The Final End

Rev. 22:20

He who testifies to these things says, Surely I am coming soon. Amen, Come, Lord Jesus!

What a glorious picture the last chapters of Revelation present! How fitting for the last day of the year and the last day of my reading plan! I am truly blessed because my robes have been washed so that I have ready entrance to the city and the tree of life. I came because I was thirsty for the water of life without price. I drank freely and was transformed into a child of God. When Jesus comes, and hopefully that will be soon,  there will no longer be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His servants will worship Him. They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light and they will reign forever and ever. Those verses describe my life for eternity! The Holy City will be my dwelling place where God will dwell with me as His child. God Himself will be with me as my God. He will wipe away all my tears, death, pain, and mourning for all the old things will be passed away.

Just reading these events are so hard to comprehend. On one hand it sounds glorious and the shouts of praise swell my heart with emotion, but still there is such finality. What about unsaved loved ones? Have I shared with them as I should have? Thankfully, He is the righteous Judge and He knows all so I don't have to understand. I only need to trust and wait expectantly.

Father,

Keep my heart pure and ready for Your return. Help me to be faithful for You in my own personal life and in sharing with others.

In the name of the Lamb,

Amen 

Conquered

Rev. 12:11

And they conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.

What a horrible time at the end of times! But the good part is that the salvation, power, the kingdom of God, and the authority of Christ has come for the Accuser has been thrown down, the one who accused the brethren night and day before God. How is he conquered? Victory is through the blood of the Lamb and the word of the brothers' testimony, a testimony that meant death. Their love for the Lamb superseded all else. Even though I know the end of the story, it is scary to read about the terrible times that must be endured. It makes me evaluate myself. How deep is my commitment? Do I love Jesus more than my very life?  Would my testimony survive in such a time?

Father,

Build in me Your strength. Help me to understand and live in the power of the blood of the Lamb. Empower my testimony to be one of conquering power.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Salvation belongs to our God

Rev. 7:13-14

Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?" I said to him, "Sir, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

A great multitude came from every nation standing before the throne of God clothed in white robes and waving palm branches. They cried out with a loud voice declaring that salvation belongs to our God and to the Lamb. The angels, elders, and 4 living creatures fell on their faces and worshiped God saying, Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen! What a glorious scene!
 
One of the elders asked who these white-robed people were. The answer was the saints who came through the great tribulation washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb. What was their function in heaven? They were before the throne to serve Him continually in His temple, sheltered by God's presence and never hungering or thirsting anymore. The Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and He will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
 
As I read this I am reminded of I Pet. 5: 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To Him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen Whatever God has in store for His children, He promises to be there with them and to bring them home to Him. When, where, or how this will come about, I am not sure. But I know that whatever the future holds, I must have faith and trust in Him. The blood of the Lamb must be the one, all-important thing in my life. 
 
Father,
Make me ready to stand for You whatever the future holds. As I read these chapters, I am afraid, yet I know that what you have for me is right for me.
In the name of the Lamb,
Amen

The Throne of God

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."

What a scene!A throne was in the midst with one seated on it who had the appearance of jasper and carnelian surrounded by an emerald rainbow--such splendor. What does it even mean? Around this throne were 24 elders clothed in white with golden crowns on their heads. From the throne issued flashes of lightning and peals of thunder. Before the throne were 7 torches of fire (the 7 Spirits of God) and a sea of glass like crystal. Around the throne were the 4 living creatures full of eyes, each with its own form, a lion, an ox, the face of a man, and an eagle in flight, each with 6 wings. They never ceased to praise God saying, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come! As the 4 creatures gave glory, honor, and thanks to God, the 24 elders fell down before the throne worshipping by casting their crowns before Him saying, 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. How hard to grasp what this really means! I certainly see the splendor and magnificence, but at the same time I see how all involved can only do one thing, that is give Him praise, honor, and thanks. For all eternity, I think I will praise Him too because He was the One who gave me existence and purpose.
 
In the next chapter, this scene continues. God held the scroll and the angel called out asking for someone who was worthy to open the scroll. No one in heaven and earth was worthy except for the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David who had conquered. There before the throne was the Lamb standing as though He had been slain with 7 horns and 7 eyes which are the 7 Spirits of God. As the Lamb took the scroll, the creatures and the elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp and golden bowls of incense which were the prayers of the saints. How neat! They all sang a song, Worthy are You to take the scroll and to open its seals, for You were slain, and by Your blood You ransomed people for God from every tribe, language, and nation, and You have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth. Then in a great chorus they all sang, Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing! To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever! I must say with the 4 creatures, Amen!
 
Even as I read this account, my emotions swell. How glorious it will be! It really makes me realize how far I have to go to truly praise His name. How little I understand, but thankfully, the Spirit is here to grow me and prepare me for the eternal weight of glory.
 
Father,
Thank You for this glimpse and foretaste. Grow me in praising You and giving You all that You are due. Help me to focus completely on You. Thank You Jesus for being my Lamb who redeemed me and made me part of His kingdom.
In His glorious name,
Amen

Once Again

III Jn. 5-6

And now I ask you, dear lady--not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning--that we love one another. 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.

John once again stressed a commandment that should be obeyed, not a new commandment but an old one; in fact, one that was from the beginning: Love one another. It sounds so simple, yet must be hard to obey or why would John have mentioned it so many times. What is this love that was and is so important? John explained that this love is walking according to His commandments. Love is obedience to all that Jesus said including loving one another. Actually, if I love others it automatically makes me obey other commandments too. It seems like an unloving attitude is at the root of so many areas of disobedience. John, in his gospel, talked about love being the mark of identification of believers. Am I known by my love? Do I have a submissive, obedient attitude to the Word? What about when irritating people come into my life?

Father,

My heart is so selfish. At times, I am so unloving especially to those people who irritate me, ones that You have put in my life to grow my love. I confess. Teach me to love and obey Your words.

In Jesus name,

Amen 

Love from I John

I Jn. 3:11

For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

I Jn. is packed with teaching on love, teaching that I need to know and apply.

Source: Jesus' sacrifice on the cross
Growth: If I keep His word, the love of God is perfected in me.
Identification: Love in me proves that I am in Him.
Application: If I love my brothers, I abide in the light.
Application: I must not love the world or the things that are in the world: the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride in possessions.
Source: The Father's love calls me the child of God.
Teaching: The message from the beginning that I should love others.
Application: Love not in word or talk but in deed and truth.
Teaching: I believe in the name of Jesus and love others as Jesus commanded.
Teaching: I am beloved.
Teaching: I love others because love is from God and when I love I am born of God and know God.
Teaching: God is love.
Teaching: Love is not that I love God but that He loved me and sent His Son to be my propitiation for sin.
Teaching: Since God is love, whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in Him.
Teaching: God's dwelling perfects His love in me so that I may be confident at the day of judgment.
Teaching: There is no fear in love, perfect love casts out fear.
Application: I love because He first loved me.
Application: If I say I love God and hate others, the love of God is not in me.
Teaching: Whoever loves the Father loves all those born of Him.
Application: I know I love others when I love God and keep His commandments.

Father,
Teach me to love as You loved, to obey all that You say.
In Jesus name,
Amen

Nearsighted

II Pet. 1:5-10

 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness,  and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.

My faith must be visible with virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love. Unless these are mine and are increasing in my life, I am unfruitful and ineffective. In fact, whoever lacks these qualities is nearsighted, so much so that he is blind! He does not see the true condition of his own life. How powerful is self and sin that it blinds someone from seeing his or her true spiritual condition! What is the answer? I need to be all the more diligent to make my calling and election sure. I need to see fruit and growth in my life. I need to make sure my vision is clear and focused.  How does this fruit grow? It comes through the Holy Spirit applying the Word to my life, with my surrender and dependence on Him, and with my desire being only for Him not for me. What do I see? Am I looking for Jesus? Am I seeing the fruit that I should?

Father,

Make me fruitful and effective for You. Help me to have right vision so that I can see my own heart's condition. Help me to depend on You for all that I need.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Suffering Soldier

II Tim. 2:3-4

 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.

As Timothy was strengthened by the grace of Jesus Christ, he was also to be involved in ministry, teaching others what he had learned. But that was not all. He was to suffer as a good soldier of Jesus, a soldier not entangled with the world because His aim was to please Jesus. Is my life style like Timothy's in teaching others what I have learned? Am I following the process that Jesus set up, one on one, a changed life sharing with another changed life?  Ministry must be followed by suffering as a soldier of Jesus. Like Timothy I can't be entangled by the world, but when does what the world offers become an entanglement? Perhaps it is when suffering is no longer a part of my life.

Father,
Teach me to live to please You. Show me what it means to avoid entanglements. Help me to serve You in ministry and in suffering.
In Jesus name,
Amen

Discipline

Heb. 12:6-11

For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives." It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?  If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Who likes discipline? Not too many people look forward to it, but hopefully, some people see the value of it. In truth, where would we be without it? In a family situation, what are the children like who have no discipline in their lives? Sadly, they become spoiled and tyrannical, constantly demanding their own way. However, the parent who truly loves their children disciplines them. In fact, this loving act builds in the children character and responsibility. Similarly, God disciplines me. It's foolish for me to dislike or dread discipline because it demonstrates God's love for me and proves that I am His child. It is a vital part of our family relationship. Just like children respect parents who are true to their word and who set proper boundaries, so I respect my heavenly Father. He is always true to His Word, unlike earthly parents, and His boundaries keep me safe, sanctified, and prepared for my heavenly life. In fact, this discipline yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness if I have been trained by it. There is the key. What is my attitude toward this discipline? Are I allowing it to train me, or is my heart rebellious and my neck stiff?  God wants me to be righteous and His way is discipline and sometimes chastisement.

Father,

Thank You for loving me as Your child and for disciplining me so that I can grow to be like Jesus. Keep working on me, Take away any stiffness of my neck and heart.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Enter Confidently

Heb. 10:19-15

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,  by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Since I have confidence to enter the holy place because of Jesus' shed blood, I don't have to worry that my sacrifice is blemished or inadequate because it has nothing to do with me. It is all because of Him. He has opened up a way for me when He as the God-Man became the great high priest over the house of God, the house of which I am a member. Because of Jesus I can draw near with a true heart, a heart bathed in grace, and in full assurance of faith, a gift from God, because my heart and conscience are washed clean and pure. This is not a gift to be taken lightly. It is one that I need to hold fast without wavering. Jesus, who promised me all this is faithful, and so I must be faithful in my response to Him. When He is reigning on the throne of my heart, then I am living in His grace and power. Then I can stir up others to good works and to love one another. I can be faithful in meeting with the body and stir others up to meet with the body as well. I can be faithful in encouraging others in the faith as we together wait for Jesus' return. What a glorious gift! 
 
Father,
Help me to wait faithfully and to hold fast without wavering. Keep me in Your words. My heart is full of praise for this glorious gift!
In Jesus name,
Amen

The Powerful Word

Heb. 4:12-13

For the Word of God 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. And no creature is hidden from His sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

V. 11 of this same chapter speaks of striving to enter the rest and not falling short from disobedience. So the question naturally follows: how do we strive to enter the rest and not fall short from disobedience? Apparently, the answer is in v. 12. It is the Word of God, which is not just a book or a best seller, but is living and active. It is the Logos, Jesus Christ. To be obedient I must be in the Word, saturating my soul and spirit, allowing the Spirit to root out any sin and disobedience. It is only the Word that can know my thoughts and intentions. It is only the Word that exposes me for what I really am. It peels off the mask of hypocrisy and self-righteousness revealing the sins that are hidden not only to others but to myself. The Word helps me see myself as God sees me and prepares me for the day when I will have to stand before God and give and account of all that I am. Do I value the Word like it should be valued? Am I saturating myself in it?

Father,

Draw me to Your words. Make them the joy and delight of my soul. Give me the strength to accept what it reveals and the submission to allow Your Spirit to transform me. 

In Jesus name,

Amen  

Clothed in Humility

I Pet. 5:5b-9

Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

How many times have I asked myself'what I should wear? How many times have I felt that my clothes were out of style? So many times that I can't begin to count. But, how many times have I considered my spiritual clothes? Have I made sure that I was clothed in humility before I set about my day? Have I asked for grace for my helplessness, or have I assumed I had sufficient strength and know-how to handle whatever would come my way? Sadly, the latter has often been my course of action. But here Peter stresses the importance of being clothed, covered in humility because God opposes pride. It is heinous to Him, but human helplessness He loves. I think Peter really understood this conflict of humility versus pride. No doubt it was pride that made  him boldly declare he would never deny Christ. When he blustered and blundered in pride, God revealed his helplessness to him. The end result was that he wept bitterly. His own self-sufficiency had prevented the grace of God to be perfected in him. Instead of moving ahead throughout my day in foolish pride, God wants us to cast our care on Him, throw it over. However, this action is often counter to human thought. When people have cares, they like to worry, mull them over, and hopefully come up with a solution, but God says to give them to him. In that act of casting, we have declared that we are helpless to find the solution. In that state, His grace can come flooding in! His grace is perfected in human weakness! Yes, my human weakness!

Father,

Help me to dress in humility each day casting all my cares on You. Dethrone pride in my life.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Amazing Salvation

II Tim. 3:4-7

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

This passage so clarifies the origin and means of my salvation.

• Source: The goodness and kindness of God.
• When: The Savior appeared. (Jesus, God in human form)
• How: Not by human works in any way no matter how righteous
• How: According to the washing of regeneration and renewal of Spirit
• Method: He poured the Spirit in us richly through Jesus Christ.
• Why: So that being justified by His grace we might be heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

How exciting! And all of these because of the goodness and kindness of God. What amazing grace!

Father,
Thank You for such amazing salvation, for choosing me to be Your child, and for allowing me to be an heir of eternal life.
In Jesus name,
Amen

Contentment

I Tim. 6:6-8

Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.

Contentment brings great gain in godliness. As I think through these statements, I ask myself what makes me discontented: unfulfilled dreams and desires, dashed expectations, negative feelings about my acceptance or place in my family, friends, or even church, etc. All of these have to do with ME, what I want, need, desire,  or deserve, not just in things but in areas of receiving appreciation, praise, or respect. To be contented would mean that all that I did, thought, and felt would be Jesus centered. 'I' would be absent from the equation. All my functioning, thinking, dreaming, wishing would be for Him. How hard is that? Truthfully, it is impossible in the flesh, but thankfully, there is grace, His power perfected in my weakness. 

The other thing that I notice about contentment is that just when I think I have it, I don't have it. It is as fleeting as my thoughts and emotions. In a mere second, my flesh can assume control. Truly, this verse reveals the need for the prayer of helplessness. I am helpless and must constantly cry out for grace to be content.

Father,

I am helpless to be content and to constantly rely on You for grace. Give me Your grace to even ask for grace! Fill me and teach me to live contentedly in this world.

In Jesus name,

Amen

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Reversal of Fortune

Phil. 3:7-11

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith-- that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death,  that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Paul had a powerful pedigree in Jewish circles, and I am sure that with that education and social status came much wealth as well. Yet, those things were insignificant to Him in comparison to Christ. He willingly traded in the esteem of men for a humble ministry, a position of power for servant hood, established religion for the Way, an comfortable home for a tent, a normal lifestyle for a wandering journey, and the power to persecute for becoming the persecuted. To the natural, fleshly man, these choices make no sense. But Paul had had an encounter with Jesus, and from that point on, he wanted only to know Him, His resurrection power, His sufferings, and His death. His life was drastically changed! His zeal to kill Christians was transformed into a zeal for others to become Christians. How has my life changed? Is is drastic? Am I counting all that I have in the world as loss or do I value possessions and position?

Father,

Teach me to count this world and all that it offers as loss. Help me to be zealous for You.

In Jesus name,

Amen    

The Love of Christ

Eph. 3:14-21

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of His glory He may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever, Amen.

What a great prayer and a model for me! It makes me wonder what is the reason that I pray? Paul felt the  reason he prayed was related to the eternal purpose that he had realized in Christ Jesus. Because of this purpose and his relationship with Jesus, he had boldness and access with confidence into the very throne of God. Since his life's purpose was based on sovereign grace, he could accept fully everything that happened in his life. For this reason he prayed that:

• we would be strengthened with power through the Spirit in our inner being
• Christ would dwell in our hearts through faith
• having been rooted and grounded in love, we would have strength to comprehend what is the breadth, height, length, and depth of the love of Christ
• we would know and experience this love that surpasses knowledge so that we may be filled with the fullness of God

Paul did not hesitate to ask these great things because he knew Christ was able to do far more abundantly that we could ask or think according to the power at work within us, not according to our strength or intelligence, but according to what He does within us. He concluded the prayer by giving Him all the glory.

Do I pray so diligently to know and experience the love of God? Do I acknowledge the sovereignty of God in every aspect of my life?

Father,

Teach me to know and understand Your love so that I might be filled with the fullness of God.

In Jesus name,

Amen

For This I Toil

Col. 1:29

For this I toil, struggling with all His energy that He powerfully works within me.

Paul's ministry was based in making the Word of God fully known to people wherever he went. He proclaimed Jesus, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that he could present everyone mature in Christ. How did he do this? As he worked, all God's energy worked powerfully in him. This combination of human effort and divine power is the epitome of grace. Certainly Paul toiled and worked with a focus that was never interrupted, yet his work was all through the power of God working powerfully in him. Even as I read this, I think how hard it is to grasp this concept. Yet, maybe I don't have to grasp it. Perhaps I just need to trust God to make it a reality.

Father,
Teach me to toil but only as Your power works powerfully in me.
In Jesus name,
Amen

Faith in the Storm

Acts 27:23-26

For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, and he said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.' So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. But we must run aground on some island.

In the midst of the worst possible danger and storm, Paul was reassured by an angel of God. This in itself is something that many people would not mention because the listeners would not believe such an account, yet Paul told it like it was because his relationship with God was always transparent. It was his total reason for living. Consequently, he refused to alter the facts to make them more palatable. How many times have I sugar-coated what God has done in my life for whatever reason? Unlike Paul who was only concerned about the souls of men, I must be concerned about being socially accepted by men, about fitting in and not being different. But Paul's boast was not in himself, but totally in Jesus Christ even if it meant social ostracism. 

What faith Paul had! In spite of the storm and the obvious danger, he had faith in God. He believed it would be exactly as he had been told. He was convinced that what God said was true, and if God needed to perform a miracle to keep His word, He would. Paul was not restless or fearful, but was completely calm in His trust, in fact he was so calm he was trying to calm the other men on the ship. God's sovereign control and plan gave him complete peace in the midst of storm.    

Father,

Teach me to speak transparently about You to those who don't know You. Give me courage and boldness. Help me to trust You in the face of storm and not worry or fret.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Mission

Acts 26:15-18

But rise and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles--to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.

What a mission! Paul had come face to face with Jesus for a specific purpose. He was now to be a servant and witness of what he had seen with Jesus. He was to share a message that would open eyes turning those who believed from darkness to light and from Satan's power to God. These people would receive what Paul had received from Jesus, forgiveness and sanctification. Paul's life was no longer his to determine and control. He was now following Jesus' purpose for him. Whether it was beatings, starvation, ship wreck, or imprisonment, his course was set. He was not to be deterred. Like Paul, I too have met Jesus. He has changed my life and given me a purpose and a direction.I too am to share the message of forgiveness and sanctification with others. What is my response? Am I focused completely on what God has for me to do? Am I deterred by circumstances? 

Father,

Keep me on the course that You have set for me. Help me to keep focused on You regardless of the situation or the circumstances.

In Jesus name,

Amen 

Ministry

Acts 20:24

But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

Paul's experience with Jesus had completely re-focused his priorities. Prior to Jesus he considered his life valuable and of importance, but post Jesus his life was of no value apart from finishing the course and the ministry that Jesus had given him. Plots, ambushes, floggings, or difficulties did not deter his zeal in any way; instead, they seemed to strengthen his resolve in sharing the gospel of the grace of God. 

His commitment to the gospel extended beyond the initial presentation and continued on to discipleship over longer periods of time. As he served the Lord in humility, tears, and trials, he never wavered in teaching and testifying to the Jews and the Greeks. His final words to the flock at Ephesus included a warning to be careful to protect the flock of God. He knew that wolves would come in to scatter and waste the flock, wolves that would come from within the flock, twisting the truth in order to draw men away. He encouraged the believers to be alert! As he left, he commended them to God and the word of His grace. After they knelt to pray together, embracing, and crying, he left to share the gospel of grace with others. What an example of a ministry! Am I ever deterred by negative things that happen in my ministry? Do I continue on disciplining in love, tears, and prayer? Do I say the hard words that will protect the flock?

Father,

Teach me to be Your disciple as I disciple others. Help me to love them with a heart completely committed to You no matter the reception that I receive. Give me courage to speak Your words.

In Jesus name,

Amen

One Voice

Rom. 15:5-6

May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Unity means the strong helping the weak with the goal of edification. This means that the strong must bear with the failings of the weak, but sadly, this is not a common response. More than likely, the strong lose patience with the weak or even neglect them as they struggle along. Why? Because it takes time and consistency to obey what this passage is saying. A relationship that edifies, by its very nature, takes time away from what I want to do. It takes time to build another person up in the Lord. I know that John and I have prayed this verse our marriage. When I am weak, John is strong, and when he is weak, I am strong. So together, if our focus is on Jesus, we can edify one another and with one voice glorify God. With glorifying God as our goal, then our striving against each other loses any significance. Instead of struggling for our rights, we relinquish them to God and desire only to glorify Him. 

Father,

Take away my fleshly desires and my striving to have my own way. Help me to keep my focus on You constantly. Teach John and I to build each other up so that we might glorify You in our marriage.

In Jesus name,

Amen 

A Debt of Love

Rom. 13:8

Owe no man anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

I am to live with love as my operating principle because God has commanded me to owe nothing but to love one others. If I do this, then I have fulfilled the law. But how can the law be summed up so simply in light of all its many different provisions? Paul points out that the sins of adultery, murder, stealing, coveting, and any other commandment can be summed up in a single concept: Love your neighbor as yourself. Loving others prevents all the negative ineractions that affect most relationships. No wonder love is the identifying mark of those who follow Jesus. In how many people would this be true? If any acquaintance of mine was asked to describe my relationship with other people, would they say I was loving?

Father,

Help me to love as You loved. Help me to look out for the interests of others and not only my own. Help me to think of others above myself. To do this, I need Your grace and strength. 

In Jesus name,

Amen

Hard to Understand

Rom. 9:14-16

What then shall we say? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! For He says to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God who has mercy.

Such a hard concept to grasp! First example is Pharaoh. God told Pharaoh that He wanted to show His power through Pharaoh's life and that His power must be revealed in him. How did that work out? Pharaoh's heart was hardened so that he would not listen to Moses' warning showing clearly that God decides who receives His mercy. But when man hears this story, he is often incensed thinking that Pharaoh did not have a chance. But the passage goes on to say, But who are you, o man, to answer back to God? Does what is molded complain to the molder about its fashion or existence? The same is true of God. He makes vessels of honor and dishonor or to show His wrath and His power; in fact, he has shown great patience toward vessels of dishonor prepared for destruction to make known the riches of His glory and mercy. Even after reading all these verses, I still find this hard to grasp. Why? Perhaps because like most people, I think my thoughts, and feelings should have some importance even to God, and that I should be in making decisions. Yet, even when I read this about God's nature, I remember how He reached down in love to sacrifice His own Son so that I might become His child.  I can only thank Him! But what about those people who are not chosen? I know that I must trust Him and His sovereign will. I have placed my heart and life in His hands and because of that I must trust Him in all the things that I don't understand.

Father,

Thank You for the sacrifice of Your Son. Teach me to rest in You for the things that I don't understand, and if it is Your will, help me understand. 

In Jesus name,

Amen

Fruit for God

Rom. 7:4

Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of  Christ, so that you may belong to another, to Him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.

Since the law is binding, the only way to be free of the law is death. Just like in a marriage contract, one partner is not free unless the other partner dies. Similarly, I must die to the law, but how? Amazingly, this is not by anything that I do, but it is through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Not only does His death and resurrection bring me salvation, but it also brings me identity. As a saved person, I belong to Him. I am His and go by His name, Christian. Why would God send His only Son to earth to die a horrible death to provide the way for me to die to the law? Because God wants me to bear fruit for Him. Jn. 15 sheds light on this purpose for my life. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in Him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.  Just like salvation, fruit bearing is a growth process worked out in my life by Jesus.

Father,
Help me bear fruit. Work in my life. Teach me to abide so that Your Holy Spirit has free reign.
In Jesus name,
Amen 

The Gift of Grace

Rom. 3:23-25

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by His blood, to be received by faith...

What a glorious gift to people who were completely unable to reach God! Because of His sacrifice and His shed blood the righteous requirement of the law was fulfilled. Jesus' gift to us meant that we need do nothing but receive Him through faith and grace.  Why would God do this? Why would He sacrifice His Son? This was to show God's righteousness, because in His divine forbearance He had passed over former sins. It was to show His righteousness at the present time, so that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.  What a glorious reality! It truly is amazing Grace! He did it all even to giving me the faith to believe and accept.

Father,
Keep me ever aware of my poverty of spirit so that I might constantly cry out for Your grace. Thank You for this great gift.
In Jesus name,
Amen

Weakness Made Strong

II Cor. 12:9-10

My grace is suffficent for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Paul knew of many reasons why he could boast including being taken up into the third heaven. Yet, he would not because he wanted his boast to be only in Jesus. But just in case human flesh would take over and pride would puff him up, God gave him a thorn in the flesh. Paul called it a messenger of Satan to harrass him. No doubt a constant struggle! It was something that would keep him weak and needy, calling out to God for grace and strength. It was something that would destroy his self-sufficiency, making him dependent on strength from above. It was something that could destroy him if he took his eyes and focus off God, but God reassured him telling Him that His grace was Paul's sufficiency, that His power was perfected in weakness. Hard words for someone who was a take charge kind of person! But Paul's final conclusion was that he would boast in his weakness because it was in weakness that he was strong. Because of that he was content with all kinds of weakness, with insults, with hardships, with persecutions, and with calamities. What a great attitude! Am I content with weaknesses?

Father,

Help me be content with the weaknesses and struggles You have placed in my life.

In Jesus name,

Amen

All Grace

II Cor. 9:8

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

How glorious is this promise! God will make all grace abound to me. He is able to do abundantly more that I could ask or think according to the power at work within me. Whether it is in the area of giving to others from what God has given me, or serving others in meeting their needs, God promises to give me abundant grace.  How clear is the purpose of grace in this verse! It is what equips me to abound in good works as opposed to my human strength.

Father,
Give me Your abundant grace so that I may serve You and others. Teach me to rely on You for all that I need.
In Jesus name,
Amen

Treasure in Jars of Clay

I Cor. 4:7-9

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair, persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.

Just the fact that I have the treasure of Jesus in my frail body of clay is overwhelming, but the fact that I have this treasure for a specific purpose adds a greater significance. I actually demonstrate that the surpassing power belongs to God by the way that my focus on life is transformed. I can be afflicted but not crushed. Nothing about life has to destroy me or get me down!! I can be perplexed, not really understanding the why of a situation but not driven out of my mind because I can rest in God as the sovereign planner of my life. I can be persecuted but never alone in the suffering. I can be struck down but never destroyed or even defeated. It is my great calling to carry the death of Jesus in my body so that His life may be manifested as well. What a meaning and purpose for life! I am no longer living for the fulfillment of my flesh or for my personal desires or rights, but I am living to be a window for the surpassing power of God to be displayed to the world. I am living for Jesus now, and this life is drastically different that living for the world, or even living with a small longing for the world. It is 100 % total commitment. 

Because of this I never have to lose heart.  Though my outer self is wasting away, my inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for me an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison as I look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. Everything in my life is for a higher purpose, the big things and even the small, mundane things. This is truly a treasure in a jar of clay! What grace to gift me with all of this! How humbling to realize what God has done for me, for a insignificant jar of clay!

Father,

Keep my eyes fixed on You so that I might never forget Your treasure in my jar of clay. Help me to shine  Your power in all that I do and think. Teach me to listen to Your Spirit as I travel this journey.

In Jesus name,

Amen 

Transformation

I Cor. 15: 42-44

So it is with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

How fantastic! I can see why it is hard for an unbeliever to grasp what Christianity is all about because even for a believer, it is hard to grasp. What kind of grace is this that allows me to be perishable and then become imperishable, to be dishonorable and then be raised in glory, to be weak and then become powerful, and to be natural and then become spiritual. It is only through Jesus and His sacrifice on the Christ. He provided such reconciliation through His grace.

Father,

My heart is full of thanks for what You have done for me, for giving me this great grace. Teach me to live practically in what You have given me positionally.

In Jesus name,

Amen

I Cor. 13:4-7

Love is patient and kind. Love does not envy or boast; It is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; It is not irritable or resentful; It does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

How impossible is godly love! As many times as I have memorized and mediated on this passage, I still have not even come close to this kind of love. Why is that? Could it be that I value my flesh and my will more than I value others? If I loved like this, I would be doing nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility counting others more significant than myself. I would not be looking only to my interests but to the interests of others. In order to do this, I would have to have the mind of Christ within me. But how? I think that is the ministry of the Spirit within me. As He grows me, then this love blooms and grows into full flower. The more I abide in Jesus, the vine, the more that I produce His fruit, the fruit of love.

Father,

Teach me to love like You did and continue to do. Help me to abide in Jesus so that Your Spirit can produce spiritual fruit.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Temptation

I Cor. 10:13

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

What a great promise! If this is true, and it is, why do I struggle so with temptation? When I am frustrated,   angry, or about to lose it, why don't I see the way of escape? What is the problem? I think James answers these questions. I am tempted when I am drawn away and enticed by my own lust, my lust to be right, to hurt someone who has hurt me, or to defend myself. In all of these instances I am not looking for the way of escape, but instead I am looking for gratification of my flesh. I am not living in the power of His grace and the truth of His promise, I am living in my flesh and seeking to satisfy my flesh. 

Father,

Change my vision so that I can see Your way of escape. Make Your promise a reality in my life. 

In Jesus name,

Amen