Grace

Rev. 22:21

"The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you all. Amen."

How cool is that! The Bible ends with grace. Without grace, I would be nothing, not saved, not sanctified, and not waiting expectantly for the blessed hope. Jesus Christ was grace in the flesh. He bridged the gap between God and man, offered Himself as the sacrifice for man's sin, and freed us from the bondage of sin and death. This is grace! God's favor at Christ's expense for my benefit. Grace is my means to  live. Through it, God's strength is perfected in my weakness. Through it, I can serve others as a good steward of "God's varied grace." Through it, my conversation can resound with God's words. Through it, I can take "every thought captive to obey Christ."  So that in everything that I say, do, or think God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. It is all of Grace!!!

Father,

Thank You for Your gift of grace. Help me to be fixated on it as I live and breathe.

In the name of the Grace-Giver, 

Amen

The Holy City

Rev. 21:22-27

What a beautiful description! There is no temple in the Holy City because the temple is the Lord God Almighty. In fact, there is no need of sun or moon because the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is the lamp. It boggles my mind to think about the intensity and the scope of God's glory! God's light allows the nations and the kings to walk in bringing glory to Him becausee every knee has bowed. All is as it should be. The gates of this city are never shut, and there is no night. Evil is abolished! Nothing unclean or detestable will ever enter this city, but only those written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

This picture gives such hope for what is to come. It makes me "groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved." It is the huge heavenly carrot, the goal for the prize for the upward call of God in Christ Jesus, and the better country, the heavenly one of which I am a citizen. Wow! Praise God!

Father,

Keep my eyes ever fixed on You and focused on the redemption of my body and spending eternity praising Your name.

In Jesus name,

Amen 

Potter

Is. 64:8

"But now, O Lord, You are our Father, we are the clay, and You are our Potter; we are the work of Your hand."

Quite a concession for Israel to make! For Israel to concede that they were clay means that they were giving the reins of their life over to the potter. It means that they were abdicating their penchant for waywardness, self-will, and rebellion. Like Israel, how often do I go my own way? How often do I allow my life to be malleable clay? Do I seek to be soft to the touch of God so that He can make me a work of His hands that brings glory to His name?

My attitude of willingness doesn't change God's plan for my life since God is always sovereign. His way and His plan operate unhindered, but it does change my heart toward God and His plan. A soft heart allows me to relish growth, to delight in my time with God, and to be thankful that all He does in my life is for my good. Instead of being so hard that God must crush me with the holy hammer, it allows me to see the loving hand of my Abba Father.

It makes me think of disciplining a difficult child as opposed to an easy child. While the difficult child makes everything a struggle creating tension and unhappiness, the easy child makes growing a joy that results in a positive relationship. What kind of child am I? Am I His difficult child or His easy child? What will my attitude be toward my Potter?

Father,

I am Your clay. Mold me as You would desire. Reveal those hidden recesses in my heart that harbor self-will and rebellion.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Marriage Supper of the Lamb

Rev. 19:6-16

What graphic images! I can only imagine how John felt seeing all these things. First, he hears the voice of a great multitude which sounds like the roar of many waters and the sound of mighty peals of thunder. This voice was not only complete power, but it also extinguished all other sounds. The content could only be one thing: the Lord our God reigns, Rejoice, the marriage of the Lamb is now! The bride is clothed with fine linen, bright and pure. Amazingly, this linen was made from the righteous deeds of the saints! How cool is that! But it is not anything that the saints did in themselves, it was what they did through the grace of God.

Then Jesus enters! Heaven opens and in comes a white horse with one sitting on it called Faithful and True. His mission: to judge and make war. This is definitely not a peaceful scene but one of power. The heavy is coming down! His eyes are like a flame of fire (devouring and consuming), His head has many diadems (all kingdoms are His), and He has a name that no one knows by Himself. His robed is dipped in blood (from His sacrifice, the cost of His life), and the name by which He is called is the Word of God!!! Whoa!! The armies of heaven are all arrayed in white linen between Him. All is pure and sinless, without blemish. His purpose: to strike down the nations with the sword from His mouth and to rule with a rod of iron. This battle's outcome is predetermined. The nations stand no chance! He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On His robe and thigh is written, King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

What a scene! What power and glory the Word of God has! 

Father,

I am in awe as I read this narrative and realize the great power that You have, power for life and power for destruction. Thank You for choosing me to be Your saint, to stand with You, and to be a part of the marriage feast of the Lamb. Thank You for clothing me in Your grace-filled white linen.

In the Name of the Lamb,

Amen

God's Pleasure

Ps. 147:11

"But the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His steadfast love."

God doesn't take pleasure in my performance, my works, or my potential to do great things for Him. In fact, what can I possibly do for Him? Nothing at all since all that I do must be by His grace. He takes pleasure in the power that is behind what I do, that is His grace and strength. If I offer Him what I do in my own strength, it is glorifying me. In essence I am saying that my works are worthy of His praise. Never!! What the Lord takes pleasure in is my helplessness strengthened in his grace, my unworthiness perfected in His worthiness, and my pride replaced with my fear of Him. My life must lose its self focus and become God focused.

In theory, it might sound doable, but in practicality, it is NOT! My self is so strong and unrelenting that it makes my walk with God a constant battle, one that I must cry out to Him for the proper grace-powered ammunition. But as I hope in His steadfast love and mercy, I can walk in the Spirit. When I fall, which is often, He is there to lift, carry, and heal my wounds. He is my refuge, my tower, and my surety. I don't have to fear a lonely, defeated death because He takes pleasure in me because I fear Him, because I have my all in Him, and because He chose me to be His child.

Father,

Keep my eyes ever upward searching for and relying on Your grace and strength. Thank You for the steadfast hope and love that You constantly pour over me.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Resolve

Ps. 146:1-2

"Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being."

Such resolve on the part of the psalmist! He had predetermined his response to be one of praise for whatever life threw at him. His life, thoughts, and actions would bring praise to the Lord as long as he lived.

Even though all that I do is through grace, grace demands that I have resolve. I must determine to do all through grace, even praise God throughout all my days. I must determine to cry out for His strength and His grace. Without grace I am powerless, but without resolve I am powerless too. My resolve must not be to accomplish things for God, but to desire to do all through His grace and strength. My resolve is for His grace.

Father,

Keep me always focused on Your grace. Help me to stay true to my resolve to always praise You through the grace that You pour over me. Show me how my resolve works with Your grace so that I can praise You in all that I do.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Great is the Lord

Ps. 145:1-3

"I will extol You, my God and my King, and bless Your name forever and ever. Everyday I will bless You and praise Your name forever and ever. Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised, and His greatness is unsearchable."

What fitting verses for Christmas day! What else is there to say but, Praise God! 

"The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The Lord is good to all, and His mercy is over all that He has made."   

"All Your works shall give thanks to You, O Lord, and all Your saints shall bless You!"

"My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord; and let all flesh bless His holy name forever and ever."

On this Christmas Day, there are so many great gifts from God:

Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for me so that I might become a child of God. 

Being chosen by the Father to be conformed to the image of the Son.

Being indwelled by the Holy Spirit who teaches me all that I need to know.

The riches of the Word of God that supernaturally change and mold my life.

The fellowship of other believers.

The freedom to read, study, and saturate myself in the Word.

Being able to share the Word with others.

The freedom to worship where God is glorified.

The riches of family and friends.

Provision of my daily needs.

The security of knowing all the details of my life are in God's Hands.

The rest that comes from having a sovereign God plan my life.

Knowing that all things work together for good in my life.

Knowing that nothing can separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

Being able to talk with the Father personally in prayer.

Being able to walk in the footsteps of Jesus.

For the valleys of trials, suffering, pain, and injury.

And for the mountaintops of victory.

For ready forgiveness for my sins.

And so much more!

Praise Your name, my God and Savior!

Bless You for being in my life!

Bless You for sending Your Son who gave His all for me!

I love You!

Blessed

Ps. 144:15

"Blessed are the people to whom such blessings fall! Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord."

As I sit here on Christmas Eve, I can truly say my life is blessed in so many ways, but the crucial way is that God is my Lord. I am His and He is mine. In Ps. 44, David recounts many different ways that God has blessed his life. They include:

• He trains his hands for way and fingers for battle.
• He is his steadfast love and fortress, his stronghold and deliverer, his shield and refuge.
• He subdues enemies under him.

Then David expresses his heart and desires to the Lord. He begins by singing a new song to the Lord, a song of praise. After which he petitions God for:

• his children to grow and flourish.
• his crops to be abundant.
• his animals to fertile.
• his streets to be free of fear and distress.

His conclusion is that he is abundantly blessed because God is his Lord. I am thinking that my petitions are no different from David's. I want my children and their children to grow and flourish, not just physically but spiritually. I am concerned about our physical provision, about jobs and salary. Maybe I don't have crops or animals, but jobs accomplish the same things. Finally, I definitely pray for my 'streets,' the places that I inhabit, to be free of fear and distress. David's heart and mine though separated by years and by circumstances come down to many of the same issues. We have definitely arrived at the same conclusion, that is how blessed we are! God abundantly cares for me, and I can rest in Him because He has the plan and the purpose for my life. I am part of His people and He is my God.

Father,

My heart is full this morning because I realize the great blessings that I have in You. Not only do you care for me meeting all my needs, but You have chosen me to be Your child. You are my God. How blessed I am!

In Jesus name,

Amen

His Purpose

Is. 55:11

"so shall My word be that goes out from My mouth; it shall not return to Me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the things for which I sent it."

God's word is all powerful! It not only declares God's will and purposes,  but it consistently and always does what He declares it will do. It will never return empty; instead it is always successful. What an assurance for me to trust in the promises of God! What a warning to believe all that it says! When I think of great words that have been written, I think of Shakespeare, Greek Philosophers, or even the Constitution of America. They are all great writings, but they cannot make these claims. They do not always accomplish the purposes that they were written for, nor are they relevant throughout all time. Only the Word of God is so powerful that it never changes, that it always accomplishes God's purposes, and that it can produce supernatural change in its readers. The Word of God can change a life permanently. Its claim supersedes all time.

Father,

Give me the strength to believe all that I read. Send Your Spirit to drive home its tenets to my heart. Change me and mold me through its great power.

In Jesus name,

Amen  

For the Dark Times

Ps. 142:1-2

"With my voice I cry out to the Lord; with my voice I plead for mercy to the Lord. I pour out my complaint before Him; I tell my trouble before Him."

What do I do when I am down and things are crashing around me? Do I cry out to God? Do I plead for mercy to the One who has established all my days? Or, do I mope, feel sorry for myself,  talk to a friend, or even eat some ice cream or candy? What an amazing God I have who willingly listens to me when I complain and whose heart is big enough to hear whatever I have to say!  The psalmist goes on to say that when his spirit faints, God knows. More than that, God knows what is taking him down, every trap and pitfall. God is his refuge and portion because He established the course of every day that David lived. The same goes for me. Who is better to pour out my heart to than the One who ordered my every moment?

Father,

Give me the strength and wisdom to cry out to You immediately instead of wallowing in my own self-pity. Help me understand my days as You do.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Beautiful Feet

Is. 52:7

"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news; who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, 'Your God reigns.'"

True beauty for my feet comes from sharing the gospel not from pedicures, waxing, or polishing. Eph. 6 says "and as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace."  My feet need to be swift to share peace, happiness, and salvation. Wherever I go and whatever I do, my primary focus is the gospel and not my plans, pleasures, or priorities. After having foot surgery twice and being off my feet for months at a time, I understand the importance of feet. They should not be taken for granted, or on the other hand, used for my purposes alone. As I sit here waiting for the day that I can walk again, what are the things that I want to do first? Am I planning ways to share the gospel, or am I thinking of all the things that I need to accomplish? Am I thinking of making my feet beautiful for God or active in my own agenda? I am impressed with the fact that even my feet need to be gospel-givers. At every moment, even in the mundane chores of life, I need to be singing and sharing His reigning power in peace and happiness.

Father,

Keep me ever aware of the beauty of my feet, of where my feet are taking me, and of what my feet are doing. Keep your gospel and Your peace always in the conversations that I share with others.

In Jesus name,

Amen 

Search Me

Ps. 139:23-24

"Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

Who better to search me than God? He who knows my heart and my thoughts, who formed my inward parts, and who sets my boundaries. Since He is Truth, He can pinpoint the grievous way in me. Sin is evil, but it is also grievous. Normally, I think of grief with death and separation, and that is exactly what sin does. It's wages bring death killing my joy and separating my spirit from God, but His Holy Spirit searches my heart and thoughts so that He might expose these  pockets of 'grief' allowing me to stay close to the One who is my life and my leader.

Father,

Search me and expose the grief, hidden and overt. Free me to follow You wholeheartedly.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Ps. 138

Ps. 138:8

"The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me; Your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of Your hands."

The psalmist is sure of God's plan and purpose being fulfilled in his life. He knows God's steadfast love endures forever; likewise, His plan endures forever. The psalmist is also sure because of what he has experienced in his life.

• On the day David called, God answered. His communication with God was constant and immediate.
• When David walked in the midst of trouble, God delivered him. God was his refuge, fortress, rock, and deliverer.
• God stretched out His hand over David's enemies, and there were many. David's life was one of constant fleeing, running, and hiding.

God was a reality to David. David knew God personally and saw His mighty hand work visibly in his life, but he also knew the character of his God.

• He was unchanging in plan and purpose.
• His steadfast love and faithfulness were manifest in His life personally.
• He was worthy of David's whole-hearted praise.
• He was a God of holiness.
• He spoke words that elicited praise from the kings of the earth.
• He is high yet regards the lowly.
• He is a God of great glory.

Because of all this David's response was one of trust and praise. His mouth was filled with singing as he humbly bowed in His temple. His life was definitely one that would radiate confidence in God. How would I characterize my personal relationship with God?  Have I seen His hand at work practically in my life? Do I make His character part of my praise to Him?

Father,

Thank You for being the God that You are, for Your steadfast love and faithfulness, for your ever sure plan and purpose, and for your great deliverances.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Old Age

Is. 46:4

"Even to your old age I am He, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear, I will carry and will save."

What a promise to take into old age! Our culture says that if someone is old, that person is non-productive and  often even discarded, but in the spiritual realm, it is not true. God has promised that He will always be Who He has always been, unchanging, powerful, and loving. He will always meet my needs, and more than that, as I am growing older, He will carry me. When my strength fails, He is always there for "His grace is sufficient for my weakness." I am the product of His creative force and age does not change that. As I was when I was young, so will I be when I am old. In God's eyes and in His plan, I am always His, His sheep who He knows by name and holds securely. 

Father,

Thank You for this great promise. Help me to rest in You and not worry about the issues of old age, of poor health, of lack of finances, of weakness, and even of uselessness. Help me to serve You until You call me home.

In Jesus name,

Amen 

Pure Gold

Job 23:10

"But He knows the way that I take; when He has tried me, I shall come out as gold."

Job had gone through so much, yet he had faith in God and in His purposes and plan for his life. It was his faith that allowed him to see the light at the end of the tunnel. It was his faith that allowed him to see something good coming out of so many bad things. He wasn't hoping for God to relent or to change His mind because He knew that God was unchangeable. Instead, he was relying on all things, even bad things, to work together for good for him because he loved God and was called according to His purpose. Job's life shows in graphic detail that suffering does have positive results. Out of the fire of affliction, the Refiner burns away the dross leaving pure gold. Eventually, Job would become gold.

The problem is that many times in severe affliction, it's easy to take my eyes off God or to want an escape from what is happening. The more thought I place on my injured flesh, the more thought I take away from God, His character and His purposes. Like Job, I must focus on the end result, on the gold that I will become. I must  rest in God's and His promise to work good in my life.

Father,

Thank You for this example. Keep my eyes fastened on You and my heart true to Your sovereign plan as You burn away the dross in my life.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Every Knee Will Bow

Rev. 5:8

"And when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp  and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints."

What a scene! The Lamb takes the scroll. As He does that, the living creatures and the 24 elders fall down in worship. In each of their hands is a harp and a bowl of the prayers of the saints. Then all who are there explode in a song declaring the worthiness of the Lamb, worthy because He was slain, ransomed a people for God by His blood, and made them a kingdom of priests to God. As if this wasn't majestic beyond belief, more music explodes. Myriads of angels join the singers with one theme,"Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing." John then sees every creature in heaven and earth, under the earth, in the sea, and all that there is giving glory. blessing, honor, and might to the Lamb. Truly, every knee will bow and every heart will give Him praise.

Father, 

To You to the Lamb I add my praise, honor, glory, might and strength. I bow my heart and my knee before You in worship.

In the name of the Lamb,

Amen

Worthy

Rev. 4:11

"Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they existed and were created."

When I read this section, my heart is always stirred. It is such a moving declaration of the glory of God. First, the four living creatures unceasingly say, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come." As a response to the creatures, the 24 elders fall down and declare God's worthiness.  It can be no other way because of who God is! First He is holy, so holy in fact that it must be stated three times. Not only that but His is holiness is present throughout all existing time. Secondly, He is worthy of praise because He created all and gave existence to every living thing. For those two reasons alone, He is worthy of all praise, glory, honor, and power.

The problem is that man wants glory for himself. Somehow he thinks that what he accomplishes, who he is, and where he goes is his personal decision and is a product of what he has to offer. Not so! All that I am and have and ever hope to be is from God. From a heart of thanksgiving I must repeat what the living creatures and the 24 elders say. He alone is holy and worthy!

Father,

You are worthy of all my praise, my honor, my glory, and my power. Give me Your strength to live out practically a life that brings glory to You. 

In Jesus name,

Amen

Faithfully

Is. 42:3

"a bruised reed He will not break, and a faintly burning wick He will not quench; He will faithfully bring forth justice."

God is faithful and just. In His sovereign will and purpose, He established all, even the bruised reeds and the faintly burning wicks. He has promised that He will not allow me to be tempted above what I am able to bear, but will with the temptation provide a way of escape. If I am bruised or faintly burning, a way of escape might be all that I can do. When I feel like I can't go on or life is overwhelming, I don't need to fear a harsh hand from God, but instead, I can go to Him for comfort since He is the God of all comforts. He is there waiting to care for me, to heal and nurture me. 

Sometimes my 'bruising' comes from within. Often I am my own worst enemy, yet at other times, it can come from others. In persecution, trial,  and suffering, God has promised to be faithfully just. He will do what is right and not allow others to break my reed or extinguish my wick. God's sovereign justice is over all, over me and over those who want my harm. What a great promise! I can rest in God's care for me and in the  knowledge that He loves me even when I am bruised and dim.

Father,

Keep my eyes focused on You in times of hardship, persecution, and trial. Keep my world from becoming so small that all I see is my pain.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Abondoned Their First Love

Rev. 2:4

"But this I have against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first."

The church at Ephesus was known for their works, their toil and patient endurance, and their ability to spot evil and false teachers. They were also patiently enduring and bearing up for His name's sake without growing weary. But in the midst of all these good things was one very severe problem, that is they had lost their first love. I am amazed that with all they had going for them, they still were not in love with Jesus. At the end of the letter they are urged to repent before it is too late. How sobering!

I think that this letter speaks to the inner man, to the emotions, thoughts, and motives for service. It is clear that duty without love is insufficient. God says that man looks on the outward appearance but He looks on the heart. Probably to the human eye this church would be outstanding in service, faithfulness, and commitment, but what others can see doesn't tell the whole story. Why would they do all this service with wrong motives? Perhaps, they were more concerned with what other people thought, with their reputation among the churches, or maybe they were very duty-driven people. But no matter the reason, the warning is repent if your heart is not right. 

 I wonder how my church would be described, or how my life would be described. Am I known for my works? Do I toil with patient endurance? Can I spot what is evil and what is false doctrine? Am I patiently bearing up for His name? Most importantly, have I lost my first love? Have I fallen into a similar trap?

Father,

Open my heart, cleanse it, and give me grace to love you as I should. Help  me never to serve You out of duty, but to serve You with the fervor of my first love.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Waiting

Is.  40:30-31

"Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint."

Physical strength always fails even for the young who are toned and fit. No amount of human effort can prevent injury or eventual fatigue, but in the spiritual realm it is vastly different. Here, the weakest person can be strong in the Lord because God's strength is perfected in human weakness. What a great promise! I can rely on His strength as long as I wait and don't run ahead in my own strength. This is amazing grace! Why is it so hard to wait? Satan is prowling around seeking to devour me and what better way than to tempt me with self-sufficiency. Even after repeated failures, my flesh will try over and over. What a hard lesson to learn! I need God's strength just to wait for God's strength.

Father,

Teach me to wait on You so that my strength and Your strength will be one in the same.

In Jesus name,

Amen 

Beloved

Jude 20-21

"But you, Beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life."

John is speaking to those he holds close to his heart warning them about certain ungodly people who had infiltrated the church. These people were "hidden reefs at their love feasts, as they feast along with you, shepherds feeding themselves, waterless clouds, swept along by winds, fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted, wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame, wandering stars for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever."  What a graphic description! John's concern is fraught with deep emotion. He wants the hearts of the beloved protected from such people as these.

It appears from the warning that these people are hard to identify and can't be expelled from the church. They are truly hidden reefs waiting to sink the spiritual ships of others. Because they blend in so well, they are masters of deception yet with a focused goal. They want to snag others and take them down their same path. By "building themselves up in their most holy faith, " the Beloved are taking the offensive by sharpening their faith and making it impervious to the subtle lies of the ungodly and  by praying in the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is the one who will expose the true nature of these ungodly ones. He will strengthen these people with power in their inner beings and keep them in the love of God as they wait for the Lord's return. As the Beloved come in full surrender seeking grace for their weaknesses, the Spirit will do a mighty work in their lives. John is encouraging them not to forget the essentials, the things you have known from the start. Keep yourselves strong and focused on Jesus.

Father,

Guide me in building my faith. Keep me diligent in prayer connecting with You through the Spirit. Open my eyes to the deceptive ploys of Satan wherever they may be found. 

In Jesus name,

Amen

For the Sake of the Name

III Jn. 7

"For they have gone out for the sake of the name..."

John was encouraging those who had been faithful to traveling missionaries. He continued by giving instructions on how to send them in a manner worthy of the gospel, that is supporting their physical needs so that they would be freed to spread the gospel. He was teaching the pattern of either being a 'goer' or a  'giver'. Either way both jobs are vital to spreading the gospel. The motivation for these missionaries was stated simply in the phrase "for the sake of the name." 

I am thinking that this phrase should be the motivation for all that I do. Wherever God has placed me, He wants me to live for the sake of His name. How would I do that? If I were to compare my life to the life of a missionary, I would hope to see some similarities. First, like a missionary, I should have as my primary focus sharing the gospel and ministering to others. In order for me to do this I would have to be saturated in the Word and prayer so that what I had to share would be of the Spirit and not of self. Sadly, what I see in most missionaries, that is self-sacrifice, leaving of family, going without many wants and even needs, is not in my life. Am I too focused on accomplishing the physical details of my life? Am I putting the spiritual before the mundane? Am I actively seeking ways to share the gospel? Am I constantly remembering to live for the sake of His name?

Father,

My heart is convicted by this simple phrase. Show me how to make it a reality in my life. I am so thankful that You have given me Your name and made my Your child. You are my treasure.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Again--Love

II Jn. 6

"And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments,this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it."

Obviously, the importance of this command can not be understated since John, once again, stresses love and obedience, the pair that can not be separated. However, this time he adds another element, that is being true to what you have been taught. As the believers had heard from the beginning, from their first instruction, they were to continue in obeying. This command can not be watered down or be made into a soft choice. Certainly, it would be much more palatable to say love others and leave out the obedience factor, but once obedience is added then it gives teeth to loving others. It specifies exactly what that means. My love is to find its substance in yielding to God, in obeying His every word, and in selflessly serving others as Jesus did.

Father,

Teach me this love. Transform my feeble attempts and energize them with the power of Your Spirit so that I might love and reflect You as I reach out to others. Draw me to Your word more and more so that I might understand Your heart and love.

In Jesus name,

Amen

We Know

I Jn. 5:3

"By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey His commandments."

Love and obedience are vitally linked. When I love God, I am obedient to His words; and similarly, when I love others, I am obedient to God's Word and thus love Him too. If this is true, then I must put all my efforts into obedience, and to do this, I must be saturated in the word. As the Spirit drives home the word to me, He teaches me what it says and how to obey it, that is, by being strengthened in the inner being through the power of the Spirit. Just like I don't purpose to love others in all that I do, I don't purpose to obey all that I read. These two things are humanly impossible. I would most certainly fail at some point, probably a sooner point than a later point. But God is asking me to surrender my will, passions, and desires to Him so that His grace will be sufficient for all I need, sufficient for loving others and obeying His word. When His grace and strength are my operating principles, and I am obedient to what the Spirit teaches me, then His love will grow producing fruit that brings glory to God.

Father,
Transform my stubborn will into a home for Your grace to produce in me a heart of love and obedience. Give me the strength to keep my hands open in submission and my ready pliable to your molding. As I love and obey You, help me to love others from a heart of grace.
In Jesus name,
Amen

Love Perfected

I Jn. 4:16b-17

"God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as He is so also are we in this world."

Since God is love and abides in me, then I abide in Him and in His love. It can only be by abiding in God's love that love can be perfected because my human love is flawed beyond belief, but when Jesus comes into the life, that all changes. Without Him, I can do nothing including love others. Jn. 15 says I must abide in Him. He must be where I live, breathe, think, and feel. My identity is no longer my own because He has redeemed me. He bought me to free me from sin's hold with the price of His life's blood. By His grace, I now abide in Him. As Jesus abides in the Father so I abide in Jesus and the Father. Because of this union, I now abide in God's love, a love that can be perfected in me. Wow!

As He is so am I! What a statement! It makes me long for heaven where that will be true 100%, where I will not be plagued with my ever present flesh. But I notice that the verse says "in this world".  I have the potential to live out His perfected love in me now. I don't have to wallow around in my weaknesses. Through His grace I can love, live, and abide as He wants me too. What great promises!

Father,

Keep my eyes so fixed upon You that my flesh fades away. Teach me constantly what it means to abide in You and to live in Your love perfected in me.

In Jesus name,

Amen

In Deed and in Truth

I Jn. 3:18

"Little Children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth."

Since Jesus laid down His life for me, I too am to lay down my life for my brothers. Theoretically, it means I could actually lay down my life for someone else, but more realistically, it means that I must meet others physical needs. If I see someone hurting or lacking in worldly goods, I am to keep my heart open. When my heart is open, I am holding on to what is mine loosely, so loosely that I can give my possessions or my money away to meet another's needs. When God's love controls my heart, then my money and possessions are not my treasure. The love of God is my treasure! Thus sharing His love with others in a physical way is my treasure also. He also desires me to love truthfully, that is not making a pretense or a show of meeting other's needs. It is not doing it for man's praise or recognition, but it is giving sacrificially and with deep concern. It is giving to others as Christ laid down His life for me. When I love like this, then I am obeying God's command to love one another and I am dwelling in Him.  

Father,

Help me to love in deed and truth keeping my heart pure and free from selfishness. Loosen my grip on this world, my possessions, my time, and anything else that keeps me from obeying You as I should.

In Jesus name,

Amen

The Anointing

I Jn. 2:27

"But the anointing that you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as His anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no life--just as it taught you, abide in Him."

The anointing that Jesus gave us in the form of the Holy Spirit supersedes man's wisdom. What a strong statement! I have no need that anyone teach me, but instead, His Spirit teaches me. This concept certainly negates false teachers, but at the same time the Bible sets forth the gifts of pastors and teachers who do teach and who should teach me. In relationship to this, I have the Spirit's witness confirming or denying all that I hear or am taught. The Spirit in my life is crucial! I can't ignore or neglect Him and His ministries.

What this verse makes me think of is John Bunyan who understood deeply the treasures in the Word and then wrote great books with very little education or teaching from others. In fact, he spent a great deal of time in prison totally cut off from other people. Yet, the Spirit provided all that he needed. Bunyan even made the comment that he needed only his Bible and his concordance. His spiritual food came straight from the source without the interpretation of others.

The conclusion of the verse says that the Spirit has taught me the truth, and that truth is to abide in Him. My relationship with Jesus must be so close and personal that my total being is in Him. It is in this closeness that I have an understanding of the Word, but to abide and be taught takes time. This is the problem: time. How much time do I spend letting the Spirit teach me the Word? How much time do I spend abiding in Jesus?

Father,

Teach me daily Your words so that I might be constantly abiding. Thank you for the Spirit and His ministry in my life.

In Jesus name,

Amen  

Love Not the World

I Jn. 2:15-17

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions--is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whosoever does the will of God abides forever."

Pretty strong words! I am sure that most believers would say that they do not love the world or anything that is in the world. Yet, sometimes those words seem hollow. Where do we spend most of our time? What are we consumed with? Yet, even though we are in the world and spend time in the world, maybe that is not the issue. Love speaks of an emotional attachment as well as an action. Am I emotionally attached to what is in the world? If I have a choice, what do I chose to do? Where do I chose to be? I need to evaluate my heart for out of the heart comes the treasure that I value.

Since love is part of the fruit of the Spirit, the Spirit Himself is vital in purifying, strengthening, and in directing my love. As the Spirit leads and grows me, He weans me away from the world. Through grace, He changes my entire value system by replacing the desires of the flesh with the desire to be godly, the desires of the eyes with eyes that seek the Word, and pride in possessions with a heart that cares for the needs of others. The Spirit Himself transforms me from the inside out changing my focus and deepening my love for God.

What is the point of valuing what is in the world since it is all passing away anyway. Irrespective of the long term picture, many times what is in the world passes away before a person's grasp is firmly planted. What the world offers is fleeting and unsatisfying. So why the preoccupation? What's the draw? It is my flesh! Since my flesh years for what it used to know and love, I am in a huge spiritual battle, one which demands my constant vigilance and the Spirit's constant attention. But through grace, my victory is assured! I don't have to wallow in the mud of the world, but I can rise above and soar to the heights where His love is the air that I breathe.

Father,

Help me be constantly alert to my flesh and to the pull of the world. Grow my love and make me the person you desire me to be.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Keep His Word

I Jn. 2: 5-6

"But whoever keeps His Word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in Him, whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked."

Obedience is the path to the love of God being perfected in me. This is a perfection that doesn't come from my performance but from the grace of God energizing me and enabling me to obey the Word. As grace is in full control, the love of God matures or is perfected in me. As I ready, study, and meditate on the word for the purpose of obedience, I then will know the breadth, heighth, depth, and length of the love of God.

In addition to having a deeper and more mature understanding of the Word, obedience is the way that I know I am in Him. Jesus Himself said, "If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love..." Obedience is crucial. Jesus obeyed the Father to the point of death, even death on the cross. As He obeyed, so must I obey since a servant is not greater than his master. "For to this I have been called, because Christ also suffered for me, leaving me an example, so that I might follow in His steps."  His example in the Garden of Gethsemane was not what was easy or pain free, but instead He submitted to the Father's will which included death and separation from His Father.  His life was characterized by humble obedience. For me to live like He did, my life must be characterized by humble obedience as well. As I look at my obedience, is it humbly submissive? Am I quick to obey even when it is difficult? Do I desire the love of God at all costs?

Father,

Thank You for the example of Your Son. Help me to live like He did through Your grace and strength. Help me to humbly submit to whatever You have for me to do.

In Jesus name,

Amen

I Lift Up My Eyes

Ps. 121:1-2

"I lift up my eyes to the hills, From whence does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth."

What a beautiful psalm of comfort! In times of stress, of trouble, of pain, of suffering, of persecution, etc, where should I look? I should look up, up to my God. Yet many times, I look within  or to other people or programs. I try and solve the problem myself or seek the help of someone who can come up with a plan. But ultimately, lasting help only comes from one place, that is from God. Because my God is the sovereign God who formed the plan for my life, He knows what exactly I need. With Him there is no guesswork. 

The psalmist goes on to tell how God is his help. Like the psalmist, He helps me day or night because He never slumbers. I have round-the-clock protection.  As my keeper and shade, He protects me from the sun and the moon including the ravages of nature. Finally, He keeps me from evil and protects all my goings in or out from this time and forevermore. What more is there?

Father,

Help me to remember where to look in times of trouble. Keep my eyes focused on You and trusting in Your plan for my life.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Mary

Jn. 20:16

'"Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned to Him and said in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" which means Teacher."'

Jesus knows His sheep and calls them by name, and His sheep know Him and recognize His voice. When Jesus said Mary's name, that was all she needed. She knew it was Jesus in spite of His recent death, the supposed misplacement of His body from the tomb, and the fact that she considered Him to be the gardener. In a single word all that was cleared up without any extra proof. His voice was was the bond between them as it is for all His sheep. I believe if I would have been there in that situation, I would have known Jesus' voice as well because I am His sheep also. A single word from Jesus brings more identification and surety than any number of facts from the world.

Why did Jesus appear to Mary first? Perhaps because women are more relational relying more on feelings than on facts, or perhaps because she was the first seeker. She was hungry to see Him and to take care of His body. Nothing could deter her. Her bond with Him was strong and unbroken by the circumstances of the day and of His death. Whatever the reason, it certainly demonstrates the power of the Words of Jesus. His Words and the Word are like no other words. They are the words that build a personal relationship that lasts for eternity.

Father,

Keep me ever alert to the Your words so that my relationship will always be strong and vibrant.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Seek Your Servant

Ps. 119:176

" I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget Your commandment."

At the end of this great psalm, the psalmist openly admits his human frailties much like Paul in Rom. 7 where he says that he wants to do right; in fact, he delights in the law of God in his inner being. But in his members he sees another law waging war and making him captive to the law of sin that dwells in his body. The psalmist is attesting to this same struggle. Even though the Word is powerful and takes him into the presence of God, he struggles with his debasing human weaknesses. He says honestly that he goes astray like a lost sheep and cries for his shepherd to rescue him. Even when he is down, he always knows where to go for help because defeat is  not his lifestyle. 

When I read this verse and Rom. 7, it does encourage me because many times my flesh defeats my spirit causing me to wander like a lost sheep. The amazing thing is that I when I cry out for God to seek me, He does! He seeks me because He does not see my performance, my slips and stumbles, but He sees me through the blood of Jesus, through the eyes of grace. In His steadfast love, mercy, and grace, He comes for me and lifts me up carrying me on His amazing wings of grace.

Even though it is all of grace, the psalmist knew he must be in the word. He must be plugged in to the heavenly power source. The same goes for me. It is there that I am fed and healthy spiritually. It is there that I see the amazing promises of grace, and it is there that I am strengthened with power in the inner man so that I may know all the fullness of Christ.

Father,

Thank You for Your word and Your grace that rescues me from myself. As I am in Your Word, make it ever increasingly mine.  Deepen my understanding and broaden my application.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Enlarge My Heart

Ps. 119:32

"I will run in the way of Your commandments when You enlarge my heart."

This is my life verse! Even though it is one that many people don't really get, for me it says it all. My heart's desire is to run in the way of His commandments, and for years, I tried to do that. I found that many times it was fruitless and frustrating until God revealed to me the heart of the issue. Even though it is my responsibility to desire to run and to obey with all that I have, it must be accomplished by His strength and through His grace. He must enlarge my heart! Until He does that, I must wait!

Even though this concept sounds simple, practically it's not. I act and obey but only through His strength, but how do I access His strength? How do I know if my heart is enlarged by God? How do I eliminate my fleshly motives and desires? I am realizing that understanding this synergy may be something that I will never really grasp, but so far, He is directing me to saturate myself in His word and prayer so that His Word can change me from the inside out making me over into the Spirit-directed believer I should be. As I grow closer to God in prayer and in His word, my heart is knit closer and closer to Him. This closeness to Him is what enlarges my heart so that I can run as He would have me to do.

Father,

Help me to allow You full reign in my life to mold and form me into a heart that seeks only to serve You through Your Spirit. Keep teaching me what it means for You to enlarge my heart.

In Jesus name,

Amen

On My Side

Ps. 118:6-7

"The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? The Lord is on my side as a helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me." 

No fear! I have no reason to fear man because the Lord is on my side, helping me, protecting me, comforting me, and loving me. In addition to that, God is sovereign, creating all and ordaining all, even the affairs of men. Since God has set in motion the affairs of men, the good and the bad, there is no reason for me to fear men, and since I am a child of God, I know that all things work together for my good, even the affairs of men. Nothing man does catches God off guard! So my life is securely in His hands and in His plan.

As God's child, I know His voice and follow Him, and am assured that nothing or no one can snatch me out of His hand. These facts alone should cancel my fear. So if all of this is true, why do I still fear? I think it could be unbelief, lack of trust, lack of personal time in the Word and prayer, lack of knowing the Holy Spirit, and lack of knowing God intimately. All that is lacking is under the domain of my responsibility. I am the one that neglects the essentials that keep me unafraid. My life is lived through His power, but at the same time, I must desire God and be faithful to grow through His Word and through prayer.

Father,

Thank You for cancelling my fear and giving me a different perspective of life. Give me the strength to be true to Your Word and to talk to You each day. Help me to rest and not fear.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Jesus' Prayer

Jn. 17

Jesus' prayer in Jn. 17 is an example of His intercession for me. He didn't pray that my life would be easy or free of trials, but He prayed that I would grow in Him. But, why did Jesus take this time to pray especially in light of all that He had yet to endure? Perhaps it was because He would be gone and the Spirit had not come, or maybe because the believers were a special burden to Him because of His deep love for them. He also said that He was praying for them and not the world because the believers belonged to Him. They were given by the Father to Him. "All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them." then He went on to pray:

• That I would be kept in His name so that I would be one with Jesus and the Father.
• That I would not be taken out of the world, but that I would be kept from the evil one.
• That I would be sanctified in His truth that is the Father's words. 
• That I would be unified with Jesus, the Father, and other believers.
• That I would be with Him to see His glory given to Him by the Father.
• That I would experience the same love of the Father that Jesus did.
• That I would have the joy of Jesus fulfilled in me.

What a beautiful prayer! It certainly puts into perspective what it means for Jesus to intercede for me. Since the road to sanctification is often paved with suffering and trials, He prays for me that I will use His grace to endure. He knows that my life as a believer is to share Him and His salvation for others in this world. For this task, I need His grace and His intercession.  Jesus' focus was on spiritual issues, on eternal matters. He prays that my life will be consumed with Him, His Father's word, and the joy and love that comes from living like this.

Father,

Keep my focus where Jesus is praying that it will be. Help me to practically realize my mission here so that I can be sharing Jesus in this world that has such desperate needs.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Peace

Jn. 16:33

"I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but take heart; I have overcome the world."

Since Jesus knew the great need for human peace, He was making it abundantly clear where peace could be found. Even though people have tried to legislate peace, establish peace-keeping missions, and even have peace-keeping troops, human efforts have failed! Lasting peace is supernatural and finds its basis in Jesus Christ. When Jesus was speaking with His disciples in this passage, He was preparing them for His death and all the horrible circumstances that would surround it. Certainly, this would be a time when peace would be impossible. Yet, in the midst of these horrendous circumstances, there could be personal peace. How? Jesus said that peace would come from His words and from His presence. The world is fraught with tribulation, hardship, persecution, etc. but it's no worry for the believer because Jesus has overcome the world. Since He is my Savior and lives within me, His victory is my victory! So even though I live in this world, I am not of the world. When tribulations and trials come, I just need to remember Jesus, His death, His resurrection, and His Words; I just need to remember His Holy Spirit who lives within me giving me divine joy and peace in devastating circumstances; and I need to remember all His words especially the promise that all things work together for my good because I love God and am called according to His purpose. When my peace flees, it is because I am not where I should be that is in His Word, praying through the Spirit, and dwelling in the presence of Jesus and the Father. What foolishness it is when Jesus has given me peace and I fail to use it! What foolishness it is when I let the world drag me down into its discord and destruction! What foolishness it is when I forget the words of Jesus! Personal peace is mine through Jesus!

Father,

Thank You for sending Your son to bring peace and to be peace! His death is my death, and His victory is my victory! When He overcame, He made it possible for me to overcome. Through Your Spirit, keep me peaceful in You and with others.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Not to Us

Ps. 115:1

"Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to Your name give glory, for the sake of Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness."

The psalmist begins by repeating the same phrase twice. Why? Certainly, it is for emphasis, but I also think it is because of man's desire to grab glory for himself. I am sure that the psalmist struggled with his flesh as much as I do in all the same areas that John mentions, the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride in possessions. Sadly, my flesh cries out constantly for glory mistakenly thinking that it is all because of my might, my strength, and my mind. How deceived is my flesh! Like the psalmist I must say, not to me, not to me but to Your name is the glory!

Why is God worthy of the glory? Simply, it is because of His steadfast love and faithfulness, a love that reached down to me to save me, to offer His Son, and to cancel the debt of my sin. God's love was not based in any way on my worthiness. I did nothing to deserve it. Not only that, but He is faithful to His promises, to every word that He has said. My life would be nothing without His unfailing love and faithfulness. In fact, I would only be worthy of judgment and separation from God. For all that, the glory is His. Everyday I bask in His love and faithfulness through His amazing grace, through being able to come confidently to the throne of grace, and through being able to look forward expectantly to the coming of Jesus in all His glory.

Father,

Thank You for Your grace. Help me to remember always to give you all the glory. Send Your Spirit to convict when I try and grab some for myself.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Full Joy

Jn. 15:11

"These things I have spoken to You, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full."

At the conclusion of this passage on Jesus as the vine, He says joy is the final result. My joy will be full because His joy is in me. What is His joy? Is it different that what I consider joy? Heb. 12:1-2 says "Therefore since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of God."  His joy gave Him endurance for the cross. Like Him, we are to let go of the weights and sins of this world and run with endurance my race keeping my eyes focused on Jesus. He was able to complete His race by focusing on the joy that was set before Him. Similarly, I am to complete my race by keeping my eyes focused on the joy before me, that is Jesus Christ. 

What in this passage brings the fullness of joy to my life?

• being clean by the Word
• bearing fruit and being pruned to bear more fruit
• abiding in His Word
• effective praying
• glorifying the Father by fruit bearing
• proof that I am His by bearing fruit
• abiding in His love

When I look at this list, I can see why my joy would be full. What a life Jesus has given me as a branch! What great grace! It is only through His grace that I am clean, bearing fruit, abiding in His word, praying effectively, and glorifying the Father.

Father,
As I read this passage, help me to seek this life through Your grace. Keep my eyes focused on Jesus Christ so that my joy will be complete glorifying You.
In Jesus name,
Amen 

• keeping His commandments

No Claim on Me

Jn. 14:30

"I will no longer talk with you much, for the ruler of this world is coming, He has no claim on me, but I do as the Father has commanded me so that the world may know that I love the Father..."

Jesus' time, His time for teaching and preparation was over because the ruler of this world was coming. Even though horrible things were to happen, it was a hollow victory for Satan. Jesus was not succumbing to Satan's power, but to the express will of the Father. In fact, Satan had no power whatsoever over Jesus! Jesus died and endured humiliation, cruelty, and death because of His love for the Father. At this moment in time the Father's will intersected the domain of Satan, but for what reason? So that Jesus could defeat Satan on his own grounds, in his own court. In death and resurrection, He conquered sin and death! When He did this, He paid the legal debt for my sin so that sin's reign and power over me is canceled too. I can say with confidence that Satan has no claim on me as well. I am God's, chosen by the Father, washed and redeemed by the Son, and sanctified by the Spirit. "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain."

Father,

My heart is full knowing that Satan's hold over me is broken even though I still live in the weakness of my flesh. Fill me grace and power through Your Spirit so that I can walk  by the Spirit and not by the flesh.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Known by Love

Jn. 13:34-35

"A new commandment I give you, that you love one another, just as I have loved you, you also love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

It sounds like a simple command, but it is so very difficult! Loving others as Christ loved me cuts across the grain of my selfishness. I must put others before myself. In this passage Christ demonstrated the degree of selflessness needed when He washed the disciples feet. He took the lowliest position and performed the lowliest of tasks. He ministered to all of the disciples instead of having them meet His needs. He needed no special allowances even though what He had soon to face was the worst cup ever to drink. How many times is my love altered because I feel bad or am going through a hard time? How many times is my focus on being loved not loving others? How many times do I actually chose the lowliest of positions?

 Jesus says it is a new command. In the OT the command was to love God and your neighbor as yourself, but now it is love others as Jesus loved you. Jesus' love was sacrificial. When I consider that Jesus left His home, and came to earth to be rejected, to be misunderstood, to be beaten, and to be crucified. This was a love that knew no limits. It means that I must give up what I want, my agenda, my desires, etc. to meet the needs of others. It means I must put others before myself. So very hard!

Jesus' command was clearly taught because He modeled this love He commands. If I am confused about how love looks practically, all I have to do is examine His life. Since  His love was readily transparent, it was the motivation for all that He did. He said clearly that a servant is not greater than the master. As a servant, I cannot demand to be loved any differently than my master. I must manifest His love in the same sacrificial way that He loved. Am I godly in my love for others? Is my love sincere and without pretense? Am I willing to sacrifice my self and my desires?

Finally, this love is to be my identification mark. It should clearly delineate me as a believer. How can I make this my ID? "Above all put on love..."  First, I need to ask the Spirit to grow this fruit in my heart. Without a God-given crop how can I put it on?  If I am to put on love, then I must take something off first, that is my selfishness. I need to meditate on God's love, His attributes, and His actions. I need to embrace this command wholeheartedly and make it a matter of prayer. Even though this love comes through the power of the Holy Spirit, it must be my desire. Am I willing to let God produce this love in me? Am I willing to travel the path of selflessness? Am I willing to love as Christ loved?

Father,

I want to obey Your command. Teach me how to love. Fill me with Your love so that I too can love others as Jesus did.

In Jesus name,

Amen 

God's Glory or Man's Glory

Jn. 12:43

"For they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God."

Since the people had seen Jesus do many signs, wonders, and even miracles, many of them believed, even those in authority. Wow! Sounds good! But not so...The passage tells us that for fear of the Pharisees, they refused to confess their belief. Their greatest concern was acceptance by the Pharisees and preserving synagogue privileges rather than concern for their souls and their eternal destiny. In their hearts, they loved the glory that comes from man! They wanted to be known and accepted, to be applauded and advanced, and to be secure and safe in their daily lives. . Even though God's glory in the person of Jesus Christ was visible to them and their hearts believed, this world was their home not the kingdom of God.

How scary to think of believing and yet not confessing! Rom. 10:9 says "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Belief and confession go hand in hand. How close those people came, and yet they threw it all over for man's power. I must examine my heart. Do I desire man's opinion and glory? Certainly, not concerning salvation, but what about other areas? Does Jesus always come first or do I make soft choices? Am I deceiving myself in thinking I can bring glory to God and still have praise of man?

Father,

Convict my heart when I am tempted to desire man's praise more than bringing glory to Your name. Keep my eyes focused on You constantly, on what is eternal not what is temporal.

In Jesus name,

Amen

A Heart Response

Jn. 11:3

"Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair."

In this chapter Mary, the sibling of Martha and Lazarus, openly showed her devotion to Jesus by anointing the feet of Jesus with a very expensive ointment and then wiping them with her hair. Mary's family were good friends of Jesus; in fact, Jesus loved Lazarus and raised him from the dead. Mary, as opposed to her sister, was a person of devotion. She chose to be at the feet of Jesus listening and worshiping while Martha scurried around readying the meal and the house. Even though Martha was upset with her to the point that she talked to Jesus about Mary's inattention to the household duties, Mary did not change. On this day, Judas openly censured her because of her waste of such a precious resource, but none of this stopped Mary. Her heart was for Jesus. She knew that worship and adoration was her soul's deep need.

In Lk. 7:36-50 there is a similar story, but here it is a woman of questionable morals. When she heard that Jesus was in the Pharisee's house, she walked right into the house. Even though she was unwelcome, she came right in so that she could anoint His feet with her tears, her hair, and her costly ointment. Her act of devotion took harsh criticism as well, but it did not involve money but her personal character. How hard must it have been for her to walk into a Pharisee's house? Talk about a hostile environment!

The heart response of both of these very different women was the same. All their devotion was centered on Jesus as they gave what was costly in the face of censure and criticism. In both women, I see unveiled humility and transparent emotion. Their place of worship was at His feet, and instead of a cloth, they used their hair and tears. In essence they were both saying that Jesus was more important to them than all their financial resources and their pride. A love as great as this could not be hidden from the eyes of a hostile world. What is my love and devotion like? Does it involve great cost and emotion? Do I openly love Jesus in spite of censure and criticism?

Father,

What a great example of love and devotion! When I look deep in my heart, I don't see such humility, emotion, or transparency. Cleanse me and grow my love for Jesus. Show me how to make this devotion a reality in my life.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Holy, Holy, Holy

Is. 6:1-8

"Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts."

What a great scene! How dramatic! Isaiah saw the glory of the Lord revealed in unbelievable detail. God was enthroned sitting high and lifted up. As his robe filled the temple, He was surrounded by six seraphim, fiery angelic beings. Even such powerful heavenly beings as these could not look into the face of God almighty. They covered their faces uttering their praise, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory."   

As Isaiah watched, he realized that his heart was unable to join in these praises; in fact, he was overwhelmed with his sin in light of the holiness of God. His true heart condition had been revealed. He was lost, undone, unclean, and even lived in the midst of unclean people. What hope did he have? None! He could only say, "Woe is me."

But God in His grace sent a seraphim with a burning coal in his hand to touch Isaiah's lips.How fitting that a being whose essence was flames would carry the burning coal from the altar. I wonder if that sight further increased the fear that filled Isaiah's heart since fire has a potential for cleansing as well as destruction. With the tong, the seraphim lowered the coal to Isaiah's lips. Instantaneously, his guilt was taken away, and his sin atoned. Wow! Such hope out of despair! Such salvation out of loss! Such grace for unworthiness!

What grace God offers! He, as the holy God, can not allow sin in His presence so instead of destroying sinful man, He cleanses and saves him, but not because of his worthiness or his great potential, but because of His great grace. Isaiah's words are definitely mine. I am guilty and unworthy to the point of being undone. But God has reached out to me in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ, cleansing away sin's grime, covering me with the blood of Jesus, atoning for my sin, and completely saving me. It is because of Jesus Christ that I can come boldly to the throne of Grace for help in my times of need.

Father,

You are holy, and I am filthy. Thank You for Your Son's sacrifice that bridged this huge gap of separation. Teach me to relate to Your holiness as I should. Help me to fear You for the holy God that You are.

In Jesus name,

Amen

My Sheep Hear My Voice

Jn. 10:27-30

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is

greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one."

What a loaded passage! So many wonderful blessings and statements!

• I am a sheep by nature. I need a shepherd, someone to guide, lead, protect, and feed me.
• I am His sheep because I know His voice. He knows me. I follow Him, and the Father has given me to Jesus. Certainly, there is no doubt about my ownership!
• I was given eternal life and will never perish. What a gift for a mere sheep! But it is because I am a sheep that it must be given to me. I cannot in myself ever earn it or deserve it. My 'sheep' nature makes me wayward and foolish, but thankfully, this gift changes my nature.
• I am unsnatchable! I can not be taken out of Jesus' hand nor the Father's hand. Nothing or no one will ever take them by surprise. No matter where I go as a foolish sheep, I will always be within the hand of God.
• I hear, recognize, and follow the voice of Jesus, the Son of God. Wow! That is definitely a change in nature!
• The Father is greater than all. He is God almighty. He has chosen me, and His hand encases me. What a glorious relationship we have!
• Because Jesus and the Father are one, I am held securely in both of their hands. They both have an intimate relationship with me that includes a plan and a protection for my 'sheepish' life.

For those men who were there that day, it was somewhat insulting. Jesus told them bluntly that there were not of His flock. They were not securely in His hand  nor did they know and recognize His voice. Their religion or self-righteousness did not provide an entrance to the sheep fold. What was their response? They picked up rocks to stone Him! They felt He was blasphemous because He claimed to be God. How eternally wrong they were!

Father,

As I read Your words this morning, my heart is stirred with joy at being one of Your sheep, of being chosen, of knowing personally the voice of God, and of being unsnatchable! Thank You. Thank You.

In the name of my Shepherd,

Amen

The Lord is Good

Ps. 107:1-2

"Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed from trouble."

The psalmist practically discusses thankfulness and how my thankfulness is related to God's essence, to His goodness. Just as God is good consistently and constantly, I must be thankful consistently and constantly. Not only must my heart be thankful, but I need to declare my thanks aloud. It has to go beyond a heart response to a shared thankfulness. It needs to be sent back up to God as praise and shared with others as a testimony of God's great goodness. Finally, my thankfulness needs to be an offering given freely to God in my songs of praise. Thankfulness should pervade my entire life and reflect God-given wisdom. The psalmist concludes saying, "Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things, let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord."

What specifically does the psalmist mention as fodder for thanks? What specifically illustrates God's goodness in the life of the child of God?

• God's steadfast love endures forever.
• He has delivered me from distress.
• He has redeemed me from trouble.
• He satisfies the longing soul.
• He fills the hungry soul with good things.
• He delivers those who have wandered from Him.
• He disciplines those who are His to restore them to His fellowship.
• He heals through His word.
• He saves from the storms.
• He raises the needy out of affliction.

Am I thankful for all God does in my life? Has my thanks grown into wisdom? Is my meditation full of the steadfast love of the Lord?

Father,

Thank You for Your great love that has filled my life. Thank You that You are good, and in Your goodness, You have sought me out to be Your child. Transform my heart filling it with thanks. Make it the substance of my words, my worship, and my songs. I love You Lord,

In Jesus name,

Amen

The Works of God

Jn. 9:3

'"Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed."'

Jesus' encounter with the man born blind reveals much about man's thinking, and his desire to attach blame to situations. As Jesus and his disciples walked by the blind man, the disciples wanted to know whose sin resulted in his blindness. Why would he be blind from birth? Surely this must be someone's fault. But Jesus' answer took their thinking in a totally different direction. The man was born blind to show the works of God, specifically to show the healing power of Jesus. And show His power it did!

What a firestorm his healing caused! First the neighbors did not know what to make of it. So they took him to the Pharisees who could not get beyond the timing of the healing. How could this healing be of God if it was done on the Sabbath? The man was grilled repeatedly, but he always said same thing, "If this man were not from God, He could do nothing." Such faith! However, the Pharisees did not share his belief. They were insulted that this man who was born in sin would try and teach them anything. Were not the Pharisees born the same way? How blinding is pride!

Later, Jesus speaks with the man asking him if he believed. His response, "Lord, I believe."  His life and his heart were changed by the healing power of Jesus. His life did show the works of God. The Pharisees were watching this final encounter, and asked him pointedly if they were blind. Jesus spoke truthfully that their lives were ones of guilt and spiritual blindness. They could see physically, but their hearts were blinded to the truth of who Jesus. Ouch!

Jesus power is so great and has opened my eyes, washed away my sin, and changed me on a daily basis. I can say that He has done many things in my life to show His great works, but I need to remember that His dealings with me are through His grace not my guilt. He views me as one washed in the blood and covered in the holiness of Jesus. When he disciplines me, it is because He loves me not because of my performance or my guilt over that performance. What can I say but, "Lord, I believe." Thank you so much!

Father,

Your great grace is amazing--You chose me to be Your child, You washed my eyes, and You see me covered in His blood and with His righteousness! Keep teaching me about the riches of Your grace every day.

In Jesus name,

Amen