Here Comes the Judge!

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(Luke 12:57) And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?

O

Jesus presented His question to crowds, the thousands of people who trampled each other to hear Him. Undoubtedly, their spectrum of wisdom ranged from insightful to clueless; yet Jesus charged each person to actively judge rightness for themselves. He was clear: God's will and God's Word were the standards for right. He was also clear that God holds them responsible for how they appliedy what measures of knowledge He gave them.

A

Why don't I judge for myself what is right? Do I defer to others to escape being responsible and doing right? Do I look carefully at my life and community, and take both a stand and necessary action to do right, to broaden the span of my Master's influence. He is the Righteous Judge, the Prince of Peace--do I wisely live out all the insights He has generously given me (before I ask for more)?

P

Master, Savior, thank You for Your patience and mercy on me. I don't want to use that as an excuse for neglecting what You want to do through me. Help me today to live the Truth You've shown me. Help me to be fully attentive to do everything that brings You pleasure as You observe me.

Passing through Fear

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(Isaiah 33:14) The sinners in Zion are afraid; trembling has seized the godless: "Who among us can dwell with the consuming fire...?"

O

Isaiah described these people as selfishly permitting or participating in the mistreatment of others. Fear is an apt response because the Holy Spirit doesn't allow this behavior among His people. Jesus came to baptize us with His Holy Spirit, who is this consuming fire that removes these toxic tendencies from us.

A

We are to fear God, but not to be afraid. So Jesus sent His disciples into a deadly squall, then He walked across the open sea to comfort them. Jesus arranged to be murdered--crucified--then He, in His resurrected body, walked through their house walls, right into the room where they were hiding. Jesus permits such frightening circumstances where only His presence can re-work the circumstances into good or into joy (Romans 5:1-5; 8:28,29; James 1:2-8).

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Lord, I welcome You and Your Holy Spirit's work in my life--whatever is needed. I give myself to You, and as fully as I understand how to do this, I am receptive to everything You want me to be or to do. Thank You for the faith to leave fear and to abide in Your peaceful, joyful, love.

Don't Steal My Cross!

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(Luke 9:23) And He [Jesus] said to all, " If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me."

O

This teaching conversation began when Jesus was alone in prayer even though He was also alone with His disciples (verse 18). Such is the nature of prayer. From that safe intimacy, He chose to reveal that He was indeed God's Messiah, who was to succeed by suffering and dying before being resurrected, glorified, or honored. He then invited His disciples to die under the biting rejection of the ungodly religious, then to live in the over-compensating presence of God (verses 18-27).

A

I need only one final death to commence my eternal resurrection with Jesus in Heaven (1 Corinthians 15). However, each day I need to take up my cross to follow Him. So many tempters and temptations try to steal my cross, to cheat me out of doing God's patient, loving will. I want no one to steal my opportunities to forgive, to love the unlovable, to become generous and merciful instead of mean and selfish.

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Dear Lamb of God, Messiah, yes. I say yes to Your invitation to joyfully carry my ever-shifting cross, which purges my selfishness fear. I say yes to walking boldly in Your light and love. I reject each shortcut and compromise, each luxury that makes me less Christ-like. Amen!

Strengthening the King

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(Daniel 11:1) And as for me [Daniel], in the first year of Darius the Mede, I stood up to confirm and strengthen him.

O
Daniel's devotion to the King of king's allowed him to freely confirm and strengthen Darius. This ruler "introduced" himself to the Babylonians by his military invasion. When Daniel chose death by lions instead of death by godlessness (Daniel 6), he taught Darius to live. Daniel confirmed and strengthened Darius by communicating the richness and certainty of God's Word even though he didn't grasp all of its details (Daniel 9:1-23; 12:8-11).

A
As a godly person, too, I have a responsibility to care for the souls of all governmental and political leaders whether I agree with their "ways and means," or their methods, motives, or morals. Although I don't share Daniel's political position, I do share his call to love and pray for leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-6).

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King Jesus, I confess that sometimes I wear my political convictions like an obnoxious shirt. I repent. Help me to still hold bold convictions, but above all else to communicate loving compassion for the well-being of all citizens. As I participate in the costly privilege of self-government, help me to represent Your kingdom well. Yours is the eternal kingdom.

Fully Redeemed

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(Psalm 130:7,8) O Israel [insert my name], hope in the Lord! For with the Lord, there is steadfast love, and with Him is plentiful redemption. And He will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

O

Israel represents God's people, people who willingly experience God's beneficence. Our relationship with Him ignites hope and a decedent outpouring of His redemption. Not only does He forgive us and remove the penalty of our disobediences, but He redeems us. He converts His people's miseries into hope and health.

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How do I maximize all the benefits He's made available to me? Verses 1 and 2 describe my fully engaged conversation with Him (i.e., prayer). Verses 3 and 4 describe my courageous stance in active goodness. Verses 5 and 6 describe my patient attention and reverence for God's Word. And the final two verses describe the joys of walking with Jesus.

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Thank You, Lord, for Your steadfast, unwavering, love toward me. It is superior to how I've loved You or others. It is superior to any other love I've experienced. You've proven and substantiated Your love by redeeming me from all (not just a couple) of my iniquities--THANK YOU!

Dwarfed by His Designs of Love

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(Ezekiel 42:2) The length of the building whose door faced north was a hundred cubits, and the breadth was fifty cubits.

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At least God knows what He's doing. His depth of detail, His breadth of design far exceeds humanity's comprehension, yet despite the gap between His knowledge and ourse, He does not require a secret handshake or a strange insight before we can appreciate and participate in His redemptive works. As complex as Ezekiel's temple visions seem, love is still the fulfillment of the law (Romans 13:8).

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Paul prayed for me that I would know the breadth and length and height and depth of the love of Christ (Ephesians 3:18,19). Ezekiel's temple discloses rich symbols of Christ's love, a few of them even crowded into my small understanding! The big lesson is that God knows what He's doing even though I don't ... and that's okay. I can learn of His loving designs at my own pace (phew)!

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Dear Prince of Peace, thank You for accompanying me as I worship You. I enter worship burdened and guilty, but leave still escorted and loved by You. And You lead me out to a new place, changed by the loss of my burden of shame, fear, and isolation. I love You (and thanks, too, for You message in Ezekiel 46:9,10).

Conquering Fear

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(Revelation 21:7) The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be My son.

O

This heritage refers to dwelling with God who permanently removes sadness and pain from us, who continuously makes all things new, and who fully satisfies all our thirsts and appetites (verses 1-7). This heritage belongs to His children, who--like Him--conquers anything that distorts His goodness. to not be His is to be enslaved by fear, doubt, repulsiveness, killings, sexual confusion, evil manipulations, covetousness, twisted imaginations, and dishonesty (verses 7 and 8).

A

I've learned that behind most of what wounds, cripples, and defeats me is fear. And fear (cowardliness) is simply a bad idea. That's all it is. It has no power of its own, but it tricks me into doing its dirty work. Ben Courson wrote: "But courage is not the absence of fear, it is being stronger than fear ... It understands that fear's only intrinsic power is making us believe it is omnipotent.... So it is in realizing that courage is greater than fear that fear is overcome."

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Lord, thank You for the experiences and choices that You allow into my life. The teach me and they train me to become a conqueror of fear and hopelessness... to become Your child.