His Oath and His Character

Heb. 6:18

So that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.

 

What an encouragement! To make the writer's point clear, he gives the example of Abraham who received a promise from God. He waited 25 years for the birth of his son Isaac, and during that time, he did not give up hope. His patience allowed him to obtain the promise. Sadly, for many people, patiently waiting seems impossible, and they give up. But for the few they know that with God nothing is impossible, and that when God gives a promise, it will come to pass  no matter how hard or impossible. God can and will keep His promise. 

 

The writer goes on to say that when people swear an oath, they swear by something greater than themselves. In a court of law, they swear on the Bible even though many of the people who do this do not believe in God at all. Interesting... But God can't swear on something greater because He is the epitome of greatness. Yet, God wanted to show His children that His promises were true so He guaranteed it with an oath so that by two unchangeable things, His oath and His character, man might trust implicitly in His promises. God can not lie. What He says will come to pass! Who He is, the sure and steadfast anchor of my soul, gives me hope. I can trust that Jesus will come back. He will take me with Him to heaven. I can trust Him and claim all the promises in His Word. What a joy!

 

Father,

Even when life gets hard and difficult to understand, give me strength to believe in Your promises unwaveringly. Grant me the faith that I need.

In His name,

Amen

Unskilled and Ineffective

Heb. 5:13-14

for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment rained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

 

 

The writer was explaining to the Hebrew Christians that some events and concepts were hard to understand. In this case it was the priesthood of Christ. Christ did not seek this position to exalt Himself but instead was appointed by God. Although Christ was a Son, He still had to learn obedience through suffering. Because of His suffering and perfection in suffering, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him. These believers need no longer go through a human priest who was flawed as they were. But now Christ was all that they needed.

 

Apparently, the people were having a hard time understanding these concepts. They were dull of hearing. Why? What had caused this condition? They were still only drinking in the milk of the word. The time was ripe for them to step up and be teachers or leaders, but instead they needed the basics of the Word taught to them again. Sad! They had willingly put themselves in a stunted growth pattern. The writer is exhorting them to eat the solid food of the word. Grow up into Christ! Don't be babies any longer. Those who eat the solid food are discerning because they have had constant practice distinguishing good from evil. They are on the battle field fighting for the right and sharing the gospel. What a warning to us today! What do we like to eat? Do we need entertainment and pleasing music coupled with a short, non-offensive message? Quite a thought! What a choice! The easy non-confrontational milky path or the hard confrontational meaty path...Any believer who is really in love with Jesus would obviously choose the  way that He walked. They would follow Him in their sacrifice and in their difficulties. But at the same time, watch out for the mind games. I wonder if the Hebrew believers were even aware of their condition. Be alert! Watch out! Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to destroy. Who is the easier prey, the milky or the meaty believer?

 

Father,

Keep me ever in Your word. Sharpen my discernment so that I may fight off temptation. Give me the grace and the strength to stand for you.

In His name,

Amen



The Throne of Grace

Heb. 4:16

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

 

How wonderful! But why? What or who has given us this great gift?

 

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

 

The answer is Jesus, the Son of God. He is our high priest, one unlike any human priest. He was tempted in all areas as we are, but without sin. Tempted in all areas is a hard concept to understand. I will have to take it by faith now and wait for heaven where I will know fully even as I have been fully known. But I am so thankful for Him because without His sinless sacrifice, I would be eternally lost as would be all mankind. Not only did His sacrifice provide salvation, but it provided me an entrance to the throne of grace. I can come confidently to Him with anything because He was tempted in all ways as I am. He understands my plight, my weaknesses, and my flesh! He can guide my life in the way that it should go. He can give me what I need: grace and mercy. He is more than willing to give me what I need, but how many times do I try and handle temptation on my own? How many times do I fail and then just go on completely splattered with the muck of the world? How foolish on my part!  His grace and mercy is the only thing that can keep me afloat and free of the weights of the world.

 

Father,

Thank You for sending Your Son to be the sinless sacrifice. Thank You for Your grace and mercy and for my entrance to Your throne. Lord, convict me mightily when I stray off by myself unprotected and unprepared. Keep me close to You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Naked and Exposed

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.

 

So very important! If I am not in the word like I should be, I am not exposed before God. I need to see and live as God desires of me, and the only way to do that is through the word! Without the word, I think I am basically a good, moral person, someone who helps others and is kind. But as soon as I get in the word, I see my motives exposed and my mask lifted. Sometimes I am a different person in the home than in public, but thankfully those times are growing less and less. But the truth in all of my life is the Word. It is living and active as am I. It is my guide and my power for living. It is not a musty old book that is static and outdated, instead it is dynamic and current, meeting my everyday needs. I need to be exposed before God because only then can I deal with sin and my sinful nature. He is the ultimate judge and jury so why not get a heads up now. It is by the word that I can enter His rest and not fall short by some sort of disobedience. Humans as a whole play so many mind games. They can convince themselves of so many things about themselves. How do I know? Because I have done it. That is why the word is so crucial. It is the exposer, the revealer, the truth and the way to grow.

 

Father,

Thank You for the living word and its power to reveal the truth in my life. Continue to grow me so that I may know Your peace and rest.

In Jesus name,

Amen



Watch Yourselves

Lk. 21:34

But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap.

 

 

Jesus told the people to be aware of events. Look at the signs in nature, not only in nature, but in nations and in politics. And when the powers of heaven have shaken, the Son of Man will be seen coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things happen, straighten up, raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.

 

Again Jesus gives another warning. But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. Man is constantly drawn to and mesmerized by the world. Many times people are not even aware of being weighted down since their spirituality is comparative. What they see other so-called Christians do sets the standard for them. And sadly, all of it is a far cry from what the Bible says. These things [dissipation, drunkenness, and cares] are like a trap. Once someone goes in the cage to check them out, the door slams shut. They are trapped in an endless cycle of what the world offers. But again Jesus says, stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man. Staying awake doesn't mean going without sleep, but it means stay awake to pray for strength. It is only in prayer and God-given strength that survival is a reality.

 

Father,

Whatever my future whether I live through these events or not, Give me Your strength to pray for strength so that I might be a faithful servant. I am nothing without Your grace.

Through Jesus,

Amen



It Was Fitting

Heb. 2:9-10

But we see Him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. For it was flitting that He, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.

 

 

What verses! Jesus descended, not just lower than God, not just lower than angels, but so low that He took on human form. Jesus was crowned with glory and honor because of His suffering to death. Is His suffering somehow equal to glory and honor? What He endured was through the grace of God. Jesus endured to death through the grace of God as do I. I suffer through this life until death takes me home and all of it is through the grace of God. He led the way. He was my example and gave me His footsteps to follow. And all this was fitting! It was fitting that He, the Creator of all, would bring salvation to the sons of men, the sons of men that would be transformed to sons of glory by the grace that only God gives. He, the founder of salvation, is perfected through suffering. What a concept! Suffering and grace are vital to this entire scenario.

 

Therefore He had to be made like His brothers in every respect, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because He Himself has suffered when tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.

 

Suffering once again! He understands my temptations because of His suffering. Suffering and grace must be part of my life as it was His. This is fitting... 

 

Father,

I want to follow in Jesus' steps. I know they must be full of the grace of God and suffering. It is hard to ask for that, but draw me close to You and give me what is Your best for me.

In Jesus name,

Amen

The Spirit of Esther

Esther 4:14

And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a times as this?

 

What an example of God-given strength! Even though Esther was in the king's palace and was the favored wife, she couldn't come in the presence of the king unless summoned. Her uncle Mordecai met her to explain a terrible life-threatening situation in all the land. 

 

Haman who hated Mordecai, and all Jews for that matter, had the king sign an edict that would bring about the death of the Jews including Esther. Mordecai spoke to Esther urging her to do something quickly because time was short. Her uncle told her that perhaps she had come to this place of prominence for such a time as this. She must sacrifice her personal safety for the safety of her people. Esther told him to get all the people in Susa to fast for 3 days on behalf of Esther. And of course, she would be fasting too. At the end of the time she would go into the king, and if she perished, she perished.

 

Certainly in a time like this, Esther was all in. Her commitment was strong and unwavering. I wonder how many of us in America, if put in this same situation, would have her attitude and spirit. Who knows but everyone is in his/her own specific place and situation for such a time as this. God has a purpose in every life so that every day is such a time as this. When He calls, He wants us to step out in faith and have her attitude, if I perish, I perish. He wants us to be all in for Him. Of course, Esther saved the Jews and Haman and his family got what they deserved. But is it always going to work out like this? No, but still God has a purpose that we might not know until we see Him face to face.

 

Father,

Strengthen me so that I might be all in, that I will have the spirit of Esther.

In His name,

Amen

Friendships Ruined

Prov. 17:9

Whoever covers and offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.

 

On many occasions I have been given the chance to cover an offense or to repeat the matter to another, to stir up the pot between friends. In that moment I had to choose between love and strife. The choice should have been simple since love is of God and is that quality that never ends, whereas strife and discord are earthly qualities that only cause pain. Still knowing all about love [I Cor. 13], there is something in my flesh that wants to pull me to the wrong choice, to choose discord, to spread the hurt. How strong is the flesh! How much I need His grace and strength for every day! 

 

Verse 14 goes on to say, The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out. Once the dam has been breached, there is no holding the water back. The damage done by gossip is similar. A careless word or comment seems to grow larger with each repeating until finally the flow is unstoppable. The damage is done! A friendship is ruined! Verse 17 says A friend loves at all times.. At all times, and that includes those times when I hear something damaging and I choose not to repeat it.  I choose to let God work in the hearts of all involved. There is the answer! When I hear a word and am tempted to repeat it, I need to pray! I need to give the situation to God and let Him work.

 

Father,

Give me Your wisdom to make the right decision. When I am tempted, draw me to Yourself. Help me to love as You loved me.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

 

Trust in the Lord

Prov. 16:3-4

Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.

 

Who better than the One who gave my work its purpose? Often I struggle about what to do, when to do it, and how to do it. Many times I forget to take this simple step of committing my work to the Lord. After all, whatever I am able to do is because He has enabled me. He created me with my specific set of gifts, talents, abilities, and circumstances. He knows what purpose they were and are to fulfill. It is encouraging to me that He has given the wicked purpose for the day of trouble since it is often the wicked who upset plans. Believer or unbeliever, it makes no difference, all live and act according to His purpose.

 

Prov. 16:9

The heart of a man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.

 

So very true! How many plans the heart makes! Many times it only leads to frustration when they don't work out. What peace it gives me to know that the Lord establishes my steps regardless of my plans. So it would be smart if I consulted Him first since He has the final word anyway.

 



Prov. 16:20,24

Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord. Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.

 

Think before I speak! Pray before I think! Trust in the Lord always! What a simple plan but how difficult to make it come to pass. If this is in place, my words will be gracious and sweet not only for those I speak to but for my own soul as well.

 

 

The conclusion: Trust in the Lord. Commit my life, my work, my way, and words, my thoughts and my feelings to Him. His purpose is best for me. I need not fret over each step because they are all ordered by Him. He controls my life down to the very words that I speak, words that can give sweetness and health to my body.

 

Father,

Guide me in Your way so that I don't seek my own work and plan. Teach me to trust You wholeheartedly. Let me glorify You in my every word and thought.

In His name,

Amen



The Grace of God Has Appeared

Titus 2:11-14

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

 

These verses answer so many crucial questions:

• Why has the grace of God appeared? The answer is twofold. One, to bring us salvation, and two, to train us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions. Simple answer! Yes, all of us are thrilled to receive salvation, but how many of us hang on the grace of God to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions? Certainly, ungodliness has a negative sound. No believer would say that he wouldn't renounce ungodliness, yet how do we live? Is there ungodliness resident within our lives? Worldly passions...what are those? I know that many of us are passionate about worldly activities; so much so, that these activities run our lives.  Is this what God wants for His children? Is this what His grace was intended to do? Or in some way are we limiting what God can and wants to do?

 

• How does the grace-filled believer live?  We are to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age. Self-control...Ouch! That is a difficult area. God's grace is here to give us self-control. For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Amazing! Self-control is a gift, a gift of grace. So why do we live like we have never opened the package or even untied the ribbon? Upright speaks to me of an obedient life in sync with the Word. Anyone who has ever tried to keep any of the precepts in the Bible knows how difficult this is; in fact, nearly impossible to sustain for very long at all. The reason is it is not to be accomplished in our own strength but through the grace of God. And finally, grace is there to allow us to live godly lives, lives that reflect the One who saved us and gave His life for us, lives that bring glory and honor to the Father, and lives that listen to and follow the leading of the Spirit. What amazing grace is this!

 

• What is the believer's future? We are in a waiting pattern. ...waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, He is our hope and our focus. Our eyes must ever be on Him as we wait. Waiting does not mean slogging around in the world; on the contrary; it means waiting with self-control in uprightness while possessing godliness. It means being ready for the day that He will claim us. How glorious!

 

• Why did Jesus die for us?  Simply, to redeem us from who we were and to purify us by His blood and through His grace to be His people, His possession, a people who are zealous for good works ...who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. What are these good works? First and foremost they are not accomplished in our own strength but through His grace, and secondly, they must be focused on Jesus Christ. Through these good works He must shine through bringing light to those who need it. I notice also that believers are to be zealous for these works. Zealous, not haphazard or laid back! We are to be on fire for Jesus and His spirit should control us in such a way as to increase our desire to serve and minister.

Father,

How convicting are these verses! As I examine my heart, I confess a lack of zeal and of self-control. Reveal to me the areas that need to be cleansed and swept from my heart. Help me to wait for Jesus in a godly and upright manner.

In His name,

Amen



Deceivers

Titus 1:16

They profess to know God, but they deny Him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

 

Paul spoke sharply about the insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. Wow! Let's call a spade a spade! Why would he come out so strongly against these people? They were teaching falsely and upsetting entire families.  What was their motivation? Money, shameful gain! He also described them as detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work with their minds and their consciences defiled. What does Paul want Titus to do about this serious problem?  Rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth. They profess to know God, but they deny Him with their works. There is hope if they will repent and turn away from what they are teaching and doing. What a task for Titus! How hard confrontation is, but when it comes to the spiritual growth of the body, it must be done!

 

In this passage, Paul has given us a clear guideline for recognizing false teachers.

• Does their walk coincide with their words? [Perhaps most believers should examine their lives as they think about this question. Do they live what they say, especially in their homes or at their work.]
• Are they rebellious in nature, insubordinate, and disobedient? [Once again, where is my heart? Do I ever cross the line into willing disobedience?]
• They are detestable with the mind and consciences defiled. They have no care about the spiritual damage they do. [Most believers would never be like this. But aren't there times when disagreements cause stress and spiritual damage is done. People leave and relationships are damaged.]
• They are unfit for any good work. It matters not what you give them, it won't turn out right. [Hopefully, this is not the problem of a true believer. Yet I have seen many take on a task and totally ignore it or leave it unfinished. The same goes for volunteering for a service and not showing up.]
• The motive of these people is shameful gain. They are after the bucks! [I would so hope and believe that the true believer's motive is  vastly different. He does all he does to honor and glorify God.

Father,

As I examine my heart this morning, I confess I have felt some of these feelings. Thankfully, I haven't acted on them, but since You know my mind, it really doesn't matter. Give me Your strength and wisdom to recognize false teachers and to keep myself clean and unspotted with the filth of this world. Lord, I want my actions and my words to be the same. May they always honor You.

In the Name of my Savior,

Amen

 

 

 



Guard the Mouth

Prov. 13:3

Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

 

Anyone who has ever had foot-in-mouth disease or has said a word in haste without thinking can buy into this proverb. Not only will guarding the tongue preserve your life, it will also make life so much easier to live. Why is the tongue such a problem?

James says the tongue is a small member yet boasts of many things. He goes on to say that the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness that is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. Man may tame many things but not the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. What to do?? Such a problem...James says simply, My brothers these things ought not to be.

We so agree with James! We are appalled at what we say, but how to change it? We know that it can't be tamed, but it can be transformed by the amazing grace of God! Initially, we need to pray like David did asking God to Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! and then continue by saying, Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. We do not have to remain helpless, but we do need to acknowledge our helplessness and cry out for God to be our sufficiency. We need the divine scrubber to do the job on our tongue, mouth, and lips. When words come bubbling out, we need to pray in that moment, confessing and asking for more grace. Don't wait until evening to confess. If we do, just think of how many times the tongue will blurt out with ungodly words, words that are unkind or impatient, words that are not bringing honor to God. This is a very real problem, one that needs divine power! We need to give up trying to defeat the tongue in our own strength and access the strength that only He supplies. We need to come into the daily battle loaded with God's words as our weapons so that in His power we can be victorious!

Father,
I confess so many times my mouth says things it shouldn't. Often I just think it's normal or justifiable so I forget all about what I have said. Lord, touch me at the express moment so that I might confess. Make me aware of the hurtful power of words. Energize my words to praise You and to love other through Your strength.
In Jesus name and power,
Amen

Breathed by God

2 Tim. 3:16-17

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

 

How glorious is that! The very words that I have access to at any moment of the day are breathed by God! The are the link from my humanity to His divinity. I must confess many times I read the Word without ever considering this fact. I simply treat it as a book with supernatural power that can transform my life, but I need to go a step further and live in the reality of the breath of God. Somehow this fact gives it a whole new depth.

 

God breathed out words that were profitable for daily living. He wants me to live by them and to share them with others. They are food for teaching hungry souls,  reproof  for straying souls,  correction for willful souls, and training in righteousness for eager souls. His breath has given me all that I need, all that anyone needs.

 

Why has God breathed these specific words? He wants His children [including me] to be competent and equipped for every good work. Competent means having the capacity to function or develop in a particular way. To me it speaks of preparation. I have counted the cost and am willing to follow in the steps of Jesus. I am not running ahead of Him thinking that I can do this for God. Is there anything that I can do for God? Nothing apart from His grace! Grace is my reality!!  Once I am trained by the Word, then I can go forward equipped for every good work. Then I can function, serve, and minister in and through His grace. The key to competence and equipping is in the Word not in my personal talents or experience. God desires my complete surrender so that His grace becomes my very breath. 

 

Father,

Thank You for renewing my heart and mind in Your breath! What a great God You are to share  Your breath with me! Teach me more each day how to be competent and equipped for good works  through Your grace. I will run in the way of Your commandments when You enlarge my heart. Enlarge me today. Fill me with Your grace!

In His name,Amen

Integrity

Prov. 11:3

The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.

 

What is integrity? What comprises it? A speedy reply would be, doing what you say you are going to do, but then that could describe an evil person as well. What about a person who is truthful, saying and doing what is morally right? I think I am getting closer to the truth. The dictionary says, "firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values." Without specifying what moral code or artistic values we are considering, this definition is too open ended. Obviously, this word is hard to define.

 

For a believer, the moral code would be the Bible. It should rule and govern all his life regardless of societal or cultural ethics. Many times adhering to the Word would be a detriment to success in this world. Hopefully, a believer would stand out in any crowd in this world because his entire world view should be vastly different. Chapter 11 has some good examples of this:

 

v. 2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom. Pride is a huge component of success in this world. Children are taught from an early age to take pride in their accomplishments never once acknowledging God. Humility is considered being a door mat and not a trait to be desired. But a believer with integrity would be humble!

v. 3The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them. The world is full of crooked, treacherous people. Many people at the very top of their chosen profession are exposed as highly evil and conniving, taking advantage of people, and living for wealth. Money has become their idol and getting it any crooked, treacherous way is no problem for them. Integrity would be the guide of the believer! The principles of the Word would provide the foundation for this guide.

 

v. 13 Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered. Slander is a business in our culture! Newspapers and magazines thrive on slander as do the people who buy them and read them. With so many things to hide, people want to make themselves appear better so they slander others. Often people say they will keep a secret, but when it works to their advantage to spill the beans, they do. But a believer of integrity keeps a secret. He goes to the Father in prayer instead of broadcasting it to others.

v. 18 The wicked earns deceptive wages, but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward. The wicked, a man without integrity, will earn wages and possibly get rich for a time, but because deception is always a huge part of his life, he can never be sure when his money will flee. But the believer whose life is full of integrity will sow righteousness, and righteousness brings a sure reward. For him, the riches of this world are paltry and without value. He builds his life on what is sacred and lasting.

 

The chapter goes on and on. What a vast amount of wisdom is in the Proverbs. They provide a sure source of instruction on integrity and so many other areas as well. They teach the principles of wisdom that can be applied to the life and grown by the Spirit of God. It is God's Word that grows integrity in the life.

 

Father,

Convict my heart when I am demonstrating integrity. Teach me to live with Your wisdom guiding my every step. I do confess my penchant for acting before praying. Grow me ever closer to You.

In His Name,

Amen

 

 

 

Unashamed

II Tim. 2:15

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

 

No need to be ashamed...what a statement! When I think of presenting myself approved to God, I know that I must rely on grace for this. Still at the same time I can not cheapen that grace by doing nothing, by sitting back unmotivated and uncaring. When I see the need, [the lost souls or my own personal growth and body life], I must go beyond my salvation experience. How does this worker maintain his life without shame? By rightly handling the word of truth. It comes back to the time I spend in the word. Still I can sit and soak in the great riches without letting it flow out to others or letting it impact and change my life. Thankfully, this state of approval comes from the inside out without my acts of reformation or my willpower. It is accomplished by the Spirit molding  and shaping me to handle each and every circumstance that God has placed in my life. Consistency is the key! Be in the word consistently and have an ever increasing appetite for what is sacred and not for what is common. 

 

Father,

I so want to be an approved workman acting without shame. Fill me with Your power and grow me in Your grace so that I can be pleasing to You. Teach me to rightly handle Your word.

In His name,

Amen

The Grace That is in Christ Jesus

II Tim. 2:2

You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus...

 

The key is grace! I am to be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And where is he? Christ in me, the hope of glory... If Christ is in me, what do I have to do to access this great source of grace? How can I unleash His mighty power? I think of Paul when he said, But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Hard work, yes, but not energized by self! How would it look if the grace of God was in vain? I think it would be not accessing it, not asking, not praying, not digging in the Word, not memorizing and meditating, and really it comes down to, not wanting to access this grace. Instead it would be living a mediocre, Christian life, following external rules with a moral world view. Can that really be what this verse is saying?

 

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.

 

Suffering...What a hard word! But if I am living by grace and allowing Christ in me to shape and control my life then I will share in suffering. A servant cannot be greater than his master. Christ gave me the example of suffering when He died for me. I Pet. 3:21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps. This is my calling. I must suffer and follow Christ's example! Certainly for this I need all the grace that I can get! My following must be of grace! Whether I am the athlete who finished the race and followed all the rules, the hard-working farmer who gets the first fruits of his crops, or the good soldier who suffers, I must be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus...

 

 

Father,

Teach me more each day how to work hard but through Your grace. I know this in itself is a miracle. Keep me strengthened each day to rely on only You and not myself.

In His name,

Amen



 

  

No Shame

2 Tim. 1:8-9

Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,

 

Because Timothy has been taught the truth in his home by his mother and grandmother, because he knows he must fan into flame the gift of God that lives within him, and because God has given him the spirit of power, love, and self-control, he must share in the suffering for the gospel by the power of God. This is his calling as it is my calling! God has set this plan in motion for His own purpose and grace which He gave us in Jesus, the One who died and was resurrected. When He rose in new life, He made it possible for me to rise in new life. So any suffering is not a cause for shame but a cause for rejoicing.  Like Paul and Timothy, I must rejoice in my suffering because I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. What a faith! What resolve but always through the grace of God!

Once again Paul urges Timothy to follow sound words that he has been taught and guard the good deposit entrusted to him. What a message for me! Guard it with all that I have! Stay strong and true to God's Word and know that suffering for the gospel brings no shame but rejoicing. This is my life. Because it is sacred not common I must treasure it and value it above all else.

Father,
Give me strong resolved by Your power and grace. Take away my fear of sharing. Keep me ever in Your care.
In Jesus name,
Amen



Fan into Flame

2 Tim. 1:6-7

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

 

As Paul was thinking of Timothy, he remembered the strong faith of his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice and how they had trained Timothy. Still he wanted to express concern for Timothy's faith and reassure Timothy that he was praying for him often. Paul exhorted Timothy to stay true to the faith that had taken root in him, to fan into flame the gift of God. What gift? It is not specified  but whatever gift he had needed to burn brightly, not lay smoldering waiting for use later, or even worse, not used at all until the gift is extinguished.

 

The gift that God gives any believer must not lay unused until it is extinguished. How often do believers use the gifts that God has given them? How often do they use ignorance as an excuse saying I don't know my gift so I won't do anything? These verses are a strong exhortation to any believer. To fan into flame speaks of effort not idle waiting. It also speaks of care and concern. When we are fanning the flame, we are very careful that it does not go out. Why? Because God gave us a spirit of power, love, and self-control. These three things belong to all of us. So if they are a gift, why do we struggle so much in these same areas? Christians are often powerless to share the Lord, to live obedient, holy lives, to love others even family members, and to have self-control in so many areas.  Where have we gone awry? What is the problem?  Perhaps we could begin with  fanning each of these gifts into flame letting them control our lives. So, so very important!

 

Father,

Thank You for giving me power, love, and self-control. I am convicted this morning of my careless and sporadic fanning. Give me Your strength to fan consistently and vigorously. Teach me...I am so needy.

In His name,

Amen

Truly Life

1 Tim. 6:20

O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you.

 

Verses 11-21 comprise a summary of important and essential items for Timothy, and all believers. Paul is making sure that Timothy, and those to follow down through the years, are living for what is truly life, that is living for the future and storing up treasure that makes for a foundation.

• Flee controversy and quarrels about words.
• Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Big order! So very important. What am I pursuing? What are evidences in my life that I am pursuing?
• Fight the good fight of faith. Am I using the armor of God? 
• Take hold of eternal life. Live for the future. Invest in what is lasting.
• Keep the commandments unstained and free from reproach until Christ comes back. Walk worthy of the gospel.
• To the rich: don't put your hopes on the uncertainty of riches but on God who supplies all we need. Instead they are to do good, be rich in good works, be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure as a foundation for the future so they may take hold of what is truly life. How rich is rich? According to US standards or according to other nations? I know we are a far cry from rich, but we still place value in salary and savings. We are very careful with our resources always making sure that we are taken care of first. So the warning is to everyone. I need to examine my grasp on these things and see if they are part of what is truly life. For me,  the point is do good and make our accumulated wealth (or lack thereof...whatever we have) be measured in good works and generosity. In this way I am laying hold of what is truly life. [I love that phrase.] Money is a powerful thing and it seems to illicit grasping and greediness immediately. It is definitely a battle that can only be fought with God's armor.
• Guard the good deposit entrusted to you. The same deposit is entrusted to me. I must guard it by being alert and ever vigilant to squash greediness, controversy, arguing, and anything that takes my focus off what is truly life.  I must live for the future storing up treasure for a good foundation. I wonder what my storehouse is like. Does it have enough for a foundation?
• Avoid irreverent babble and contradictions concerning 'knowledge.'

All this seems pretty hard and impossible. That is the point! I am not to go after these things in my own strength but rely on Him. I am to do all through His grace. 1 Cor. 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

 

Father,

Give me Your grace and strength to guard the deposit You have placed in me. Help me live only for the future storing up treasure for my foundation. Open my eyes to what is truly life.

In the name of Jesus,

Amen



The Light of Dawn

Prov. 4:18-19

But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. The way of the wicked is like deep darkness, they do not know over what they stumble.

 

What a contrast! I love the image of the light beginning at dawn and increasing until the full day. To me it speaks of growth and constantly improving illumination. This is what each day with the Lord is like as the light reveals more and more of Him. The closer I am to Him, the clearer my path will be.

 

But the wicked dwell in the deep darkness, a darkness so shrouded that no glimmer of light will force its way through. The result is constant stumbling, falling, injury, and depression. I can only imagine what it would be like to live in such a state. In my case fear would rule the day!

 

 

Then Solomon gives some wise rules to guard and guide the life:

• Keep you heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. How important it is to keep my heart where it should be. What I feed the heart will determine what flows out of it!
• Put away crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. Watch what I say! I must honor the Lord in every word.
• Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Don't be sidetracked! Live for Jesus unswervingly.
• Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Ponder, think, don.t be easily persuaded. Stay true to the Word.
• Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil. Avoid evil at all costs, yet still share the Lord with all those God has put in your way.

 

What great proverbs! How blessed am I to walk in the light, the ever-increasing light!

 

Father,

Thank You for Your Word and for the great wisdom in it. Teach me to apply it to my life.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Trust

Prov. 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make straight your paths.

 

Such famous verses, and not only beautifully written, but intensely practical! It sounds so simple. Trust in the Lord. Why wouldn't I? I know how many mistakes I make in decisions, and I know that He is the Creator and planner of all life. So what is my problem? Why do I still often make my own decisions and lean on my own understanding? Even though I would never think or say that I know better than God, my constant auto-pilot functioning and my forgetting to pray about so many things reveal my true heart. Trusting in God demands an act of my will, an act of surrender. Auto-pilot is so deeply ingrained that without a volitional surrender, trust will always be haphazard. How revealing!

 

Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.

 

These verses continue the line of thought. Is my auto-piloting through life really being wise in my own eyes? Perhaps calling it 'auto-pilot' somehow makes it less offensive. Maybe I think that for the most part I get through life alright, but I can only imagine how much better it would be if I was constantly aware of God in every aspect of my life. This is what I want!

 

Father,

I confess the sin of auto-pilot. I need and want You in my life constantly. Spirit, guide me in this and grow me.

In His name,

Amen