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Thristy?

29 Jun

Thristy?

John 7:37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.

I swear sometimes I think God has a sense of humor. As I lay there this morning watching all the weather channels speak of extreme heat, all they spoke about was hydrating. I then moved over to Reflections and the scripture above was the first one on the screen. I laughed out loud.

Christ was speaking at a great feast (Feast of the Tabernacles), and a large part of that feast was a ritual honoring when God had produced water from a rock for the Israelites when they were in the desert for 40 years. But Christ was telling them of things to come after His departure; and the gift of the Holy Spirit whom He gives to us. John 7:39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. We not only benefit from all that Christ gave us on the Cross for Salvation, we also with that are given His Spirit that comes to live inside us. Christ’s Spirit living inside of you. Do you get the weight of those few words?

That gift is the second greatest gift anyone could ever receive. It comes without even asking with a repentant heart seeking Christ as the Savior of our souls. Once He dwells within us, we begin to live a transformed life. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. We begin to see things differently, act differently, speak differently, all because He is living inside us. Those around us take notice and are given that living water to drink that He pours out from us. John 7:38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” You can have all these things too. Humble your heart before God, repent of your sins, and ask Christ to forgive you and become the Lord of your life. You will never thirst again.

 
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Posted by on June 29, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Freaky weird weather

28 Jun

Freaky weird weather

Daniel 2:21 And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding.

Freaky weird weather seems to be becoming the ‘norm’ over recent years. Even yesterday we set a record low temp of 130 years, and 48-72hrs later we will flirt with the all time record high of 104. Almost a 50 degree temperature swing in a couple of days. Are these not strange enough to begin to question? What if it had snowed and then came back to blazing heat? Every prophet true or not would have been on the street preaching the end of days. Are the days just not “biblical” enough to warrant concern? All of this radical weather we have seen in recent years should simply point us to the One who is in control of it. Man can never control the weather, he just improves his abilities to adapt.

Christ was preaching to the multitudes in the gospel of Luke of how the people could forecast the coming weather from the signs God gave them, but they could not see the signs and Him standing before them. Luke 12:56 Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time? Are we not discerning the times laid before us now? Are we so concerned with ourselves that we are simply pushing aside what God is writing on the walls of the sky? Countless natural disaster have filled our history books over very recent years that should point us to the power of God. Matthew 24:7-8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. All of these things simply point you to the power of God and His creation. They point you to something you cannot control, yet can dwell in His presence through the power of the Cross. Do not sit in the comfort of your ability to cope with the seasons, but grasp what the season brings.

Matthew Henry put it like this: Even in regard to changes of the weather God gives warning to us what is coming, and art has improved the notices of nature in weather-glasses. The prognostications here referred to had their origin in repeated observations upon the chain of causes: from what has been we conjecture what will be. See the benefit of experience; by taking notice we may come to give notice. Whose is wise will observe and learn.

 
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Posted by on June 28, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Yes I can……No you can’t.

24 Jun

Yes I can……No you can’t.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

The Apostle Paul was really laying it out here; laying down the foundation of what really mattered to the Corinthians. Christ had paid the ultimate price for them (John 15:13), and we must understand that He buried our sins eternally with His death reconciling us to God. (Romans 6:1-14). 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. If we truly grasp the understanding of self sacrifice for our betterment, there should be a tug to honor that sacrifice that was bestowed upon us. Are you living a life honoring that sacrifice He paid for you? Have you even repented of your sins and accepted that sacrifice He paid for you?

I know we all have our list of reasons why not, and many revolved around our present condition. We feel as though we must ‘get right’ before we come to God. If I was to start my ‘to do’ list of sins I have committed and wanted to change, you would still be reading them next week. You can’t fix yourself by yourself. Satan through pride will try to convince you that you must before, or even that you can do it on your own, but you will fail until you start with Christ. Psalm 10:17 Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear. Come to Jesus just as you are and cast all your burdens on Him. He will take you in, forgive your sin, and reconcile your life to God. I pray that your transformed life is moved to a place of honoring God and the sacrifice Christ paid on the cross for you and I.

 
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Posted by on June 24, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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You can do this

22 Jun

You can do this

1 Corinthians 1: 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

The Apostle Paul was speaking to the church at Corinth, and encouraging those who were believing in Christ in these scriptures. They were ‘going against’ what the world was preaching or questioning;  stepping out in faith and seeing God there. 22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Paul was very well educated and easily could have rested on his worldly wisdom and preached from that authority. He also realized that was what the world expected, and the power of the Gospel lied in the power of what Christ had done at the Cross. 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.

Why can’t God use you too? Do you believe in the power of the Cross; and the Gospel of Jesus Christ as the Good News that He has come to save the world? The faith that you have will go against the ‘proof’ or ‘tangible’ that the world demands. But you don’t have to rest on your wisdom as Paul was speaking of; just rest on the message that Christ brings. Your testimony and the change that Christ has brought into your life is the power that God has given you. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty. Do not ever be afraid to share your faith from the feeling of fear from a lack of wisdom. God has given you the ability for just the right word at just the right time for those He has called. Your faith may fall on deaf ears sometimes, but to not be discouraged. 18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

 
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Posted by on June 22, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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In the middle

20 Jun

In the middle

James 3:13-18 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

I have a lot of ‘big picture’ things going on in my life right now. It all can be overwhelming, and the tasks and decisions that lie ahead weigh heavily on my mind. The earthly way will tell us to take the road that brings self gratification at the least cost, but is that the path God would take? James in the scriptures above was speaking to Jewish Christians in the early church, and dealing with many of whom were likely self seeking in their works in the church. The sin of pride had likely crept in and was causing turmoil and confusion in the church. When we are looking for wisdom, the way to look is by bowing our heads, swallowing our pride, and seeking God.

The height of your pride will determine the depth of your confusion, for a humble heart is the ballast upon where you find God in the center. In other words the higher you elevate yourself, the farther you will fall. 1 Timothy 3:6 not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Seeing God and hearing from God all come with spending time with God. The more time you spend, the easier it is to hear His voice. Satan will creep in and the confusion will come, but that confusion is not from God, and you must just press in closer to God for discernment. 1 Corinthians 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace.

The time is now to cultivate that relationship with God. The depth of that relationship will prepare you for the days of confusion and when the trials and turmoils come. Start today, for you do not know what tomorrow may hold, if it comes.

 
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Posted by on June 20, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Heavenly Father

17 Jun

Heavenly Father

Matthew 6:26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

As I searched for “Heavenly Father” this morning I was led to Matthew 6. That is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible, and so much of it speaks to our relationship with God, our Heavenly Father. It covers prayer, fasting, forgiveness, deeds, and the last 1/3 is about worry. It speaks of how we should not worry when we place our faith in Him. I openly struggle with anxiety and find myself returning much to this chapter. The entire chapters spine is our relationship with our Heavenly Father and how to pursue it. This is a “how to” book on developing an eternal relationship with God, and the value you have in His eyes when you honor Him with your faith and focus.

The love we feel for our earthy fathers should be small compared to our love for our Heavenly Father. He is the One whom gave us them. We all love our dads, and today is a special day to honor them. I have a Godly father Jim who has tried his best to point me to Christ all his life, and even in my rebellion he still tried. It is through the power of prayer and God’s grace that I returned home. I am including a link to Matthew 6 below, that I believe would be a great way to honor you Heavenly Father today, by spending time in His Word, and hopefully prayer.

http://www.biblestudytools.com/nkjv/matthew/6.html

2 Corinthians 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

 
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Posted by on June 17, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Are you the feeble one in the herd?

16 Jun

Are you the feeble one in the herd?

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

You are the prey. You are the one hunted by the devil as a roaring lion seeking to destroy your soul. How does a lion typically hunt? By seeking out the weakest in a herd and pouncing on them by taking advantages of their weakness. Satan’s entire focus is on destroying your faith and your soul, and he will go to great lengths to accomplish it. Matthew Henry said, “It was the faith of these people that Satan aimed at; if he could overturn their faith, and draw them into apostasy, then he knew he should gain his point, and ruin their souls; therefore, to destroy their faith, he raises bitter persecutions, and sets the grand potentates of the world against them.” It can cast a different light on your life if you reflect on the strength of your faith in the herd, and the lion stalking you daily to take advantage of that weakness. “To this end he is unwearied and restless in his malicious endeavours; for he always, night and day, goes about studying and contriving whom he may ensnare to their eternal ruin.”

In 1 Peter 5:5-7,  Peter was speaking of how to clothe ourselves in humility, and of how God grants grace to that. Satan’s fall was greatly related to pride and that sin is a strong weapon is his arsenal against us. 1 Timothy 3:6 not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. We are not told to flee the devil, but to resist him. We resist him by strengthening our faith in prayer and time in God’s Word. God’s Word becomes our only offensive weapon to guard ourselves when Satan attacks. These attacks will come when you are at your weakest point; after being beat down he whispers in your ear thoughts of pity, doubt, inadequacies,  fear, and the list could go on. The power of God through the strength of your faith measured by your humility and submission to God and His Word, will cause the devil to flee from you. James 4:7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Do not find yourself the weakest in the herd, but feed yourself and strengthen yourself on God and His Word daily.

 
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Posted by on June 16, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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At least I didn’t……

15 Jun

At least I didn’t……

Galatians 6:1-5 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For each one shall bear his own load.

As I read some of my daily scripture feeds, I came to Galatians 6 above. I thought of how it would be good to write about helping one another. Then I spent time studying this scripture and God shed a different light on it; one that we all fall guilty to – comparing ourselves to one another.

There is a part of all of us rooted in pride that will compare ourselves to our neighbor. “Well at least I didn’t do what they did…..” is the typical thought. Our pride is elevated and many times we rest on that rock that will crumble. These scriptures speak directly too that. When we see someone that has been overtaken in sin, we must first protect ourselves. This is done in much prayer and seeking God’s Word for guidance. We must approach them in love, but not in pride, for that pride will lead to our fall also. As in verse 3, For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself; Paul speaks directly to that. My pastor once told of God speaking to him saying “the other mans sins are just more visible”.

But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load. We should consistently self examine and surround ourselves with Godly influences and true friends that will approach us and tell us the truth. The immediate conviction of sin in your heart is an assurance of Salvation. If you are knowingly in habitual sin, finding comfort in that sin, and you are not denying a tug on your heart to stop that sin; your problem is much larger than that sin alone. Get on your knees and repent from your heart for a cleansing of your heart and forgiveness of your sin.  For each one shall bear his own load. We are responsible for ourselves and will answer to God for every thought, word, and deed in the future. My prayer is that you are seen by Him through the clear lens of Christ’s paid debt, and not the stained glass of pride.

 
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Posted by on June 15, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Can WE pray together?

14 Jun

Can WE pray together?

Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

The past couple of days I have been blanketed in prayer. Asking and receiving individual prayers for my father’s surgery, and together as deacons in prayers for the church body. The verse above is in the context of church discipline, but the promise of the assurance is what we rest on. A basic principle of Salvation is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit living inside of us. The third person of the Trinity dwells inside you; your heart and soul belong to Christ. Therefore simply when we gather together in God’s name, especially in prayer, He is with us.

Matthew Henry puts it so well: “They are hereby encouraged with an assurance of the presence of Christ; There am I in the midst of them. By his common presence he is in all places, as God; but this is a promise of his special presence. Where his saints are, his sanctuary is, and there he will dwell; it is his rest it is his walk (Rev. 2:1 ); he is in the midst of them, to quicken and strengthen them, to refresh and comfort them, as the sun in the midst of the universe. He is in the midst of them, that is, in their hearts; it is a spiritual presence, the presence of Christ’s Spirit with their spirits, that is here intended. There am I, not only I will be there, but I am there; as if he came first, is ready before them, they shall find him there; he repeated this promise at parting ch. 28:20 ), Lo, I am with you always. Note, The presence of Christ in the assemblies of Christians is promised, and may in faith be prayed for and depended on; There am I”

Christianity is not a solo religion. It is meant to be gathered together in both worship and prayer. You are truly missing God’s blessings if you are not spending time with other believers in prayer. Don’t wait until you have a plea for help to God; spend time praising God together for the blessings of the day. Be bold and reach out to someone today and pray together. That may be an answer to their prayer; wanting someone to pray with.

 
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Posted by on June 14, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Your eyes as a vessel

11 Jun

Your eyes as a vessel

Matthew 6:22-23  The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness.

It is common knowledge that you can get a better “feel” for a person when they look you in the eyes when you are speaking to one another. It is not only rude, but a window into the soul when eye contact is avoided during conversation. What is the darkness that is being hidden, or deception that is being created? The biblical truth is seen in the scripture above for this principle.

Christ is described all throughout the Bible as Light, and when we believe in Him, His Spirit resides in us, therefore His Light resides in us. John 12:46  I have come as a light unto the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. When the Holy Spirit resides in you, He seeks to dis-spell the darkness of sin that remains. Light will dis-spell darkness for the two cannot co-exist. The Spirit inside you not only seeks to conform you to the image of Christ, but He seeks to point others to Christ also. As a believer in Christ, you gain a sense of awareness to the Light that resides in other believers. There is an unspoken connection that you can feel, and see in the Light in their eyes.

What if that light that He projects through your eyes in conversation, opens the door for His light into their heart? A eye to eye conversation bound in truth may be the one that stirs the heart of someone lost in sin, for they feel and wonder what makes you different from others. An eye to eye talk could be the gateway for Christ to use you to encourage others to possess what you possess, and you want to share with them. Don’t keep Him to yourself, share what you possess even in how you conduct your every conversation. Luke 11:33 No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under a basket, but on a lampstand, that those who come in many see the light.

 
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Posted by on June 11, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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