the time is growing dangerously close to the completion of His redemptive plan. It’s time to choose, if you have not already done so. Don’t wait, dear friends—don’t let the Perfect and Holy Justice of God decide for you— for if you do, you will not be pleased.

Prayer:

What a glorious and awesome God you are, O LORD. Your love and faithfulness is unending and has no bounds. You are, the Great I Am—You are our Great Gift Giver—You and You alone are our only hope for salvation, for You are the only Savior of Creation. Amen

September 8

“Most Trustworthy”

Scripture:

Stop putting your trust in mere humans. They are as frail as breath. How can they be of help to anyone? (Isaiah 2:22) NLT

Observation:

Trusting in ourselves or other flawed human beings to do for you what only God can do is not only short-sighted, but foolish as well (Proverbs 28:26). Relying on anyone but the LORD God Himself will always leave you feeling either letdown or unsatisfied at best. Putting your hope in this dying world and those who belong to it will only bring you even more disappointment than you have already experienced from trusting in your own abilities and others to gain whatever it is that you don’t have.

Application:

The sinfulness that human pride brings into this world becomes so misleading that it blinds us from the Truth of who God is, of what God can do, and what God has planned for mankind! It is God’s will that will prevail. He is sovereign over all things. There is nothing bigger, or mightier, or more trusting than our triune God and Creator. God’s truth is absolute. His Word is the final authority. His ways are always best and God can be trusted fully with anything in our lives. No one on this earth will ever love you as completely as God loves you. No one knows you better than the One who formed you in your mother’s womb. There is no one better for you to trust than the King of the Universe—your Advocate—the Perfect Sacrificial Lamb of God who died every sinners death so you would not have to. There is no one more forgiving, more understanding, or more dedicated to your life than the One who gave you this life. The many lies that Satan rules this sin filled world with are hopeless and futile and cannot be trusted for anything good, especially for your ever-living needs. When we go to God first for whatever it is we need, we can trust and rely on Him, because whatever He gives us will not only be sufficient, but will be exactly what is best for us (Micah 7:7-8). God will not withhold from you any good thing when you belong to Him (Psalm 84:11). He is your Father, the One who brought you into this life—the One who gave up the glory of Heaven to live and die in a dark and evil world so that you could live and live forever. Our Mighty God is, was, and always will be—Most Trustworthy.

Prayer:

Thank You, dear Lord, for the Truth we can live by and one that is trustworthy indeed. It is comforting to know that when we lay down to sleep we can sleep in peace! Amen

September 1, 2012

“Unstoppable”

Scripture:

Then Job replied to the LORD; “I know that You can do anything,
and no one can stop You.” (Job 42:1-2) NLT

Observation:

I believe that knowing and accepting this absolute truth about the Creator is the beginning of sincere human humility. For without the solid foundation that this truth brings to life, life itself is not only disturbing, but confusing at best. Man cannot successfully navigate through this life without a point of reference that is both constant and reliable—ways that will guide us in the right direction—ways that remind us of who we really are, especially in our relationship with God and His supreme scheme of things.

Application:

We cannot possibly begin to understand the depths of our existence and why things are what they are (Romans 11:33-34) without God’s true purpose and destination in mind. Fact: God created man in His own likeness and for His glory. Fact: God, the Creator, personally owns everything that He creates, including each and every precious human life that He forms in the womb. Fact: God does what God must do! We have a Father in Heaven, my friends, an Infinite Father who wants the best for every person He creates; even those who continually deny Him. We have a High Priest who sits at the right hand of God in Heaven; One who saved all humanity from God’s wrath and the only One who can successfully advocate on our behalf (Hebrews 10:12). And we have a Holy Spirit who is alive and working in our fallen world, changing hearts, changing lives, and bringing much needed peace of mind and hope to the people of this world; even amidst the seemingly unending chaos that sin-filled rebellion against God brings to this world. Our Triune God wants no one to perish, and it is for this reason that He gives us a choice and a time to choose Him. And when we do, He instantly becomes for us everything we need, and then guides us to achieve our dreams of a better future filled with joy rather than pain. He becomes our Strong Tower—a Place where we can escape the daily assaults from our enemies—a Place of safety and comfort—a Place where we will find a much needed rest for our tired and weary souls (Proverbs 18:10). When we know that God is on our side and for us, nothing can stand in His way—nothing will stop Him from doing what He wants to accomplish. When is comes to saving His creation from destruction, the LORD our God is totally and inequitably the unstoppable Power that you need by your side. Walking with God is an unstoppable journey to Heaven.

Prayer:

One of the greatest gifts You have given us, O Lord, is the gift of Your Presence—knowing that we can run to You for all our needs, especially when trouble and sorrow comes our way. Just knowing that we can find peace and rest is something that is beyond my ability to express gratitude for You. Amen

August 25, 2012

“Living Redeemer”

Scripture:

But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and that He will stand upon the earth at last. And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God! I will see Him for myself. Yes, I will see Him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought! (Job 19:25-27) NLT

Observation:

I believe one of the most important questions that all Christians should ask themselves is this: If your life circumstances were that of Job’s—where you lost your family, your home, your health and all that you had, would you, too, stand strong in our faith that God is truly God? Could you still love and honor Him, or would you hate and turn against Him?

Application:

I’m not trying to diminish anyone’s difficult circumstances or am I implying that God intentionally causes us great grief, but just as Job was singled out by God to get His point across, we, too, may find ourselves singled out by God and thrown into circumstances that we don’t understand—trials that will test our faith—trials that bring us down. This short and difficult life has its ways of making us feel like we have personally been singled out and oppressed, causing us to doubt God and this life. We, for the moment, must live in a world cursed with sin and ruled by the powers of darkness—those unseen enemies who hold the powers of fear and death, (Ephesians 6:12), and hate the God of the Bible. And until Jesus returns to set up His earthly Kingdom, living on this earth will continue to decay morally and get even more difficult and dangerous to live in. No one will be immune. And yes, all living things will suffer. But, there is Hope—Hope for the world, for we have a Redeemer, my friends, we have Christ Jesus—God in the flesh—the Living God who physically lived as a man, untarnished by sin, and became the Perfect Sacrificial Lamb who redeemed all of mankind (Isaiah 53:6). Unlike Job, we know that God walked upon the earth bringing us hope in salvation. And we know that no matter how we suffer or how difficult this life becomes, we will live on to see God Face to face. Focusing on this incredible promise will always give you peace in your trials and the strength to faithfully carry on—taking on each difficult circumstance and trusting God’s Power with each one (Ephesians 6:10). Without the blessed Hope that God has given us in the resurrection of His Son, this life is meaningless. Without God’s Guiding Light, we live groping in darkness in a desperate search for truth. In all circumstances, if you have faith in your Redeemer, you have it all. For when you doubt (and you will), you can take the Hand of Living God and walk in His Presence, and by focusing on the Author and the Finisher of Life, you will experience the joy and freedom of knowing that our Redeemer lives!

Prayer:

Thank You, dear Lord, for taking my pain and suffering, and for giving me new life. How I look forward to that day when I will see You Face to face. Until then you will continue to live in my heart doing what only You are able to do. Amen

August 14, 2012

 

“Worthy Callings”

Scripture:

Lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. (Ephesians 4:1-2) NLT

Observation:

As Christians, we have been called by God to live our lives that not only bring honor to God, but to our calling as well—ways that bring glory to God—the glory and goodness that He has called us to receive (2Peter 1:3). And because the Lord has chosen His Church to be the beacon of light in this lost world covered in darkness, we must be transformed into the likeness of the Son of God—the true and everlasting “Light of the World” (John 8:12), if we are to fulfill our special calling from God. But because of our sinful, self-centered nature, a Christ-like transformation must take place; a process that cannot be accomplished on our own or without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Application:

We must have this transforming power of God working in us and for us (24/7), if we are to become a new creation…a new and holy person in Christ Jesus our Lord (2 Corinthians 5:17). Most of us who come into Gods Light and calling come lacking both humility and patience because this world is all about self-reliance and quicker is better, which in many cases ends up in failure and fear, which leads us even further away from the love, and the knowledge, and the protection of the Father, our Sovereign Creator. Without God’s help and direction we inevitably begin drifting dangerously closer to the decadence that ends in deeper darkness and death; the fate of all those who stubbornly follow the senseless paths that this lost world sets before us. Only when we are driven by the love of God do we humble ourselves before the Lord, allowing Him to soften our hardened hearts, so we can learn to be gentle rather than harsh, to be more understanding instead of condemning, and a willingness to love and help others in spite of our own circumstances. None of us are perfect and we all share many of the same weaknesses, but when we live for God and His calling, He will give us exactly what is needed, at the very moment it is needed, in order to fulfill His purposes through us (Psalm 37:5). We must step out in faith and trust that God is who He says He is and that He does what He says He will do. You can fully trust in our Infinite God, dear friends, and when you do He will transform your self-centered life in ways that will be worthy of this crucial life or death calling; a calling this condemned world so desperately needs!

Prayer:

Install in me, O LORD, the abilities to carry out Your calling for me. And not just me, dear Lord, but for Your Holy Church that is spreading throughout this fallen world. Help us unite in ways that are worthy of Your Calling.

Amen

August 11, 2012

 

“Infinite in Truth”

Scripture:

So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard,
or we may drift away from it. (Hebrews 2:1) NLT

Observation:

In our fallen state of sinfulness it can be really easy to let the voices of this busy world drown out the Truth of God—Truth that saves our eternal souls from eternal darkness—Truth that brings us into the very Presence of the Living God Himself.

Application:

In order to escape the seemingly harmless, yet deadly traps that Satan deliberately sets for God’s children, we must stay connected to the infinite Source of all Truth (Deuteronomy 32:4), least we find ourselves drifting aimlessly in an ocean of lies that promises our demise. It is absolutely dangerous to our spiritual health when we become so comfortable in our salvation that we become lazy or negligent in the things of God (Ecclesiastes 10:18)—things that protects us from the decadence that eats away at this world and everyone who belongs to it. If we, as God’s holy people, are to fulfill the Lord’s Commission, we must first and foremost listen very carefully and everyday for the Still Small Voice that speaks through God’s Word by the Holy Spirit. And we must do this consistently and faithfully with love as our motivation, for when we do it out of obligation or for any other reason other than pure love we are neither being loyal to God, nor are we being the salt and light that God calls us to be in this difficult life that cries out for God’s intervention. It is easy for us to get so rapped up in our own spiritual development that we either fail to recognize the urgency that spiritual warfare brings to this world, or we lack the confidence in God to act upon our mission in faith. Not everyone is destined to do great deeds of faith that catch the eyes of the world, but we are called to live our lives for God and others—to love our God and others, and to sacrifice for God and others, and do it one day, one soul at a time! It is never easy to live out God’s priorities for our lives, for we are both sinfully weak and handicapped by our finite humanness. But by trusting in Christ Jesus as our Redeemer and loyal Advocate; the One who is (at this very moment) sitting at the right hand of God in the current Heaven covering our sins with His righteousness, and by relying on the Holy Spirit to guide and empower us into action, we can, indeed, do the work and the will that the Father calls His children to do. Listen carefully and listen often, my friends, for the Truth is not only eternal, but like God, is infinite as well ((John 1:14).

 

Prayer:

Thank You, O God, for the Spirit of Truth that makes the world’s truth sound foolish indeed. Help us to understand and remain steadfast in the things of God that is revealed by His Spirit in us. For when we do the Light of Christ shines brightly in this world that is covered in darkness.

Amen