Thursday, January 31, 2019

Do or Done

Imagine looking into a mirror and seeing someone other than yourself. I suggest this happens to many Christians everyday: we see men and women who are defeated, depressed, discouragedThe struggle to be is ever-troubling!  In reality, this is not who we are: "And because of Him you are in Christ Jesus, Who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption." (1 Corinthians 1:30). Being in Christ Jesus changes everything! Jeremiah called Christ, "The LORD Our Righteousness." (23:6). All the striving [by works] to be of value, honorable and worthy is useless not to mention tiresome; Sam Cathy described it as "plowing water." My friend Leslie puts it like this: most of the world's religions say "do" - Christianity says "done."  God's Salvation is a finished, a completed work.  Are you living a life of "do" or resting in the reality of "done?"

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Speak, Lord

There are times when it seems we have a target on us - when everything crashes in on us simultaneously. We're wise to acknowledge God speaks in many ways, and one of those ways is through our circumstances. Personally, I've learned to ask in the trying times, "Lord, what are you teaching me?" God spoke to Isaiah with "mighty power." (Isaiah 8:11). We know, too, God spoke to young Samuel in the still of night.  However and whenever God speaks, He has something important to say. Oswald Chambers poses, "Do we discern His hand at work, or do we see things as mere occurrences?" In stormy times - as at all times - it is best to make a habit of saying to God as Samuel did, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening." (1 Samuel 3:10). God definitely has something to say to those who listen.  

Tuesday, January 29, 2019

Be Careful

Do you have things with which you take great care?  Of the many great conversations in Scripture, one of my favorites is God's words to Joshua: "Only be strong and very courageous, be careful to do [everything] in accordance with the entire law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may prosper and be successful wherever you go." (Joshua 1:7). Every time I read this verse, I tremble at the times when I'm careless about obedience to God. Let's be honest - we're just not careful with the little things of life: taking an ink pen that isn't ours or making a copy of a copyrighted song. You see, there's no such thing as partial obedience; failure to completely obey is disobedience. God's warning to Joshua to "be careful" is of great significance - it was to Joshua and it is to every Christian. We're wise to consider if we are careful or careless in our obedience to God. It makes all the difference!

Monday, January 28, 2019

Shield of Faith

Lots of water, rest, peppermint tea, orange juice, diffused oils - all part of the battle against the winter crud. Christians are in a daily battle and [truth is] the enemy is smarter than we are! "But You, O LORD, are a Shield for me, my glory and the One Who lifts my head." (Psalm 3:3).  We should be terribly frightened as the day begins and we go forth shield-less. Little David stood boldly before the giant Philistine, Goliath, and said, "the LORD does not save with the sword or with the spear; for the battle is the LORD'S and He will hand you over." (1 Samuel 17:47).  Moses said to frightened Hebrews as the Egyptian army pursued, "The LORD will fight for you while you [only] need to keep silent and remain calm." (Exodus 14:14). Then again, Moses reminded the people, "it is the LORD your God Who is fighting for you." (Deuteronomy 3:22).  Clearly, God is the Warrior and His Shield is Supreme. All we bring to the battle is trust and faith in God.  Don't be deceived - our own shields actually leave us shield-less. Let us embrace the Shield of Faith (Ephesians 6:16) and watch as God battles for us.

Sunday, January 27, 2019

Be Well

Oh, my, what a terrible cold & flu season upon us! Did you know the greatest sickness has no specific season?  Truth is, we all come into this world with the most devastating illness known to man: sin. Scripture tells us we are "brought forth in sin" - it is our natural condition! (Psalm 51:5). The greater tragedy is many sick people don't even know they're sick. How wonderful, however, this great sin-sickness doesn't have to be debilitating or fatal: "He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed." (1 Peter 2:24). Because of Christ, the sickness of sin need not be symptomatic in our lives but [instead] His Holiness evident. Are you suffering from sin sickness, my friend. Don't ignore your illness - know Jesus and be well!  

Thursday, January 24, 2019

Seeking Him to Hear Him

Did you know it's easy to listen but not hear a word being spoken?  I propose that describes many Christians when God speaks.  Make no mistake: God does speak; He is a communicator: "Listen, O heavens, and hear, O earth; For the LORD speaks." (Isaiah 1:2a). Tonight, I asked myself a couple of questions: Do I really want to hear from God? Does it matter to me what He wants to say? For what purpose do I want to hear from Him?  God doesn't babble or chatter; He speaks with purpose. He has important things to say to me, and it is always for my benefit and His glory.  Am I seeking Him to hear from Him?  Are you?  

Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Unnumbered Days

Have you ever thought about how we number things: streets and highways, store aisles, shoe and shirt sizes, even people are numbered! The word "ever" occurs some 476 times in Scripture, and it means "the perpetuity of time, an unbroken age."  I'm not sure us "finite" beings can grasp the concept of "forever."  Psalm 139:16 says, "Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in Your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them."  Don't you find it mind-boggling The Creator knew us before we were known!  It's hard to imagine, but one day time will cease.  In light of eternity (forever), the relevancy of time won't be relevant.  In the Apostle Peter's words, "to God be glory now and forever." (2 Peter 3:18).  We have no understanding of a time when there is no time. The only thing going on will be endless-ness, timeless-ness, unceasing-ness of praise. Each moment will be dedicated to worship of The Lamb Who paid our sin debt.  And, don't think for one minute you will become bored in such timeless worship. The Redeemed will have eyes only for Him and their voices assigned no other Song.  Make sure you are prepared and ready for those unnumbered days!

Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Steadfast Obedience

The descriptor "kinda sorta" should alarm us. Who takes their vehicle for repair to someone who is kinda sorta a mechanic, or who hires a roofer who does kinda sorta good work? We don't have a kinda sorta faithful God, and He doesn't give us instructions to which we are to be kinda sorta obedient. God commanded His words be with us day and night "so that you may be careful to do [everything] in accordance with all that is written in it" (Joshua 1:8). Note the key word - "everything," which clearly rules out kinda sorta obedience.  God said He has loved us with an everlasting love; therefore, I have continued my faithfulness to you." (Jeremiah 31:3). No kinda sorta about it: our Steadfast God deserves our steadfast obedience!

Monday, January 21, 2019

Practice to Proficiency

For many childhood years, I did not like the timer on the oven - Mom said I couldn't stop practicing [the piano] until the "timer went off." Faithful practice is required for anything we intend to do well. Abraham obeyed God's voice, and Joseph received God's instructions through [God-given] dreams; neither men had a book of instruction. As he stood on the edge of the Promised Land, God told Joshua the "Book of the Law" shouldn't depart from his mouth, and he was commanded to meditate in it "day and night" (Joshua 1:8). O. S. Hawkins writes, "The word 'meditate" indicates that Scripture is to be like a tune that we cannot get out of our minds. It just permeates our thinking processes." There was purpose to Mom setting that oven timer for thirty minutes: she knew daily practice was required to play well. Just like God purposed success for Joshua and Israel, it's what God plans for those who love Him. Are you reading, meditating and practicing God's Word?  It's not enough just to read and meditate: practice leads to proficiency.

Sunday, January 20, 2019

Real Success

Albeit slow, we are renovating Mr. Bill's parents' farm house; considering the surprise challenges of updating a seventy-five year old structure, when done, it should be a work-of-art. Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem to lead in the rebuilding of its broken walls; he had this confirmation: "The God of heaven [has appointed us for His purpose and] will give us success ..." (Nehemiah 2:20a, AMP). God gave Joshua - Moses' successor - these instructions: "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall read [and meditate on] it day and night, so that you may be careful to do [everything] in accordance with all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will be successful." (Joshua 1:8, AMP). Genesis 39:2 says, "The LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful and prosperous man ..." Be aware the world will always give a false measure of success as well as a twisted path to it. However, we have no greater Advocate for success nor Advisor on the path to it. Joshua, Nehemiah and Joseph all succeeded because they listened to God and they followed God's instructions. There's no other legitimate measure or path to real success.

Thursday, January 17, 2019

Most Appropriate

"Watch your mouth, young lady!"  Yes, I remember being told that as a younger lady. The climate in which we live today makes us conscious of the words we use - careful to not speak inappropriately and offend. Do we not neglect, however, the appropriate words. "Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our [gracious and majestic] God; praise is becoming and appropriate." (Psalm 147:1). I fear many Christians focus on and guard against what is inappropriate, failing to speak that which is most appropriate. When is the last time - all alone, just you and God - you broke out in praise and worship?  Why not begin to make a habit of speaking words before The Creator - words most appropriate.

Wednesday, January 16, 2019

Right On Time

We wait in the checkout line anticipating our turn with the cashier; we wait in the exam room expecting the doctor's arrival. Waiting seems to always be accompanied by expectation. David wrote, "I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry." (Psalm 40:1). The verb "to wait" expresses a confident trust or faith in God. In Psalm 130:5, he wrote, "I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in His word do I hope." David knew salvation comes only from Almighty God; there - and nowhere else - did he trust and hope. Waiting isn't always something that comes so easily, yet when we are truly-genuinely-absolutely confident in The Father, we know the wait is not in vain. There is also much to be learned as we wait. Don't you know - God is always right on time!

Tuesday, January 15, 2019

Deeps and Shallows

Perhaps one of the most difficult things Christians do is balancing the physical and spiritual worlds.  Oswald Chambers refers to it as the "shallow and profound."  Most certainly, all things relate to God; yes, all things - eating, drinking, walking, talking, etc. -- things in which [even] Christ participated.  Chambers cautions, "Beware of allowing yourself to think that the shallow concerns of life are not ordained of God." Perhaps like you, I've known great deeps - personal and profound times with The Father. Nonetheless, I surely relate to the shallows - the daily things, i.e. family relationships, meeting financial obligations, etc.  Paul writes, "Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31). As much as possible, we must adapt ourselves to the interests of others, not seeking personal benefit. Living unto God in life's "shallows" must ever be our intention - that others will be open to the Message of Salvation and come to know our Savior.  Let us diligently seek the deep things of God all the while effectively dedicating the shallows to God's ultimate glory!

Monday, January 14, 2019

Speechless

Have you ever had something to say but someone else was monopolizing the conversation?  That must be how God feels sometimes when we're alone with Him. Of course, we are encouraged to talk to Him, bringing our cares and concerns and burdens, but sometimes we need to go to Him speechless. "And soon as He was alone, those who were around Him, together with the twelve [disciples], began asking Him about [the interpretation of] the parables." (Mark 4:10, AMP). Notice it was Jesus' disciples - those with whom He was with daily - that had the questions. One of the hardest lessons I've had to learn - and am still learning - is to sit quietly before the Lord. In those times of speechlessness God has revealed Himself in new and profound ways. In your next time alone with The Father, try being completely speechless - He has much to say. Hear Him.

Sunday, January 13, 2019

No Matter What

Buying bananas is tricky: you must weigh how green-or-ripe they are against how quickly they will be eaten.  Sadly, I've fed lots of possums dead bananas.  Our obedience to God isn't something we can put on the scales - like a bunch of bananas.  There is always a cost for obedience and it's always all-or-nothing. If there's the slightest hold-out from full surrender, it's not obedience.  Jesus said, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." (John 14:15) - what a straight-forward and definitive statement! The key word is "love," which is the measuring tool of obedience: just how much do we love Him. Have you put your obedience to God on the scales, weighing and contemplating the personal cost? Like the psalmist, let us say "I have chosen the way of faithfulness" (119:30) -- no matter what.

Thursday, January 10, 2019

Infinitely Enduring

"To infinity and beyond," says Buzz Lightyear of Toy Story fame. How is it possible to go beyond infinity?  The psalmist writes "Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His lovingkindness (graciousness, mercy, compassion) endures forever." Psalm 136:1).  This word "lovingkindness" or "loyal love," is most significant; it describes the character of God. His love is forever; it is part of His eternal character.  Particularly significant is its endurance - eternal, everlasting, infinite!  The LORD said, "I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you and continued My faithfulness to you." (Jeremiah 31:3).  Infinitely enduring is just how deeply and richly and lasting is The Creator's love for you and I. Rest sweetly and confidently in the infinitely enduring love of God.

Wednesday, January 9, 2019

#worshipHim2day

Camping has never been on my radar, which means I wouldn't know where to begin putting up a tent. I'm an expert, however, at checking into a hotel.  Scripture gives us a unique glimpse into the life of Abraham: "He moved from there to the mountain east of Bethel, and he pitched his tent with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; there he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord." (Genesis 12:8). The location where Abraham pitched his tent is significant: Bethel means "house of God" and Ai means "heap of ruins."  Surely, this is where we find ourselves each day - betwixt a life of obedience to God and the pull of the world.  There, between Bethel and Ai, note what Abraham did next: he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord. He made an intentional and deliberate move toward God.  Worship isn't something we do only on Sunday (in obedience to God); no, there's not "levels of spiritual life" (Chambers).  You see, Christianity isn't a way of certain things - Christianity is a certain way of doing all things.  Early in your 2019, make sure you've pitched your tent facing Bethel (house of God). #worshipHim2day