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1-My Savior 2-My wife 3-My boys 4-My business 5-Me

09 Oct

1-My Savior 2-My wife 3-My boys 4-My business 5-Me

Matthew 11:28-30 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

I was talking to a friend yesterday about my life load. The “to do” list; the things pressing with owning a business, going to school, and being a dad and husband. His question was how do you do it; my reply was I don’t know. I always jokingly comment, “I am working on project 369, section 4, article b.” To be honest I have a list on my computer of my order of priorities:
1-My Savior 2-My wife 3-My boys 4-My business 5-Me
There are daily struggles for constant realignment of that list. Mostly from a business that still tries to command #1. I have come to the point in my life of realizing what is important, and therefore the list. Do you have a list? Do you stick to it? Should you make one?

In these passages Christ was speaking to the Jews who were living under the legalism that the religious leaders of the day had placed on them. The requirements of the “to do’s and don’t do’s” almost boarder on comical. They were pressured to believe they could not go to heaven if they did not follow the rules; yet there were so many rules no one could go. The laws of the system were to point them to the need for a Savior, and He stood before them. He was about to satisfy the Law they lived under; so they could rest in the grace that He was about to provide. Colossians 2:14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

This world we live in can be overbearing. We live in a world of expected immediacy, expected slavery to our careers, expected success and material prizes; expected to keep our eyes on all the temporary stuff that will all perish when we die. Nothing you do today will be carried with you to the next life other than your investment in your relationship with Christ, and your investment in those around you starting with your family. Nothing can replace the gift of teaching your children about Christ and priorities in life by living that example before them.

 
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Posted by on October 9, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Our Paul’s of today

08 Oct

Our Paul’s of today

Colossians 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

I have spent a LOT of time in a few verses in Colossians preparing a research paper recently. The Apostle Paul had written the letter as a means of correction and direction in pointing them to the centrality of Christ. Epaphras had started the church who was predominately Gentile, but it had battled cultural influences and traditions. There were many false teachers that emerged leading followers astray with the injection of the tradition into the message of Christ’s Gospel. They had added to the requirements, and even steered many away with blasphemy. There were so many heresies, one particular was not named in the scripture.

I thought of our team in India this morning. God’s light has been shown and hundreds of small house churches have been started by very young preachers just as Epaphras thousand of years ago. They are battling the influences of their culture and a lack of knowledge on their own. There are many questions unanswered and those who are agnostic can gain an upper hand. Our team is the Paul of today; teaching, edifying, encouraging, and simply pointing them to the centrality and supremacy of our Lord Jesus Christ as Paul did throughout Colossians. 9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

The people of Colosse had entwined into the simplicity of the Gospel, the need to earn their salvation through their works in addition to it. They had moved to worshiping stars, angels, denying themselves, and many other influences of society and tradition. The Gospel or Good News of Christ is so simple we even complicate it today. We can never earn our way into heaven.  Living a good life will not outweigh your bad on God’s eternity judgement scale and get you into heaven. Salvation produces good works but good works do not produce salvation. The only way into heaven is through a humble repentant heart. A realization of your sin, the confession and plea for forgiveness of that sin, and the acceptance of Jesus Christ as the Lord over your life with the price He paid with His blood on the cross at Calvary.  John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

 
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Posted by on October 8, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Everything

07 Oct

Everything

John 15:5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

This morning as I sat down my mind was blank. I don’t mean I did not have a topic I felt led to write about, I mean my mind was BLANK. Not overloaded with the pressures of the day; it just felt like it had not awoken yet. As I stumbled through a prayer, I closed with AM….not Amen…I laughed. I many times do word searches on the computer so I researched nothing; which came up 280 times in the Bible, 119 in the New Testament. Narrowing it down by adding the word without brought up John 15:5; a verse I know well; my mind awakened.

I shared my part of my testimony yesterday and how the backbone of it is rooted in pride. A typical male, independent, strong physically and mentally; I had the mindset of I can do anything I put my mind to. God decided to take out His hammer and take a few blows at my pride. He took a swing at my business, and then at my physical strength. Both were hard hits and both took me to my knees. On my knees I began to look up, and to draw in to Him. There is nothing in your life that has not either been given to, or allowed by God. Romans 11:36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen. Your life is filtered through God’s Sovereignty.

A quote we have all heard this presidential race is the one of “you did not build that”. When we begin to understand our lives are filtered through God’s hands, there comes a peace to life. If He is truly in control, why are we to worry? Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? All the daily struggles in life, all the big struggles in life, can be God trying to get your attention. It can be Satan trying to draw your attention away from God. Read the book of Job. It will shed a new light on the struggles you face. Every day is an opportunity in whatever you face to draw closer to God. Your nothing, can become your everything, when you seek Him in all.

 
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Posted by on October 7, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Examine yourselves

06 Oct

Examine yourselves

2 Corinthians 13:5-9   Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?–unless indeed you are disqualified. 6 But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified. 7 Now I pray to God that you do no evil, not that we should appear approved, but that you should do what is honorable, though we may seem disqualified. 8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. 9 For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. And this also we pray, that you may be made complete.

The Corinthians were questioning Paul’s authority as a result of the lies and deception by the false teachers that had infiltrated the church. They were doing the best they could to ruin Paul’s reputation, inflict doubt into their followers, and as a result damage the church. False teachers greatest tools are ones of doubt. Paul wrote to the Corinthians and reprimanded them for great sins in the church, and then challenged them to question themselves. If they found themselves a follower of Christ, that authority came from Paul as an Apostle, or a minister under the authority from Christ.

Do you ever ask yourself those really big questions? Where am I truly in my faith; my walk as a child of God? Am I maturing or simply still as a child nursing on the milk of the Word? Has my relationship ever moved forward with Christ? Are there any evidences in my daily life that I am a disciple for Christ? These big questions if asked humbly before God will bring true answers to the heart through the Holy Spirit. There will be feelings of conviction where He wants you to change. Through the pain, you will find joy in knowing you moved forward in the only relationship that truly matters. These revelations as a result of these self exams will stomp on that doubt when you act on what He shows you. 6 But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified.

So many religions today are all about “feel good faith”. They never speak of the power of the conviction of the Holy Spirit to draw us out of sin and closer to God. These religions are not true religions, but great heresies. Titus 1:13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth. These wrong faiths have been around since Christ, but they always lead us to believe we are good people, and never the truth that we are all sinners. When you pray for God to open your eyes in that self exam, your heart will be humbled in the revelation. Your heart will be moved by the sacrifice on the Cross that Christ paid for your sins, and your heart will be drawn closer to him as a result of your obedience. That conviction of sin that He brings is an assurance of Salvation and a release of the doubt Satan planted.

 
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Posted by on October 6, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Jehovah – Jireh – The Lord will provide

05 Oct

Jehovah – Jireh – The Lord will provide

Genesis 22:11-14   11 But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” So he said, “Here I am.” 12 And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” 13 Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of The Lord it shall be provided.”

Yesterday was an absolutely incredible day as a child of God. I saw God directly bless me and a friend of mine with God’s perfect timing. It was a day of humbling spiritual highs and confirmations on a day when we both needed it dearly. I am really struggling with school, and the day before I had poured my heart out to God in a plea: “In my study this week it has been so hard trying to focus on God’s Will for my life. I had a heartfelt plea this morning with God for clarity. I so desire to be in the center of God’s path, that it pains me.” Yesterday that prayer was answered by a customer who had been blessed and wanted to bless me. His gift was almost the exact amount needed for next semesters classes. Only a few hours later did I answer a phone call from Liberty Univ. wanting to discuss my upcoming semester and registration. I was at a loss for words. I shared my story with them of these God orchestrated coincidences; and as the young man said, he had received a huge blessing from hearing of God’s work in my life yesterday.

There is nothing special about me. All of God’s blessings are available to you too. All you must do is to live your life for Him. Matthew 6:33 Seek Ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. When all else in your life seems to be failing; when all around you is out of control; when all you see is a world that is full of desire for stuff and sin; God is using these things to get your attention. When you begin to see how far this world is from God, you may be getting a glimpse of how He sees it. He may be showing you a glimpse of your life. We all sin, we all fail, and we all can rest in God’s grace and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. John 3:17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

God may take you to a place in your life that you don’t want to be. God may take you down, to lift you up. When your life is full of blessings, many times we don’t recognize where they came from. When we are at the bottom, the only place to look is up. I was really struggling the last couple days wondering if I was really on the right path. Satan had crept into my thoughts and placed doubt. I had a heartfelt plea to God for clarity. God sent me His answer 24hrs later by His messengers. Thank you Jesus.

 
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Posted by on October 5, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Debate or Deliver?

04 Oct

Debate or Deliver?

2 Timothy 2:14-16  Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.

Most today will be discussing the presidential debate of last night. Their believed winner and looser; dissecting their speech and forming their opinions of whom they should cast their vote for. Politics have the natural bend to bring out the debater in us all, sometimes our opinions become overbearing for the need to convince or change our opponents point of view. We try to argue our way of thinking into the idea that we must be right, and surely they must be wrong. Luckily I live in a free country where we even have the ability to freely present these feelings.

The Apostle Paul was speaking to Timothy in regards to the importance of understanding the Word of God so that he preached the Word of God clearly and correctly. A teacher of God’s Word is held to a higher standard; this is a weight that scares me as I share in this format every day. I am held accountable for my every word. James 3:1 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. Paul was encouraging Timothy to remain focused; to not be draw astray himself with those who distract from the whole truth. The heretics (false teachers) were twisting God’s Word a little at a time, leading people astray.

Debate has been in the church since the beginning of time. We are all born into sin, and that sin separates us from God. Therefore we have opposing sides of good and evil. Once we rest in the grace of God under the Salvation through Christ, we change sides. That desire that grows inside you with the realization of your life before and after Christ drives you to share, or debate, your faith with others. We can’t argue someone into believing in Christ. John 6:44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. We are to present our faith and the Good News in love and respect to everyone who will here following the last words of Christ in Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. You may be the one who “wins” that debate by God preparing them to receive the Good News that you deliver; and you get to see their life change forever as God’s gift to you.

 
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Posted by on October 4, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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All to Him I owe

03 Oct

All to Him I owe

1 Timothy 1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, 13 although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14 And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

I wish I knew……..I wish I knew so many things, yet I only know one thing; God has a plan for my life. I wish I knew what that plan was so I could try to the best of my ability to follow it. For most of my life I know I went against it as Paul says; but God extended me grace also. My list of sins past, current, and future will always outweigh my good deeds. The balance on the scales of good and evil will never tip into my favor of earning my way into heaven; neither will yours. The realization of one’s sin brings upon it a broken heart for God; a realization of a life lost eternally without Christ; a humility that breeds thanksgiving. A humility that desires to work out ones salvation in honor for receiving it, not trying to earn it.

James 4:17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.  When Christ really starts stirring in your heart, His Spirit starts to reveal your sinful nature to you. It is a painful process, but one necessary in the sanctification process of your life; or the process of making you more like Christ. God’s desire is for you to resemble His Son, and only through His Son can you ever get to God. When He brings these things to light the pain is part of the healing process through the confession of them. This process never ends; but that is a blessing for it keeps the heart humble, realizing our daily need for forgiveness.

In my study this week it has been so hard trying to focus on God’s Will for my life. I had a heartfelt plea this morning with God for clarity. I so desire to be in the center of God’s path, that it pains me. I have that need to “pay back” for all my sins as I believe Paul did. The conviction of a life before Christ drives the life after Christ in service and obedience to Him. 1 Timothy 1:16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. 17 To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. (ESV) My prayer is for you to also realize how lost you are without Christ as the focus of your life. For Him to reveal to your sins to you as He has mine, and for the conviction of those sins to weigh on your heart. That heart transformed through that conviction is a heart transformed eternally to pursue God and the things of God.

All to Him I owe, sin had left it’s crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.

 

 

 
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Posted by on October 3, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Changing sticks into stones

02 Oct

Changing sticks into stones

Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

Jesus is coming to a close of His sermon on the mount. He has told them many things of how to live their lives as a believer in Him. He had pointed them to the dangers of sin and the false religions that were so prevalent at the time. The ritualistic society was being replaced, or fulfilled by the coming of the Messiah the Jews sought, but did not see standing before them. Even after Christ death on the cross and the Atonement for our sin, the false teachers entered and corrupted the churches even unto this day. Many are led astray by their false philosophies, miracles, rituals, and feel good messages. Nothing can ever replace the power of the Word of God that He has given to us. Those that teach, and or mislead, will have to answer to God and a higher standard.

But the fear that comes in Matthew 7:21-23 is from being mislead. How are we to know if we are being lead astray by false teachers? Test them by comparing their words to the Word of God. If they do not agree, they are misleading you. Pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the truth as you spend time searching God’s Word. 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. You will get those gut feelings that something is wrong if their words do not agree. That gut feeling is the Spirit guiding you to the truth. The key is that realization and the action that follows it.

Many of the false prophets of today only preach “feel good” sermons that do not rely on the power of the conviction of sin from the Holy Spirit. Those convictions that make you stir; should make you confess, repent, and move one step closer to Christ. When we spend time in prayer and God’s Word, there will be pain involved in the attention to sin in our lives that is revealed. This is where many put the Bible down; to flee from that pain of the conviction of sin. With that pain can come inexpressible joy with the forgiveness and release of that sin to Christ. Through the pain when we are obedient to that stick, that stick becomes a rock set on the cornerstone of Christ in the foundation of our lives secured in Him. 24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. Our house becomes not one of rubble, but build to stand through eternity in paradise.

 
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Posted by on October 2, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Imprecatory Prayers?

30 Sep

Imprecatory Prayers?

Matthew 5:44-45 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

The topic of imprecatory prayer versus a heart full of love is a difficult one in today’s society. We live in a society that breeds selfishness, instead of selflessness that comes with encompassing love for one another. Today we are told to reach for the goal at all cost and we can do anything we put our mind to. These drives push us towards these goals and sacrifice relationships along the way. Those who do not aid us in the pursuit become deterrents and most likely no longer friends. Many of these relationships may be moved against each other. There are many scenarios that cross our paths where others seem to go against the winds of our lives. If they become adversaries, are we taught we can use our faith to pray against them? – No.

When Christ paid the price for our sin at the Cross, we have moved to living under the law of Grace; getting something we did not deserve. On that principle cannot pray invoking judgmental prayers against anything. Christ has told us plainly in Mark that we are forgiven to the amount we forgive.  Mark 11:25 “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.” These are the hard things in life; to let go of our strong sinful desires to lash out at those who hurt us. To defend our honor, or most likely our pride that is being damaged. But when we look at our sins in God’s eyes; what if He took the same approach with us? Every part of our being may want to lash out, but the inner being of His Spirit can keep us still. He whispers to let it go, to let Him deal with the injustice in His Way and His time. We must rest in His Sovereignty, and understand there is most likely a greater work going on than just our pain. He can be using our pain to reach someone who is hurt more.

Luke 6:27 “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. 29 To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. 31 And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. 32 But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. These things move you up the ladder of sainthood, and closer to God with every blow. A life full of His love and the denial of self is a life He will use to become a disciple that reaches many. You move towards a relationship with your Father that will release you of the pain that these sinful circumstances tend to bring.

 
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Posted by on September 30, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Dirt or Gold?

29 Sep

Dirt or Gold?

2nd Corinthians 4:8-10   We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed– always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

God knows our struggles even before we go to Him in prayer. He desires for us to come to Him in these struggles and prayers to draw closer to Him; to grow that relationship deeper. The world presses in with its busyness, problems, and demands that every day life bring. These daily trials bring about the mental strains that breed stress and anxieties. These are all tools of Satan to keep us from focused on God. These inner battles can affect outward circumstances, and the daily grind becomes inwardly overbearing. There must be a crutch to keep us from falling. I pray that crutch for you is Christ. 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

It has been a rough week in many ways; I could pour out a lengthy explanation, but it is no worse than what you are facing yourselves; it is called life. But when my mind starts to wonder, when it struggles with the strain, I have to turn my attention back to Christ. There is nothing here that truly matters; for it will all fade away; I live with eternity in mind. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:14) All of struggles that life brings, all of the pain that life brings, is temporary. The roads of today’s despair will become streets paved with gold. Revelation 21:21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

Paul has told us of being the light in this dark world in the verses prior. 2 Corinthians 4:6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. These strains of daily life can become on of your best witnessing tools for Christ to those lost around you. They see the strains you are under and yet how you can handle them differently. The natural inclination is to ask how or why you handle them differently. There is the open door through the darkness to let His light shine through.

 
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Posted by on September 29, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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