Let It Be to Me According to Your Word

Lk. 2:38

"And Mary said, 'Behold I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to Your word.' And the angel departed from her."

I have always marveled at the attitude of Mary in this situation. When I consider that her life had been drastically altered by the fact that she was to be a mother, and that not through the normal channels. I can't even imagine how she felt when she found out she would have the Son of God through the Holy Spirit and with the Most High overshadowing her. Whoa! What a truckload for a young girl to take in! Then if I factor in that she found out all of this from an angel, what a deal! From a human standpoint, she had to be incredulous even overwhelmed, yet her response was one of submission and obedience. How could this be? She didn't even need an adjustment period or time to process. Her response was instantaneous. What an example of godly obedience!

As I was reading this account again today, something I often gloss over hit me in the face. The first thing that the angel said was, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God." I think that this might be the key. Favor with God is really grace! Mary had grace from God for what God wanted her to do. Mary knew first hand the reality of II Cor. 12:9, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." God's power was her sufficiency through His grace. So when the unbelievable came down to her, His grace was her functioning power. His grace empowered her submission and her obedience.

Grace is the key to an obedient and submissive attitude for whatever God sends down to me. Sadly, there are times when I plunge in to the task in my flesh thinking I can accomplish something for God, but God says no. I need to remember that He didn't say, with Marcy all things are possible; He said "For nothing is impossible with God." Things are possible with God because He is the God of all grace! He wants to give us this grace for life. Grace for obedience, for submission, for belief, for enduring, and for accomplishing His will.

Father,

The more I read the more I see Your great grace. It is everywhere, but yet I have often overlooked it. I confess this. Reveal Your grace to me so that I might be your obedient, and submissive servant.

In Jesus name,

Amen

For the Battle Is the Lord's

I Sam. 17:47

"And that all the assembly may know that the Lord saved not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord's, and He will give you into our hand."

Even though David could have had many reasons why he thought he could win this fight, he knew only one reason could bring the victory, that was knowing that the battle was God's.

Athough David was a key player, he knew unwaveringly that he was God's instrument. What an example of grace! It was God's grace alone that allowed David to do great things for his God. First, David was young, small, and inexperienced in battle. In addition to this, he was scorned by his brothers and considered only a messenger boy. Yet none of that mattered to David because His heart was in sync with the heart of God. Goliath's taunts were not just aimed at him, his family, or even his nation, but they were aimed at his God. David's initial reaction was "who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?" In this question, David identifies these armies not as the armies of Israel but as the armies of the living God. His immediate response was not based on wounded national pride, but on his deep love and reverence for his God. He was concerned with the honor of his God.

Once again David's life stated the same thing when Saul wanted to dress David in his armor. Instead he chose 5 smooth stones and a sling. What chance did he have? From a human point of view none, but from God's point of view it was a different story. David knew the power of God because his heart was united with God's. When he came face to face with Goliath, Goliath laughed and mocked. What an insult this young man was to Goliath's pride! But David did not fear or doubt, instead he spoke confidently, "You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel." David was God's vessel, His messenger, and His voice. His concern was that all the earth would know there was a God in Israel. He wanted to uphold the name of God as holy before all who were there.

When a problem comes my way do I face it like David or Goliath? Do I grab my customary, fleshly armor and go after it confident in my own flesh? Or do I walk by faith using God's smooth stones, stones that are often mocked by the world? Is my heart focused on upholding the honor of the name of God before all those He has placed in my life?

Father,

Root out my self-sufficiency and focus my eyes only on You. Make Your grace my strength for every battle and problem in my life.

In Jesus name,

Amen

The Lord Sees Not as Man Sees

I Sam. 16:7

"But the Lord said to Samuel, Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart."

Samuel was sent to anoint a new king for Israel. As he came to the place that the Lord commanded, he looked on Eliab with favor. Perhaps Samuel was thinking that he would be a likely candidate, someone who was the picture of kingship. But God spoke to Samuel sharing with him the divine principle of choice, that is God looks on the heart not on the outward appearance. God doesn't choose His vessel by human standards! As Samuel continued on through all the sons of Jesse, he was perplexed since God had not given the go-ahead. Jesse then mentioned he had another son, his youngest and most unlikely candidate. By human standards, David's father felt he was only worthy of keeping the sheep. But by God's standards, he was the one whose heart was right. David had a heart that longed for God. When David was found and brought to Samuel, God gave the go-ahead. Samuel anointed him. Immediately the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward.

What a lesson for me! How many times do I think that I am not suited for something? How many times do I care too much about my outward appearance? How many times do I feel bad because someone else got chosen for something that I wanted to do? This story shows me the importance of my heart if I want to be used by God. Many times people choose other people for jobs because of reasons that they think are important, but rarely do these choices have anything to do with the heart. Can people truly know the heart of another person? But God knows exactly what is in the heart of every person. Nothing is hidden from Him. If I want to be used by Him, then I have to have a heart after God's heart. I can't be focused on any human element, but only on bringing glory to God. When my heart is united with His, then His Spirit is free to use me in a mighty way, in the way that God wants.

Father,

I confess my striving, my disappointments, and my wrong motives. Refine me so that my heart will desire only You. Let me to be Your vessel and use me as You see fit.

In Jesus name,

Amen

The Lord Knows How

II Pet. 2:9

"Then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment."

Thankfully, God promises to keep the unrighteous under punishment. After reading this passage, I see that this promise is really a big deal because of the nature and character of the evil ones. What a rap sheet!

• indulge in the lust of defiling passion
• despise authority
• bold and willful
• blaspheme glorious ones with ease
• like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed in their destruction
• blaspheme that which they have total ignorance
• take pleasure in daytime revels
• blots and blemishes
• revel in deception
• eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin
• entice unsteady souls
• hearts trained in greed
• accursed children
• forsake the right way
• love gain from wrongdoing
• waterless springs and mists driven by a storm
• speak loud boasts of folly
• entice by sensual passions of flesh
• slaves of corruption

How horrible! It is overwhelming to see the full scope of the wickedness of the human heart! What is the future for those who are consumed with evil? The gloom of utter darkness is reserved for them. So when God states categorically that He can rescue the righteous from the wicked it is not a empty promise. It is monumental!!

Not only does God know the character of these people, but He gives examples of His judgment on these people: the fallen angels who were cast into gloomy darkness awaiting judgment; the world during Noah's time except for the 8 righteous ones; the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and the rescue of Lot. God did rescue His righteous ones, and He will not change. What a promise for believers!!!

Father,

Keep my eyes focused on You and You alone. Keep me from being ensnared by the evil ones in my world. Thank You for Your promise of care and protection.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Be All the More Diligent

II Pet. 1:10-11

"Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you and entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

What are the qualities that I am to be diligently pursuing? The answer is in verses 6-7: faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love. Of course, I would like to be filled with all of these things; but it is more than that, I need to be filled with them to make my calling and election sure. Just like in the preceding verses , it all comes down to God's part and my responsibility. Not only did God give me the promises in His Word, but all that I needed for life and godliness (v. 3-4). My part is saturating myself in the Word. If I am letting the Word fill me, than godliness will grow in me. Specifically, how do I exercise this diligence to make my calling and election sure? By being and growing in the Word, by seeing the fruit of my time in the Word resulting in Christian character, and by increasing in godliness and all the pertains to life. It all comes from the Word, not from my planning or striving! God gave me the calling and the election. He gave me the Word to grow and produce fruit, and He gave me what I needed to make my calling and election sure. What do I do? Open the pages and let the pages become one with my heart and spirit! How much time do I spend in the Word to grow my character? When my character is sinful, do I check to see if it corresponds to my time in the Word? Am I serious enough about growing to make the Word a priority in my life? Do I love God's Word for the gift that it is?

The end result of the Word in my life is that I have assurance. This is the way that God has provided for me; in fact, richly provided for me: the immeasurable riches of His grace in the amazing riches of His Word filling my life abundantly with life and all that pertains to godliness!!! The question of my final end is settled! God has provided me an entrance into the eternal kingdom of Jesus. What amazing grace!

Father,

Draw me powerfully into Your Word so that I may grow and produce fruit that will glorify You. I confess a carelessness toward sin, a toleration. Send Your Spirit to make me see my sin as You do. Thank You for providing my entrance into the kingdom of Jesus.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Divine Power

II Peter 1:3-4

"His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence, by which He has granted to us His precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire."

Amazingly, His power has given me all that I need for life and godliness. It's a gift! Not only it is gracious of God, but it is a necessity. What kind of godliness could I produce without grace? None! The verse goes on to say that through His great and precious promises, I become a partaker of His divine nature. It's through the Word!! The Word is the key!! God's gift to me comes wrapped in His Word. I need to unwrap it, all of it! His Word is more than a book, it is living and alive with the power to give me godliness and escape this world's corruption.

If I want to be godly, and I do, then I must unwrap the Word allowing it to consume my life. Verse 5 says "For this very reason, make every effort..." Here is the meeting ground of grace and works. Grace is the gift of godliness in the Word, but saturating myself in the Word is my responsibility. My time in the Word is a discipline of grace. If I am in His Word, then Christian character will follow: faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love. Godliness in its entirety is a gift of grace found only in the Word. It is the gift that keeps on giving, not as a one time opening, but a continuous flow. His grace is new every morning for the very reason that I need new grace every morning if I am to be godly. I can't earn godliness by working extra hard, but I can hook up to God's source of godliness. I can keep the grace flowing non-stop!

Father,

Thank you for such an amazing grace and gift of godliness. As I come to Your Word, show me how to fill my tank and live godly bringing glory to Your name. Let Your grace be my life.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Unceasing and Unending

Lam. 3:22-24

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. 'The Lord is my portion.' says my soul, 'therefore will I hope in Him.'"

What a beautiful promise to those who love the Lord and to me personally! This promise is not only beautiful because of its poetic style, but because of its deep impact upon my soul. I see here the epitome of grace, His undeserved favor in my salvation and in my daily life. Grace is the flow of God's love unceasingly and of His mercies unendingly. Amazingly, these mercies are at their full potency and freshness every morning. They are stand true and consistent as a testament to the faithfulness of God.

Why would God offer such grace to me? Since it is grace, it has nothing to do with what I bring to the table. If it were based on my talents or usefulness, then it would cease to be grace. My part is to be the willing recipient offering praise to my sovereign God. His grace is based on His character. Not only is He faithful to His promises, but He is the God of all grace [I Pet. 5:10]. He is the sovereign God who does what He does on the basis of His good pleasure and for His own purposes. "I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy." [Ex. 33:19] Do I understand God's choosing? Absolutely not, but it comes down to trust, to a faith walk. And that in itself is a gift of grace. Without grace, I am nothing! My choice is to claim God as my portion and my hope. Without grace what hope is there?

Father,

My heart is full with thanks for Your great grace. Help me experience You as my portion and hope more and more each day. Reveal to me the immeasurable riches of Your grace.

In Jesus name,

Amen

By His Strength

I Pet. 4:10-11

"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:whoever speaks, as one who speaks the oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies--in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ."

Whether I am speaking or serving, what I say or what I do must be through His strength. But before I consider that issue, I see that my God-given gifts are for serving others. What God gives is for the edifying of His body. I am to be a good steward, that is one who uses the Master's resources in the way that the Master has specified. His resources and His gifts are products of His varied grace. Nowhere do I see here that 'my' gifts are truly mine. They are gifts of His grace to be used for Him. Even my speech is a gift and needs to reflect the Words of God. How can that happen if I am not in the Word? His Words must become my Words!

All my speaking and my serving are through His strength. If it were any other way, what I said or did would not glorify God. Even though I know that the entire purpose of my existence is to bring glory to God, I often wonder how to do this specifically. How do I separate the 'me' from what I do and say? First, I think there has to be a shift in the way I think. Instead of just taking charge in my customary fashion, I need to stop and pray asking the Spirit to guide, lead, and strengthen. After praying, I need to take time to search the Word for words, motives, methods, etc. for the task at hand. Then when I go to serve or to speak, I am armed in the living and abiding Word of God. How can I speak the oracles of God without knowing them? Impossible! I must also be on guard at all times for the intrusion of self into what I do and say. Once self is there, it takes over to the exclusion of all else. Trusting God and His promise, I need to allow my time in the Word work its way out into my every action. Yet, preparation is not the whole. I must also keep that Word constantly by my side and be praying throughout the task so that I can be sensitive to the Spirit's every whisper and prompt.

When I read these verses, I know they are my heart's desire, but the how is so difficult. How do I keep my heart pure and free of self? How do I know the Spirit's way as opposed to my way? Will the two ways be drastically different, or can my way of doing things be Spirit led? There is so much to pray about. I do know that God needs to be glorified. If I truly desire that, I believe that He can work through me changing my 'self-will' to 'as God wills.'

Father,

Make my speech and service yours. As You take my 'self' out, fill me with Your Spirit. Draw me ever deeper into Your Words. Let them become my life's blood and purpose. Show me how to glorify You on a moment by moment basis.

In Jesus name,

Amen

The Hidden Person of the Heart

I Pet. 3:4

"But let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious."

When I think of my adorning, I get somewhat insecure. How do I look? Am I fashionable or at the least acceptable? How am I perceived in the eyes of others? I know that those thoughts have been in my head many times, but have I spent as much time wondering if my heart is reflected in my countenance? Have I nourished that hidden person? When I go out the door, what is the last thing I check, my overall appearance or the condition of my heart? When I get together with others, am I looking for ways to lift others up by being gentle and quiet myself, or am I looking around to see how I compare?

This verse says that my hidden person of the heart has an imperishable beauty, an immortality that only comes from being born again, born of grace and sustained by grace. Through grace, my hidden person can grow and become gentle and quiet. Why gentle and quiet? Could it be so that I will always be listening to the Spirit within me Who is cultivating my growth in holiness? If my inner man is constantly talking, planning, taking control, and busy, will I hear the voice of the Spirit? It would seem that if He produces gentleness and quietness, then He must speak in a similar way. Am I having quiet time with Him for the purpose of growing my hidden person of the heart? The thing about external beauty is that it fades. Women are constantly having tucks, using creams and potions to try maintain or even regain their youth, but it will never happen. Imperishability comes only in the internal realm. So why so much emphasis on the external? Seems foolish!

In addition to imperishability, my hidden person is valued by God. To be precious to God is a thing to be treasured. Since He is concerned with my soul and spirit, with my hidden person, then what should be my top priority? My hidden person of the heart! In theory, this is simple to understand, but in reality, how does it happen? How do I quit caring so much about the external and focus on the internal? How do I eliminate my green eyes scanning others and be contented with my exterior while taking joy in my interior? How do I love others for their hidden person without being distracted by their appearance?

Father,

Open my eyes to the joy and beauty of the hidden person of heart that You desire. Help me to treasure you above all other things, even my own flesh and self-image. Send Your grace to flood my flesh and wash away this foolishness.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Trust

Ps. 29:7-8

"Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright."

When I first read that verse, I thought who would trust in a horse or a chariot when they could trust in God? But realistically how strong is my trust? Certainly our culture has let actual horses and chariots go by the wayside, but in principle, they abound. This verse brings to mind Jer. 9:23-24 , "thus says the Lord, Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord." These horses and chariots are man's wisdom, might, and riches, all things that man accredits to his own achieving. But even if I realize all the things in my life are from God, I think I still make horses and chariots out of the most paltry things, my common sense or my stubborn will. Why would I ever think that I could figure out a situation better than God? Why does my stubborn will persist in trying to trump God?

If I don't trust in Him, the verse says that my grandiose plans will collapse and fall. How many times have I experienced that? Amazingly, I still persist. But if I trust in the Lord, I will rise and stand upright because my strength is in Him. "With God all things are possible." What wonderful words! Even though they fill my heart with joy, I struggle with the reality of them. How do I trust in the name of the Lord? I need to know Him by name in a close, intimate relationship that comes only through His Word. I must surrender and allow the Spirit full reign in my life. As the Spirit produces fruit, then my trust will grow. Trust in God is the fruit of grace, a living process that God freely grows in me.

Father,

Grow my trust in You so that my 'horses and chariots' will be vanquished. Help me to know Your name and to let You control my life.

In Jesus name,

Amen

The Living and Abiding Word

I Pet. 1:22-23

"Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable , through the living and abiding Word of God."

The purpose of my obedience to the truth is to love others earnestly from a pure heart. In my flesh, this is an impossibility. It can only become a reality through the truth of the Word. God's Word is alive, sharper than a two-edged sword revealing the thoughts and intents of the heart. It is in this revelation that my true motives towards others are revealed. Even though I might appear to love others, in my heart, there is striving. What can I do about that? I need to go to the Word. Here there is purification for my soul through obedience to the truth. It is from a heart saturated in the Word that I can actually have sincere brotherly love. Without the Word in its supernatural and life-changing power, I am doomed to a heart of selfishness. What place does the Word have in my life? Do I go there frequently for my heart issues? Do I seek love from God to share with others?

How can the Word have this power? I have been thinking that the Word is not just a book. It is so much more. It is alive and powerful, a relationship with God Himself, and grace given freely for my many weaknesses. I should never think that I need to read the Bible so I have spent my daily time there; instead I need to think I want to be with God. I want to hear what He has to say to me today, to fellowship with Him, and to feast on of the riches of His grace. I need to relate to the Word for what it truly is and not demote it to the status of only a book.

Even more than that, it was through the Word that I was born again because the Word is living and abiding. It is life itself. How could something so powerful only be considered a book? How do I think about the Word? Is my head-knowledge about the Word actually a reality in my life? If I actually believed it was my one-on-one time with God Himself, would I ever miss it for any reason?

Father,

Reveal Yourself to me within the pages of Your Word. Grow our relationship in ways that only You know. Purify my love so that I may love others as You would.

Amen

Genuineness of My Faith

I Pet. 1:6-7

"In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuiness of your faith-more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire-may result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."

According to Peter trials add something very important to my faith. First, they are the ingredients that make my faith have 'tested genuineness.' Without the test, how do I know if my faith is genuine? In essence, trials are my purifying fire. Into the mix of my life experiences, they add a little zest, turn up the heat, and then produce the finished product. These fiery trials give authenticity to my faith. For this reason, I can rejoice!

Secondly, the tested genuiness of my faith is more precious than gold. Without the trials I would not have refined my faith to a quality of infinite worth. Gold is precious but perishable. My tested faith is more precious because it is infinite. It will not destruct or corrupt. Praise God for the fire!

Finally, my trials are a joy becuase they allow my faith to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. This is what I want! Bringing praise, glory, honor to Jesus is my desire and the will of God for all believers. What is the path to this all encompassing purpose for my life? TRIALS! Yes, in this case, the gain is through the pain. But knowing these great benefits makes the trials so meaningful. They give me a window into the glory that is yet to be revealed.

Father,

As trials come into my life to test my faith, keep my eyes on Your purposes. Help me bring glory, honor, and praise to You now and in the future.

In Jesus name,

Amen

As For Me

Ps. 17:15

"As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness."

David had just finished describing the life of the wicked whose portion is in this life. What a great observation! If I realize that my portion is not in this life, I can keep my focus where it needs to be. David's was focused on the purpose for His life. He had made a decision that instead of waking up and letting the day take him where it would, he would behold the face of the Lord. What great words to remember! David also knew that beholding God's face requires righteousness. This says significant things about his life and his life with God. Praise God, I too can see God's face! When I am washed by the blood of Jesus, He imparts His righteousness to me. Without this gift of his grace, I could only see as far as my sin-stained life. So if I behold God through the righteousness of Jesus Christ, what is my part? What do I do? I think that I must purpose. I must make the choice to say 'as for me.' What do I purpose for each day of my life? What are my 'As for me's' going to include? How will I begin each day?

When I have chosen to have purpose in my life, then I can be confident that I can awake satisfied. Wow! I just think of all the people in this world who wake up hung over, depressed, discouraged, without hope, and without purpose. I don't have to experience that; instead, I experience complete satisfaction in His likeness, in His image, and in His name. It doesn't say that I will awake finding my satisfaction in possessions, money, position, family, or any number of things. Our relationship is the epitome of all I need. Satisfaction is a hard concept to grasp because it is so fleeting in this life. But for the believer, satisfaction means nothing is lacking or still to be desired, and in this case, nothing means nothing! God's face provides it all for me! He is my joy, delight, and my satisfaction.

Father,

My heart is full when I think that I can awake to Your face and find overwhelming joy and satisfaction. Keep me ever making the choices that make this possible.

In Jesus name,

Amen

And the Word of the Lord Was Rare

I Sam. 3:21

"And the Lord appeared again at Shiloh, for the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the Lord."

Samuel knew the Lord by His Word. In the same way I know the Lord through His Word. The Bible is not just a book, or even the book of all books, it is a relationship. It is "living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." Does this sound like an average book or even a bestseller? Am I listening for the voice of the Lord as I read His word? Do I cherish my time in the Word as I would time with a life-long friend?

Even though in 3:1 it says the word of the Lord was rare, it was still there. Amazingly God chose as His listener the young Samuel. So Cool! God chose a young man. Samuel didn't have to wait until he was older to serve because ministering to God is irrespective of age. 'Old gray-hairs' or 'young-innocents' are all prime candidates for service. God only wants dependent surrender. He wants me to be His vessel, molded by Him to serve as He directs and empowers.

I also love Samuel's response to God. After he realized that the voice was not Eli's, he was humbly waiting with the words, "Speak, for Your servant hears." His heart was the heart of a servant, one who lives to minister . He wanted nothing but to hear the will and the Word of God. I am convicted as I think of my response to the Word. How many times do I respond immediately, humbly, and willingly?

When Samuel was asked by Eli what God had told him, he repeated the fatal news. He was true to the calling that God had given him. What an devoted young man! His love, obedience, and submission characterized his entire life. "And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and let none of His words fall to the ground." I love that phrase! He let none of God's Words fall to the ground for any reason, not from outright sin, carelessness, inattentiveness, or busyness. Do I ever let God's Word drop to the ground? How convicting!

Father,

Cleanse my heart. Refine my motives and my responses. Help me never to drop even one of Your precious Words. Give my grace to serve unfettered by my foolish heart. Speak, Lord, I am listening.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Devotion

Mk. 14:6

"She has done a beautiful thing to me."

To do a beautiful thing for God is almost incomprehensible, but when I read this account, I know that I want that kind of love and devotion. But how? In the first place, if I do it, then it is self-motivated, and the beauty is completely gone. How do I do it out of grace? Where is that fine line between grace and my responsibility? Perhaps, that line is one of those things that I won't understand until I get to heaven, but I know it must be through the Holy Spirit. I must go forward with what I do understand allowing the Spirit do the rest. First, I see that she came prepared with the costly ointment. Not only was her heart prepared ahead of time, she was focused on devotion without concern for the opinion of others, either positively or negatively. She saw only Jesus. Is my heart this united? Can I truthfully say that I have no concern for the opinions of others? I know that far too often I care about what others think, their disapproval and their praise.

Secondly, she broke the alabaster flask and poured it over Jesus' head. Her devotion and love was costly. She didn't try and save the flask or even a portion of the ointment. Since Jesus was worthy of all that she had, she willingly gave it. It says in the note on my Bible that this ointment could have been sold for 300 days' wages. What a complete disregard for the world's system of value! Jesus had replaced her love of worldly possessions and worldly values by becoming her first and all-consuming love.

So what was the beautiful thing that she had done? Why did Jesus consider it so beautiful? I think He loved her complete surrender of all that was valuable in her life. To apply this to my life, I must give in sincerity, without any blemish of selfishness; I must give wholeheartedly without any holding back; and I must give passionately,without any fear of rejection or censure. What a passion for Jesus that transformed her from the mundane into the holy!

Finally, her act anointed Jesus for His burial and would be proclaimed wherever the gospel was preached. It would be remembered for years by generations upon generations. Since her devotion was so closely related to the gospel, it reminds me that my worship must always be focused on the cross. Without the cross, there is nothing. Coming to the cross constantly for the grace that I need to worship will make me passionate and sincere. I have to ask myself what will be remembered about my life? Will it be my impassioned and selfless devotion to Jesus?

Father,

Grow me so that my heart will be united in sincere and surrendered worship of Jesus. Fill me so full of Your grace that it will spill over into a love that conforms me to His image.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Stay Awake

Mk. 13:37

"And what I say to you, I say to all."

Concerning the hour of the return of the Lord, no one knows, not even the angels. It is a timetable set by the sovereign Father. But Jesus does give me some warnings for preparedness. "Be on guard. Keep awake. For you do not know the time will come." What should I guard against? Apparently it is falling asleep on the job and being ready for departure. I know that the night before I fly somewhere, I barely sleep. I am thinking about everything that I need to take and when I need to be ready. The trip is of prime importance to me. The same goes for Jesus' return. In fact, even more so. I must be watchful and awake lest Jesus come and find me asleep. How sad if I missed Him over something as inconsequential as sleep!

Jesus' statement brings to mind the parable of the virgins and the lamps. The ones who were not prepared with their oil had to make a last minute trip back into town. It was during their shopping trip, that the master came. Harsh though it sounds, He did not wait. I am sure that those virgins had good intentions, but the best of intentions can go awry when they counter the commands of Jesus. Jesus wants me to be ready with my lamp lit and my eyes wide open not glazed over with sleep.

The other account that I think of when I read this is when Jesus went to pray and asked three of His disciples to go with Him. He asked them to watch with Him three separate times, and each time, they were overcome with sleepy flesh. Jesus admonished them saying, "Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak." Perhaps this is what Jesus meant when He said to be on guard. Be on guard against weak flesh and temptation. When I am sleepy spiritually, then temptations seem not so bad, in fact, sometimes even the right choice. Jesus is calling for a constant vigil so that my flesh is not defeating my spirit.

These warnings are serious and important, but at the same time in I Thess. it speaks of encouraging one another with the words of Jesus' return. When I am wakefully guarding my heart and my spirit, I also need to be longing for His coming. I need to look forward to it with joy, but this is hard if I am asleep and unguarded.

Father,

Through Your grace, help me to watch and be on guard. Help my eager longing to unite with my wide-awake watching, so that I am ready to meet Him.

In His name,

Amen

Giving Out of Poverty

Mk. 12:44

"For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on."

Earlier in this chapter Jesus teaches about the most important commandment, that is loving the Lord God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. It seems as if the story of the rich and the poor widow illustrates this commandment to a tee. The rich did give big offerings, but they gave them out of their abundance. There was little to no sacrifice involved. What they gave was only a trifle of what they still possessed, but even though the poor widow came with a very small offering, she gave her all. It says that she gave her living allowance. There was nothing left for her food or rent. Wow! What a gift! I am pretty sure that if I were down to my last bit of money that I would be grasping it tightly and not giving it away. What faith in God she had! What love! I pray that my love for God would grow to this extent, that I could trust Him for all, and I literally mean all, and that my grasp on what I think I need would be something I could freely give to God. I wonder if her faith and trust was great before she gave, or if she gave out of obedience, and then her faith and trust grew to match her obedience. What a thought! I am blown away by this story, by this woman who could give so much when she had so little. What keeps me from this kind of giving? Why is my faith so small? Why do I allow my worldly common sense to control my spirit?

The issue here is giving out of abundance or giving out of poverty in possessions, time, money, and love. When I love God with all the heart, soul, mind, and strength, it requires me giving my all. It requires self-sacrifice to the degree that anything that the world has to offer is nothing, even money, food, shelter. Hasn't God promised that He would provide all these things if I would seek Him first. This is what the poor widow did. She lived out practically Mt. 6:33, "but seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

She believed in the grace of God for all her future needs. How convicting for my heart!

Father,

I want to pray for You to pry my fingers loose from the things that I feel are the bare necessities. Yet, I am afraid. "I believe. Help my unbelief." Grow me in Your grace and strength so that my love will be focused singularly on You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Fear-Destruction's Motive

Mk. 11:18

"And when the chief priests and the scribes heard it and were seeking a way to destroy Him, for they feared Him, because all the crowed was astonished at His teaching."

The scribes and priests wanted to destroy Jesus because they feared Him. Historically, it seems that whenever man fears something or someone, the only course of action involves destruction, war, or death. Man destroys what he fears because fear upsets the balance of security and control. When this balance is upset, change happens, and things spiral out of control. In this case, I think it had to do with religion as well as money. In the preceding verse, Jesus said, "My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations, but you have made it a den of robbers." There are three issues blended together in this indictment. The first deals with the 'house', the temple, and established religion. Jesus' changes were upsetting the priests and scribes. They liked the status quo, because they had established the status quo. They thrived on the control it gave them concerning the content of the law and concerning the participation of the people who participated in this religion. With their minds inflamed, they would consider no other way. So when Jesus exposed them, they did not examine their hearts for the truth of the matter, but instead allowed their fear to propel them into a cycle of destruction.

Their response was intensified even more by Jesus' accusing them of being robbers. They were stealing from the people and from God, misusing and altering the commands of God for the traditions of men, and changing the 'house' of God into a den of robbers. They had corrupted the entire system, and when their corruption was exposed, they had no recourse but to destroy the exposer. Men love darkness because their deeds are evil. These men did not want their deeds exposed by the intense light of the Son of Man.

The third thing that tipped the scribes and priests over the edge was the huge effect that Jesus was having on the crowd, the same crowd they had duped. Mark says that the crowd was astonished at His teaching, His authority, and His message. These religious leaders could read the signs and feel their control slipping away. They knew they must take action. Their Fear had conquered His Truth. How sad!

Father,

As Your Spirit exposes the condition of my heart, help me to respond in humility and not hold on to what I think is the acceptable status quo.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Greatness through Servanthood

Mk. 10:43

"But whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man come not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many."

When James and John sought special placement by Jesus, it not only resulted in disunity and strife among the disciples, but it gave Jesus an opportunity to teach two principles. The first is that desiring to be great does not bring greatness in the kingdom of God. In fact, it is the opposite. Greatness comes from servant hood. Just as Jesus came to serve and be a ransom for many, so He calls believers to do. James and John had served well and were willing to follow Jesus down that path of suffering and even death, but still they thought that with that should come special positions. Jesus says plainly, not so. Instead their desire should be for more serving in whatever way Jesus called them to do. Is this true for me as well? Am I spending my life in service for others? I realize that being great in godliness is not remotely related to being great in this world's system, but it is difficult to lose that mindset. God values sacrifice not self-service, giving not taking, and humility not pride.

Secondly, Jesus showed that desiring notice and greatness causes disunity among the body of Christ, and here specifically among the disciples. If believers are concerned with the needs of others, then there won't be strife and discord. A servant's attitude would eliminate so many of the personal problems within the church. What is my attitude when I am at church? Am I wanting others to notice what I do? Am I desiring praise and admiration? Or am I, like James and John, wanting special notice in glory? This story really makes me examine my motives for service. Am I relying on His grace so that my fleshy desires are out of the picture? Am I wanting to serve without receiving anything in return?

Father,

Purify my heart and my motives. Take away my striving for personal reward and praise. Help me to serve selflessly as I seek to be conformed to the image of Jesus.

In His name,

Amen

All Things Are Possible

Mk. 9:23-24

"All things are possible for one who believes." Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe, help my unbelief."

The father of a young boy who had an unclean spirit came to Jesus. Before he asked for help, he addressed Jesus as teacher showing that he knew Jesus spoke with authority, but did he believe Jesus was a great miracle worker? Could he be coming as a last-ditch effort? I mean what did he have to lose? As the father spoke out, he simply asked for compassion and help from Jesus. Jesus replied by going to the heart of the issue: All things are possible for one who believes. Even though it sounded simple, it was not. Belief is a hard issue because this belief required faith, faith in Jesus, not just as a teacher but as a miracle worker. Did the father have this kind of belief?

The father's response was so insightful, "I believe, help my unbelief." What faith and reality in that statement! Even though he believed, he realized that human weakness would always taint his belief. In his simple statement, he admitted his weakness and cried out for God's grace, the grace he needed for the faith to believe. Human strength is powerless in this arena! What a pattern for me to follow! In the midst of my belief I always need to cry out for His help.

Father,

Help my unbelief! Show me the way to faith and belief in Your possibilities for my life.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Slow on the Uptake

Mk. 8:21

"And He said to them, "Do you not yet understand?"

The disciples and Jesus had forgotten to bring bread on their journey. Even though they had seen Jesus feed large groups of people twice, they were still concerned about securing bread. In fact, they didn't even ask Jesus but discussed it among themselves. Sometimes, I am like that. When I have a problem, instead of going to Jesus, I talk to other people who can really do nothing about the problem. Often, I don't even think of praying or talking to others, I just plunge in on my own. How foolish!

Jesus came down a little harder on the disciples this time. He questioned them repeatedly, infact 8 different times beginning with the bread issue and ending with their lack of understanding. Were their eyes and ears truly perceiving what Christ was doing? Finally, Jesus asked them specifically how much bread was left over from the two times that He had fed the crowds. They knew the right answers, yet they didn't come to Jesus for bread. They had the head knowledge but not the heart knowledge. They had not allowed the miracles to become faith in their lives. So sad! His final question was, "Do you not yet understand?" I am wondering if Jesus asks that of me. How many times do I sin in the same ways without ever grasping the lesson? How many times do I fret, worry , or even try and solve a problem in my own inadequate way when I should come to Him? How many times am I like the disciples in my lack of understanding about true spiritual issues?

In addition to the questions, Jesus gave them one harsh warning. "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod." I think there was an urgency in Jesus' voice because the disciples were on a path that would end badly. With dulled spiritual vision and hearing, their hearts would become cold and hard. How horrible to be so close to Jesus and yet so far! He cautioned them about two kinds of leaven. First, Jesus mentioned the leaven of the pharisees or self-righteousness. The pharisees needed no one for their spiritual bread because they were self-sufficient, or so they thought. Their bread needs had been replaced wtih a critical spirit of others and even of Jesus Himself. Second, He mentions the leaven of Herod or outright disbelief with no pretense of spirituality. I am blown away as I consider how fast the descent is from witnessing the miracles to outright disbelief. What a warning to me to keep the eyes and ears of my spirit spiritually attuned and receptive to Jesus!

Father,

I confess my foolishness in choosing my own way over Your miraculous grace. Keep my eyes and ears open wide to absorb all that You are doing in my life. Send Your Spirit in a mighty way to convict me and draw me back to You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Their Hearts were Hardenend

Mk. 6:52

"For they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened."

The disciples had just witnessed Jesus feeding the five thousand. They had seen Him take 5 loaves and 2 fishes, multiply it, and distribute it with 12 baskets left over. Even though all were fed miraculously, they still did not understand. Jesus put them in a boat to go across to the other side while He went to pray. As He was praying, the disciples were having a bad time in the boat because the wind had increased making rowing difficult. In fact, they were making no headway at all. So in the very early hours of the morning, Jesus came to them walking on the sea. Had they seen Jesus do this before? Yes, He had walked to them before. What was their response that time? "And they were filled with great fear..." Jesus said to them, "Why are you so afraid? Have you no faith?" Their issue here was faith vs. fear. I know that many times this is a hard issue for me even when I know Jesus' great power and have read the entire gospel account from beginning to end. Just think of these men seeing these events for the first time, and not understanding what was yet to come. The opportunity for fleshly fear would be rampant, and so it was!

But this time, their response was different. Even though they were terrified as they were before, they also were astonished over the loaves. Astonishment implies that what had happened had suspended their faith to the degree that it wasn't there. The event was so far out that it couldn't be comprehended as reality. Who knows what they thought? Was it trickery or even magic? But whatever it was, it had a negative effect on them. The passage says that their hearts were hardened. Sad! To put them at ease, Jesus spoke to them, "Take heart, It is I, do not be afraid." But His words did not make them take heart; instead, it hardened their hearts. Why would this be? What had happened?

I don't really know, but what I see is that Jesus didn't throw cast them off as spiritually inferior. They still were His disciples who traveled with Him on His ministry. Personally, I know there have been times when my faith was suspended. I was astonished at a turn of events struggling with the 'how' and the 'why' and the 'where is God now.' I know that my heart was hard for a time, but thankfully, it was not hard permanently. God was faithful to warm my heart, heal it, and make it useful for Him. Another lesson that I see is that a lack of faith leads to a hard heart. If I go down a faithless road, hardness will set in. And finally, no heart is static or stable. If it is not growing in faith, it is withering in hardness. It is a warning to me. I might be in the place where I see great things being accomplished for God, but unless my heart is walking by faith, hardness will set in. Being in the crowd was not enough for the disciples, and it isn't enough for me. I need to guard my heart by nourishing my faith and focusing who Jesus is. I need to take Him at His words and believe what He says even if it crosses what I think is reality. That's why its faith!

Father,

Grow my faith so that I may understand Your hand and plan at work in my life. Keep me constant in Your word and prayer so that my heart may always be pliable to Your molding.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Peace! Be Still!

Mk. 4:39

"And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still! And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm."

Jesus was in a boat with His disciples when a windstorm arose. The waves were riled, crashing against and breaking into the boat, but Jesus was asleep. He was resting in the midst of the storm because He was Peace Himself, but His disciples were overwrought with fear. Frantically, they woke Him asking if He did not care about them. They didn't ask if He could calm the storm, but only if He cared for them. I guess what was most important to them was sympathy, or maybe having Jesus share their fear. They wanted Him to experience what they were experiencing. Is this a lesson in dealing with people? Is sympathetic listening of key importance to fearful people? I am not really sure since Jesus did much more than that. He rebuked the sea commanding it to be at peace, and of course, the sea obeyed. The One who is Peace and who was at peace commanded peace and peace resulted. He is all about peace, peace in and through the storm.

Then He gets to the root of their problem. It wasn't their fear. It wasn't that they needed sympathy and care, but it was their hearts. In the midst of the storm, their faith was weak, maybe even non-existent. They had seen Jesus perform many miracles, but yet they doubted that He could take care of them. Even after Jesus exposed their true heart condition and had calmed the sea, they were still unaware of who He truly was. They said to one another, "Who is this that even the wind and the sea obey Him?" In time, the disciples would know Jesus was the Son of God but not just yet. Imagine being there and seeing this happen. How incredulous! What would have been my response? How strong would my faith have been?

The story drives home some important lesson for me:

• Jesus is always in control of all the storms in my life. His plan was established before time began, and in the storm, I can see His perfect timing, timing for my good and for my growth.
• Jesus is always with me in the storm. The storms will still be there, but He will be there with me. He will be my strength and my portion in any situation.
• As I go through storms, I learn more about the nature and character of Jesus. Our relationship grows in the storms even more than in the times of calm. In storms, my desire for Him is so much greater. I am hanging on to Him for my very life which is exactly what He wants. He wants to be my life!
• I also see that Jesus not only rebuked the wind, but exposed the hearts of the disciples. When I am in a storm, His Spirit exposes my heart's sinful patterns. Whatever is wrong, His Spirit goes straight to the problem. A problem exposed is a problem deposed.

I am so thankful that Jesus is in my boat. He is there for me answering my every call no matter how misguided or right-on-the-mark it is. How blessed I am!

Father,

What an amazing Savior You have given me. Thank You for giving my new life and having the Spirit of Your Son living within me. Strengthen my faith. Use whatever it takes, even a storm.

In Jesus name,

Amen

God's Explanation

Mk. 4:34

"He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples He explained everything."

Jesus spoke in parables as the crowds were able to hear it. His speaking in parables implies that Jesus' message could only be received in its full meaning to hearts that belonged to Him, to hearts that were spiritual. The work of the Spirit had to be accomplished before complete understanding could take place. "We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God...The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to Him, and He is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned...But we have the mind of Christ." [I Cor. 2:12, 14]

Jesus said earlier, "to you (His disciples) has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables." I think that the parable itself explains the reasons why. Jesus said the Word was sown, but in one case, the seed of the Word was sown on rocky ground. These hearers received it with joy, but when the trials came, they fell away. They had no lasting power because their hearts were unchanged by the Word. Their joy was superficial. Some other seeds fell among thorns. These people allowed the cares of the world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desire for other things to choke it out. Once choked, the Word could not grow or produce fruit. What a sad commentary! Satan came and immediately took away the Word that was sown in these people. He knew exactly what would entice them to let go of the good seed and grab on to the world's paltry offerings. But finally, there were those whose seed fell on good soil, who heard, received, accepted, and bore fruit. These people truly belonged to Jesus. As a result, they could understand the parable and its meaning. Their hearts were changed not by a casual hearing of the Word or a short-lived, passing fancy, but by a lifetime commitment that opened up the treasures of the Word of God. Wow! What a hope this gives me! The Word of God is there for me to know, to grow, and to produce the fruit of righteousness.

Father,

Thank you for Your Spirit's work in my life drawing me, teaching me, leading me, and even convicting me. Thank You for changing my nature from from worldly to spiritual, and from death to life. You are a gracious God!

In Jesus name,

Amen

Whoever Does the Will of God

Mk. 3:35

"For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother."

Once Christ is in the life, everything changes, even family. He forges a bond between believers that has divine grace as its binding force. His blood replaces the the blood of family ties. Once washed and reborn, the believer's entire focus desires the will of God not what the world has to offer. Just imagine the strength of relationship that happens in a family where Christ is the central focus. Family ties now rise above the bonds of the earthly to the vistas of the heavenly.

Jesus' own family was not supportive. "Then He went home and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat. And when His family heard it, they went out to seize Him , for they were saying "He is out of His mind." Not a pretty picture! What had Jesus done to elicit this response from His family? He had been doing good, healing people, yet his family wanted to seize Him. Where was His close family support? Where was the understanding and love? Gone! When it comes to Jesus and His message, not all families survive. Maybe because families are so close, they focus on the feet of clay not the heart transformed. Even though Jesus had no feet of clay, to them, He was just a brother, not a messiah and a healer. Is this true for all families?Should I expect support in my family? Jesus said that the servant is not greater than the master. Certainly, my flawed humanity will be blatantly obvious to my family that is unless they share the same focus that I do. If they do, I can praise God that together we can do the will of God. What an admonition this is to me that the most important thing in my life is doing the will of God. I can not allow a good thing rob me of the best thing.

Father,

As I think of my heaven born family, I praise Your name. Keep Your will constantly in my focus and in my deeds. Help me to love, support, and show Your grace to those You've put in my life.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Set Apart

Ps. 4:3

"But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for Himself; the Lord hears when I call to Him."

God's words in verse 3 are in response to the heart condition and actions of certain evil men, men who love vain words, lies, and have consequently turned His honor into shame (v. 2). Such men can never be pleasing to God nor subvert God's plan. I get the feeling that God's heart is grieved and pleading when He says, "How long...How long..." But even with this grief, God can not condone or ignore their heart attitude. He states clearly that He sets apart godly men for Himself. Not only does He set them apart, but He hears their every call, calls for help, protection, and even calls for their godliness to grow and flourish.

Will these evil men hear God's words? Would they even consider what God has to say? Since they are men who are concerned with turning God's honor into shame, I think that they might be within listening distance. Often the enemy hides within the ranks, 'among the congregation of the righteous' to subvert and to pervert godliness. As far as the power of God's words, it is unlimited! They might foolishly think they are damaging God and His servants, but that is so untrue! God is always in control! As far as the message of His words affecting the hearts and plans of these men, I think they are bent on a course of destruction. So whose heart do these words comfort? I think it is the heart of the godly. When He says that He has set the godly apart and will hear and answer their cries, I imagine He has dealt with many of their fears. He has reassured them of His power over evil in a personal and practical way.

There is an application for me as well. Since I am set apart by God to be godly, I know that when I call to Him He is there to hear and answer. If a scheme of an evil one is encroaching on my heart, all that I have to do is call, and He will be my portion. Since it is God Himself who has set me apart, I know that sphere of Satan's influence is severely limited. It is like I am encircled with God's plan. What a blessing this verse is! What reassurance and hope! I don't have to fear, I only have to call.

Father,

As I am set apart for You, keep my eyes focused forward, listening to Your leading, and calling on Your name. Thank You for encircling me in Your power and in Your plan.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Equipped to Do His Will

Heb. 13:20-21

"Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen"

What a powerful benediction and prayer! God equips me to do everything good through resurrection power! The same power that God used to resurrect Jesus is my power to do the will of God. In fact, it was this resurrection power that gave me the spark of new life. The 'how' is through the blood of the Great Shepherd, Jesus Christ. His death and shed blood cleansed and saved me so that His resurrection power could become my new life just as it was Christ's very life. He became the firstborn of many brothers, of whom I am one. Praise God! If resurrection power could save me and give me a total new life, I can only imagine the power that it gives for me to do His will.

I love how this prayer uses the word 'equip.' It sounds so successful. Just think that I can be equipped for God by God to be pleasing to God. What other relationship is like that? In a job, I am given a task, but my equipping for that task is something that I have to have within myself. I am hired because of my 'equipment.' But in God's realm, I have nothing to offer because my 'equipment' is flawed, weak, and sinful. It is entirely ineffective no matter how hard I try to make it work. Instead, He must equip me through His resurrection power , through His great grace, and through the blood of the eternal covenant. His equipping does not expire with age or new technology, but lasts for eternity. It is crafted by God of divine essence. So here I have a choice, His equipping or my weakness. It seems to be a no brainer! Yet, why do I still try and please God in my own works? Why do I still think that my performance counts for something? This prayer must be my prayer.

Father,

Through resurrection power and the blood of the great shepherd, equip me with everything good so that I may do Your will and be pleasing in Your sight. Blot out my foolish desire to serve You with my own equipping. Let me bring glory to Jesus who gave His all for me.

In His name,

Amen

A Sacrifice of Praise

Heb. 13:15

"Through Him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name."

Observations about my sacrifice of praise:

• It must be sacrificial. It comes from a life surrendered to God, a life that has given over desire for this world's system for citizenship in heaven. Surrender by its nature is sacrificial because it gives its personal rights to another. When I surrender to Him, I give Him my personal rights. In dependence on Him, I can offer a sacrifice of praise.
• It must be continual. It is not a one time offering, but an offering of every moment of my life. It must reflect my lifestyle and my delight in the Lord. To be continual it must be nourished and fed on the grace of God, the glory of the gospel, and the meat of the Word.
• It can only be offered through Jesus and His blood. His sacrifice allows me to come with confidence to the throne of grace and find the grace and mercy that I need to empower all that I do for God. If I offered this sacrifice in my own strength, I would be boasting in my abiliities, but God only wants me to boast in Him. He doesn't desire my performance but my dependence on His grace.
• Its substance is praise, praise for everything in my life, the blessing and the adversity. God works all things for my good because I am called according to His purpose. Instead of an OT sacrificial animal, God desires my praise. He wants me to acknowledge His name and give Him the glory and honor due to His name for His great grace.
• It's expressed through the fruit of my lips. This implies that my praise is a living thing. My growth in the grace and knowledge of Jesus has produced fruit, the fruit of praise. If I am completely dependent on Him, grace fills my heart overflowing in praise to God. I will not be striving for my own will to be satisfied, but instead will delight to do the will of God.
• It is a must. There are no 'ifs' in this verse. My heart must resound in this sacrifice of praise.

Father,

Unite my heart to praise You from a heart that depends on You for all that I need. Purge my striving for control and fill it with Your amazing grace.

In Jesus name,

Amen

I Know the Plans I Have for You

Jer. 29:11-13

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart."

What a great promise! When Israel's 70 years of exile were finished, God would visit them and do as He promised bringing great plans that included a future and a hope. Even though this promise was written for Israel, He has the same message for me. He has plans for me that include a future and a hope. Specifically, my future hope includes Jesus since "my citizenship is in heaven, and from it I await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform my lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power that enables Him even to subject all things to Himself." What a glorious hope! I will be like Him because I will see Him as He is. This is something worth waiting for and worth living for.

When I think of His plans for me, I think of Rom. 8:28, "And we know for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose." Whatever He has planned for me will be for my good. Of course, my good is not always the path of easy living, instead, it is often the path of suffering since I am called to follow in Jesus' footsteps. Whether suffering or blessing, all that comes from His hand is for my welfare and my future. It is my hope because I can rest in it as His will for me. He counsels me to "Trust in Him with all my heart, and not to lean on my own understanding, in all my ways acknowledge Him , and He will make straight my paths." He tells me clearly that He knew me before I was. He saw my unformed substance, formed my days, and wrote them in His book. He know my plans because He made my plans! There are no surprises with God.

Finally, Israel did not seek God wholeheartedly; instead, they only went through the motions of worship. Because of their idol worship , God gave them over to Babylon where they became exiles from their homeland and from their God. Yet, God's heart longed for them to seek Him wholeheartedly. He assured them that when they did He would be found. The same goes for me. He desires my wholehearted seeking free of any idol worship, but the thing about idols is that they can be anything that my flesh clings to above God. Insidiously, they pose as seemingly good things that obstruct the narrow and focused path of wholehearted seeking. God wants me seeking Him and no other. He offers the greatest reward of all, finding Him.

Father,

Unite my heart so You are all I seek to know and to follow. Reveal my hidden idols so that nothing obstructs my search for You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

The Cloud of Witnesses

Heb. 12:1-2

"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 that race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith..."

In the past when I have read of the people in Heb. 11, I have felt overwhelmed with the smallness of my faith, but as I connect this chapter with 12:1, I see a purpose beyond my intimidation. These people are a cloud of witnesses for me as I run the race with endurance. What exactly is a witness? Witnesses normally are observers who can be relied on to verify happenings. Specifically, they observe my laying aside of the weights and my running of the race with endurance. Essentially, this process of running and enduring is what the people of chapter 11 did. They all endured beyond what was humanly possible and were not bound or influenced by what the world thought was possible. Their vision was controlled by their faith. For me, my sights must be on Jesus, the founder and perfecter of my faith. Why? Simply put, He is the perfecter of my faith. Without Him, my faith will fail since faith is not something that I can strum up. It comes from the Spirit indwelling my inner man.

Why would I need a cloud of witnesses anyway? What would be the purpose? Perhaps, it is for my encouragement and for an example. These people were just people, but people that believed God and because of that belief were used mightily. These people were people who had made the costly choices, the choices often involving their lives. These people were the ones whose love of God was the entire focus of their lives. When I read this chapter, I have a window into the heart and soul of faithful followers of God. They show me faith in action. Who better to be a witness than those who have run the race as well? Who better to encourage me than those who ran and arrived at the finish line? Who better to show me the meaning of faith than those who were faithful?

In light of these examples and of Christ's own example of enduring the cross, I am to run! I am to run with endurance by laying aside the weights. Sin is a weight! It clouds my focus and the finish line. It drains my spiritual stamina and defeats my faith walk. After I throw off the weights, I need to run keeping in mind Jesus and the cloud of witnesses. I am not alone! There are others who were faithful and have finished the race. Through Jesus, I can too!

Father,

As I run the race You have set for me, make me willing to throw off the weights and unafraid to run with endurance. Keep my eyes on Jesus each step of the way. Thank you for other faithful followers who are there to encourage and support me on the way.

In Jesus name and strength,

Amen

Faith and Preservation

Heb. 10:39

"But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls."

Hebrews has decribed in fairly strong language what the shrinkers are like: spurning the Son of God, profaning the blood of the covenant, and outraging the Spirit of grace. Is there recourse for these people, or even hope? The passage's strong words, "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God," leads one to think that their end is not good. What serious words!

By contrast, what characterized the faithful? To begin with, they endured hard stuggles with suffering, and while exposed to reproach and aflliction still had compassion on those who were imprisoned. No doubt, imprisionment was never far from their minds. Enduring even more, they joyfully accepted the plundering of their possessions because of the knowledge of the better possession and the abiding one. The mindset of these people reminds me of Philippians where Paul said that he counted all things as loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus his Lord. These people lived for the better possession and the abiding One, their lives were totally surrendered to God for His service no matter the cost. And it appears as if the cost was heavy!

Since they had lived with this life altering eternal focus, the author says "do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward." What is that reward? It is the promise of Jesus' coming for those who had endured and had done the will of God. Why such an admonition? I wonder if the author was afraid of their discouragement or even giving up in light of severe persecution. Even in the strongest believer, there is always the nagging flesh seeking its control, spreading its discouragement, and trying to defeat the Spirit within. So Hebrews gives a huge encouragement to hold on to the confidence which brings great reward.

Then author ends this section with strongly, positive words. "We are not of those who shrink back... but of those who have faith and preserve their souls." How exciting! As I think about this passage, I wonder how I would endure in the light of severe persecution. What do I have to go through in America? I have no fear of imprisonment, of reproach, or affliction. However, whatever I have or have not endured, I can say with confidence that I know the abiding One, and He will never let me go! I know the promised reward, and I live my life with an eternal focus! But most importantly, all this I know not through my own strength, but through the grace of God. In my own strength, I would probably become a shrinker, but in the grace of God, His strength becomes my all. His strength is perfected in my weakness!

Father,

Through Your abiding One keep me ever faithful to the eternal view of You and Your reward. Give me Your strength to endure and to follow in the steps of Jesus who suffered unbelievably that I might live in newness of life.

In His name,

Amen