So Much More
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:1, 2 NASB)
There's so much more than what we can see or even experience spiritually with the Holy Spirit in these days. We've been given what we need to navigate and experience God's wonderful character but that's just the tip of the iceberg. Our minds cannot understand or fathom His full holiness so He gives us what we can process without hurting ourselves. Paul's letter to the Romans shows that the grace we're standing in is just the introduction; there's way more to come.
Sometimes I get trapped into feeling like this temporary world is all I have. I start questioning myself on whether there's anything more in store for me, my family. But passages like this quickly pull me back, knocking me on the head saying, "snap out of it!" This world is a passageway to something much, much greater that I can't even imagine. But there's going to be enough breadcrumbs along the way so I won't get lost. I need to take my spiritual rations and keep on course. I need to keep moving and not dwell in my earthly state.
Father God, please forgive me of my unfaithfulness at times. You know how I am, I overreact and start planning my future based off temporary circumstances. Lord, help me to always be on level ground, to check my heart and know my course. Thank You for leading me, my family, Your children into eternity! In the amazing name of Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Godly commissioning of our children
Godly commissioning of our children
S - 1 Chron 28: 8-10 (NASB)
9 “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever. 10 Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be courageous and act.”
O - These are the words of King David to his son Solomon at the time of his handing the throne over to Solomon. They are words of encouragement, and of warning. He gave him the keys to the kingdom by telling Solomon the keys to following God. David long before this had been living a life likely visible to Solomon, and he did example a King who sought to follow and serve God, but yet these words are needed to both commission Solomon, and sum up how he is to rule.
A- The application for me comes in the area of raising and commissioning my own children. I recognize that the most important thing to do is be an example to my children of a man seeking to follow God and serve Him with my whole heart and a willing mind. But also I must not assume that without words they will understand and follow my example. I believe I must tell them face to face these simple truths that David shared with Solomon:
1. Serve God with a whole heart and willing mind
2. God knows our hearts and understands the intent of our thoughts.
3. Seek him, and he will let you find Him.
4. Follow your calling in life, whatever God asks you to do, be courageous and act.
While these words are wise advice for me to pass on to my kids, I recognize they still are words of truth for me today.
P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for your words of truth and wisdom through your word. I pray Lord that you would lead me to be a Godly father like David, who knows well how to pass on the heart and calling of a man after your own heart. I pray for my children as well as myself to receive these words and apply them to our lives. I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Leading with fear and righteousness - Joe
Leading with fear and righteousness
S - 2 Samuel 23:3-4 (NASB)
“The God of Israel said,
The Rock of Israel spoke to me,
‘ He who rules over men righteously,
Who rules in the fear of God,
4 Is as the light of the morning when the sun rises,
A morning without clouds,
When the tender grass springs out of the earth,
Through sunshine after rain.’
O - The leadership of men is something God observes closely. While he knows us individually, and gives us grace, and salvation despite our flaws and shortcomings, he watches our actions and motives in how we lead other people. We know the Lord places and removes men from leadership roles. "Promotion is from the lord" and the opposite is true. So David, a man after God's own heart, here describes in some of his final words what it means to lead in a manner that pleases God. We are to lead with righteousness and a fear of God if we are to be a light to those we lead and have the hand of God's favor upon us.
A - The application is always the struggle of a good leader and is the same for me. First I must know what God's righteousness is and be consistently living by it and displaying God's values to those I lead. I can know this by knowing his word and by seeking his righteousness in prayer and discernment. I must learn to live with a healthy fear of God when leading others as well. For me this means I must recognize the people God places before me to lead are His and not mine and that if I mistreat or mislead even one I am accountable to Him. I must remember my leadership occurs everywhere I am, at home, at work, at church, and I must reverently honor God with how I lead.
P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for today's devotion, may it be sealed to my heart. I pray Lord that you would be my light and salvation and show me the path to your righteousness in leading your people. I pray this in Jesus name, Amen.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Sin Breaks Hearts - Jason
Sin Breaks Hearts
Now he who was betraying Him gave them a sign, saying, "Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him." Immediately Judas went to Jesus and said, "Hail, Rabbi!" and kissed Him. And Jesus said to him, "Friend, do what you have come for." Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him. (Matthew 26:48-50 NASB)
Jesus allowed the Father's will to be carried out in the garden of gethsemane. He could've called on the legion of angels and they would've rescued Him, but He didn't. He could've also tried to reason with Judas and plead with him to stop what he's doing in order that he would not be given in to Satan. But He restrained and allowed the Father's will to be carried out. His heart must've been broken into millions of pieces as He watched His friend destroy himself.
That heart and will of Jesus to allow the Father's will to prevail is amazing. By sticking to the plan, the story of redemption and restoration has been completed. How easily is it for us to allow emotions and even our love, to thwart God's best. I need to learn to be so in love with what God's doing that it trumps even my most compassionate desires.
Father God, thank You for blessing me with compassion. But just as wonderful, You've blessed us by Your all-knowing plan. You know exactly what needs to happen and in what order for Your design to emerge. Lord, help me trust and obey Your ways. In the mighty name of Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Now he who was betraying Him gave them a sign, saying, "Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him." Immediately Judas went to Jesus and said, "Hail, Rabbi!" and kissed Him. And Jesus said to him, "Friend, do what you have come for." Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him. (Matthew 26:48-50 NASB)
Jesus allowed the Father's will to be carried out in the garden of gethsemane. He could've called on the legion of angels and they would've rescued Him, but He didn't. He could've also tried to reason with Judas and plead with him to stop what he's doing in order that he would not be given in to Satan. But He restrained and allowed the Father's will to be carried out. His heart must've been broken into millions of pieces as He watched His friend destroy himself.
That heart and will of Jesus to allow the Father's will to prevail is amazing. By sticking to the plan, the story of redemption and restoration has been completed. How easily is it for us to allow emotions and even our love, to thwart God's best. I need to learn to be so in love with what God's doing that it trumps even my most compassionate desires.
Father God, thank You for blessing me with compassion. But just as wonderful, You've blessed us by Your all-knowing plan. You know exactly what needs to happen and in what order for Your design to emerge. Lord, help me trust and obey Your ways. In the mighty name of Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Be Blessed or ... - Bob
S - Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.
(Matthew 24:46 ESV)
O - Jesus says that those who are faithful servants, performing His work and trying to live a sanctified life, are going to be blessed. However, those who are not, i.e. beats his fellow servants (unkind and/or maliscious) and eats and drinks with drunkards (self gratification and continuing to live in your sin without true repentence), there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. This was clearly a wake up call for everyone to be ready at all times not just when you think Jesus is coming.
A - This is a very poignant verse to me in that Jesus offers a blessing or eternal damnation. It is a choice and there is no being luke warm about it. For me, I must continue to strive to be obedient to God's calling on my life and continually seek Him and His repentence, not for fear (yes some healthy fear) but out of love for the God who loves me and saved me from my sins. He paid my ransom with His own blood and for that I am eternally thankful and choose to serve Him.
P - Father, I am thankful for your mercy and grace. I ask that you continue to allow your Holy Spirit grow in me. So that I may hear your voice, remain obedient, and continue to serve You. Keep me ready for that day when you will come again in Your glory. Amen.
(Matthew 24:46 ESV)
O - Jesus says that those who are faithful servants, performing His work and trying to live a sanctified life, are going to be blessed. However, those who are not, i.e. beats his fellow servants (unkind and/or maliscious) and eats and drinks with drunkards (self gratification and continuing to live in your sin without true repentence), there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. This was clearly a wake up call for everyone to be ready at all times not just when you think Jesus is coming.
A - This is a very poignant verse to me in that Jesus offers a blessing or eternal damnation. It is a choice and there is no being luke warm about it. For me, I must continue to strive to be obedient to God's calling on my life and continually seek Him and His repentence, not for fear (yes some healthy fear) but out of love for the God who loves me and saved me from my sins. He paid my ransom with His own blood and for that I am eternally thankful and choose to serve Him.
P - Father, I am thankful for your mercy and grace. I ask that you continue to allow your Holy Spirit grow in me. So that I may hear your voice, remain obedient, and continue to serve You. Keep me ready for that day when you will come again in Your glory. Amen.
Monday, May 7, 2012
Choose to Come Back for Correction
S) I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go;
I will counsel you with My eye upon you. Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding,
Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check,
Otherwise they will not come near to you. (Psalm 32:8, 9 NASB)
O) A psalm of David about accountability with God, forgiveness for transgressions, and the blessings of trusting in the Lord.
Here God is speaking to David. He says he will keep his eye on him and instructs David to choose not to be a jackass. David must choose to come back to God for correction and not the other way around.
A) I should assess how often I come back to God for correction. I often find myself wanting accountability for my struggles because I am unwilling to be above reproach... Through this word, I am reminded that Jesus is there for me but I must go to him as I am, filthy and longing to be clean again.
P) Lord, thank you for reminding me to be above reproach. Please forgive me for my transgressions and thank you for your blood that covers my sin. Help me to stay close to you and to always come back for correction. I choose this today. Help me to do so everyday. Amen.
S) I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go;
I will counsel you with My eye upon you. Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding,
Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check,
Otherwise they will not come near to you. (Psalm 32:8, 9 NASB)
O) A psalm of David about accountability with God, forgiveness for transgressions, and the blessings of trusting in the Lord.
Here God is speaking to David. He says he will keep his eye on him and instructs David to choose not to be a jackass. David must choose to come back to God for correction and not the other way around.
A) I should assess how often I come back to God for correction. I often find myself wanting accountability for my struggles because I am unwilling to be above reproach... Through this word, I am reminded that Jesus is there for me but I must go to him as I am, filthy and longing to be clean again.
P) Lord, thank you for reminding me to be above reproach. Please forgive me for my transgressions and thank you for your blood that covers my sin. Help me to stay close to you and to always come back for correction. I choose this today. Help me to do so everyday. Amen.
Saturday, May 5, 2012
By the Obedience of One
“For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” Romans 5:15
This verse, written by the Apostle Paul, has special meaning for me. I can still remember the day the Lord showed it to me in a fresh new way. I was feeling very discouraged over the lack of faith of several of my loved ones, and I was pouring my heart out to the Lord, lamenting over my powerlessness to make a difference. He led me to this Scripture, and it fairly leapt off the page into my heart. It became God's special promise to me that if I would just concentrate on devoting myself to Him, and focus on my own behavior, He would honor and reward my obedience by using me to impact my loved ones and draw them to Him.
Proverbs 10:17 NIV says: “He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.” The devil will try to convince us that it doesn't matter how we live, but the Bible says otherwise. Each day, by our actions, we choose to influence others in a positive or negative way. The Amplified Bible puts it this way: “He who heeds instruction and correction is [not only himself] in the way of life [but also] is a way of life for others. And he who neglects or refuses reproof [not only himself] goes astray [but also] causes to err and is a path toward ruin for others.” (Proverbs 10:17 AMP) Just as we can do others a lot of good by living disciplined lives wholly devoted to the Lord, we can also do them a lot of harm by living sloppy lives. When you say that to some Christians, they bristle, because they simply don't want to be held accountable to that extent. But whether they like it or not, God sees them as role models, and they will answer to Him for their selfishness and lack of concern for their fellow man. Instead of seeing this responsibility as a burden, believers should rejoice that they have God-given power to make a real difference in this world for His glory. Job 22:30 NIV says: “He will deliver even one who is not innocent, who will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands.” We don't have to be perfect to have the “clean hands” that Scripture refers to here. We just need to have a heart that is bent toward God’s will – a heart that wants above all else to please Him. Then the Lord will save even those who are “not innocent,” simply because of our devotion to Him.
James 5:16 NLT says: “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results.”
It's easy for us to doubt the truth of this verse when we have prayed and stood in faith for someone's salvation and deliverance, and have seen little to encourage us. But God doesn't want us to depend on what we discern through our five senses. He wants us to go deeper than that, and to firmly believe and hope in His Word. If you have trusted Christ as your Lord and Savior, your prayers have immeasurable power. Satan wants you to doubt that, though, because if you don't, you will persevere in prayer and eventually see the evidence of your prayer power. One of the main reasons why we don't see a greater move of the Spirit of God in the lives of others is because most Christians lose heart and give up before they see the answers to their prayers and the fulfillment of God's promises. I have a loved one who I have prayed for and ministered to for years, and who has persisted in unbelief and bitterness toward God and others. Recently, I got so disgusted that I decided I would continue to pray for him, but to do no more than that. I was astonished when shortly afterwards, he began telling me about all the wonderful Biblical teaching he was listening to and being blessed by. These radical changes seemed to come “out of the blue”. But the truth is that they were a direct result of the multitude of prayers I said for him, and my determination to set a Christlike example for him.
If there are some loved ones in your own life who you long to see saved and delivered, please know that “by the obedience of one,” many can be “made righteous”. You can make a difference in your family, your school, and your workplace. If you will just concentrate on serving the Lord with all your heart, and glorifying Him with your daily life, He will honor your obedience by using you in mighty ways to lead multitudes to Him!
Lord, I thank You for giving me the privilege and the power to touch and change lives for Your glory. Today, I renew my commitment to love and serve You with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Thank You for using me in new and exciting ways for Your glory as I walk in obedience to You!
This verse, written by the Apostle Paul, has special meaning for me. I can still remember the day the Lord showed it to me in a fresh new way. I was feeling very discouraged over the lack of faith of several of my loved ones, and I was pouring my heart out to the Lord, lamenting over my powerlessness to make a difference. He led me to this Scripture, and it fairly leapt off the page into my heart. It became God's special promise to me that if I would just concentrate on devoting myself to Him, and focus on my own behavior, He would honor and reward my obedience by using me to impact my loved ones and draw them to Him.
Proverbs 10:17 NIV says: “He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.” The devil will try to convince us that it doesn't matter how we live, but the Bible says otherwise. Each day, by our actions, we choose to influence others in a positive or negative way. The Amplified Bible puts it this way: “He who heeds instruction and correction is [not only himself] in the way of life [but also] is a way of life for others. And he who neglects or refuses reproof [not only himself] goes astray [but also] causes to err and is a path toward ruin for others.” (Proverbs 10:17 AMP) Just as we can do others a lot of good by living disciplined lives wholly devoted to the Lord, we can also do them a lot of harm by living sloppy lives. When you say that to some Christians, they bristle, because they simply don't want to be held accountable to that extent. But whether they like it or not, God sees them as role models, and they will answer to Him for their selfishness and lack of concern for their fellow man. Instead of seeing this responsibility as a burden, believers should rejoice that they have God-given power to make a real difference in this world for His glory. Job 22:30 NIV says: “He will deliver even one who is not innocent, who will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands.” We don't have to be perfect to have the “clean hands” that Scripture refers to here. We just need to have a heart that is bent toward God’s will – a heart that wants above all else to please Him. Then the Lord will save even those who are “not innocent,” simply because of our devotion to Him.
James 5:16 NLT says: “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results.”
It's easy for us to doubt the truth of this verse when we have prayed and stood in faith for someone's salvation and deliverance, and have seen little to encourage us. But God doesn't want us to depend on what we discern through our five senses. He wants us to go deeper than that, and to firmly believe and hope in His Word. If you have trusted Christ as your Lord and Savior, your prayers have immeasurable power. Satan wants you to doubt that, though, because if you don't, you will persevere in prayer and eventually see the evidence of your prayer power. One of the main reasons why we don't see a greater move of the Spirit of God in the lives of others is because most Christians lose heart and give up before they see the answers to their prayers and the fulfillment of God's promises. I have a loved one who I have prayed for and ministered to for years, and who has persisted in unbelief and bitterness toward God and others. Recently, I got so disgusted that I decided I would continue to pray for him, but to do no more than that. I was astonished when shortly afterwards, he began telling me about all the wonderful Biblical teaching he was listening to and being blessed by. These radical changes seemed to come “out of the blue”. But the truth is that they were a direct result of the multitude of prayers I said for him, and my determination to set a Christlike example for him.
If there are some loved ones in your own life who you long to see saved and delivered, please know that “by the obedience of one,” many can be “made righteous”. You can make a difference in your family, your school, and your workplace. If you will just concentrate on serving the Lord with all your heart, and glorifying Him with your daily life, He will honor your obedience by using you in mighty ways to lead multitudes to Him!
Lord, I thank You for giving me the privilege and the power to touch and change lives for Your glory. Today, I renew my commitment to love and serve You with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Thank You for using me in new and exciting ways for Your glory as I walk in obedience to You!
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