THREE DAILY CHALLENGES!

THREE DAILY CHALLENGES!

Phil 2:13-15

13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

          The Christian is faced with at least three daily challenges that makes it hard to shine especially in business! We need to be reminded that the business man who is neatly dressed and scrubbed clean may be hiding a corrupt mind and heart! Although he may seem friendly, his true friend is “the bottom line.” It is important that we remind ourselves that three daily challenges will greet us as we begin our day.

          First, the world holds to the notion that reason is always superior to faith! Even “church people” will compartmentalize these two so that they do not intermingle. They are thought to reside in two separate realms. Reason is reason and faith is faith. Because reason is based upon science and observable facts it is preferred over faith. God never intended the two to be separated.

Rom 1:28

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

          Second, remember that business practices are “amoral” or value free. Whatever cheating or scheming necessary to “get the job done” is considered normal business practices. The religious idealist becomes very vulnerable if he applies the same rules to business that he finds at church! It is not necessary to abandon morality and decency but always remember that these do not necessarily exist in the business world.

Rom 1:29-31

29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

          Third, it is important to know that we live in a world that does not respect rules! The world sees itself as morally emancipated, self-sufficient and free to do as they please. They smile at the Ten Commandments and obey them only when it is convenient or beneficial. The result of these three godless values has left the world friendless and fearful.

Judg 17:6

6 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

Ps 53:5

5 There were they in great fear, where no fear was:

          The answer for us, of course, is not to join the world in its scheming paranoia but to be alert to the evil around us.

Rom 8:2-4

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Dear Lord, fulfill your righteous law in me today – but let me be wary of the evil world around me. AMEN

CHANGE MY HEART!

CHANGE MY HEART!

Ps 51:9-12,17

9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

          David had sinned with his neighbor’s wife. Instead of being a brief journey into immorality and pleasure, it set in motion a chain of consequences that included murder. Because of the illicit intimacy with Bathsheba, his intimacy with the Lord was broken. New characters had entered his life but there was a huge hole left by his departure from the Lord. We can only imagine the condition of his tormented emotions.

          When Nathan, the prophet came to reveal all of David’s sin, it must have actually been a relief! Like a boil that had not been expressed, the release was both painful and soothing. He was caught but it was also an opportunity to restore his broken relationship with God. In his prayer for forgiveness, David prayed for three specific heart changes.

          Renew a right spirit within me! The word “right” in verse 10 literally means “erect” and stands in contrast to the slumped shoulders of the smitten king. Erect also indicates the sure confidence of the soldier at attention. David wanted his life to be characterized by stability, faithfulness and firmness. This would be a cooperative venture of both David and Jehovah.

          Uphold me with thy free spirit! The word “free” means “voluntary; grand or noble.” The crown upon his head made him a nobleman but it was the crown upon his heart that made him feel noble. David asked that he might once again feel good about himself.

          David asked for a “broken” spirit. The word literally means “to burst” and is often used in giving birth. Like a woman ready to be delivered of a child, David prayed that his spirit be delivered of his burden. The word “contrite” means “to fall down” as in worship. David had a heart that wanted to worship once again. He was tired of pretending and rebelling. David actually wanted to feel the release of repentance. The essence of real revival is to be found in the first two verses of this Psalm.

Ps 51:1-2

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

Dear Lord, restore to me the intimacy that sin and straying has destroyed. AMEN

I WOULD STRENGTHEN YOU WITH MY MOUTH!

I WOULD STRENGTHEN YOU WITH MY MOUTH!

Job 15:34-35

34 For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery.

35 They conceive mischief, and bring forth vanity, and their belly prepareth deceit.

          Eliphaz, one of Job’s “friends” (with friends like this who needs enemies?), concluded that Job’s troubles were self-manufactured. A fire had destroyed his sheep; rogues had stolen his camels; He had lost all his wealth; and a wind had destroyed his sons house with all his children in it. Eliphaz accused that Job had secretly “conceived” sin and now sin had given birth to suffering. But it ain’t necessarily so!

          Job knew in his heart that he was innocent of all the charges but he could not prove it. In fact not even Job knew of the celestial conflict that was raging all because he had been true and faithful. God was proud of him. Satan hated him and wanted to destroy him. His friends came to observe and to “judge” him.

          Job made a plea for sympathy (Job 16:1-14). He said: “If I were watching you suffer; if our roles were reversed; I would strengthen you with my mouth.” I think this verse is in direct opposition to Acts 7:54 where Stephen’s audience “gnashed on him with their teeth.”

James 3:8-10

8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

          How will you use your mouth today? Be gracious as you observe your brother’s troubles. You may conclude that all his troubles are self-manufactured but you could be very wrong. If the shoe were on the other foot would you not want sympathy? Why not give it? Let us begin the day by looking for someone we could strengthen with our mouth by speaking words of encouragement.

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord , my strength, and my redeemer. (Ps 19:14) AMEN

RENT – LEASE – OR OWN!

RENT – LEASE – OR OWN!

Luke 9:23-24

23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

          I think the reason why so many professing Christians are indistinguishable from others is that Jesus has taken up residence in their heart but only as a renter. For some renting is a necessity. Their circumstance is a temporary one and so they rent a temporary dwelling or they do not have the funds necessary to buy a home. Neither of these things is true of Jesus Christ. He desires to come in and set up His home in our heart permanently and none is as rich as He. The problem must be in the landlord who is not interested in selling.

          Those who rent their property do so to make a profit; some benefit is sought. Life for them has become messy and so they invite Jesus into their life as a renter. Some small place is made available for Him so that he might make improvements. After the crisis is over the lease is broken and Jesus is evicted and replaced with a more cordial and compatible tenant.

Luke 11:24-26

24 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.

25 And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished.

26 Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.

             Commitment means a willingness to be unhappy for awhile. It means that we have “sold out” to another. We are no longer in charge. That is a scary thing to consider with property so valuable as our very lives but “whosoever will seek to save his life will actually lose it.” Only in complete abandonment to the will of God will our life be saved. Adlai Stevenson once said: “I venture to say that patriotism is not a short frenzied outburst of emotion but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime.” The same is true of real faith. It is not a short outburst of involvement in religion but a steady dedication of a lifetime.

Dear Lord, I want YOU to move into my life and take control. AMEN

RUIN!

RUIN!

2 Chron 28:22-23 

22 And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the Lord : this is that king Ahaz.

23 For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him: and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, therefore will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel.

Luke 6:48-49

48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.

49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

          Ruin! It is a horrible word! In our Old Testament portion it indicates “a tottering or a weakness of the knees.” In Luke it refers to “something torn; a fragment; a shard of some precious piece of pottery.”

          Warren Wiersbe comments on the actions of Ahaz in Second Chronicles and quotes A. W. Tozer in the process. Here is what he had to say: “All of this is a picture of what often happens in Christian ministries today: somebody sees something out in the world that would "fit" into the Lord's work, and the church starts to imitate the world. Moses was commanded to make the tabernacle according to what God showed him on the mount (Ex 25:40; 26:30; Heb 8:5), and likewise the temple was constructed according to the plans God gave to David (1 Chron 28:11,12,19). The Jews didn't appoint a building committee and vote on the design. But today, the church is becoming so like the world that it's getting difficult to tell them apart.

A. W. Tozer wrote, “Aside from a few of the grosser sins, the sins of the unregenerated world are now approved by a shocking number of professedly "born-again" Christians, and copied eagerly. Young Christians take as their models the rankest kind of worldlings and try to be as much like them as possible. Religious leaders have adopted the techniques of the advertisers: boasting, baiting, and shameless exaggeration are now carried on as a normal procedure in church work. The moral climate is not that of the New Testament but that of Hollywood and Broadway.” (from The Bible Exposition Commentary: Old Testament © 2001-2004 by Warren W. Wiersbe. All rights reserved.)

          The stream will beat vehemently upon your house! You can’t keep that from happening. Ruinous circumstances will come. The only variable we see in Luke chapter 6 is the foundation. Is your house (your life and your future) solidly founded upon the Rock (Jesus)?

Dear Lord, the circumstances of life threaten to ruin us. Let the troubles you allow only serve to purge away the sin in our lives. Let us stand without ruin upon the solid rock. AMEN

OUR INADEQUACY IS HIS SUFFICIENCY!

OUR INADEQUACY IS HIS SUFFICIENCY!

2 Cor 3:5

5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

Phil 3:3

3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

Phil 4:13

13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

1. OUR INADEQUACY

During His earthly ministry, and throughout the New Testament, Jesus tries to clarify for us our inadequacy. The bottom line is that things that are impossible with man are yet possible with God! We did not become inadequate through some fault or lack. It did not come upon us gradually. It is inherent in our very nature. Adam fell but we are fallen. David lamented “in sin did my mother conceive me.”

Our inadequacy is so comprehensive that we can not expect anything godly or good to spring from our own resources. We do not have any resources that can save a soul, transform a life, or cause the church to be encouraged.

Ps 146:3

3 Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.

2. GOD’S ADEQUACY

The second thing God keeps trying to teach us is His adequacy. He is infinitely capable beyond all that we ask or think. This is not to shame us further by contrast but to encourage us to trust in Him. Oh, how foolish is the man who trusts only in his own resources!

2 Cor 9:8

8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

Lord, teach me to hope in you for everything I need for godly living. In Jesus name, Amen.

THE GOD WITH WHOM I’M ANGRY!

THE GOD WITH WHOM I’M ANGRY!

Jonah 4:2

4 Then said the Lord , Doest thou well to be angry?

          Poor Jonah! With whale puke lingering on his clothing and his enemies enjoying God’s blessing, he sits beneath a withering vine and complains loudly at a God who is merciful. Listen to Jonah rant and rave: “I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.” The problem is that Jonah wanted God to “nuke” them! He had taken a seat to watch the fireworks as God rained down wrath but mercy cancelled the show.

          I have been angry with God! Recently! I know that is quite an announcement coming from a preacher but it is true. Most often God angers me when he acts mysteriously. Well, maybe it’s not so mysterious, but God has a frustrating way of acting like God and not like man. His decisions are not like mine at all and I get confused. Moreover, He never feels that it is necessary to brief me regarding His plans. I am out of the loop and, frankly, I like being in the loop.

          But, like Jonah, I have never been able to accuse God of acting outside of His nature. I know God to be a gracious God even to those I would condemn. I know Him to be merciful because I am a constant recipient of that mercy. I know Him to be slow to anger. In fact, I often find Him to be simply slow because I am so guilty of impatience. I also am sure that He is a God of great kindness.

          So why am I so angry? Well, He simply will not do things my way! He will not operate on my time schedule. I find Him always guilty of acting in a way that is other-worldly. It is confusing! It requires faith and I simply prefer to walk by sight. Walking on water just scares me to death. God is such a risk taker and I am not. I like things in a nice, neat bundle. It has to make sense and it can’t break any of my rules. I pout beneath the withering vine.

          I think I have just proven why the accused should never represent themselves (be their own lawyers) in a court of law. I have just exonerated God and condemned myself! And once again justice is served.

Isa 55:9

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Dear Lord, forgive my pouting and my penchant for pleasing myself. Help me to follow you even when I don’t understand you – which is often. AMEN

GOD HEARS OUR CRY!

GOD HEARS OUR CRY!

Isa 30:15-19

15 For thus saith the Lord God , the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.

16 But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift.

17 One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on an hill.

18 And therefore will the Lord  wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the Lord  is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.

19 For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee.

Early in the chapter God told Isaiah to make a placard that said, "This is a rebellious people, lying children, children who will not hear the Law of the Lord" (v. 9). He carried this sign as he walked around Jerusalem, and no doubt most of the people laughed at him. So the people laugh today at the warnings of their pastors. Our nation and our world has rejected the offer of safety from the Lord and have declared their preference for self-made confidence.

          The Assyria’s assault was given to Israel as a gift! It was a teaching tool. God had offered them quietness, confidence and strength if they would only follow and trust Him but they said no thank you. Instead they put their trust in swift horses of war. Therefore the very thing in which they trusted would be the character of their enemy. Swift horses would chase them and only one would put to flight a thousand.

Ps 33:16-17

16 There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.

17 An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.

            The latter part of this chapter describes the coming of Sennacherib's troops (Isaiah 30:27-33). Their advance is likened to a mighty thunderstorm and a flash flood. Yet, if they prayed, God would lasso the enemy around the neck and bring him to his knees. The swift horse would be subdued.

          In verse 19 we find an amazing promise to a rebellious people: “he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee.” He watches while we struggle and waits patiently while we curse Him but His ear is bent toward our cry. “When he shall hear it, he will answer thee.”

Dear God, look kindly upon us and forgive our self-willed stubbornness. We are a stiff necked people and we resist your offer of peace while we prefer to trust in our own strength. Thank you for patiently waiting for our cry. Thank you for hearing it. AMEN

WHAT WILL I DO?

WHAT WILL I DO?

Ps 27:10

10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.

2 Sam 16:11

11 And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life:

Isa 49:15

15 Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.

This general thought has been rattling around in my mind for the past couple of days. I’m not sure why except that someone reading this may need these thoughts. I hope to list in some reasonable order what is on my mind and to simply say that Jesus can’t be compared to any other relationship. The psalmist expressed the need of the orphan. David described the pain of having a son pursue him in battle. Isaiah could not imagine a nursing mother forgetting her duties. Yet our closest relationships sometimes fail.

1. What will I do when the one I rely on FAILS me?

This circumstance calls to our strength and independence. We dry our tears and we lie to ourselves and say that we did not need them anyway! We may pout, complain, or seek some kind of retribution. Some solid rock in our life has crumbled and we have lost our moorings.

The simple reality is that the most reliable of friends sometimes fail. They are, after all, only human and the frailty of being human make them susceptible to failure. The next question is more difficult.

2. What will I do when the one I rely on NEEDS me?

This is a greater strain on relationships and often proves whether love is the glue that holds it together. What will I do when the one who always lifts me up needs to be lifted? How will I respond when I must be the one to minister? Will I be strong enough or dependable? The Widow of Zarephath found herself responding to an impossible request. How did she respond? She simply gave what she had – she did what she could.

1 Kings 17:12

12 And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.

3. What will I do when I feel I can’t do ANYTHING?

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater!

He sendeth more strength when the labors increase.

To added affliction, He addeth His mercy;

To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.

His love has no limit; His grace has no measure.

His power has no boundary known unto men.

For out of His infinite riches in Jesus…

He giveth – and giveth – and giveth again!

Dear Lord, someone today feels drained and down! Please fill them and lift them up. AMEN

RELIGION ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH!

RELIGION ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH!

Matt 25:1-10

25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

          A Parable is a simple story told to illustrate a moral truth. An analogy is a likeness in one or more ways between things otherwise unlike. (Merriam-Webster) Parables and analogies are problematic because they hint at the problem without thoroughly explaining it. In the parable of the ten virgins, five were wise and five were foolish. All ten are presented as being the same except for one important detail. Five had brought oil for their lamps and five did not.

          The lamps represent religion and though they be ornate and beautiful in their form they are useless as guides without the oil of the Holy Spirit. Religion may be carefully attended to which is illustrated by the fact that all ten “trimmed their lamps,” but there was no power in half of them. When “tried by fire” half of the lamps failed without oil.

          There is a danger of mistaking religious formalities for true faith. There is a danger of mistaking human emotion for true faith. I’m afraid that some of our modern worship methodology promotes the possibility of a counterfeit religion. Like the Pharisees of old, we wear the robes and carefully follow the minutia of rules and regulations but have no heart. We stand singing with hands raised to heaven swaying to the music but there is no oil in our lamps. When all is said and done the oil is essential.

          The lamp alone does not point out the stumbling places along the way. It does not reveal the blemishes that need attention. Only when the lamp of religion is lit with the oil can we see clearly. To put it plainly, religion alone does nothing to transform the life and guide the way. Many are stumbling in the darkness while carrying beautiful lamps unlit.

Ezek 33:30-32

30 Also, thou son of man, the children of thy people still are talking against thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to another, every one to his brother, saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the LORD.

31 And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.

32 And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.

Dear Lord, may the oil of thy Holy Spirit be strong within us and upon us today that we might have light. AMEN

DEFILEMENT IS INTERNAL!

DEFILEMENT IS INTERNAL!

Mark 7:14-23

14 And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:

15 There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.

16 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

17 And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.

18 And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;

19 Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?

20 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.

21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:

23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

          The last words recorded in chapter six were: “as many as touched him were made whole!”  Chapter seven begins by explaining that the Pharisees were following Jesus and his disciples and had observed them eating with unwashed hands. Now, as a kid, Mom would tell me to wash up for dinner. We had been outside playing and it was uncertain what vile thing we had picked up to play with. Dirt was the common playground and Mom did not want us to eat with dirty hands because we might become sick. The Pharisees, however, took hand washing to a different level as can be seen in the first five verses of chapter seven.

          Jesus turned things around and explained to the Pharisees that whatever the body took in it also passed out. The cleansing system of the human body could easily dispose of most of what went in. However the Pharisees had dirty hearts. This the body could not cleanse. Out of the heart proceeded evil thoughts and the actions that those thoughts prompted. Verses 21 and 22 is a long list of dirty things that come from within. The Pharisees had clean hands and dirty hearts.

James 4:7-8

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

Dear Lord, wash my heart of all the things that would defile me. Let my heart be completely dedicated to you. AMEN

MY FATHER OWNS IT ALL!

MY FATHER OWNS IT ALL!

Ps 50:10-12

10 For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.

11 I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.

12 If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.

Matt 6:11

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

Psalm 50 explains the extent of God’s wealth. He explains that our sacrifices and offerings are neither to make us poor nor to make Him rich. Neither is necessary! We are already poor and He has ever been rich! Offerings are to honor Him for whom He is.

Based on His own riches, Jesus urged His disciples to pray “give us this day our DAILY bread.” Daily bread has a PRACTICAL aspect. At the time there was no means of preserving bread and it was baked fresh every day! There were no plastic wrap or chemicals used to preserve bread for any great length of time. It was daily bread.

Daily bread also has a PRAISE aspect. In the wilderness God told the children of Israel to gather as much manna as they would need every day but to be sure not to gather more because anything left over would rot and produce worms. It was a lesson in daily trust. It was daily bread! There was no guarantee of supply from day to day except in the God who had promised. As long as there was a God in heaven there would be bread day by day!

We are tempted to trust in our employer and our own strength to supply our needs. Certainly God uses both of these things as He fills our needs but what if we become unemployed or physically disabled? God wants us to trust Him for our daily needs and he will allow whatever circumstance necessary to remind us of the true source of our supply.

Phil 4:19

19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Ps 68:19

19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.

Dear Lord, thank you for your faithful supply of my daily needs. AMEN

THE BRIDE AND HER BRIDEGROOM!

THE BRIDE AND HER BRIDEGROOM!

Rev 19:6-7

6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.

7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

Song 2:1-4

2 I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.

2 As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.

3 As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.

4 He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.

          Marriages and weddings have declined in our current moral climate. We seem to know much about sex but very little about love and true intimacy. It is sad that so many have traded love for only a small portion of it. They wander through relationships used up but unfulfilled.

          In biblical days, fathers selected brides for their sons but often the son informed the father of his own choice. It was not without romance! The father then would negotiate with the bride’s parents and some price or payment would be agreed upon. God the Father selects the bride for His son Jesus but the price is very high!

          The bride would wash herself and put on white robes which were often adorned with rich embroidery. Her face was covered with a veil and her head decorated with a garland. The bridegroom, attended by his friends, would set out from his house to the house of the bride. The procession was accompanied by singing and dancing.

          It won’t be long before we hear the trumpet announcing His arrival. Until then let us keep our garments white and our expectations keen. Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints. (Jude 4) I want to see Him as He is and smell the perfume on his neck.

Dear Lord, your bride waits impatiently for your coming. We fear the soiling of our gowns. We are anxious to embrace our groom. Come quickly King Jesus. AMEN

IT’S NOT AN ACCIDENT!

IT’S NOT AN ACCIDENT!

Luke 6:22-23

22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.

23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

For the believer persecution and trouble is no accident. It is the result of the collision of righteousness with unrighteousness. The more devoted you are to the Lord the more you will be shunned by Christian pretenders and those who use the Lord for their own profit and purposes! Sometimes it is simply a choice between actually following the Lord or agreeing with those who only claim to be following the Lord. By their works ye shall know them.

The sad truth is that we often are more persecuted by pretending Christians than by those who make no profession of faith. There is often a chill, an estrangement, and an unkindness that never should exist between brethren. Even Jesus, in John chapter six, looked at His handful of disciples and muttered, “Will ye also go away?”

If God is truly God then it is my duty to yield to Him and not to expect Him to simply bless my agenda. God is a personality and if we are to work together I must find myself always ready to yield my PLANS to His PURPOSES. When I yield to Christ I will often run headlong into those who stubbornly demand their own way. There will be conflict with those who are at odds with the purposes of God.  They shall cast out your name as evil.

Acts 5:41

41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

Father, nothing hurts more than to suffer at the hands of those I considered my brethren. But I remember that your Son, my Savior, bore the same indignation and I am not better than He. Thank you, Lord for the privilege of suffering for your name’s sake. AMEN

MY PRECIOUS BURDEN!

MY PRECIOUS BURDEN!

Ps 55:22

22 Cast thy burden upon the Lord , and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

          Interestingly, the Hebrew word for “burden” in Psalm 55:22 is strictly translated “what is given.” It is something received. I think it might have been given intentionally! One of Merriam – Webster’s definitions of “burden” is “responsibility!” Perhaps your burden is your job or some illness. Maybe it is worry over a troubled teen who is struggling to find his or her way. Whatever it is, it has been given and you have received it.

          Because I write a devotional every day, I subscribe to several online devotionals myself. I often need a starter to pique my creativity. Well, the following is shamelessly stolen from the late Dr. Adrian Rodgers. I think it wonderfully fits.

“I read about a man who had a very fine dog who loved the water. One day the dog was playing in the lake and the man decided to leave. He called the dog, but the dog wouldn’t come. He called him several times; he wouldn’t come. It was a well-trained dog, but he just would not come. The man finally threw a stick out in the water. When the dog saw it, he swam over, got the stick, and came back and laid it at his master’s feet. It just may be that God has given you a burden because He can’t get your attention. He wants you to come and lay it at your Master’s feet.”

So, today I will look at my burdens differently. I will see them as the ringing of my spiritual telephone. God is on the line and wants to talk. He is willing to trade my burden for a little of my time.

Dear Lord, Thank you for my burden. I am sorry that you have to resort to such means in order to get my attention. I love you, Lord. AMEN

Hard to convince

Thursday, August 16, 2012

HARD TO CONVINCE!

Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. (Matthew11:20-22 KJV)

   The exact location of Chorazin is not known but it must have been near to Bethsaida. Jesus denounces their lack of response to the "mighty works" which He did in them. Miracles and healing should have convinced them not only of Jesus' true identity but there should have been more than enough to prompt belief. These cities were hard to convince.

   I suspect that the proofs were sufficient but their stubbornness was more than equal to them. Stubbornness will fuel hell as much as any other sin! Next Jesus mentions that Tyre and Sidon received punishment -- and rightly so -- but that they did not have the benefit of all the wonders which were observed by stubborn Chorazin and Bethsaida. 

   What about you? Have you stubbornly refused to believe in spite of sufficient evidence? Think of all God has done to reveal Himself to you. Think of all the good things He has done for you. Won't you reconsider and abandon your stubbornness? Trust Him now!

Dear Lord, Please forgive my stubbornness and help me to trust you more andmore. AMEN

Ron Abbott
Calvary Baptist Church
Bowie, TX
ron_abbott@sbcglobal.net
http://backsideofthepulpit.blogspot.com/
Sent from my iPad