SAVED FROM – SAVED TO – SAVED FOR!

SAVED FROM – SAVED TO – SAVED FOR!

          Salvation is a rescue. It is being spared from something unimaginable; so horrible that it almost defies description. But Salvation also has a forward focus. It looks forward to a reward unearned in a city unbelievable.

1. Saved from!

Eph 2:1-3

2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

          We are saved from hell and saved from a lifestyle filled with sin. We are saved from the power and control of an evil prince. We have been rescued from the family of wrath.

2. Saved to!

Eph 2:4-7

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

          We are saved to enjoy heavenly places with others who have been redeemed. Oh, but in the ages to come the riches will be excessive and all the language that may be used to describe heaven are superlatives.

3. Saved for!

Eph 2:8-10

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

          God has spared you! Do you know what He has spared you FROM? Can you imagine what He has saved you TO? Do you yet have any idea your purpose; what He has saved you FOR?

Gal 2:20

20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live ; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Dear Lord, I was dead in trespasses and in sins and you have made me alive. I have been given a great inheritance and a purpose for living. Help me to know that purpose and to fulfill it. AMEN

BURDENS!

BURDENS!

Gal 6:2-5

2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.

5 For every man shall bear his own burden.

Three concepts are found in these verses that will likely engage us as this day dawns.

1. We are to help others carry their burdens!

          David complains of his sin and says: "Mine iniquities are gone over my head; as a heavy burden they are too heavy for me" (Ps 38:4). The law of Christ is that we should love one another. Love prompts us to move quickly along a brother who is about to “lose it” or to drop it. How many of our brethren are so burdened that they are ready to quit? How many will we meet today with a smile on their face and a tear in their eye? Their shoulders are stooped and sore from carrying a heavy load.

2. We are to prove our own work!

          In this we see the almost lost concept of personal responsibility. Adam blamed Eve for his downfall and Eve passed the buck to the serpent. It’s been happening that way with man ever since! The battle cry of our age is: “It’s not my fault.” A young man sitting in jail may ask a visitor, “Why has this happened to me?” The answer is that you robbed a bank. Had you NOT robbed the bank you would still be free. The burden of personally proving our own work belongs to each of us. The Amplified New Testament puts it this way:

Gal 6:4 AMP

4 But let every person carefully scrutinize and examine and test his own conduct and his own work. He can then have the personal satisfaction and joy of doing something commendable [in itself alone] without [resorting to] boastful comparison with his neighbor.

3. Some burdens must be borne alone!

          The Greek word translated “burden” in verse 5 is different from the word used in verse 2. Here the word means “an invoice” or “ships freight.” It is the only place in all of Paul’s writings that he uses this word. The word refers to the “bill of lading” and refers to something of great value. Each of us will stand in judgment and receive our own reward.

Dear Lord, although I am burdened with my own load, help me to lighten the load of a brother or sister today. AMEN

DAVID’S PLEA FOR LIGHT!

DAVID’S PLEA FOR LIGHT!

Psalms 43:1

Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man.

2 For thou art the God of my strength: why dost thou cast me off? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

3 O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.

4 Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God.

5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

King David was in distress, was on the run, and hiding in the wilderness. He was being pursued by his enemies. He prays and asks God to send out His light to clarify this present darkness, to send His truth to stand against confusion and uncertainty in his heart and mind.

We may not be running from an enemy in the wilderness but there is much confusion and darkness in our world today! Our peace is disturbed, our present is troublesome and our future is uncertain. We need God’s light and truth to guide the way and to comfort. We long to return from the wilderness and to worship in God’s holy hill. David longed for the house of worship because he had been driven from it.

David says: “We are in darkness and distress! O send light and prosperity, we look for the fulfillment of thy promises, O send forth thy truth. Let thy light guide me to thy holy hill, to the country of my fathers; let thy truth lead me to thy tabernacles, there to worship thee in spirit and in truth.”

Dear Lord, we are never disappointed in you. Guide us today with Thy light and truth. Cause us to hope and may today be filled with praise. AMEN

AH! SINFUL NATION!

AH! SINFUL NATION!

Dear America, perhaps you should read Isaiah chapters one.

Isa 1:4-7

4 Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the Lord , they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.

5 Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.

6 From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.

7 Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.

          Did God comment on the Jews’ declining culture or was it more than that? I think it was certainly more but the root of decline is sin and rebellion against the Lord. Who can dispute that when we see it so clearly in our own culture? We have gone away backward. We have wounded ourselves. Like drunks who fall upon the glass of their own broken bottles, we are do not feel it until it is critical. 

          Did God comment on the Jews’ illegal alien problem? Perhaps not in the same way that America is suffering the flood of aliens easily crossing our unprotected borders, but the fact is that “strangers” are devouring our resources at an alarming rate. The cause is not political ignorance and ineptitude, although there is more than enough of that, the cause is sin. Sin is behind all of our ills.

          Did God offer a remedy? Did He suggest ways to repair the damage? Did he recommend one political party over another? No, God is above all and knows that politicians are not the answer. It is not better education, eco-friendly everything, or more tolerance that will provide a cure. No, the cure is righteousness, holiness, and purity.

Isa 1:16-18

16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;

17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord : though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Dear God, please heal our land. Let it begin with me. AMEN

BE FAITHFUL IN SMALL THINGS!

BE FAITHFUL IN SMALL THINGS!

Eph 4:16

16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Not many are assigned the truly big responsibilities in the church but every little thing is very important. The keeping of the nursery so that mothers may worship, the sweeping of the floors and cleaning away the weekly, and sometimes daily, use are very important. The single voice in the choir blending with other single voices makes music to inspire others and to honor God. Be faithful in small things.

One preacher’s story illustrates this beautifully.

SMALL THINGS

I was asked to conduct the funeral for a man who had helped develop the famous Boeing 747 aircraft. After the service, I spoke with the widow and commented on how remarkable it was that her late husband had helped build that marvelous machine. She said, "The truth is, he worked on one little switchbox smaller than a loaf of bread. That's all he worked on for 15 years. But when that 747 lifted off the ground for the first time, it was the happiest day of his life."

He worked on one small switchbox for more than a decade. Yet the huge plane couldn't have lifted off without this man's contribution. Often we see only our seemingly small efforts and feel we aren't very important. But when the great Kingdom of God "lifts off," we'll be thrilled to find out that all of our efforts were essential.

Dear Lord, remove the pride in me that considers my small task unimportant. Let me do the small and perhaps hidden things faithfully. I dedicate today with all its mundane things to you Lord. AMEN

LET US ALSO!

LET US ALSO!

Heb 11:39-12:1

39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

12 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

          America wasn’t simply founded – it was found. Lewis and Clark hiked and hacked their way across an unexplored continent and others forged a new government by correcting the errors of the ones left behind in other cultures. Trailblazers we were! Similarly, the heroes of the faith mentioned in Hebrews chapter eleven explored new territories of trust. There were casualties as we see from verses 39 and 40. Not all were what we would call successful but all were heroes.

          Arbitrarily interposed were the chapter and verse numbers! So, if you remove those, you can include the first few verses in chapter twelve to the narrative in chapter eleven. Why would we do that? So that we can get the point of the whole argument. “Wherefore [because of all this] because we have so many heroes watching our progress, let us abandon all those things that would weigh us down, and let us push ahead through the path that was hacked out for us by others.”

          We are trailblazers too! We are exploring new territories of trust and others are following behind in the path we pave. That is the sobering thought! If we fail, or if we hack out a crooked path, others will lose their way.

          We are following our Hero! Hebrews 12:2 explains that we are to be: “ Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Dear Lord, you left a clear path to follow! Let us do the same for those who come behind. AMEN

MAKING IT PERSONAL!

MAKING IT PERSONAL!

Gen 22:6

6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.

Matt 27:32

32 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.

Mark 15:21

21 And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.

Isaac was a type of Christ; he carried the wood on which he was to be sacrificed. This type was fulfilled when our Lord was led forth carrying His cross.

Cyrene was a city of Libya, in Africa, lying west of Egypt. There were many Jews there, and they were in the habit, like others, of going frequently to Jerusalem. We might gather that Simon could have been a black man and that speaks to the issue of race. Little else is known about him, except that he had two sons named Alexander and Rufus, and we might even conclude that he was a pagan and not a Jew. If he was a pagan then that speaks to the issue of world-wide missions, the thought that the cross would one day be laid on the backs of the nations. But his name was Simon and that makes carrying the cross very personal.

We are forever inviting people to make Jesus their “personal” savior and yet the word “personal” is found nowhere in the Bible. The concept is certainly present, however. If I say that “God so loved the world” as we see in John 3:16 then I can easily discount the personal nature of it. But if, with the Apostle Paul, I say that “Jesus died to save sinners of whom I am chief” then I can not avoid the personal implication of salvation.

Indeed the difference between Jesus preaching to the thousands and sitting on the lip of a well talking to a single woman is glaring. As far as we can tell by the stories the multitudes were not greatly changed but the woman at the well was never the same. Indeed the whole of Samaria was never the same. It was personal.

The personal nature of close contact with Jesus challenges and changes all our other relationships. One of Simon’s sons was perhaps well known to the believers at Rome.

Rom 16:13

13 Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.

Dear Lord, carrying your cross removes me from being a spectator to a player. I feel the weight of it, I smell the scent of it and the drops of blood fall upon me. It is personal – and I am glad. AMEN

CONSISTENCY!

CONSISTENCY!

Mal 3:6

6 For I am the Lord , I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

Heb 13:8

8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

            Just before enrolling in Bible College, I worked at the Coca-Cola bottling company in Cincinnati. While there I observed a few guys dressed in white smocks moving from “the line” to a special laboratory. One would walk to the fast-moving bottling line, quickly grab a bottle at random and then shuffle off to the lab. These guys were quality control technicians. Their job was to insure that each and every Coke was the same every time. Well, our God is not capricious!

The Jews should have been grateful that God was unchanging in His nature, His purposes, and His promises, for if He were not, He would have consumed them for their sins. Twice Moses used this truth about God as his argument when he interceded for the nation (Ex 33:12-23; Num 14:11-21). The same principle applies to believers today, for 1 John 1:9 states that God is "faithful and just to forgive our sins." God is faithful to His promises and just toward His Son who died for our sins that we might be forgiven. (See also Num 23:19; Deut 4:31; and James 1:17.) (Warren W. Wiersbe.)

Like politicians, we constantly reinvent ourselves; God stays the same for- ever. From our clothes to our slang, we constantly struggle to stay up-to-date; He is completely unaffected by time. His Word will stand forever. He never changes.

Think what life would be like if He did change —if God were more like us. What would happen if tomorrow He decided that He was tired of the sound of our voices and He shut down the hot line of prayer? What would our lives be like if He decided that faith in Christ was no longer enough with Him, and we had to prove ourselves worthy of His love? (from Names of God's Promises © 1998 by Mark A. Tabb. All rights reserved.)

Dear Ancient of Days, thank you that your character, nature, and love for me never changes. AMEN

WE ARE SALTAND LIGHT!

WE
ARE SALTAND LIGHT!

Matt
5:13-16

13
Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith
shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and
to be trodden under foot of men.

14
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

15
Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick;
and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and
glorify your Father which is in heaven.

           
Two
metaphors are used by the Lord to describe believers who must live in
this world. The first is “salt” and we immediately understand that salt
enhances flavor making the food more palatable. Salt also is a preservative and
we are reminded that we live in a decaying world. In some cases salt is also a
healer, although it is never welcome when applied to the wound. 

In
checking one commentary, I learn that the word salt, figuratively, is prudence.
So we provide flavor to the tasteless; life to that which is decaying; and
caution to those who are out of control. It’s important to remember that salt
does not become salt through desire or labor. Salt is simply salt. It is part
of inward nature.

           
Light,
on the other hand has an outward focus. Jesus, Himself, called it “good works”
Light always enhances vision and always reveals things to be as they really
are. Light never praises or promotes itself but that upon which it shines. Our
good works should always “glorify” the Father. The word glorify is the Greek doxazo
which means “to render glorious.”

Dear
Lord, I can only be as salty as I truly am but let me shine my light so as to
glorify you. AMEN

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

PAUL’S GIFT OF PAIN!

PAUL’S GIFT OF PAIN!

2 Cor 12:7-10

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

          The monks and mystics of early days separated themselves from companionship and endured self-inflicted pain believing that it produced a superior spiritual insight. Perhaps it did. Paul was given the gift of pain and along with it he received these following things.

          Humility! Because Paul had been given unusual and superior spiritual insights into the things of God, it seemed good to God to give him a constant reminder of his humanity and frailty. We are not told what the pain actually was. We are left by Paul to speculate even as to whether it was physical, mental or emotional. It was pain! And it was constant pain.

          Grace! Someone once defined grace as “the desire and ability to do God’s will.” For every human deficiency there was given to Paul a divine sufficiency equal to or superior to his need. He was able later to declare that he had “learned” to be content in whatever state he found himself. He said “I know how to be abased and how to abound.” He counted the condition of want and plenty the same. This does not mean that he preferred want to plenty – but that he had learned to lean on the Provider in both cases.

          Intimacy! It is one thing to know about God and quite another to actually know Him. Paul was highly educated and we think he possessed an incredible intellect. However only in his pain did Paul experience intimacy with God. Later in his life he declared his desire to “know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death” Phil 3:10.

          If you are suffering pain today, look to the One who gave it for accompanying benefits.

Dear Lord, I do not ask for pain but when pain arrives let me also recognize the gifts which accompany it. AMEN

HE LEADETH ME!

HE
LEADETH ME!

Ps
23:2-3

2 He maketh me to lie down in green
pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth
me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

           
Twice the word “leadeth” is used in these precious and familiar verses. In
verse two the original word is nahal which literally means “to
run with a sparkle!” There are a couple of ways to view this word and make it
more graphic for our times. The first is to imagine a little lamb running and
jumping as he discovers he is near a place where he can get a cool drink. The
second is to recall the last time you saw a toddler wearing those tennis shoes
that light up when you stomp your feet. Oh, how they love to run with a
sparkle.

           
The second time the word is used the original word is nachah
which means “to transport.” How many times have we heard that the Children of
Israel were “carried away into one captive country or another? This is the
force of this word. Not only to guide but to carry away.

I
suppose it is possible for a Christian to dig in his or her heels and refuse to
budge when God says it is time to move out. It is possible, but not advisable.
Our way never takes us any place worth going. We run into hazards we never knew
were there. God knows. That is why He doesn't leave the driving to us.
Sometimes we argue with Him over His ultimate destination for our lives. We do
not want to be a pastor or a missionary or a school teacher or policeman or
whatever it is God has planned for our particular lives. Usually our resistance
comes from our incomplete knowledge of what He can and will do in that place.

As
God guides us, He still knows what He is doing. The unpleasant surprises that
spring up along the way do not take Him by surprise. We want to run and hide,
but the Lord calls back to us to keep on trusting, keep on following. Other
times we want to settle down in a place the Lord says we are just passing
through. We wonder why we can't stay longer, but He doesn't answer. All He says
is the same thing He said to the fishermen along the shore of the Sea of
Galilee, "Follow Me. I know where I am going."

(from
Names of God's Promises © 1998 by Mark A. Tabb. All rights reserved.)

Dear
Lord, let me not drag my feet when you are trying to lead me. Don’t allow me to
mistake a pause for a destination. AMEN

CHRISTLIKENESS!

CHRISTLIKENESS!

Rom 8:29

29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

          It’s selfish how we pick and choose the verses we remember. Most believers can quote at least a portion of Romans 8:28 from memory. “We know that all things work together for good…” We forget verse 29 which tells us that God’s plan for our life is to become conformed to the image and likeness of His Son, Jesus.

          Christlikeness can be defined as “resembling Christ in character, actions, and attitudes.” I suspect that we often fall short of God’s goal but God is patient with us and keeps molding us into that preferred form. Trials are often used as His tools to do so.

James 1:2-4

2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers [various kinds of] temptations;

3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh [develops] patience.

4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

          The pain you are now experiencing may be God’s way of chiseling away pieces of your unwanted character or polishing the roughness of your attitude. His goal is not to make you miserable but to make you like Christ. Yield to this working of the Holy Spirit. Ask God for mercy and to give you only as much as you can bear today. Slowly, the image of Christ will be displayed in you.

Dear Lord, we yield today to the process that makes us like you. Give us grace and mercy. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.

HE WON’T FORGET YOU!

HE WON’T FORGET YOU!

Ps 34:15

15 The eyes of the Lord  are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.

Isa 49:15-16

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.

16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.

          Wal-Mart has a new sign on the front door. It is a warning to not forget your child locked in the car. Perhaps there should be some sympathy for parents who are only going into the store for one or two things. They won’t be long! But inside the store there are so many things to distract that one might indeed forget a child left for only a moment in a very cold or very hot car. The result of forgetfulness could be tragic.

          That God should keep His eye on me, is an amazing thought since He obviously has many things to attend to. The attention that I receive is not born of duty but love. He can’t keep his eyes off of me! His gaze is transfixed. In searching out the language of Psalm 34:15 I find that there is no word for “upon.” That means that the reading is: “The eyes of the Lord are the righteous.”

          The image in Isaiah 49 reminds me of some love-struck teenager who draws their beloved’s name on their hand with a pen. Perhaps they will even carve it on their desk! Why do they do that? First, it is a reminder to themselves and then it is a warning to other potential suitors. None other may claim the attention I receive from the One who has written my name upon His hand.

          Dear believer, the eyes of the Lord are continually upon you. He has not left you and will not leave you. He loves you so much He can’t take His eyes off of you. You can take comfort in knowing that He knows your situation and is working toward a favorable outcome.

Dear Lord, sometimes we become distracted and leave you behind but we know that you never take your eyes off of us. Thank you for such faithful attention. AMEN

GOD IS NOT A MAN!

GOD IS NOT A MAN!

Num 23:19

19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

Job 38:3-7

3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.

4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.

5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?

6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;

7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

          Job, in his misery, was disappointed with God. He longed for a face-to-face so that he could submit a list of grievances and demand reparation. Be careful what you wish for!

          God appears and makes some demands of His own. The point of it all is simply that God is not a man with human limitations. He is not limited by time or space or by any other boundary we might imagine. He laid the foundations of the earth and measured it precisely with a plumb line. He hung the earth on nothing (see Job 26:7). The morning stars sang and the angels shouted for joy!

          This shines brightly against the black evil of our days when men slaughter innocents because they perceive that their god and prophet has been offended. Well, God is not a man that needs to be protected by His followers. Conversely, God is MY refuge and strength. He is a very present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1).

          Do these puny puppets of evil even consider how foolish it is to think that they must wrap their god and prophet in a rag and stuff him securely in their pocket? I will not worship and serve such a god. My God is much bigger and much stronger than that.

Dear Master of the universe, let me think clearly about who you are today and take comfort in knowing that you are not a man. AMEN

REFINER AND PURIFIER!

REFINER AND PURIFIER!

Mal 3:3

3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord  an offering in righteousness.

          The sons of Levi comprised the priesthood. They represented God to the people – and the people to God. Their office and duties were a series of sacrifices and cleansing. Ritual washings were their constant tasks. Why? Because God is holy and righteous altogether.

          Silver and gold, in their raw and natural state, are mixed with many other substances. Carved out of the rock, they may actually represent a small part to the ore. Taken from the earth, the ore is beaten and then heated so that it releases its metal in pure form. It is then poured into molds and polished before it finally becomes what it was intended to be.

          Believers often wonder why God allows them to endure such hardships. It is because God sees in us a beautiful vessel. He digs us out of the dirt and cleans us up. Then he beats us to remove large portions of useless things. Finally He subjects us to immense pressure until only that which is precious emerges.

          Perhaps today you are being hammered and heated. You look skyward and cry that it is more than you can bear but you can’t see what God sees. He is doing a work in you. Be patient! You will soon be not only useful but beautiful.

Isa 48:10

10 Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.

Job 23:10

10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

Dear Lord, you see me more clearly than I can ever see myself. Sustain me in the heat and pressure of trials so that I may come forth as gold. AMEN

UNTIL SHILOH COMES!

UNTIL SHILOH COMES!

Gen 49:10

10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

          Jacob lay upon his bed as death hovered near and gave prophetic blessings to his sons. When he came to Judah he pronounced him to be the progenitor of all the kings of Israel. The scepter would be passed from one to another in Judah’s tribe until Shiloh comes.

          The name “Shiloh” is mysterious and somewhat disputed as to its meaning. No, it is not the name of some Civil War battlefield or some country boy’s hound. One commentary said it means “Peacemaker!” Others say it is a clear reference to Messiah. Warren Wiersbe says this: “The name "Shiloh" in verse 10 has given rise to many interpretations and speculations, but the most reasonable is that it refers to the Messiah (Num 24:17). The phrase could be translated "until he comes whose right it is [the scepter, i.e, the rule]," because the word Shiloh means "whose it is." The ancient rabbinical scholars took Shiloh to be a name of the promised Messiah, who alone had the right to claim rule over God's people Israel.”

Israel must walk in darkness under law until the years may seem eternity, but "Shiloh" comes at last and peace with Him. Has Shiloh come to you? And has the peace which passes understanding, the peace He made, entered into your soul? For Shiloh came and conquered every foe that could harass you, and He stands today offering the peace He made "that passes knowledge." Have you received it? Has Shiloh come in vain for you? Begin today and "in everything by prayer and supplication make your requests known to Him," and Shiloh's peace shall "calm your heart." (from Names of Christ © 1994 by The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago. All rights reserved.)

Lord, Your peace passes all our earthly understanding. Help us to remain obedient and faithful to You so that Your peace will remain. Amen.

I’VE HIT A STUD!

I’VE HIT A STUD!

Isa 22:23-24

23 And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father's house.

24 And they shall hang upon him all the glory of his father's house…

Eccl 12:11

11 The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.

          How many of you have had this conversation? “Honey, can you help me hang this picture? Sure baby, let me get my hammer and a nail. Hey! We’re in luck. I think I’ve hit a stud!” Finding a stud meant that the nail would surely hold firm and the weight of the picture would not pull the nail from the gypsum board.

God chose a new man, Eliakim ("God will raise up"), and called him "My servant." Instead of exploiting the people, he would be a father to them and use his "key" (authority) for the good of the nation. He would be like a dependable peg, hammered into the wall, on which you could hang many burdens. But even a godly leader like Eliakim could not prevent the ultimate fall of Judah, for one day the whole nation would fall (v. 25). Eliakim is a picture of Jesus Christ (Rev 3:7), the greatest Servant of all. Warren W. Wiersbe

          In a world of uncertainty, those who have found Christ or, rather, have been found by Him, have something secure on which to hang their hat. “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. Heb 13:5-6

Dear Lord, thank you for the certainty and security that I enjoy. AMEN

BUT THOU, O LORD!

BUT THOU, O LORD!

Ps 3:2-4

2 Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.

3 But thou, O Lord , art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

4 I cried unto the Lord  with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.

          It doesn’t matter who, or how many, doubt God’s help -- as long as you keep the faith! David looked around and realized that things were bad and getting worse. “For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life. But I trusted in thee, O Lord : I said, Thou art my God.” Ps 31:13-14

          He is my Shield! The storms of life and the fiery darts of the Wicked One assault us in many forms—demonic oppression, illness, financial worries, weaknesses of many kinds. But our great Shield protects us from them all. Just as at the cross, Christ stands in for us and is able to take the fierce onslaught of all evil, sin, and death.

          He is my Glory! He is the source and cause of all my honor. I am nothing and have done nothing to deserve the attention and accolades that I receive. Even my most brilliant success is only evidence of His power working in me.

          He is the Lifter up of my head! The circumstances of life and the opposition those who should be friends may discourage me but he gently reaches down and lifts my chin with His tender hand. He looks deep into my eyes and then gives me an approving smile. I hear Him say: “I’ve got this! It will be OK!”

          Think about it! Warren Wiersbe comments on the strange little word “Selah.” “This is the first use of "Selah" in Scripture (vv. 2, 4, 8); it is used seventy-one times in the Psalms and three times in Habakkuk 3. Hebraists aren't agreed whether it comes from words meaning "to lift up" or "to be silent." If the first, then it might be a signal for louder voices or the lifting and blowing the trumpets, perhaps even the lifting of hands to the Lord. If the second, it could signal a pause, a moment of silence and meditation.

(from The Bible Exposition Commentary: Old Testament © 2001-2004 by Warren W. Wiersbe. All rights reserved.)

Dear Lord, be my shield today. You are my glory. Your encourage me when I am cast down. Let me think about this all the day long. AMEN