FOR THY GREAT MERCIES!

 

Thursday, February 25, 2021

 

FOR THY GREAT MERCIES!

 

Dan 9:18

18 O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies.

 

           Daniel, the outcast captive, was praying for his homeland. The Babylonians had swooped down upon the city that was “called by His name” and had scattered the inhabitants. Daniel prays for forgiveness. “O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us.” Dan 9:16

 

           The matrix of prayer is always the understanding of our sin! God opens the door when we knock with confession! Daniel confessed the sins of his people – and his own sins as well. It is there that he begins. Note again what he says: “for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies.”  God in His grace gives us what we don't deserve, and God in His mercy doesn't give us what we do deserve. Warren Wiersbe

 

           We can’t shout at God! We can’t complain that we have been unfairly treated by the One who orchestrates the cosmos! We deserve everything we are suffering and more. When we pray we kneel upon grace and bow before the altar of mercy. We dare not ask for justice lest our condition become worse. We ask for undeserved kindness. We ask for divine pity.

 

What a remarkable ministry Daniel had in Babylon! He was counselor to four kings, intercessor for the people of Israel, and a faithful witness to the true and living God. If you find that you have been carried away captive, maybe you need to open your window and pray!

 

Lord, we do not come before you on the basis of our righteousness – but for Thy great mercies. Grant our petitions and restore your glory. AMEN

ROCK SOLID!

 

Wednesday, February 24, 2021

 

ROCK SOLID!

 

Matt 7:25

25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

 

We live in an increasingly troubled and troublesome world. Like the disciples of old, our thoughts naturally gravitate to their question regarding the eventual collapse of society. The heavy burden of sin has turned God’s creation into a groaning and grotesque monster.

 

Politically, “the wicked beareth rule” and so the people mourn. (Proverbs 29:2) Religiously, churches have been overrun by carnal theatrics. Socially, the family unit is under tremendous strain. Cohabitation and illegitimacy are the result of a general lack of commitment. Productivity is down because entitlement now rules the day. There is a growing unrest as culture begins to dissolve.

 

Jesus urged his followers to remain calm but to be prepared. We will feel the pressure along with others, but we will know that our ultimate redemption is drawing closer and closer. We must remain true to godly principles, resist the culture, and win the lost. Then shall the end come.

 

Dear Lord, help me to remain calm and faithful in the face of growing unrest. AMEN

GLADLY, THE CROSS-EYED BEAR!

 

Tuesday, February 23, 2021

 

GLADLY, THE CROSS-EYED BEAR!

 

         I think that children must get a picture of a cross-eyed Teddy Bear named Gladly whenever they hear a Sunday school teacher say those words. So, let’s be clear. The cross is not a fuzzy bear and it is not easy to carry it gladly!

 

Matt 16:24-26

24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

 

           All three of the synoptic gospels records Jesus saying: “If any man will come after (or follow) me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross.” Luke adds the word “daily.” Following Jesus is not for wimps but risk takers.

 

1.       The Cross is PERSONAL!

 

It is YOUR cross. The cross of discipleship and service is not some naturally occurring inconvenience. It is more than a rainy day that spoils a picnic. My cross is so personal that nobody else can carry it.

 

2.       The Cross is REDEMPTIVE!

 

I believe that ministry does not happen unless the minister suffers some kind of loss so that the recipient can enjoy some kind of gain. Jesus’ cross redeemed the sinner, but Jesus was without sin. The one hanging on the cross suffered loss so that we might gain.

 

2 Cor 8:9

9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

 

3.       The Cross is an INVESTMENT!

 

Mark 8:35-36

35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.

36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

 

Those who are overly protective of this earthly life will ultimately lose it anyway. Those who recklessly invest their earthly life to do ministry will not lack life. Those who hoard earthly stuff will ultimately lose it but those who lay up treasure in heaven will never lose their investment.

 

Matt 6:19-21

19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

 

Dear Lord, I don’t have much, but it all belongs to you. Use both me and my stuff to make gains for your kingdom. AMEN