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

RAIN AS A MESSAGE FROM GOD!

RAIN AS A MESSAGE FROM GOD!

2 Chron 7:13-14

13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;

14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

           It is raining and we are glad! It has been so hot and dry here that we have become accustomed to it as normal. Much of the mid to South West is suffering drought. The “four corners” area are in “exceptional” drought conditions.

           We have hijacked verse 14 for evangelical and political purposes but have ignored the clear teaching of verse 13. Rain, or the lack thereof, is a message from God! When we need rain we are to rethink our spiritual condition and return to God. He quite literally turns up the heat until we plead for relief.

           Elijah informed the wicked King Ahab that it would not rain until he, by prayer, opened the heavens (1 Kings 17) and it did not rain for a period of three years and six months.

Lev 26:3-4

3 If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them;

4 Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.

Dear Lord, thank you for the refreshment of rain. Always remind us that it is both a message and a blessing. AMEN

UNTIL CHRIST BE FORMED IN YOU!

UNTIL CHRIST BE FORMED IN YOU!

Gal 4:19-20

19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,

20 I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.

           Paul fretted over the people of the church at Galatia because they had a desire to be back under the law. They were about to abandon grace! Paul said he had his doubts about them and their condition. He had called them “foolish Galatians” (3:1) and considered them to have been “bewitched.”

           Paul, who had done the labor to give them spiritual birth, now felt that he was once again suffering the pains of birth for them. Such is the tender mercies of his ministry to them that he was ready to begin again to secure their salvation. So it is in our modern day that so many who make professions of Christ do not easily develop His character, or moral attributes. Should not the love of God make his subjects more loving? Shouldn’t we be more merciful because we have received his mercy? Shouldn’t we be holy because He is holy? Shouldn’t we cooperate until the ministry of the Holy Spirit forms Christ in us?

 Eph 4:11-13

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

           Such is the purpose of pastors and teachers. We are to aid in the development of the fullness of Christ in each one under our care. In many ways this ministry requires much more exertion and diligence than evangelism. Giving birth is hard but parenting is more so.

Dear Lord, help me to cooperate with you and your ministers until Christ is formed in me. AMEN

HOW FIRM A FOUNDATION!

HOW FIRM A FOUNDATION!

Luke 6:47-49

47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:

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.

How Firm a Foundation is a Christian hymn, published in 1787 by John Rippon in A Selection of Hymns from the Best Authors, Intended to be an Appendix to Dr. Watts' Psalms and Hymns, known as "Rippon's Selection". It is attributed only to "K", which probably refers to Robert Keen(e), precentor (choir and music leader) at Rippon's church, though other names suggested include Richard or John Keene, Kirk­ham, or John Keith. It is most often sung to the tune "Protection" (or "Foundation") by Joseph Funk from A Com­pil­a­tion of Gen­u­ine Church Mu­sic (1832), though the original tune may be Keen(e)'s "Geard". This was the favorite hymn of General Robert E. Lee and has been played at the funerals of several US politicians. (Information from Wikipedia.)

The hymn is born just eleven years after the Declaration of Independence. The ashes of the Revolutionary War still hung in the air and the foundation of the nation was being laid. But much more than the foundation of a nation is in view.

           Your peace is not due to the lack of storms in your life but the firmness of your foundation. Let the winds blow and the storms rage! In the words of the hymn: “That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake, I'll never, no never, no never forsake.” Of the seven verses of this hymn, the following provide me with great encouragement.

Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid;
I'll strengthen and help thee, and cause thee to stand
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.

When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of woe shall not thee overflow;
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

Dear Lord, be very near to your children who are going through fiery trials and deep waters today. AMEN

HONEST TO GOD!

HONEST TO GOD!

Luke 8:15

15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

2 Cor 8:21

21 Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

1 Peter 2:12

12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

           In each of the above three verses the word honest is the Greek word kalos which means “good, admirable, becoming – even beautiful.” Honest conduct refers to that behavior which deserves esteem. We may not be able to easily define good behavior but we know it when we see it! In the parable of the sower, it is this good ground and honest heart which receives the seed and bears fruit.  

           Being an honest person means telling the truth without portions either reserved or embellished. This is how we must be with God. We need, as Charles Wesley said, “a principle within.”

"I want a principle within,

Of watchful, godly fear,

A sensibility of sin,

A pain to feel it near." (Charles Wesley)

Dear Lord, let me today walk honestly before men and before you. AMEN