No Man Can Boast

I Cor. 1:16

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

 

It pleased God to use the foolishness of what is preached to save those who believe. Even though the gospel was not what the Jews or the Greeks wanted, it did not alter the message. That message is  Christ crucified, which is a stumbling block to Jews and Gentiles. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man and the weakness of God is stronger than men. Why did God chose the weak, foolish, lowly and despised? It was so that no human being could boast in the presence of God.

 

Since believers are in Christ Jesus, Christ has become to each one wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that no one can boast. Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord. He is our all. Without Him, we would be nothing, devoid of hope and life. What a gift! The risen Christ has given us His power and life not from a distance but as the indwelling One.  Christ in me the hope of Glory.

 

Father,

Thank You for choosing the weak and the foolish, for giving me salvation, righteousness, sanctification and redemption. Grow me and teach  me to glorify You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Unity

I Cor. 1:4

I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus.

 

Why should I be thankful for the body of Christ?

• To those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours. Believers are indwelled by the same Jesus Christ. Through Him we are all sanctified and called saints. How could any believer be anything but thankful for another believer since the same Lord and Savior is in both of them. All believers are both sanctified and called saints by the same Lord they both share.
• ...because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus. All believers share a common grace that is also because of Jesus Christ. It is His grace that has become our new life. Apart from it, we could not live for Christ at all since our salvation and sanctification is not built on our works or performance but on Christ's great gift of grace.
• That in every way you were enriched in Him in all speech and knowledge...The same Lord has enriched our speech and our knowledge so that everything we say and understand is because of Him. Since this is true can our speech be anything but glorifying to God especially in respect to other believers.
• you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ... Even those our gifts our different in kind they are not different in source so one gift is not better than other and should give no cause for disunity. We all wait for the blessed hope, for the revealing of Jesus Christ.
• God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. We all have the same faithful God who has called each one of us into the fellowship of His Son. In the fellowship of the Son there should be no discord. He is our Lord, Savior, and Master.

Amazingly as I read and write about this passage, I think of those who are outside my home or family. But in truth, if my family including my husband is a believer, then all these things are true about Him as well.

 

Father,

Give me a heart of unity and love that never allows even for a moment of critical spirit. Keep my eyes focused on You and You alone in every situation.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Obedience to His Words

Deut. 32:39

So now that I, even I , am He, and there is no God beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand.

 

Moses had come to the end of His life and was giving final words to the Israelite people. He has reminded them of the character of God, the Rock, His work is perfect, for all His ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is He. Because of His character and perfection, Moses speaks to them of the foolishness of disobedience. God had delivered them many times from the coming out of Egypt to present day. The children of the original Israelites saw that their parents were not allowed to enter the promised land. Certainly, they had seen first hand God's great mercy and His swift justice. It was simple: obey the words of the Lord.

 

If disobedience and idolatry was their response to God, then they would see the justice of God. See now that I , even I, am He and there is no God beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand. God is sovereign and is sovereignly in control of every aspect of His people. When Moses had finished all his words, he reminded them of the importance, no even more than that, he reminded them that obedience to the words of God was their life. For it is no empty word for you, but your very life, and by this word you shall live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess.

 

 

The very day that Moses spoke he was told to go to Mount Nebo so that he might view the land of Canaan. It was here on this mountain that he was to die and be gathered to his people because he had broken faith with God in the midst of the people of Israel at the waters of Meribah-kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin, and because Moses did not treat God as holy in the midst of the people of Israel. How serious is this warning! Considering the kind of man Moses was and his final end should put weight to God's commands. God is not mocked! What He says He will do. What is my response to God's words? Do I ever break faith with Him and neglect to treat Him as holy in the midst of the people he has placed in my world?

 

Father,

Give me wisdom and strength to resist temptations and to speak for You as I should. Grow me and convict me so that I might be as You would have me be.

In His name,Amen

Heart and Mouth

Deut. 30:11

For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off.

 

God [through Moses] went on to say that the commandment was not in heaven or beyond the sea thus eliminating any excuses based on inaccessibility. But the Word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart so that you can do it. How wonderful is this! God made a plan and then provided access to the plan. The same is true today. For believers, the Word is very near, in out mouths and hearts. God has given free access to the throne of grace to receive mercy in times of need. With the mouth confession is made and with the heart belief in set in motion. Such intimacy with God's words gives  guidance,  refuge, strength, help, protection,  and most importantly life eternal. 

 

Following these great words in Deut., God said that He had set before them {the Israelites} life and good, death and evil. Obedience to His command would bring life and good, but disobedience to the commands would bring death and evil. What a choice! Apparently the flesh must be strong because even though belief and obedience would bring untold blessings, many choose false gods. Was it only Israel that would fall short of obedience? Sadly no, even now many know the right and good way, but choose the wrong and evil way. Thankfully, believers have the indwelling Son and Spirit to mold and shape the heart for obedience. God's words must be obeyed!

 

Father,

Thank You for saving me and giving me the good and true. Mold my heart to one of obedience. Keep it soft and responsive to You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Harmony

Rom. 15:5

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.

 

We have used this verse many times for our marriage since we both want to live in such harmony with one another that we may glorify God constantly.  Even though this is our desire, it doesn't always happen. The same concept goes for the body of Christ. Paul explains that the strong have an obligation to bear with the weak [and also with his neighbor] to build them up in the Lord. So what seems to be the problem in obeying these verses? It comes down to the flesh. The flesh (whether it is in a marriage or in the body of Christ) does not want to think of others first. It only thinks about self. So how do believers overcome this? It all comes down to Christ. Our relationships must be in accord with Christ Jesus. It is His indwelling power that gives believers the power to overcome fleshly impulses and desires. Our desire must be to glorify God with one voice. Unity must reign! Like Paul, we must work as hard as we can though it isn't us but the power of God working in us. What a mystery and what a joy!

 

Father,

Teach me to live in unity wherever You place me. Help me to be constantly reminded that Christ is in me. I confess many times I let the flesh have control of my life. Give me Your grace to be obedient to Your words.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

 

Judgment

Rom. 14:13

Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.

 

This chapter is addressing the area of a judgmental spirit arising from differences between believers.  For instance, if one believer eats everything and another is a vegetarian, should that difference make a problem with them? Is it grounds to judge someone else because they don't live exactly as you do? The overarching principle is that all believers should do all they do to honor and glorify God. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. Our lives should be governed by that one fact. We are the Lord's! Because of this we must never judge another believer, but instead decide not to be a stumblingblock or hindrance to another. Our lives must be lived for a higher purpose that goes far beyond the petty issues of this world. The judging comes in when believers take their eyes off Christ and put them on themselves. Then pride takes over ruling the life! So then  let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.  What a thought! Do not for the sake of food [or any other earthly thing], destroy the work of God. How sad when believers allow petty things to separate and divide the body of Christ! How sad when believers elevate themselves above others and from that lofty perch, judge others!

 

Father,

Help me see myself for who and what I am. Reveal any pride that seeks to destroy your work and injure Your work. Grow in me Your love.

In His name,

Amen

a Debt of Love

Rom. 13:8

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

 

 

I have a debt of love that I owe to my fellow man. To believers, most certainly because we are of the same body, and to unbelievers, because they need to see the love of God in my life. This chapter says that all the commandments can be summed up in one word--You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. Love is the one commodity that is so hard to give to others. By its very nature love demands that my flesh give way to others, that I meet the needs of others before mine. The natural response is for my flesh to rise up and demand its way first before others. So how can I obey this commandment? Only through the grace of God. When He saved me, He gave me new life. When He died, I died to my flesh. When He  rose up from the dead, then I rose up with Him in newness of life. The power source for this new life is not my flesh but my new, spirit- empowered life. He has told me that He lives within me in all His resurrection power. It is through Him that I can love others first and fulfill this debt of love.

 

Father,

Thank You for this great gift of love and for giving me a new nature. Give me grace and strength to love others before myself.

In His name.

Amen

 



Genuine Love

Rom. 12:9

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.

 

Genuine love binds everything together in harmony (Col. 3). For that reason believers are to put on love as our clothing,. It becomes what we are known by and what people see immediately. It characterizes us as people. No matter how great any achievement is, if love is lacking, nothing is gained. Strong words! Love is patient and kind; and 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.(I Cor. 13) As I read this passage, I wonder if I will ever be loving, or if I can put it on as the clothing of Christianity. Certainly if I had this kind of love, it would have to be genuine. It could not be faked. Love never ends...So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. Certainly, I can see Christ in this description of love. His love is never ending and unfailing, but by contrast human love is paltry, partial, insincere, and short-lived. Obviously, I can not have this kind of love in my own strength. It must be divinely planted in me through Christ. It comes as a gift when Jesus and the Holy Spirit indwell me. The more that I abide in Him, the more I will love as He would have me love. I must pursue love, go after it with all my being much like Paul who struggled with all His energy that He powerfully worked in him. He worked harder than any of them, though it wasn't him but the grace of God that was within him. There is the rub! How do I understand my struggling but with Him powerfully working in me. I think it speaks to desire and motivation. I must have my mind set on the things above not on the things of the earth. Certainly the greatest of these is love. It was God's love that sent Jesus to die for my sin and to reconcile me to the Father, to give me new life and a transformed nature, and to give me a place in His body making me a child and an heir. What love is this!

 

 

Father,

Thank You for such great love. Grow this love in me. Teach me what it means to struggle with all my might but through Your working in me.

In Jesus name,

Amen

A Living Sacrifice

Rom. 12:1-2

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

 

Paul's appeal is based on the mercies of God because I can offer nothing to God that would ever be acceptable apart from His mercy and grace. But since I am alive in Christ, I am just such a living sacrifice. But what does it mean to be a sacrifice? I always think of Ps. 51:16-17. For You would not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; You will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Old Testament sacrifices were dead and something offered in the place of another. I know that these sacrifices were replaced by Christ's sacrifice and that His sacrifice covered my sin redeeming me from the curse of the death. So I am alive in Him! I am a living sacrifice, but what does that really mean? What can I offer God? God does not desire my works, He desires my heart. I come to Him broken and He heals me, contrite  and He forgives me, and submissive and He leads, guides, loves, protects, saves, etc. because He is my Lord and Master. Christ is all and in all. He wants my obedient, submissive heart.  How hard is that?? Super hard, but thankfully He forgives and remembers that I am dust. Still as I grow I must present my body, my entire life to Him. I must consider my entire life my spiritual worship. Loving God is 100% of me.

 

Father,

Giving You 100 % of me is the desire of my heart, but I fall short so many times. I confess my flesh is so weak. But thank You for Your great grace and mercy. Keep growing me into what You would have me be.

In His name,

Amen



 



Lessons

Deut. 8:17-18

Beware lest you say in your heart, My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth. You shall remember the Lord your God,  for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may confirm His covenant that He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

 

Does God have a reason for all He does? Most certainly, and I think the 'why' of any situation is an often asked question. Most people want to know why God has done what He has done in their lives. It is as if knowing why validates what has happened. In Deut 8, Moses does give some reasons why.

 

To know what is in your heart 

In v. 2 it says, And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that He might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.  For Israel testing provided an excellent proving ground. God used this walk to see if they would follow and obey His commands. Sadly, they did not. The original group did not go into the promised land. They did not pass the test, but rebelled against all the words of the Lord, testing Him and loving idols.. However, their children were the ones who would listen to God and obey His commands. For us, if all is rosy and no pressure is applied, our character and resolve are weak or even sadly missing. In fact that is even true in a worldly setting. Adversity builds strength. In the life of a Christian trials come. Often they are hard and difficult to endure, and knowing why seems to be illusive. But here is an answer. In the times of long trials, even a wilderness walk, God is wanting to know what is in our hearts. Will we obey even in this? When push comes to shove will His words and our relationship to Him still be the most important thing in our lives?

 

To live by the Word

In v. 3 it says, And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. This long, extended trial was so they could see if they valued the word the Lord. For us today, when things get hard in food, shelter, possessions, prestige, etc., do we get discouraged, or do we realize the most important thing is the word of God. God humbled Israel, and He does so with us as well. Unless we are humbled we think all we have is our own doing, but when all is gone, we can clearly see that God's hand is behind all we do or think.

 

Discipline

 

In v. 4 it says, Your clothing did not wear out on you and your foot did not swell these forty years. Know than in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the Lord your God disciplines you.

 

To teach Israel the right way, he disciplined them, The same goes for us. He wants us to listen to His words and obey them. So you shall keep the commandments of the Lord you God by walking in His ways and by fearing Him. Amazingly, in all these years, it hasn't changed. We need to obey His word, walk in His way, and fear Him. When we do that, then we are taking care not to claim the credit for how God has blessed our lives. My life is not fueled by my power and the might of my hand. If there is wealth, He gave it. If there is an blessing, it is all because of Him.

 

Father,

Thank You for these reasons and these lessons. Help and strengthen me to walk in Your way, obeying all Your words. Show me how to live by Your words alone.

In Jesus name,

Amen





 





 



Earnestly Seeking

Ps. 63:1-8

A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.

 

 

O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.
Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.
So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.
My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.

What beautiful words! How powerful it was when David acknowledged that God was his God and that he sought Him to the degree that his flesh fainted for Him! His desire for God affected his very physical existence. He has experienced God's glory and power in the sanctuary as well as in his life when he fled from those who sought to destroy him. He knew that God's steadfast love would never disappear. It would always be there to meet his need. Because of all this, David blessed and praised the Lord with joyful lips, not just in the daytime but into the night watches. God was ever present in David's life because He had been his help, and he could rest securely in the shadow of God's wings. There he could sing joyously and cling to the God he loved.

What an example for me! I so want the intimacy that David had with God and to feel as he did. I want my physical existence to rely completely on Him. But I wonder if David's circumstances shaped his deep desire for God. If I were in the desert on the run for my life stripped of all earthly possessions and comforts, would my desire for God be different? Would I see spiritual truths more clearly? I don't know, but in David's case, he constantly sought refuge in the shadow of his God. So to for me, I do love and worship the same God. I know His shadow is welcoming to me and His right hand will uphold me. I must ask myself if I am clinging to Him? Am I seeking Him earnestly? Does my soul thirst as if I am in the desert?

Father,
Give me the faith and grace to draw close to You, to seek You as water for my soul. I confess trying to handle my life and its struggles by myself. Instead help me to seek refuge in the shadow of Your wings.
In His name,
Amen



Wait Silently

Ps. 62:11-12

Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this; that power belongs to God, and that to You, O Lord, belongs steadfast love. For you will render to a man according to his work.

 

David began this psalm in silence, waiting on God. Certainly it seems that that action doesn't require much, but when the world around a person is filled enemy attacks, it is a different story. I am sure that David was aware of the many strategies and plans that needed to be put in place, but at the same time, David was aware of what was really important in his life, that is his relationship with a Sovereign God.

 

For God alone my soul waits in silence; from Him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly moved. 

 

Often I feel like my life is spinning out of control with so much on my plate, yet sadly, I seem to forget what is really important in my life. I can definitely learn a lesson from David. I know I believe in the power of a sovereign God, and I know that everything in my life is a result of that. I also know that nothing takes God by surprise. Everything happens as He has planned, but somehow, I don't always rest in that fact. I find it so hard to silently wait on the Lord. Perhaps it comes down to intimacy with God. I am sure that David was intimate with God, but what about me? Am I as intimate with God as I am knowledgeable about Him? 

 

David remembered what was true about God. His character brought him hope and peace. He knew he would not be shaken, not because of his mighty men or his military skills, but because his God was his rock, salvation, fortress, and his mighty rock.

 

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress, I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge in God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.

 

This is essential! I need to pour out my heart before God instead of trying to solve the problem myself. If I would do that more often, then I would see more of the great power of God at work. Then I am removing myself from the struggle of it all and resting in His sovereign plan. Then He can actually be my refuge, a refuge not for when all my plans have failed, but a refuge from the get-go.

 

Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this; that power belongs to God, and that to You, O Lord, belongs steadfast love. For you will render to a man according to his work.

 

My heart can then know experientially that power belongs to Him. My trust has gone from the realm of head knowledge to heart knowledge, a knowledge that will transform my life. I can rest in a God who is all-powerful and full of steadfast love. He is my hope!

 

Father,

What a great lesson! Teach me to wait silently before You. Bring it to my mind before I jump into the fray.

In His name,

Amen

Promises

Rom. 8:18

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

 

What great promises! As I read this passage, I am overwhelmed with what I have in Christ. No doubt these great truths and promises impassioned Paul with his attitude. He could say unequivocally that any sufferings here (and he had plenty) were nothing. They were not worthy to be used to make a comparison. What I have to look forward to is amazing beyond belief! Paul truly lived with his eyes focused on the blessed hope, the return of Jesus, and a life in heaven praising God unendingly.

 

PromisesfFrom verses 18-39:

• And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as son, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. --One day my body will be changed and my adoption as a son will be complete. This is my hope!
• Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. --My inadequacy to communicate with God is no longer a hindrance. The Spirit intercedes for me according to the will of God. He is my help in weakness.
• And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. --How great is that! God has promised that all will be to my good if I love Him, and I do!
• For those whom he foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order to be the firstborn among many brothers. --I will be conformed to the image of the Son, the firstborn among many brothers. I am not trapped in this body of flesh but have a higher purpose.
• What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us who can be against us? --No one, absolutely no one can be against us.
• Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? --No one, absolutely no one, not tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, or sword.
• No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death not life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present not things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth,nor anything else in all creation , will be able to separate us form the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. --Wow!

Father,

Thank You for these great promises that encourage and uplift my soul. I know that You are always with me, but am I always with You? Open my eyes to see myself as You do.

In His name,

Amen

 



Sin overed

Rom. 8:3-4

For God has done what the law, weakened by flesh could not do. By sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

 

How glorious is that! God covered my sin through the sacrifice of His Son. He knew that mankind could do nothing about sin so He sent His son to fulfill the righteous requirement of the law. Therefore, Christ's sacrifice had a specific purposes: He saved us and reconciled us to the Father, and in addition to that, He satisfied the righteous requirement of the law something that was impossible for man to do. He did all this so that I might live for the spirit and not for the flesh, so that I might set my mind on the spirit not on the flesh. If I am set on the flesh,, I am dead because of sin. How black and white is that!  Where is my mind set?

 

In addition to having my mind set on the Spirit is the fact that the Spirit dwells within me, the same spirit who raised Jesus from the dead. What power is within me! I have resurrection power within me by the Spirit of God and I have the Resurrected One living in me. When God save, it totally transforms the life from the inside out. So why do I live so carelessly? Why am I not victorious constantly? Could it be my mind set? Where am I looking? What am I valuing?

 

Father,

Thank You for the gift of salvation, for covering the righteous requirement of the law. Not only did You save me, but You put within me a Divine power source. Teach me to set my mind on Your Spirit and on Your Son. 

In His name,

Amen

Wretched Man!

Rom. 7:24

Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

 

Paul has fully developed the problem that all born again humanity has--that is when I want to do right evil lies close at hand.  For I delight in the law of God in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind, and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Here is the constant struggle!! If Paul had this struggle, I can only imagine the intensity of my struggle. What can be done? How am I to live for Christ in light of this?

 

First, I would think that I must live with an intensely acute awareness of sin. As soon as sin grips me, I must confess and repent. Often though, sin has hold of me and I just go on. My mind develops elaborate scenarios to convince me that I am justified in this sin. Or on the other hand, I am not even aware of my sin and just go on living often excusing any ill behavior as a habit or a personality quirk. This is not the life for me! I must confess and repent! I must keep my communication with God vital at all times.

 

Secondly, I would need to truly reckon myself dead to sin and alive to God. Reckoning means to consider or to believe that it is true, believe it so much that my life it radically changed. It would be similar to a nut allergy, an allergy so strong that it causes anaphylaxis. There is no way in the world that a person with this allergy would eats nuts. Certainly, they wouldn't even cheat at all. Sin should be my nut allergy. It should be something that I constantly stay clear of because of its devastating effects on my spiritual life.

 

If this is true, why did Paul write this? Perhaps so that when my flesh takes the upper hand, I don't beat myself up. I don't live in the dumps of depression. I don't consider myself a failure and unsatisfactory to God. This is where grace comes in cutting out performance. Praise God for grace, the remedy for my sin,

 

Father,

Thank You for the gift of Your son, His sacrifice, redemption, forgiveness, and grace. Thank You for changing my life.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Til the Storms Pass By

Ps 57:1-2

Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in You my soul takes refuge, til the storms pass by. I cry out to God Most High who fulfills His purpose for me.

 

How applicable are David's words! Many times the storms that come into my life are overwhelming. It as if the waves of adversity attack me unrelentingly leaving me no chance to think or even to breathe. The same was true for David as it is for all people today. Life is full of unpredictable events, difficult situations, and unexpected circumstances that constantly tear at the foundations of faith. Even though David was in hiding from his enemy, he was not defeated. He was crying out to God.

 

He began by asking God for mercy, a request that acknowledged a sovereign God who has planned every detail of life, and will fulfill His purpose for David. He knew his only recourse was to cry out for mercy to the God who was gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. In the shadow of His wings he would take refuge until the storm passes by. He did not asked for the storm to be removed, but that he could take refuge. So beautiful!  What a great promise!

 

Even when he was fearing for his life, he offered God the sacrifice of praise. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let Your glory be over all the earth. David repeatedly expresses his fear and  need, yet he praises God. I find that it is so easy to lose sight of God in the storm, to take my eyes off Him and let them fixate on the storm of the moment. But when my heart is full of praise, yes praise even for this situation, I can be faithful. My heart is steadfast , O God, my heart is steadfast!

 

This steadfast heart will bring joy and gladness into my soul. my tears and moaning will be replaced with song. I will sing and make melody! Awake, my glory! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn! I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to You among the nations. For Your steadfast love is great to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the clouds. What glorious words! David purposed in his heart to praise and sing, to cry out to God. He refused to let the storm consume him. After the dark night of fear and anguish, David was ready to awaken the dawn with praise.

 

He concludes this great psalm with Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let Your glory be over all the earth! God's glory will be over all the earth! What He has purposed will come to pass! His mercy and love are steadfast and abundant! His wings are open and inviting! I will run to Him til the storm passes over.

 

Father,

Thank You for being my refuge in the storm. Help me to remember what is true about You and live in that reality.

In Jesus name,

Amen



Cast Your Burden

Ps. 55:22

Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you.

 

Like David, I am often in a stew about something. However, in David's case it was the enemy after him, and in my case, it seems to be that I am my own worst enemy. David begins by expressing his complaint:

• He was restless and moaned because he could hear the enemy.
• His heart was in anguish and terror of death consumed him.
• Fear, trembling, and horror overwhelmed him.

But as I trace David's journey to deal with his issues, I see first he desired to escape. Oh that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. How many times have I wished that! How hard it is to face the problems that eat at the soul and wreak havoc with the emotions. Secondly David asked God to destroy and divide the tongues of his enemies. Interesting...He wanted them in a state of confusion, to reduce their effectiveness. Finally, he was able to see the true crux of the problem. It was not an enemy who taunted him but a dear and close friend. But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. We used to take sweet counsel together; within God's house we walked in the evening. The pain of a lost friend or betrayal by one close to you is so intense! What can dull that pain? Worse yet, the betrayal was in the house of God, a place where unity and love are to reign.

 

Then David realized what he needed to do: to pour out his soul to God. Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and He hears my voice. Yes, He hears even when the cries bring bitterness, grief, sadness, and heartbreak. God did keep David's soul safe, and finally, he stated his conclusion to the matter. Cast your burdens on the Lord, and He will sustain you. He knew this to be true in his head, but yet it took him so long to live in the reality of it. What a lesson for me! When it comes to the first hint of problems or heartbreak, I need to cast my burden on the Lord. How simple yet how hard! Sadly, I often think I can handle things on my own, or if I don't think it, I live in the reality of it. Perhaps I am hesitant because if I cast them on the Lord then I will have to leave them with the Lord. How morose that I would, like many other people, get some kind of kick out of nurturing a hurt. Sometimes even telling my friends or family so others can feel sorry for me and come to my aid. But whose aid do I need? Just His! My lesson is to pour it out and leave it there.

 

Father,

Thank You for touching my heart and for being patient with me as I learn these lessons. Your grace is always more than enough for every need and hurt that I have.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Grace Reigns

Rom. 5:21

So that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

Death came into the world through one man, Adam, who disobeyed an explicit command of God. Even though all humans who have followed him have not necessarily sinned as Adam did, but all men still die. Death reigns in sin and sin reigns in death. Even though Adam was a covenantal head of the human race and set a course for all humans to follow, a course of sin and death, he was not the end all and the be all. Thankfully, the free gift is not like original sin. Just as many died through Adam's sin so likewise many live through grace and Jesus. In Adam's case, his sin resulted in judgment for all, but in Jesus' case, His gift brings justification. For as by one mans' disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience that many will be made righteous. Grace abounds all the more as sin increases. As sin reigned in death, so grace reigns through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. What glorious truths! I no longer have to be bound by sin, death, and condemnation. God has freed me through Jesus Christ, the covenantal head for all who believe. Through Him and the cross, believers have eternal life, justification, and righteousness.

 

Father,

As I read this, my heart is full of praise. What a glorious gift and blessing! I know I can never repay You nor do You want me too, but I can give You my heart of praise and surrender, and even that must be a gift of Your grace. Lord, I want to surrender to You and to love You as I should. Grow me.

In Jesus name,

Amen



Peace with God

Rom. 5:1

Therefore since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Through Him we have peace...

What a glorious gift! Justification hinges on faith which is a gift from God, and it results in peace with God which is also a gift. So what do we do to earn these gifts? Nothing, if we earned them, they would not be gifts at all. Most importantly, all of this is through Jesus Christ, His sacrifice, His love, and His faithfulness. 

 

Through Him we have access...

 Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of glory.  The grace that floods our life and that allows us to stand is a gift as well, a gift from Jesus Christ. He has opened the gates and granted us access. How glorious is that! He Himself is our hope, a hope for the life we live in glory. Jesus in me, the hope of glory! More than just hoping, grace allows us to rejoice in our sufferings. How is this possible? It is because we know that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. More gifts! We have been given the gift of hope, love, and the Holy Spirit, gifts which enable us to live fully pleasing to Him.

 

Father,

My heart is so blessed this morning as I think on the great gifts You have given me. Thank You for Jesus and the Holy Spirit who reside within me imparting grace, peace, and access to all that I need. As I go through life, teach me how to keep my eyes on the hope while I am living in God-given power so that my suffering will produce what You desire it to produce. Teach me to live fully pleasing to You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Abraham

Rom. 4:20-22

No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. This is why his faith was counted to him as righteousness.

 

The promise made to Abraham was not made through the law because it was not predicated on man's doing or achieving. It came through the righteousness of faith. Since this promise rests on faith, it also rests on grace. Both of which are gifts from God, gifts which are not earned in any way shape or form. God gave him the promise of being the father of many nations, and even though this  reality seemed unlikely, Abraham believed against hope.

 

He did experience some obstacles to his faith in the form of old age and barrenness. How was he to be the father of many nations when he had no child? Certainly what is impossible with man is possible with God. But Sarah tried to make the promise come true by using Hagar. Not only would God not bless this relationship, but Sarah created a long-lasting enemy for the Israelite people. How sad!  

 

Abraham did not distrust or waver in belief concerning the promise of God. Instead he grew strong in his faith because he was convinced God would do what he said! It is this unwavering belief in the words of God that was counted to him as righteousness. What an example for me! Just wait, trust, and believe in what God says. I know that God doesn't need my help in making his words come true, yet why do I often run ahead? Often I am concerned about increasing my faith. I see that it is not something that I do, but something that is grown in me by my relationship to the Words of God. Less of me and so much more of Him!

 

Father,

 What a great example of faith! Grow in me Your faith and grace. Teach me through Your words to trust and believe in You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Broken and Contrite Heart

Ps. 51:1-

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your steadfast love, according to Your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from within.

 

 

David was a man who experienced heart-wrenching sin. His wrong choices not only affected his own heart but involved the lives of so many others through his murder, deceit, lust, and adultery. So you would think that once he had confessed, he would be A-OK. But no, David's sin was a pattern that would be emulated by his sons in their adult years. Consequently his cries to God were from a life that knew incredible shame and despair.

 

But even in the face of this all, he remembered what was true about God, His steadfastness and His mercy. He remembered that God could wash and cleanse, and he cried out all God had for him.  Understanding that what he had done was a sin against God increased his desire to confess, repent, and be made right. He knew and recognized the disciplining hand of God. Instead of rebelling or chafing against the rebuke, he asked for rejoicing. Let me hear joy and gladness, let the bones that you have broken rejoice. 

 

After the confessing and the cleansing, David asked to have a clean heart and a right spirit. He wanted that closeness with God that he had had before. His heart was ready to praise God with the sacrifices of God, a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart.

 

David could not be right with God by a burnt offering or by going through any motions. He had to examine his heart. The same is true for me. When I have sinned and have upset my communion with God, I can not just begin my normal routine again. If I do my life will be a sham! I must confess and repent acknowledging both before God. I must accept His discipline and actually rejoice in it (the broken bones of v. 8). When I give Him my broken and contrite heart, then I can be right with Him.

 

Sounds easy, but so hard to do! I know that I often just go on with my life and tell myself not to do that again, or even worse yet I forget all about what has gone before. How foolish! Where is this cavalier attitude coming from? Do I think that grace will cover my carelessness about sin? I think all this speaks about my heart. Is my heart grieved when I sin? Is my fellowship with God so sporadic that I don't notice sin blocking His light and love?

 

Father,

I confess my carelessness in confessing. I would never say that I don't care or value my relationship with You, but yet sometimes it looks that way. Send Your Spirit to convict and lead me in the paths that I should go. Teach me to rejoice in the bones You have broken in my life. I love You and praise Your name.

In Jesus name,

Amen



Sacrifice of Thanksgiving

Ps. 50:14-15

Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High and call upon me in the day of trouble, I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.

 

Ps. 50 begins with the Mighty One speaking and summoning the earth. He shines out of Zion with His perfection of beauty. He comes preceded by a devouring fire and encompassed with a mighty tempest. He calls His faithful ones, who made covenant with Him by sacrifice. The heavens declare His righteousness, for God Himself is the judge!

 

 God speaks to Israel identifying Himself as their God. It is not for their sacrifices that he rebukes them for every beast of the field, bird of the sky, and all that moves in the field is His. He has no need for anything because all is His. What He desires in a sacrifice is Thanksgiving. With this offering, they may perform their vows and He will deliver them from trouble and they will glorify Him. Sounds simple! Just a sacrifice of thanksgiving! But no, this is difficult because it is nothing that they can do to make themselves worthy in His eyes. He only want thanks for all He has done.

 

God makes it clear that the wicked have no place in the offerings or the statutes of the Lord. They hate the discipline of the Lord and cast His words behind them. How scary! These people are pleased with theft and adultery. They give their mouth free rein speaking deceit and slander. Now God rebukes them.

 

Finally, God says, Mark you then, you who forget God, lest I tear you apart and there be none to deliver! The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifices glorifies me; the one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God! What a strong message with a simple solution! Offer to God the sacrifice of Thanksgiving. Come to grips with the fact that you can do nothing to earn favor with God, but instead offer the sacrifice of Thanksgiving, which is Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Sure we say we are thankful, but does this spirit characterize our lives? Are we following His words to order our lives? Are we living in the power of the resurrected One?

 

Father,

Thank you for sending Jesus to save me and redeem me. He is my sacrifice of Thanksgiving. He is my life. Apart from Him, I am nothing. But in Him, I am Your child. Teach me how to order my life rightly according to Your words.

In His name,

Amen

 

Christ in All

Col. 3:11

Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all and in all.

 

When Christ is in a person, he is a child of God. No other descriptor is important! Through grace, the indwelling Christ changes all demographics. How wonderful! Even though Christ does this, many believers still function with a great deal of partiality. They have forgotten that there is no partiality with God because Christ levels the playing field. Correspondingly, when believers are told to put to death what is earthly in them, they need to include partiality. Those who belong to Christ have put on the new self, a self that is renewed in knowledge after the image of the Creator.

 

Father,

Thank You for choosing me and making me Your child. Teach me how to see clearly all that You desire me to be and at the same time see others as they truly are. 

In Jesus name,

Amen

More on Submission

Col. 3:18

18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

 

More on submission...It appears that submission is a huge part of the Christian walk and is directly opposed to the current way of thinking and living. Not only are wives to submit to their husbands, but in Eph. 5:21 it says, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.  The one another in this verse refers to fellow believers. It is an attitude of honoring one another constantly. No wonder Paul said outdo one another in honor. 

 

Then in Eph. 5:24 it says, Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. The church, the local body of believers must submit to Christ. Somehow this submission is understandable and normally unquestioned since Jesus is God in human form.  Yet Paul is developing a parallel here. As Christ is to God so the church is to Christ so the church members are to God, Jesus, and one another. 

 

Just when I think submission would be fully developed Heb. 13 takes it a step farther.   Heb. 13:17 says, Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. Specifically who are these leaders? Are they leaders in the church or in the work place, or in the government? Earlier in this same chapter verse 7 says, Remember your leaders,those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way, and imitate their faith. Here we are talking about those in leadership in the church, those people who teach us. Not only are we to submit to them but we are to imitate them.

 

Finally, Jas. 4:7 says, Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Haven't we already established submission to God? Yes, but James not only gives the key to submission but he gives a valid reason for this all encompassing act of submission. The reason is that believers are protected against Satan and his temptations. It is as if submission is a shield around me protecting  me on many levels of my life, the home, other believers, the church, and leaders in the church. And most importantly submission to God ties them all together. It unites the entire gift of submission since submitting to God puts all things right in my life.

 

Father,

Give me an attitude of submission. I know that my submission to my husband, fellow believers, or church leaders will never be a reality unless I am submitted to You. Teach me the submissive heart.

In Jesus name,

Amen