Passage of the Day: Ephesians 5: 16 [highlight verse in bold/underlined] … 15 Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.
My Journal for Today: Yes, we return to Ephesians 5: 16 one more time! And I’ve learned that any time an accomplished and gifted teacher like John MacArthur repeats a biblical exposition like this, as he does in today’s Strength for Today devotional, one should take notice. And so, I hope you, who read this, will join me in paying close attention to this entry.
According to MacArthur, the use of our time as Christians measures our willingness to live for self or for others. So, MacArthur returns to a focus on the Apostle Paul’s exhortation in today’s verse, indicating that believers should be “… making the most of our time.” (from the NASB translation). If I were to paraphrase this portion of today’s verse, I’d say it this way: “making Christlike choices as we live our lives.” Such choices, in my humble estimation, reflect the degree to which we are living as wise Christians in answer to the question James asked on DAY ONE this month (from James 3: 13), “Who is wise and understanding among you (Christians)?”
Jesus, when He was teaching about how we invest the providence of our financial gain, said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” [Matt. 6: 21] Christ wants us to be willing to give our all for Him, … not just our treasures, but also our time. However, through His grace, He only demands the first portion of our God-given providence (see Prov. 3: 9 – 10, Matt. 6: 33, and 2nd Cor. 9: 6 – 7). And our investment of time falls under these edicts of truth as well as would our treasure or our talents.
So, what are we doing with our time? When we have daily or long-range planning choices to make involving our time, do we think of God first? This morning when our feet hit the floor, did we choose to invest the FIRST portion of our day with God; or did we invest that time thinking of selfish concerns or other worldly, frivolous matters?
Let’s reflect for a moment. Allow me to ask myself (and you) these questions concerning the time investment choices in our lives …
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>>> What did we do yesterday for our Lord or His Kingdom?
>>> What do I plan to do on this very day which will definitely glorify my Father in Heaven?
>>> What goals and plans do I have for tomorrow and beyond that reflect my love of God?
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And a few more questions … How do the answers to those questions above help me measure my Godly wisdom? Am I wise enough to realize that I’m spending my time to get to know the mind of God and His will for my life? Am I accounting for my time in a way that reflects my understanding of God’s word and His plan for my life? How am I using my time to understand and internalize God’s word? Am I spending my time using the spiritual gift or gifts God has given me to reap eternal rewards in Heaven from the investment of the time God has given me in this life? As it directs in Matt. 6: 33, am I really seeking to invest my time first for God and His righteous, or do I consider my own fleshly choices first as I plan my life?
These are hard questions which demand straight AND honest answers; because the answers will lead us to do what the Apostle Paul has exhorted in Ephesians 5: 16 … to make the most of every opportunity to serve our God.
My Prayer Today: Help me, Lord … convict me … direct me … to live for You … FIRST! … Yes, Lord, as Fernando Ortega sings at this link, “You can have all this world, … just give me Jesus!”
Showing posts with label discernment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label discernment. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Sunday, November 27, 2011
November 27, 2011 … Living In Evil Days
Passage of the Day: Ephesians 5: 16 [highlight verse in bold/underlined] … 15 Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.
My Journal for Today: In his devotional entry from Strength for Today on this date, John MacArthur returns to Ephesians 5: 16; and I believe he does so for emphasis to warn Christians, as we search to live lives wrapped in Godly wisdom, about our need for vigilance in this evil, sin-ridden world in which we live. However, though this is our living reality, this world, so wrapped in darkness, presents an ever present opportunity for the Christian to shine brightly in contrast to the darkness (see Matt. 5: 16), … to live a life worthy of our calling in Christ (see Eph. 4: 1-2), … and to do good for fellow believers and for the lost (see Gal. 6: 9 – 10), especially as we aspire to live as Christ lived (see Luke 4: 18), reaching out to make disciples of those He saves from the grips of Satan and the world (see Matt. 28: 19 – 20).
Now, if that doesn’t give Christians a purpose in life, what more could?
Certainly God must grieve at what man has made of His wondrous creation with Satan’s powerful assistance. However, we followers of God, the Son, … the Christ, … have the awesome opportunity and responsibility to put a smile on God’s face as we live circumspectly in Christ by simply following Him (see Eph. 5: 15 in the NKJV) as He commanded us (see Luke 9: 23), and prayerfully leading others to Him with our witness and our walk (see Acts 1: 8).
You know, I really do hope that others read this and get as fired up as I am [especially on this day in this year, which turns out to be during Thanksgiving week] about what we can do for our God in the face of all the evil surrounding us. And we can! We’re not given the responsibility to be in control or to change it all. That’s God’s gig! No, all we need to do is do what Christ modeled or commanded and live our lives worthy of Him, following in His footsteps. And the irony is, when we do that, we do change the world – and we do so for His glory.
My Prayer Today: In Your Name, Lord, I go forth! Amen
My Journal for Today: In his devotional entry from Strength for Today on this date, John MacArthur returns to Ephesians 5: 16; and I believe he does so for emphasis to warn Christians, as we search to live lives wrapped in Godly wisdom, about our need for vigilance in this evil, sin-ridden world in which we live. However, though this is our living reality, this world, so wrapped in darkness, presents an ever present opportunity for the Christian to shine brightly in contrast to the darkness (see Matt. 5: 16), … to live a life worthy of our calling in Christ (see Eph. 4: 1-2), … and to do good for fellow believers and for the lost (see Gal. 6: 9 – 10), especially as we aspire to live as Christ lived (see Luke 4: 18), reaching out to make disciples of those He saves from the grips of Satan and the world (see Matt. 28: 19 – 20).
Now, if that doesn’t give Christians a purpose in life, what more could?
Certainly God must grieve at what man has made of His wondrous creation with Satan’s powerful assistance. However, we followers of God, the Son, … the Christ, … have the awesome opportunity and responsibility to put a smile on God’s face as we live circumspectly in Christ by simply following Him (see Eph. 5: 15 in the NKJV) as He commanded us (see Luke 9: 23), and prayerfully leading others to Him with our witness and our walk (see Acts 1: 8).
You know, I really do hope that others read this and get as fired up as I am [especially on this day in this year, which turns out to be during Thanksgiving week] about what we can do for our God in the face of all the evil surrounding us. And we can! We’re not given the responsibility to be in control or to change it all. That’s God’s gig! No, all we need to do is do what Christ modeled or commanded and live our lives worthy of Him, following in His footsteps. And the irony is, when we do that, we do change the world – and we do so for His glory.
My Prayer Today: In Your Name, Lord, I go forth! Amen
Saturday, November 26, 2011
November 26, 2011 … Seizing Opportunities
Passage of the Day: Ephesians 5: 15 - 16 [highlight verse in bold/underlined] … 15 Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.
My Journal for Today: I don’t know about any of you who might be reading these blogs along with me this month, but this exhortation from the Apostle Paul to believers, being inspired by God, the Holy Spirit, is deeply convicting to me. As I’ve said this past month as we’ve dealt with the pursuit of Godly wisdom, I have to ask myself often if I’m “making the most of every opportunity” to live, as Eph. 4: 1 says, “… a life worthy of the calling you [i.e., “I”] have received …” as a Christian.
In the Book of Psalms, Moses is quoted as writing (in PS. 90: 12), “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” And therein lies the emphasis I believe the Apostle Paul was trying to capture in today’s verse. The phrase “to number” [bold above] is the Hebrew term, “manah,” which literally means “to account for.” And so Moses was saying that believers must make an accounting to God for the days God gives us to live for Him.
In our passage for today, the phrase “… making the most of every opportunity” in the NIV is translated “making the most of your time” in the NASB. That term “time” in the Greek is the term “kairos,” not the normal term for time, which would be “chronos.” The latter is the term for sequential time as we’d measure it with a clock. “Kairos,” however, means a designated period of time or “an era,” … for example, the time we are given on this earth. So, the Apostle Paul is saying that the span of time given to us by God needs to be maximized for God’s glory; and we must do this in the context of the evil days in which we live. Therefore, according to God’s word, from what we’ve studied here, Christians are charged to prudently pursue the wisdom, will, and ways of God, even as we’re bombarded by evil all around us, so that we can “carpe diem,” i.e., seize the day, for God’s glory.
How are we doing?
I ask myself from today’s time with God here this very morning, “How am I going to live this very day to know God more and to shine His light in this very evil world in which we live?” It’s a daunting task; but for the Lord Who saved me, it is a task which I must pursue with all the motivation I can muster. Besides, as 1st Cor. 10: 13 assures me, God will not allow me to be involved with any trial, task, or temptation which I cannot handle with Him faithfully by my side (also Heb. 13: 5 or Deut. 31: 6). God will never abandon me; so, I must never abandon Him.
My Prayer Today: Lord, may my time today and all my tomorrows by for You. Amen
Blogger’s Note: I hope the reader does not assume, with me quoting and discussing Hebrew and Greek terms in my blogs, that I have first hand knowledge of Hebrew and/or Greek from my references to word studies from these languages. … Hardly! … However, often I find it helpful to use an online Hebrew/Greek dictionary or reference to study the meanings of certain words or phrases. As the study in this devotional entry, it can give a closer look at the meanings intended by God from His word. And that study is well worth the investment of my time (or “chronos” as the Greeks would say it!). ;)
My Journal for Today: I don’t know about any of you who might be reading these blogs along with me this month, but this exhortation from the Apostle Paul to believers, being inspired by God, the Holy Spirit, is deeply convicting to me. As I’ve said this past month as we’ve dealt with the pursuit of Godly wisdom, I have to ask myself often if I’m “making the most of every opportunity” to live, as Eph. 4: 1 says, “… a life worthy of the calling you [i.e., “I”] have received …” as a Christian.
In the Book of Psalms, Moses is quoted as writing (in PS. 90: 12), “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” And therein lies the emphasis I believe the Apostle Paul was trying to capture in today’s verse. The phrase “to number” [bold above] is the Hebrew term, “manah,” which literally means “to account for.” And so Moses was saying that believers must make an accounting to God for the days God gives us to live for Him.
In our passage for today, the phrase “… making the most of every opportunity” in the NIV is translated “making the most of your time” in the NASB. That term “time” in the Greek is the term “kairos,” not the normal term for time, which would be “chronos.” The latter is the term for sequential time as we’d measure it with a clock. “Kairos,” however, means a designated period of time or “an era,” … for example, the time we are given on this earth. So, the Apostle Paul is saying that the span of time given to us by God needs to be maximized for God’s glory; and we must do this in the context of the evil days in which we live. Therefore, according to God’s word, from what we’ve studied here, Christians are charged to prudently pursue the wisdom, will, and ways of God, even as we’re bombarded by evil all around us, so that we can “carpe diem,” i.e., seize the day, for God’s glory.
How are we doing?
I ask myself from today’s time with God here this very morning, “How am I going to live this very day to know God more and to shine His light in this very evil world in which we live?” It’s a daunting task; but for the Lord Who saved me, it is a task which I must pursue with all the motivation I can muster. Besides, as 1st Cor. 10: 13 assures me, God will not allow me to be involved with any trial, task, or temptation which I cannot handle with Him faithfully by my side (also Heb. 13: 5 or Deut. 31: 6). God will never abandon me; so, I must never abandon Him.
My Prayer Today: Lord, may my time today and all my tomorrows by for You. Amen
Blogger’s Note: I hope the reader does not assume, with me quoting and discussing Hebrew and Greek terms in my blogs, that I have first hand knowledge of Hebrew and/or Greek from my references to word studies from these languages. … Hardly! … However, often I find it helpful to use an online Hebrew/Greek dictionary or reference to study the meanings of certain words or phrases. As the study in this devotional entry, it can give a closer look at the meanings intended by God from His word. And that study is well worth the investment of my time (or “chronos” as the Greeks would say it!). ;)
Friday, November 25, 2011
November 25, 2011 … Finishing the Race
Passage of the Day: Ephesians 5: 15 - 16 [highlight verse in bold/underlined] …
15 Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.
My Journal for Today: Returning to Ephesians 5: 15 – 16 this morning, this month my devotional time with God, with John MacArthur as my biblical shepherd in Strength for Today, has focused on finding the mind of God (i.e., searching for Godly wisdom) and then applying that wisdom to my life in these perilous times in which we live as Christians. In Acts 20: 24, Paul is attributed by Luke to have written to Christians, “I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.” Note that Paul saw himself and other Christians to have a finite, God-led, course in life, and in the time he was given, Paul felt that his Christian witness to Christ’s gospel was of utmost importance. And that is why Paul’s exhortation in Ephesians 5: 15-16 becomes so pertinent to us today … yes, even critical.
We live in a most challenging era of history; but 1st Century Christians felt that way as well. In all eras of time, human lives in this fallen world have been tinged by evil and social upheaval. So, in these perilous times in which God has allowed us to live, we must do all we can to find God’s will and make the most of our time, giving witness to the next life with Christ. And as we’ve come to understand this month, one of the keys to living a productive and fruitful Christian life is to know God’s will and way through His word.
If we are to follow Christ’s command [in Matt. 5: 16] and shine His light in the world with Godly living for all to see our Father in Heaven, we must be able to say, at the end of our allotted time on this earth, that we have crowns of righteousness waiting for us in Heaven. So I have to ask myself, “Can I say the following, as Paul did to Timothy?” [see 2nd Tim. 4: 7 – 8] … “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”
And I have found that it is WISE for me to do a periodic inventory of my values; and then to analyze seriously how I’m using my time to fulfill what God has for my life which will shine His light and glorify God. In other words, are we all walking the worthy walk for Christ (see Eph. 4: 1 – 3)?
That is our challenge … today, tomorrow, and always.
My Prayer Today: Help me, Lord, to be all I can be for You. Amen
15 Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.
My Journal for Today: Returning to Ephesians 5: 15 – 16 this morning, this month my devotional time with God, with John MacArthur as my biblical shepherd in Strength for Today, has focused on finding the mind of God (i.e., searching for Godly wisdom) and then applying that wisdom to my life in these perilous times in which we live as Christians. In Acts 20: 24, Paul is attributed by Luke to have written to Christians, “I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.” Note that Paul saw himself and other Christians to have a finite, God-led, course in life, and in the time he was given, Paul felt that his Christian witness to Christ’s gospel was of utmost importance. And that is why Paul’s exhortation in Ephesians 5: 15-16 becomes so pertinent to us today … yes, even critical.
We live in a most challenging era of history; but 1st Century Christians felt that way as well. In all eras of time, human lives in this fallen world have been tinged by evil and social upheaval. So, in these perilous times in which God has allowed us to live, we must do all we can to find God’s will and make the most of our time, giving witness to the next life with Christ. And as we’ve come to understand this month, one of the keys to living a productive and fruitful Christian life is to know God’s will and way through His word.
If we are to follow Christ’s command [in Matt. 5: 16] and shine His light in the world with Godly living for all to see our Father in Heaven, we must be able to say, at the end of our allotted time on this earth, that we have crowns of righteousness waiting for us in Heaven. So I have to ask myself, “Can I say the following, as Paul did to Timothy?” [see 2nd Tim. 4: 7 – 8] … “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”
And I have found that it is WISE for me to do a periodic inventory of my values; and then to analyze seriously how I’m using my time to fulfill what God has for my life which will shine His light and glorify God. In other words, are we all walking the worthy walk for Christ (see Eph. 4: 1 – 3)?
That is our challenge … today, tomorrow, and always.
My Prayer Today: Help me, Lord, to be all I can be for You. Amen
Thursday, November 24, 2011
November 24, 2011 … Purposeful Discipline
Passage of the Day: 1st Timothy 4: 8 [highlight verse in bold/underlined] … 7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
My Journal for Today: Still focusing on how we can pursue Godly wisdom, applying an abiding understanding to God’s word, we come upon Paul’s very practical instruction to Timothy – and thereby to all believers – about the dangers involved in doing “good” at the expense of doing God’s “best.” It is one of Satan’s cleverest ploys to get non-believers so wrapped up in physical, social, and/or spiritual disciplines that are not bad, but they take that person’s focus completely away from the One, True God and His will for our lives. And similarly, many Christians fall prey to this ploy as well by investing untold hours in “good” things/activities, ignoring the Spirit-led disciplines of the faith which could bring them God’s “best” things in life.
That’s where Paul was going in his exhortation to Timothy, the younger man who was becoming the Pastor of the Church at Ephesus. Think about it. How many Christians have we seen get wrapped up in rigorous physical exercise programs and/or hobbies, not finding the time to participate with equal commitment in disciplines such as fasting, prayer, solitude, silence, and/or Bible memory or study? How many Christian deer hunters are willing to get up at 4:00am every morning of deer season to go hunting; but they are unwilling to get up at 6:00am every morning [or earlier if necessary] for a devotional time before they’re off to work which could deepen their relationship with Christ? Deer hunting is not a bad thing (unless you’re a Bambi lover); but saying that “I just don’t have time for a quiet time in the morning” is a bad thing when we choose a discipline of deer hunting over a driving hunt for the mind of God.
The Apostle Paul’s instruction for Timothy should hit us all where we live. Are these God-inspired words leading us into a discipline that could help shape us for HIS purpose where He could bless us with more of HIS power to accomplish HIS plan? Could I give up one half of my morning jog to have more time in the morning with God in Bible study and/or prayer? Could I spend one half of my daily lunch time at work praying for a list of intercessory prayer partners? Could I prioritize more time to a ministry/mission project which uses my spiritual gifts more for God’s glory than the worldly projects which occupy a lot of my daily calendar?
What we choose to do is a reflection of our values [see Matt. 6: 21]. And I have to continually keep asking myself to re-evaluate my “to do” list based upon my biblically founded Christian values. Are the “main things” in my life the MAIN THINGS in God’s plan for my life? And I always seem to come back to questions evolving out of Luke 9: 23 …
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>>> Am I denying my own fleshly desires and serving within God’s plan for my life [see also Matt. 6: 33]?
>>> Am I carrying the crosses that Christ would lay at my feet rather than stepping around them to carry out tasks which I, personally, find important [see also Prov. 3: 5 – 6]?
>>> Am I really following the path that God has lain out for my life; or am I choosing the expedient, self-indulgent path which is wider and more traveled by others [again Prov. 3: 5 – 6]?
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When I respond honestly to what Paul was instructing Timothy in today’s verse, often I have to redo my event planning list to come into line with God’s plans rather than my own. And when I do that, I find that my Christian witness becomes more powerful and my life more meaningful – just as Paul desired for Timothy [please meditate on and memorize Acts 1: 8].
My Prayer Today: Build me, Lord, into a powerful witness to Your Name. Amen
My Journal for Today: Still focusing on how we can pursue Godly wisdom, applying an abiding understanding to God’s word, we come upon Paul’s very practical instruction to Timothy – and thereby to all believers – about the dangers involved in doing “good” at the expense of doing God’s “best.” It is one of Satan’s cleverest ploys to get non-believers so wrapped up in physical, social, and/or spiritual disciplines that are not bad, but they take that person’s focus completely away from the One, True God and His will for our lives. And similarly, many Christians fall prey to this ploy as well by investing untold hours in “good” things/activities, ignoring the Spirit-led disciplines of the faith which could bring them God’s “best” things in life.
That’s where Paul was going in his exhortation to Timothy, the younger man who was becoming the Pastor of the Church at Ephesus. Think about it. How many Christians have we seen get wrapped up in rigorous physical exercise programs and/or hobbies, not finding the time to participate with equal commitment in disciplines such as fasting, prayer, solitude, silence, and/or Bible memory or study? How many Christian deer hunters are willing to get up at 4:00am every morning of deer season to go hunting; but they are unwilling to get up at 6:00am every morning [or earlier if necessary] for a devotional time before they’re off to work which could deepen their relationship with Christ? Deer hunting is not a bad thing (unless you’re a Bambi lover); but saying that “I just don’t have time for a quiet time in the morning” is a bad thing when we choose a discipline of deer hunting over a driving hunt for the mind of God.
The Apostle Paul’s instruction for Timothy should hit us all where we live. Are these God-inspired words leading us into a discipline that could help shape us for HIS purpose where He could bless us with more of HIS power to accomplish HIS plan? Could I give up one half of my morning jog to have more time in the morning with God in Bible study and/or prayer? Could I spend one half of my daily lunch time at work praying for a list of intercessory prayer partners? Could I prioritize more time to a ministry/mission project which uses my spiritual gifts more for God’s glory than the worldly projects which occupy a lot of my daily calendar?
What we choose to do is a reflection of our values [see Matt. 6: 21]. And I have to continually keep asking myself to re-evaluate my “to do” list based upon my biblically founded Christian values. Are the “main things” in my life the MAIN THINGS in God’s plan for my life? And I always seem to come back to questions evolving out of Luke 9: 23 …
--------------
>>> Am I denying my own fleshly desires and serving within God’s plan for my life [see also Matt. 6: 33]?
>>> Am I carrying the crosses that Christ would lay at my feet rather than stepping around them to carry out tasks which I, personally, find important [see also Prov. 3: 5 – 6]?
>>> Am I really following the path that God has lain out for my life; or am I choosing the expedient, self-indulgent path which is wider and more traveled by others [again Prov. 3: 5 – 6]?
-------------
When I respond honestly to what Paul was instructing Timothy in today’s verse, often I have to redo my event planning list to come into line with God’s plans rather than my own. And when I do that, I find that my Christian witness becomes more powerful and my life more meaningful – just as Paul desired for Timothy [please meditate on and memorize Acts 1: 8].
My Prayer Today: Build me, Lord, into a powerful witness to Your Name. Amen
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
November 23, 2011 … Playing The Fool
Passage of the Day: 1st Samuel 26: 21 [highlight verse in bold/underlined] … 21 Then Saul said [to David], "I have sinned. Come back, David my son. Because you considered my life precious today, I will not try to harm you again. Surely I have acted like a fool and have erred greatly."
My Journal for Today: Can anyone, besides yours truly, identify with Saul’s pathetic pronouncement in today’s highlight verse/passage? In context we see that King Saul was chasing around after David due to his jealousy and ambition; and in a moment of lucidity, he saw what a fool he had been. Now we also know from history and scripture that it was only a momentary admission; because Saul went back to his foolish ways, which ultimately became his undoing – as will any pattern of habitual sin in the life of a believer. We all have our besetting patterns of sins – well, at least I do. I used to have a sexual sin stronghold in my life; and now I still waver in weakness with regard to gluttony; … perhaps, even though you’re a Christian, you have struggles like these too. I have Christian friends who deal with weaknesses in compulsive shopping, or other who have trouble whipping their tobacco addiction, or yet others who compulsively overeat like I do at times.
John MacArthur in today’s devotional from Strength for Today explores God’s command to Israel – and to us – in Deut. 32: 6, where Moses chides God’s people, “Is this the way you repay the LORD, O foolish and unwise people?” And is not that still the case in our world today? But how/why do we still perpetuate such misunderstanding and foolishness – even though we have God’s word in the light of Christ’s life, death, resurrection, ascension, and glorification? Well, MacArthur postulates several points in answering this …
First, it is our DISBELIEF. We’re not that much different than the two Christians walking to Emmaus after the crucifixion, whom Jesus confronted on the road and lovingly brought them to the realization of His presence in their lives (see Luke 24). We sometimes just walk through life engulfed in our circumstances; and because of our “pity-party” mentality, we can’t see Christ in the events of our lives; and we get down on life in our blind selfishness.
Secondly, our DISOBEDIENCE marks us as fools. Paul questioned the Galatians (in Gal. 3: 3). He wrote in that verse, “Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?” So often, when we’re confronted by the issues/circumstances of life, we react in the flesh rather than respond in the Spirit; and when we do so, we are disobedient to God and deserving of the outcomes or our own foolishness. Maybe, in past devotionals, you’ve read me write, “We cannot fight the flesh in the flesh!”
Thirdly, as worldly fools we DESIRE the wrong things. This was documented by Paul to Timothy in 1st Tim. 6: 9 when he wrote, “People … fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.” Christ gave us clear instruction where our desires must reside [see Matt. 6: 33]; and that is with God and not the world (see also 1st John 2: 15 – 16).
Finally, we see our foolishness as Christians in the DEMEANOR of our living, as we read in James 3: 13 – 17 (which we studied earlier this month; so, I’ll leave that to your own study – see any of my journal entries for 11/10-16). Unfortunately too many Christians fall prey to selfish worldly pursuits of wisdom/understanding rather than pursuing the mind of God through His word. We need to respond to Paul’s exhortation in Rom. 16: 19 when he wrote, “…I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.”
If we can recognize these tendencies of mankind – even Christians like ourselves – to fall into patterns of disbelief, disobedience, selfish desires, and misdemeanor, with our Spirit-surrendered choices, we could avoid the outcomes of living for and/or in the flesh (documented in Gal. 5: 19 – 21) and become much more wise Christians who live to express the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5: 22, 23).
My Prayer Today: Lead me, Lord; and I will walk where you walk. Amen
My Journal for Today: Can anyone, besides yours truly, identify with Saul’s pathetic pronouncement in today’s highlight verse/passage? In context we see that King Saul was chasing around after David due to his jealousy and ambition; and in a moment of lucidity, he saw what a fool he had been. Now we also know from history and scripture that it was only a momentary admission; because Saul went back to his foolish ways, which ultimately became his undoing – as will any pattern of habitual sin in the life of a believer. We all have our besetting patterns of sins – well, at least I do. I used to have a sexual sin stronghold in my life; and now I still waver in weakness with regard to gluttony; … perhaps, even though you’re a Christian, you have struggles like these too. I have Christian friends who deal with weaknesses in compulsive shopping, or other who have trouble whipping their tobacco addiction, or yet others who compulsively overeat like I do at times.
John MacArthur in today’s devotional from Strength for Today explores God’s command to Israel – and to us – in Deut. 32: 6, where Moses chides God’s people, “Is this the way you repay the LORD, O foolish and unwise people?” And is not that still the case in our world today? But how/why do we still perpetuate such misunderstanding and foolishness – even though we have God’s word in the light of Christ’s life, death, resurrection, ascension, and glorification? Well, MacArthur postulates several points in answering this …
First, it is our DISBELIEF. We’re not that much different than the two Christians walking to Emmaus after the crucifixion, whom Jesus confronted on the road and lovingly brought them to the realization of His presence in their lives (see Luke 24). We sometimes just walk through life engulfed in our circumstances; and because of our “pity-party” mentality, we can’t see Christ in the events of our lives; and we get down on life in our blind selfishness.
Secondly, our DISOBEDIENCE marks us as fools. Paul questioned the Galatians (in Gal. 3: 3). He wrote in that verse, “Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?” So often, when we’re confronted by the issues/circumstances of life, we react in the flesh rather than respond in the Spirit; and when we do so, we are disobedient to God and deserving of the outcomes or our own foolishness. Maybe, in past devotionals, you’ve read me write, “We cannot fight the flesh in the flesh!”
Thirdly, as worldly fools we DESIRE the wrong things. This was documented by Paul to Timothy in 1st Tim. 6: 9 when he wrote, “People … fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.” Christ gave us clear instruction where our desires must reside [see Matt. 6: 33]; and that is with God and not the world (see also 1st John 2: 15 – 16).
Finally, we see our foolishness as Christians in the DEMEANOR of our living, as we read in James 3: 13 – 17 (which we studied earlier this month; so, I’ll leave that to your own study – see any of my journal entries for 11/10-16). Unfortunately too many Christians fall prey to selfish worldly pursuits of wisdom/understanding rather than pursuing the mind of God through His word. We need to respond to Paul’s exhortation in Rom. 16: 19 when he wrote, “…I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.”
If we can recognize these tendencies of mankind – even Christians like ourselves – to fall into patterns of disbelief, disobedience, selfish desires, and misdemeanor, with our Spirit-surrendered choices, we could avoid the outcomes of living for and/or in the flesh (documented in Gal. 5: 19 – 21) and become much more wise Christians who live to express the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5: 22, 23).
My Prayer Today: Lead me, Lord; and I will walk where you walk. Amen
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
November 22, 2011 … Watch Your Step
Passage of the Day: Ephesians 5: 15 [note terms in bold] – [NIV] … 15 Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, …
Ephesians 5: 15 [note terms in bold] – [NASB] … 15 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, …
My Journal for Today: John MacArthur, in his Strength for Today devotional on this date, returns to Ephesians 5: 15 to emphasize the exhortation to Christians to “walk carefully” in Christ. I’ve added the NASB version of today’s key verse above because it uses the translated term “walk,” which is another translation from the Greek, rather than “live,” as in the NIV. I like the term “walk” paired with “be very careful” because, as MacArthur alludes in his devotional, they can create the word picture of a soldier being so very careful as he clears a minefield.
I’ll return to this mental image; but focusing on the Greek, term “akribos,” which has been accurately rendered in the NIV for Eph. 5: 15, “to be very careful;” and it’s a term which means to be hyper-vigilant to what is going on around us in the world. The second key term in today’s verse is “paripateo” in the Greek; and it refers to our ”daily living or walk,” especially those habits or disciplines which comprise our habitual walk in the world. Using these terms together, Paul was saying to the Ephesians, and to us [paraphrased], “As you walk everyday in this world, walk with extreme care and vigilance!”
And that’s why the mine-clearing soldier image is so apropos in this exhortation. Wouldn’t you agree that life, as we know it, truly is a minefield? And I’ve often asked this question of other Christians, “If you had to walk through a minefield, would you rather be first; or would you rather follow someone who knows exactly where every mine is placed?” The answer is a no-brainer, of course. And applied to Eph. 5: 15, Paul is saying that the wise Christian will do all he can to seek the perfect minefield walker; and that, my dear readers, is Jesus; and then we follow Him.
Christ commanded His disciples (in Matt. 16: 24, Mark 8: 34; and one which I probably quote more than any other in ministry, Luke 9: 23) to follow Him ever so closely by denying ourselves. Proverbs 3: 5 commands the believer to trust God’s way completely and not try to walk in life using our own ideas; and Prov. 3: 6 promises that if we do that, God will lead us carefully down His pathway of life. And God’s pathway, even if it’s fraught with “mines,” is always the safest path to follow. Hence, our need to be vigilant and disciplined in following our Lord rather than our own feelings and flesh-driven ideas.
To the world, a “careful walk” might mean using our head knowledge, gleaned from worldly education, science, or even from man-made religion, to avoid the dangerous circumstances of life. It might encourage the worldly warrior to take on the minefield alone by using modern technology or to follow religious positive thinking gurus to point out the mines of life; but the truth of such strategies would place us at the mercy of others who are simply trying to show us the way by man-created technologies or thought processes. When we follow the way of Prov. 3: 5 – 6 and/or Luke 9: 23, merely trusting and following Christ, we may not always avoid the dangers of life’s minefields; but we’ll always know that God will bring us through the minefields of life the right way! And I don’t know about you; but I’d much rather follow Jesus through life than risk doing it on my own.
My Prayer Today: Lead me, Lord, and I will walk where You walk. Amen
Ephesians 5: 15 [note terms in bold] – [NASB] … 15 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, …
My Journal for Today: John MacArthur, in his Strength for Today devotional on this date, returns to Ephesians 5: 15 to emphasize the exhortation to Christians to “walk carefully” in Christ. I’ve added the NASB version of today’s key verse above because it uses the translated term “walk,” which is another translation from the Greek, rather than “live,” as in the NIV. I like the term “walk” paired with “be very careful” because, as MacArthur alludes in his devotional, they can create the word picture of a soldier being so very careful as he clears a minefield.
I’ll return to this mental image; but focusing on the Greek, term “akribos,” which has been accurately rendered in the NIV for Eph. 5: 15, “to be very careful;” and it’s a term which means to be hyper-vigilant to what is going on around us in the world. The second key term in today’s verse is “paripateo” in the Greek; and it refers to our ”daily living or walk,” especially those habits or disciplines which comprise our habitual walk in the world. Using these terms together, Paul was saying to the Ephesians, and to us [paraphrased], “As you walk everyday in this world, walk with extreme care and vigilance!”
And that’s why the mine-clearing soldier image is so apropos in this exhortation. Wouldn’t you agree that life, as we know it, truly is a minefield? And I’ve often asked this question of other Christians, “If you had to walk through a minefield, would you rather be first; or would you rather follow someone who knows exactly where every mine is placed?” The answer is a no-brainer, of course. And applied to Eph. 5: 15, Paul is saying that the wise Christian will do all he can to seek the perfect minefield walker; and that, my dear readers, is Jesus; and then we follow Him.
Christ commanded His disciples (in Matt. 16: 24, Mark 8: 34; and one which I probably quote more than any other in ministry, Luke 9: 23) to follow Him ever so closely by denying ourselves. Proverbs 3: 5 commands the believer to trust God’s way completely and not try to walk in life using our own ideas; and Prov. 3: 6 promises that if we do that, God will lead us carefully down His pathway of life. And God’s pathway, even if it’s fraught with “mines,” is always the safest path to follow. Hence, our need to be vigilant and disciplined in following our Lord rather than our own feelings and flesh-driven ideas.
To the world, a “careful walk” might mean using our head knowledge, gleaned from worldly education, science, or even from man-made religion, to avoid the dangerous circumstances of life. It might encourage the worldly warrior to take on the minefield alone by using modern technology or to follow religious positive thinking gurus to point out the mines of life; but the truth of such strategies would place us at the mercy of others who are simply trying to show us the way by man-created technologies or thought processes. When we follow the way of Prov. 3: 5 – 6 and/or Luke 9: 23, merely trusting and following Christ, we may not always avoid the dangers of life’s minefields; but we’ll always know that God will bring us through the minefields of life the right way! And I don’t know about you; but I’d much rather follow Jesus through life than risk doing it on my own.
My Prayer Today: Lead me, Lord, and I will walk where You walk. Amen
Monday, November 21, 2011
November 21, 2011 … Growing In Wisdom
Passage of the Day: 2nd Peter 3: 18 (highlight verse in bold/underlined) … 17 Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
My Journal for Today: It is true … at the time of conversion for a Christian, with the indwelling of God’s Spirit, we are given, with the knowledge implant of God’s Spirit, all that we will need (from God’s enabling/enlightening grace) to allow us to grow into Christlikeness (see 2nd Peter 1: 3). However, in today’s passage/verse, Peter charges believers to grow beyond our initial conversion state of enablement as we grow to become more like Christ in all aspects of life.
And John MacArthur for this date in his Strength for Today devotionals indicates that growing in Christ is growing in Godly wisdom; and so, how could a consciencious Christian disagree with that? Therefore, in the development of our wisdom quotient, MacArthur points us toward four steps …
------------------
>>> 1. WORSHIP – Worship is the life expression of the “fear of God,” which we know from Scripture (Prov. 9: 10) is the beginning of all wisdom. Therefore, our 24/7 lifestyle of worship becomes the breakthrough surrender to God’s Spirit and the gateway avenue to the mind of God.
>>> 2. PRAYER – James 1: 5 clearly says that God will provide us with His wisdom in abundance IF we are willing to ask for it with the expectation of His fulfillment of that promise. And prayer, of course, is the vehicle for us to ask God for His way/will.
>>> 3. RECEIVE INSTRUCTION – There is Godly wisdom in the counsel or mentoring from others whom we know are more mature (i.e., wiser) in God’s ways than are we (see Prov. 8: 14 and 15: 22; as well as Col. 1: 28).
>>> 4. STUDY SCRIPTURE – 2nd Timothy 2: 15 clearly charges that we, as Christians, be approved before God as we accurately handle His word [i.e., “the word of truth”].
---------------
Therefore, as has been the case this month in my [our] search for Godly wisdom, it’s another check up time!
First, and AGAIN, we must ask ourselves, … just how serious are we to find God’s mind? And if we are serious, what are we doing about it (as outlined by this very practical list above)? As you can see above, God’s word supports every one of the above listed steps to seek out Godly wisdom; but those who find it difficult to break the inertia of embarking on this quest for Godly understanding usually find themselves giving excuses that allow them to stay in the pattern of self-driven patterns or worldly access to understanding.
Often I hear things like, …
-------------------
“I’m no Bible scholar and never will be.”
“I just don’t have time to … [you fill in the blank]!”
“The Bible is so difficult to understand.”
“I’m pretty wise in the ways of the world.”
“I can handle it (the tasks of life) on my own.”
-------------------
Well, all I can say is … if these or any other excuses are keeping any of us from growing in our understanding of God’s word, I’m afraid Satan has us totally conned and believing all that he would feed us to keep us away from knowing God more intimately. And to any of us who are in that position, I feel for what will result from our self-empowered ignorance or denial of God. As long as Satan (and our own hearts) having us buying into lies like these above, we’re always going to be vulnerable to our enemy; and we’re also going to be diluted of God’s power and His wisdom to become more like Him and to serve Him with power. Sad … sad … sad !!!
My Prayer Today: Fill me daily, God, with Your mind. … Amen
My Journal for Today: It is true … at the time of conversion for a Christian, with the indwelling of God’s Spirit, we are given, with the knowledge implant of God’s Spirit, all that we will need (from God’s enabling/enlightening grace) to allow us to grow into Christlikeness (see 2nd Peter 1: 3). However, in today’s passage/verse, Peter charges believers to grow beyond our initial conversion state of enablement as we grow to become more like Christ in all aspects of life.
And John MacArthur for this date in his Strength for Today devotionals indicates that growing in Christ is growing in Godly wisdom; and so, how could a consciencious Christian disagree with that? Therefore, in the development of our wisdom quotient, MacArthur points us toward four steps …
------------------
>>> 1. WORSHIP – Worship is the life expression of the “fear of God,” which we know from Scripture (Prov. 9: 10) is the beginning of all wisdom. Therefore, our 24/7 lifestyle of worship becomes the breakthrough surrender to God’s Spirit and the gateway avenue to the mind of God.
>>> 2. PRAYER – James 1: 5 clearly says that God will provide us with His wisdom in abundance IF we are willing to ask for it with the expectation of His fulfillment of that promise. And prayer, of course, is the vehicle for us to ask God for His way/will.
>>> 3. RECEIVE INSTRUCTION – There is Godly wisdom in the counsel or mentoring from others whom we know are more mature (i.e., wiser) in God’s ways than are we (see Prov. 8: 14 and 15: 22; as well as Col. 1: 28).
>>> 4. STUDY SCRIPTURE – 2nd Timothy 2: 15 clearly charges that we, as Christians, be approved before God as we accurately handle His word [i.e., “the word of truth”].
---------------
Therefore, as has been the case this month in my [our] search for Godly wisdom, it’s another check up time!
First, and AGAIN, we must ask ourselves, … just how serious are we to find God’s mind? And if we are serious, what are we doing about it (as outlined by this very practical list above)? As you can see above, God’s word supports every one of the above listed steps to seek out Godly wisdom; but those who find it difficult to break the inertia of embarking on this quest for Godly understanding usually find themselves giving excuses that allow them to stay in the pattern of self-driven patterns or worldly access to understanding.
Often I hear things like, …
-------------------
“I’m no Bible scholar and never will be.”
“I just don’t have time to … [you fill in the blank]!”
“The Bible is so difficult to understand.”
“I’m pretty wise in the ways of the world.”
“I can handle it (the tasks of life) on my own.”
-------------------
Well, all I can say is … if these or any other excuses are keeping any of us from growing in our understanding of God’s word, I’m afraid Satan has us totally conned and believing all that he would feed us to keep us away from knowing God more intimately. And to any of us who are in that position, I feel for what will result from our self-empowered ignorance or denial of God. As long as Satan (and our own hearts) having us buying into lies like these above, we’re always going to be vulnerable to our enemy; and we’re also going to be diluted of God’s power and His wisdom to become more like Him and to serve Him with power. Sad … sad … sad !!!
My Prayer Today: Fill me daily, God, with Your mind. … Amen
Saturday, November 19, 2011
November 19, 2011 … Being Different from the World
Passage of the Day: Ephesians 5: 15a [highlight verse in bold/underlined] … 15 Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.
My Journal for Today: In today’s highlight verse, the Apostle Paul cautions believers to be careful in our Christian walk and to be wise; and he likely makes this observation in the context of a previous exhortation to Christians in Ephesians 4: 1, where he wrote that Christians must “…live a life worthy of the calling you have received, …” which, of course, is that of being a “Christian.”
And John MacArthur helps me (us) see, in today’s Strength for Today devotional, that a “worthy” life or walk in Christ is one of humility (Ephesians 4: 1 – 3), unity with other believers (Eph. 4: 4 – 16), uniqueness and separation from the world (Eph. 4: 17 – 32), and one exhibiting Christ’s love (Eph. 5: 1 – 7) from the illumination of God’s Spirit (Eph. 5: 8 – 14); and all of this is living a life of Godly wisdom (see above in Eph. 5: 15 – 17), avoiding the foolishness of the world. And MacArthur is right when he says that such a walk is severely impeded, if not impossible, when Christians make worldly or self-centered choices, seeking to use the tools of worldly wisdom or relying on the wisdom generated from our own deceit-ridden hearts (see Jer. 17: 9). MacArthur quotes Paul again, but from 2nd Timothy 3: 7 this time, indicating that the world cannot become Godly wise because it is “…always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.”
And the latter truth is why, according to the Apostle John (see 1st John 2: 15 – 16), we must separate ourselves in the love of God from the world’s way of thinking and living … so that we can take up the torch Jesus mandated for us as Christians to “… let (our) light shine before men that they may see (our) good works, …” [see Matt. 5: 16] and realize that the ways of God are the only ways worthy of pursuit as we live in this foolish world.
My Prayer Today: Shine, Jesus, shine through me! Amen
My Journal for Today: In today’s highlight verse, the Apostle Paul cautions believers to be careful in our Christian walk and to be wise; and he likely makes this observation in the context of a previous exhortation to Christians in Ephesians 4: 1, where he wrote that Christians must “…live a life worthy of the calling you have received, …” which, of course, is that of being a “Christian.”
And John MacArthur helps me (us) see, in today’s Strength for Today devotional, that a “worthy” life or walk in Christ is one of humility (Ephesians 4: 1 – 3), unity with other believers (Eph. 4: 4 – 16), uniqueness and separation from the world (Eph. 4: 17 – 32), and one exhibiting Christ’s love (Eph. 5: 1 – 7) from the illumination of God’s Spirit (Eph. 5: 8 – 14); and all of this is living a life of Godly wisdom (see above in Eph. 5: 15 – 17), avoiding the foolishness of the world. And MacArthur is right when he says that such a walk is severely impeded, if not impossible, when Christians make worldly or self-centered choices, seeking to use the tools of worldly wisdom or relying on the wisdom generated from our own deceit-ridden hearts (see Jer. 17: 9). MacArthur quotes Paul again, but from 2nd Timothy 3: 7 this time, indicating that the world cannot become Godly wise because it is “…always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.”
And the latter truth is why, according to the Apostle John (see 1st John 2: 15 – 16), we must separate ourselves in the love of God from the world’s way of thinking and living … so that we can take up the torch Jesus mandated for us as Christians to “… let (our) light shine before men that they may see (our) good works, …” [see Matt. 5: 16] and realize that the ways of God are the only ways worthy of pursuit as we live in this foolish world.
My Prayer Today: Shine, Jesus, shine through me! Amen
Thursday, November 17, 2011
November 17, 2011 … Living In A World of Fools
Passage of the Day: Proverbs 24: 7a … Wisdom is too high for a fool; …
My Journal for Today: John MacArthur writes, in his devotional from Strength for Today for this date, “… we live in a world of fools.” Wow [!]; … how could one read the news and disagree with that? How could one see what’s going on in Washington, DC and disagree with that? How could I view what I’ve done in my past and disagree? Until I was 39 years old, for almost 22 years of my life I was a captive of my sin nature, … bound and gagged in foolishness. Godly wisdom, as today’s verse proclaims, was way out of my scope of reasoning during that time of my life.
Macarthur indicates that there are three things which mark “the fool” in today’s world …
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#1. The fool denies God (see Psalm 14: 1), living as if there were no God. It’s what MacArthur calls, “practical atheism,” … a life of corruption and idolatry.
#2. The fool becomes his own God (see Prov. 12: 15a), worshipping and living for self rather than for The Savior, which again is self-indulgent idolatry.
#3. And the fool mocks sin (see Prov. 14: 9a), making up his own rules and being his own standard to justify sinful behavior. His way becomes the “right” way.
------------------
Yes, that was me prior to 1977 … a selfish “fool,” who finally looked into God’s mirror of truth and saw myself for whom I really was. However, when I first saw the reality of myself in that mirror, I ran, seeking for wisdom in all the wrong places, … primarily into spiritual thought processes managed by the enemy … “religions” such as Buddhism, Taoism, and New Age-ism. But in 1983, I finally was able to look into God’s mirror of true wisdom and, by God’s grace, sense Christ calling me; and I stepped away from foolishness and moved toward real wisdom. And to a great degree, though I’ve had some fool-hardy selfish detours and distractions along the way, I’ve come to live in the convicted direction of Psalm 119: 9-11, Luke 9: 23, Prov. 3: 5-6, and Romans 12: 1-2 , which, if internalized, shows any born-again sinner-saint how to stay on track and follow God.
Yes, all believers still must contend with the residuals of our sin nature (Rom. 3: 23 and Jer. 17: 9); but now, as born-again believers, we have God’s spirit to bring us toward God’s wisdom and away from worldly foolishness (Gal. 2: 20 and 1st John 4: 4). I don’t have to walk the way of the fool any more; and neither do you if you’ve truly surrendered to Christ and His Spirit.
What is your path these days? Don’t you think it’s time we all get off the selfish track and follow the Savior?
My Prayer Today: Fill me, Lord, that I may never be the worldly fool. Amen
My Journal for Today: John MacArthur writes, in his devotional from Strength for Today for this date, “… we live in a world of fools.” Wow [!]; … how could one read the news and disagree with that? How could one see what’s going on in Washington, DC and disagree with that? How could I view what I’ve done in my past and disagree? Until I was 39 years old, for almost 22 years of my life I was a captive of my sin nature, … bound and gagged in foolishness. Godly wisdom, as today’s verse proclaims, was way out of my scope of reasoning during that time of my life.
Macarthur indicates that there are three things which mark “the fool” in today’s world …
----------------------
#1. The fool denies God (see Psalm 14: 1), living as if there were no God. It’s what MacArthur calls, “practical atheism,” … a life of corruption and idolatry.
#2. The fool becomes his own God (see Prov. 12: 15a), worshipping and living for self rather than for The Savior, which again is self-indulgent idolatry.
#3. And the fool mocks sin (see Prov. 14: 9a), making up his own rules and being his own standard to justify sinful behavior. His way becomes the “right” way.
------------------
Yes, that was me prior to 1977 … a selfish “fool,” who finally looked into God’s mirror of truth and saw myself for whom I really was. However, when I first saw the reality of myself in that mirror, I ran, seeking for wisdom in all the wrong places, … primarily into spiritual thought processes managed by the enemy … “religions” such as Buddhism, Taoism, and New Age-ism. But in 1983, I finally was able to look into God’s mirror of true wisdom and, by God’s grace, sense Christ calling me; and I stepped away from foolishness and moved toward real wisdom. And to a great degree, though I’ve had some fool-hardy selfish detours and distractions along the way, I’ve come to live in the convicted direction of Psalm 119: 9-11, Luke 9: 23, Prov. 3: 5-6, and Romans 12: 1-2 , which, if internalized, shows any born-again sinner-saint how to stay on track and follow God.
Yes, all believers still must contend with the residuals of our sin nature (Rom. 3: 23 and Jer. 17: 9); but now, as born-again believers, we have God’s spirit to bring us toward God’s wisdom and away from worldly foolishness (Gal. 2: 20 and 1st John 4: 4). I don’t have to walk the way of the fool any more; and neither do you if you’ve truly surrendered to Christ and His Spirit.
What is your path these days? Don’t you think it’s time we all get off the selfish track and follow the Savior?
My Prayer Today: Fill me, Lord, that I may never be the worldly fool. Amen
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
November 15, 2011 … The Qualities of True Wisdom
Passage of the Day: James 3: 17 [ highlight verse - bold/underlined] … 13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.
My Journal for Today: For any who have been following or undertaking this study of the pursuit of Godly wisdom with me during November, you’ll remember that James, the author of our current study in James 3, began our discussion with a rhetorical question he asked in verse 13. He asked who, among his readers, is wise and understanding. Then he begins an answer with a general declaration that the truly wise person is one whose deeds and attitudes will reveal that person’s wisdom [which is a measure of his Christlikeness].
Today, in the highlight verse of James 3: 17, the author is more specific as to the qualities one would find in the Godly wise Christian; and if one reads/studies the list, he/she will find that it is an imposing one, for sure! I think of my oft used word picture of God’s word being a mirror of truth. And the reaction of the natural man when confronted by such a mirror, for example in James’ list in today’s passage, is to either rebel or run from the mirror, not wanting to see what is depicted. However, James is saying that the God-inspired Christian will desire to take what is revealed (i.e., the natural self) and turn himself into the supernatural image of Christ.
In the list presented in James 3: 17, we read that the Godly-wise Christian lives a life of Godly excellence [James 3: 13], where that one is found to be humble, pure, peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy, filled with God’s fruit (see Gal. 5: 22, 23), totally unwavering, and completely without hypocrisy. Wow! What an inventory of values, attitudes, and lifestyle choices! And I don’t know about you; but I’ve got some growing to do as I inventory this list to become a Godly-wise Christian.
Having done an in-depth study of these qualities, even of the Greek terms for each value, I can say that having this list as a periodic viewing into God’s mirror of truth can be a bit painful; but it is a very productive exercise to promote Christian growth. But, we have to be willing to see who REALLY we are when compared with our Model, Who, of course, is Christ.
I strongly believe that God wants His own [i.e., the born-again Christian] to keep looking into God’s mirror of truth/faith (see 2nd Cor. 13: 5), at least periodically, to see where we stand and where we need to grow. That’s why using a self inventory like this one today or looking at another like Paul’s fruit of the Spirit (again see Gal. 5: 22, 23) periodically can be a productive way to let God’s conviction and direction move us closer to Him and so that we can follow Him more readily (see Prov. 3: 5, 6 and Luke 9: 23).
My Prayer Today: Lord, may my life reflect Your mind. Amen
My Journal for Today: For any who have been following or undertaking this study of the pursuit of Godly wisdom with me during November, you’ll remember that James, the author of our current study in James 3, began our discussion with a rhetorical question he asked in verse 13. He asked who, among his readers, is wise and understanding. Then he begins an answer with a general declaration that the truly wise person is one whose deeds and attitudes will reveal that person’s wisdom [which is a measure of his Christlikeness].
Today, in the highlight verse of James 3: 17, the author is more specific as to the qualities one would find in the Godly wise Christian; and if one reads/studies the list, he/she will find that it is an imposing one, for sure! I think of my oft used word picture of God’s word being a mirror of truth. And the reaction of the natural man when confronted by such a mirror, for example in James’ list in today’s passage, is to either rebel or run from the mirror, not wanting to see what is depicted. However, James is saying that the God-inspired Christian will desire to take what is revealed (i.e., the natural self) and turn himself into the supernatural image of Christ.
In the list presented in James 3: 17, we read that the Godly-wise Christian lives a life of Godly excellence [James 3: 13], where that one is found to be humble, pure, peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy, filled with God’s fruit (see Gal. 5: 22, 23), totally unwavering, and completely without hypocrisy. Wow! What an inventory of values, attitudes, and lifestyle choices! And I don’t know about you; but I’ve got some growing to do as I inventory this list to become a Godly-wise Christian.
Having done an in-depth study of these qualities, even of the Greek terms for each value, I can say that having this list as a periodic viewing into God’s mirror of truth can be a bit painful; but it is a very productive exercise to promote Christian growth. But, we have to be willing to see who REALLY we are when compared with our Model, Who, of course, is Christ.
I strongly believe that God wants His own [i.e., the born-again Christian] to keep looking into God’s mirror of truth/faith (see 2nd Cor. 13: 5), at least periodically, to see where we stand and where we need to grow. That’s why using a self inventory like this one today or looking at another like Paul’s fruit of the Spirit (again see Gal. 5: 22, 23) periodically can be a productive way to let God’s conviction and direction move us closer to Him and so that we can follow Him more readily (see Prov. 3: 5, 6 and Luke 9: 23).
My Prayer Today: Lord, may my life reflect Your mind. Amen
Sunday, November 13, 2011
November 13, 2011 … The Results of False Wisdom
Passage of the Day: James 3: 16 - 17 [highlight verses in bold/underlined] … 13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.
My Journal for Today: Okay, in the passage we’ve been considering for the last few days, James, the pragmatic half-brother of Jesus, from God’s inspiration for His Word, lays out our choice, as Christians, when it comes to pursuing “wisdom.” We can either choose worldly or human wisdom; or we can choose to pursue the wisdom of God.
Therefore, as James reveals in James 3: 16 - 17, today’s highlighted passage, there is truly a wise believer, from pursuing the mind of God – primarily from His Word – who has an attitude of humility and meekness and whose life is marked by Godly works (see James 3: 13). … OR, there is the one, non-believer or Christian, who pursues human and/or worldly wisdom, and whose attitude is marked by self-centeredness, one whose life produces disorder, chaos, or in the words of James, “… every evil practice.” So, when we look at our own attitudes, motives, and/or actions (especially our habit patterns), we ought to be able to determine whether we’re choosing to pursue the mind of God or use the patterns of our flesh or the world to glean wisdom in order to live our lives. And a discerning Christian, tempered by humility, also ought to be able to see Christian attitudes/actions, or lack thereof, in the lives of others. That discernment is also a reflection of Godly wisdom.
I would certainly say, without hesitation, that today’s world, even our daily news, is replete with evidence that the world’s pursuit of knowledge/understanding through science, worldly education, humanistic philosophies, and even some works-oriented religions, has in-fact produced the realm of chaos and evil that we see all around us. And that is what is prophesied by one of today’s highlighted verses (see James 3: 16 ).
However, when you find a Christian – a true born-again believer – in head-long pursuit of the mind and/or will of God, you will see a person whose life is marked by the fruit of the Spirit, most especially lit up by love, joy, and peace [which are also reflected in James 3: 17].
What about it? Is your life a light for Christ in this sin-darkened world? Are the fruit of the Spirit [Galatians 5: 22 – 23] evident when others look at your life? Or when one sees our lives on display for the world to see, do any of the fruit of the flesh shine forth like a neon sign [see Gal. 5: 19 – 21]? If the latter is the case, perhaps we could be seeking our own way in life by pursuing the ways of our own deceitful hearts or by trying to selfishly find our knowledge or understanding in the world. When are we going to see that the truth of James 3: 13 – 18 demands that we seek our wisdom from God and God alone?
Yes, the probing inventory continues. Which type of wisdom will be our pursuit? I know that my heart is to find God’s way and His will through His word; but too often I revert to a pursuit of knowledge or wisdom with selfish motives. Oh, how I pray to avoid the latter and pursue the former.
My Prayer Today: Make mine Yours, Lord! Amen
My Journal for Today: Okay, in the passage we’ve been considering for the last few days, James, the pragmatic half-brother of Jesus, from God’s inspiration for His Word, lays out our choice, as Christians, when it comes to pursuing “wisdom.” We can either choose worldly or human wisdom; or we can choose to pursue the wisdom of God.
Therefore, as James reveals in James 3: 16 - 17, today’s highlighted passage, there is truly a wise believer, from pursuing the mind of God – primarily from His Word – who has an attitude of humility and meekness and whose life is marked by Godly works (see James 3: 13). … OR, there is the one, non-believer or Christian, who pursues human and/or worldly wisdom, and whose attitude is marked by self-centeredness, one whose life produces disorder, chaos, or in the words of James, “… every evil practice.” So, when we look at our own attitudes, motives, and/or actions (especially our habit patterns), we ought to be able to determine whether we’re choosing to pursue the mind of God or use the patterns of our flesh or the world to glean wisdom in order to live our lives. And a discerning Christian, tempered by humility, also ought to be able to see Christian attitudes/actions, or lack thereof, in the lives of others. That discernment is also a reflection of Godly wisdom.
I would certainly say, without hesitation, that today’s world, even our daily news, is replete with evidence that the world’s pursuit of knowledge/understanding through science, worldly education, humanistic philosophies, and even some works-oriented religions, has in-fact produced the realm of chaos and evil that we see all around us. And that is what is prophesied by one of today’s highlighted verses (see James 3: 16 ).
However, when you find a Christian – a true born-again believer – in head-long pursuit of the mind and/or will of God, you will see a person whose life is marked by the fruit of the Spirit, most especially lit up by love, joy, and peace [which are also reflected in James 3: 17].
What about it? Is your life a light for Christ in this sin-darkened world? Are the fruit of the Spirit [Galatians 5: 22 – 23] evident when others look at your life? Or when one sees our lives on display for the world to see, do any of the fruit of the flesh shine forth like a neon sign [see Gal. 5: 19 – 21]? If the latter is the case, perhaps we could be seeking our own way in life by pursuing the ways of our own deceitful hearts or by trying to selfishly find our knowledge or understanding in the world. When are we going to see that the truth of James 3: 13 – 18 demands that we seek our wisdom from God and God alone?
Yes, the probing inventory continues. Which type of wisdom will be our pursuit? I know that my heart is to find God’s way and His will through His word; but too often I revert to a pursuit of knowledge or wisdom with selfish motives. Oh, how I pray to avoid the latter and pursue the former.
My Prayer Today: Make mine Yours, Lord! Amen
Saturday, November 12, 2011
November 12, 2011 … Identifying False Wisdom
Passage of the Day: James 3: 15 [highlight verse in bold/underlined] … 13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.
My Journal for Today: Make no mistake about “wisdom” [i.e., our understanding of life]. It takes on two distinct forms; and in James 3: 13 – 15, today’s passage repeated in the last few days, God, through James, shows us the two quite clearly.
First, there is Godly wisdom, primarily provided by God’s grace for man’s well being. And then there is worldly wisdom, which is so-often falsely pursued and created by man and channeled from Satan or the world for man’s selfish desire as he tries to understand those elements of life which impact him. We have seen in these past days that when a believer mines God’s truth with an attitude of humility and expectation (again, see Job 28), primarily from God’s word or insights from His Spirit, God will provide His will and His way to man in abundance (see James 1: 5 – 6). However, when man, from an attitude of selfishness or ambition, seeks understanding from life on his own, such “wisdom” may come from his own heart (and we see what we can get into going that route (Jeremiah 17: 9). Our search for understand also may come from Satan or the world (see today’s verse), who are certainly ready to deceive us and draw us away from God, resulting in all kinds of disorder and evil (read ahead to James 3: 16).
That’s what happened when Solomon was given discernment to pursue wisdom from God (see 1st Kings 3: 5 – 13 - linked here). God was pleased with Solomon when he had a chance to gain anything from God; and the new king chose wisdom. So, God provided Solomon with a discerning heart, provisionally allowing the king to be the wisest man who ever lived. But we know from “the rest of the story” that Solomon blew it by pursuing selfish pleasures and power later in life rather than God’s presence and plan; and the book of Ecclesiastes chronicles what Solomon learned about those pursuits. We also read [see Eccles. 12: 13] that the Hebrew King finally came to God’s conclusion, giving all believers the insights from his experience: “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” And much of the book of Proverbs [especially Chapters 1 – 9] was, I believe, Solomon’s attempt to get that message across to his son (and from God to all of us). Think of the oft-quoted exhortation of Prov. 3: 5 -6 where Solomon desperately wanted his son [and readers like you or me] to trust in God for direction and his warning not to lean on our own, human, understanding.
And the Apostle Paul in the New Testament warned Christians to beware of the agents of Satan in the world – even within the church – disguising themselves as ministers of light and righteousness (2nd Cor. 11: 14 – 15). Paul says that we’ll get what we deserve if we cannot discern man’s version of “truth” from God’s perfect word; and that will be what our selfish desires get from what Satan provides. The history of mankind and God’s chronicles of His chosen people (see all of the book of Judges), are evidence of what man will get when he chooses to pursue human understanding rather than Godly wisdom.
How are we doing? How are YOU doing?
My Prayer Today: Help me see Your true wisdom, Lord, as I live in this world. Amen
My Journal for Today: Make no mistake about “wisdom” [i.e., our understanding of life]. It takes on two distinct forms; and in James 3: 13 – 15, today’s passage repeated in the last few days, God, through James, shows us the two quite clearly.
First, there is Godly wisdom, primarily provided by God’s grace for man’s well being. And then there is worldly wisdom, which is so-often falsely pursued and created by man and channeled from Satan or the world for man’s selfish desire as he tries to understand those elements of life which impact him. We have seen in these past days that when a believer mines God’s truth with an attitude of humility and expectation (again, see Job 28), primarily from God’s word or insights from His Spirit, God will provide His will and His way to man in abundance (see James 1: 5 – 6). However, when man, from an attitude of selfishness or ambition, seeks understanding from life on his own, such “wisdom” may come from his own heart (and we see what we can get into going that route (Jeremiah 17: 9). Our search for understand also may come from Satan or the world (see today’s verse), who are certainly ready to deceive us and draw us away from God, resulting in all kinds of disorder and evil (read ahead to James 3: 16).
That’s what happened when Solomon was given discernment to pursue wisdom from God (see 1st Kings 3: 5 – 13 - linked here). God was pleased with Solomon when he had a chance to gain anything from God; and the new king chose wisdom. So, God provided Solomon with a discerning heart, provisionally allowing the king to be the wisest man who ever lived. But we know from “the rest of the story” that Solomon blew it by pursuing selfish pleasures and power later in life rather than God’s presence and plan; and the book of Ecclesiastes chronicles what Solomon learned about those pursuits. We also read [see Eccles. 12: 13] that the Hebrew King finally came to God’s conclusion, giving all believers the insights from his experience: “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” And much of the book of Proverbs [especially Chapters 1 – 9] was, I believe, Solomon’s attempt to get that message across to his son (and from God to all of us). Think of the oft-quoted exhortation of Prov. 3: 5 -6 where Solomon desperately wanted his son [and readers like you or me] to trust in God for direction and his warning not to lean on our own, human, understanding.
And the Apostle Paul in the New Testament warned Christians to beware of the agents of Satan in the world – even within the church – disguising themselves as ministers of light and righteousness (2nd Cor. 11: 14 – 15). Paul says that we’ll get what we deserve if we cannot discern man’s version of “truth” from God’s perfect word; and that will be what our selfish desires get from what Satan provides. The history of mankind and God’s chronicles of His chosen people (see all of the book of Judges), are evidence of what man will get when he chooses to pursue human understanding rather than Godly wisdom.
How are we doing? How are YOU doing?
My Prayer Today: Help me see Your true wisdom, Lord, as I live in this world. Amen
Thursday, October 27, 2011
October 27, 2011 … The Law Arouses Sin
Romans 7: 8 [note verse from context in bold/underlined] … Rom. 7: 4 So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God. 5 For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death. 6 But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code. 7 What shall we say, then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed I would not have known what sin was except through the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, "Do not covet." 8 But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire. For apart from law, sin is dead.
My Journal for Today: Continuing the discussion of the effects of the Law on sin in our lives, yesterday (from Rom. 7: 7) we saw that the Law reveals sin. It is like a mirror unto holiness; and it, sometimes painfully, reveals all the ugliness in our soul.
Now, in today’s highlight verse (Rom. 7: 8), Paul uses himself, as he does in much of his discussion on sin in Romans 7, illustrating that The Law also arouses sin in sinful mankind. It’s the old, but perverse, truth that when we’re confronted when THE Truth or with God as our Holy authority, our “natural,” reactive tendency is to rebel. John MacArthur uses the old illustration of what a young adolescent will do walking down the sidewalk, confronted with a “KEEP OFF THE GRASS!” sign. You may have been that child; and yes, I’ll bet you did what I did – i.e., tiptoe through the grass. Admit it; that’s who we are as sinful man [or woman].
So, today we’re confronted with the reality that the sin nature remaining in us will want to take every “opportunity” to taunt us toward sin when we know God’s holy signpost. That word, “opportunity,” is the Greek term “aphorme,” which actually means “taunt;” and the world has a military derivation, meaning that a base camp is established from which attacks on an enemy can be launched. And that’s exactly what Satan does, perversely using the “base camp” of God’s eternal Law. Satan knows that mankind, with his curse-driven sin nature, cannot live up to The Law, so he dangles it out in front of man, tempting him at every “opportunity” to make us want to walk on the grass in rebellion to God’s signpost of holiness. And Satan also wants us to try to do the work of avoidance on our own, trying to independently live up to God’s Law. Our enemy knows that we will never be able to do so; and so he can then use our headstrong nature to create discouragement in the hearts of God’s redeemed. It’s a double whammy; and the Law is there, essentially provoking it.
Yes, of course, it’s true that we must face our inability to overcome our sin nature and the Law on our own; but we can and will do just that … IF … we choose to submit and receive the grace that God has waiting and available for any born-again believer who would choose to accept and use that grace, provided by God’s Spirit, to overcome sin. We can live in holiness; but we have to choose surrender to God’s Spirit to find the victory.
My Prayer Today: Without Your grace, Lord, I am lost in my sinfulness. Amen
My Journal for Today: Continuing the discussion of the effects of the Law on sin in our lives, yesterday (from Rom. 7: 7) we saw that the Law reveals sin. It is like a mirror unto holiness; and it, sometimes painfully, reveals all the ugliness in our soul.
Now, in today’s highlight verse (Rom. 7: 8), Paul uses himself, as he does in much of his discussion on sin in Romans 7, illustrating that The Law also arouses sin in sinful mankind. It’s the old, but perverse, truth that when we’re confronted when THE Truth or with God as our Holy authority, our “natural,” reactive tendency is to rebel. John MacArthur uses the old illustration of what a young adolescent will do walking down the sidewalk, confronted with a “KEEP OFF THE GRASS!” sign. You may have been that child; and yes, I’ll bet you did what I did – i.e., tiptoe through the grass. Admit it; that’s who we are as sinful man [or woman].
So, today we’re confronted with the reality that the sin nature remaining in us will want to take every “opportunity” to taunt us toward sin when we know God’s holy signpost. That word, “opportunity,” is the Greek term “aphorme,” which actually means “taunt;” and the world has a military derivation, meaning that a base camp is established from which attacks on an enemy can be launched. And that’s exactly what Satan does, perversely using the “base camp” of God’s eternal Law. Satan knows that mankind, with his curse-driven sin nature, cannot live up to The Law, so he dangles it out in front of man, tempting him at every “opportunity” to make us want to walk on the grass in rebellion to God’s signpost of holiness. And Satan also wants us to try to do the work of avoidance on our own, trying to independently live up to God’s Law. Our enemy knows that we will never be able to do so; and so he can then use our headstrong nature to create discouragement in the hearts of God’s redeemed. It’s a double whammy; and the Law is there, essentially provoking it.
Yes, of course, it’s true that we must face our inability to overcome our sin nature and the Law on our own; but we can and will do just that … IF … we choose to submit and receive the grace that God has waiting and available for any born-again believer who would choose to accept and use that grace, provided by God’s Spirit, to overcome sin. We can live in holiness; but we have to choose surrender to God’s Spirit to find the victory.
My Prayer Today: Without Your grace, Lord, I am lost in my sinfulness. Amen
Monday, October 24, 2011
October 24, 2011 … The Fearsome Foursome
Passage of the Day: Romans 7: 5 [ NIV] … 5 For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death.
Romans 7: 5 [NASB – key terms in bold/underlined] … 5 For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by The Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death.
My Journal for Today: Today’s verse (Rom. 7: 5, offered above in both NIV and NASB versions, reveals the horrific and evil chain of events created by the fall of mankind, resulting in a human nature, which, when activated by our free will can – and does – lead to death. Here we read (mostly using the NASB in this journal entry) the four terms (in bold and underlined above) which characterize those who are not in Christ or Christians who choose to rebel from God’s way/will. The four, listed in a sequential order that John MacArthur uses for a point about the outcomes of sin are … the law, the flesh, man’s sinful passions, and [spiritual] death. Taken in that order, in today’s Strength for Today entry, MacArthur speaks of how these four operate to separate man from God, which, is an excellent operational definition of “sin.”
THE LAW is ever present, indestructible and eternal, to reveal our weakness and sin, which thereby activates man’s FLESH, … which then provides a channel for man’s Adamic and/or carnal nature (i.e., the SINFUL PASSIONS), leading to choices which result in separation from God (i.e., spiritual DEATH). This chain of horror is what John MacArthur calls the “fearsome foursome,” which continually operate to undermine man’s relationship with God. The latter, of course, holds the lost from God’s saving grace; and it holds the saved sinner from a fruitful life in Christ.
But praise be to God [!], we ever live to be moved by our loving and merciful God, Who, “…made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions,” [the wondrous truth of Eph. 2: 5]. And all we need to do, in our human state, is to make a choice … to repent in faith and/or to live in faith, believing in Christ’s sacrifice, and receiving His grace (saving grace for the lost and enabling grace for the saved), which breaks the effects of the “fearsome foursome,” resulting in eternal and/or fruitful life.
It really should be a no-brainer choice [for true, born-again Christians, that is!]; but we can make it so difficult at times by choosing self over Savior. What is your choice going to be today?
My Prayer Today: I choose You, Lord! Amen
Romans 7: 5 [NASB – key terms in bold/underlined] … 5 For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by The Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death.
My Journal for Today: Today’s verse (Rom. 7: 5, offered above in both NIV and NASB versions, reveals the horrific and evil chain of events created by the fall of mankind, resulting in a human nature, which, when activated by our free will can – and does – lead to death. Here we read (mostly using the NASB in this journal entry) the four terms (in bold and underlined above) which characterize those who are not in Christ or Christians who choose to rebel from God’s way/will. The four, listed in a sequential order that John MacArthur uses for a point about the outcomes of sin are … the law, the flesh, man’s sinful passions, and [spiritual] death. Taken in that order, in today’s Strength for Today entry, MacArthur speaks of how these four operate to separate man from God, which, is an excellent operational definition of “sin.”
THE LAW is ever present, indestructible and eternal, to reveal our weakness and sin, which thereby activates man’s FLESH, … which then provides a channel for man’s Adamic and/or carnal nature (i.e., the SINFUL PASSIONS), leading to choices which result in separation from God (i.e., spiritual DEATH). This chain of horror is what John MacArthur calls the “fearsome foursome,” which continually operate to undermine man’s relationship with God. The latter, of course, holds the lost from God’s saving grace; and it holds the saved sinner from a fruitful life in Christ.
But praise be to God [!], we ever live to be moved by our loving and merciful God, Who, “…made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions,” [the wondrous truth of Eph. 2: 5]. And all we need to do, in our human state, is to make a choice … to repent in faith and/or to live in faith, believing in Christ’s sacrifice, and receiving His grace (saving grace for the lost and enabling grace for the saved), which breaks the effects of the “fearsome foursome,” resulting in eternal and/or fruitful life.
It really should be a no-brainer choice [for true, born-again Christians, that is!]; but we can make it so difficult at times by choosing self over Savior. What is your choice going to be today?
My Prayer Today: I choose You, Lord! Amen
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
October 11, 2011 … Dead to Sin
Passage of the Day: Romans 6: 1 – 2 [see verse in bold/underlined] … Rom. 5: 20 The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. --- Rom. 6:1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?
My Journal for Today: It is important for all true Christians to have a foundational understanding of our relationship with sin. The Apostle Paul was confronted by this basic doctrinal issue when he asked the important rhetorical question in his letter to the Romans (v. 6: 1). In the context of what he had just written in Rom. 5: 20 – 21 (printed above for your context and edification), Paul asked, “Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?” And to this question Paul answers with the strongest negation found in the Greek language, which is “me” (pronounced “may”) – a small word but a very strong statement, which in our language is the equivalent of saying, “Absolutely not!” … or … “Forget it!” … or maybe, more colloquially, … “NO WAY!”
And so, my fellow Christian, here’s the simple truth. A true, born-again believer in Christ is dead to sin. However, the dilemma found in that same Christian is the fact that this person (maybe it’s you or me) has a sin nature with which he must contend. But for a REAL Christian to continue in conscious, unrepentant, and habitual sin with no remorse is a virtual and spiritual impossibility. Besides today’s cited passage, Paul repetitively in his epistles harkens to this reality (see Eph. 2: 1 – 5 [linked] and Col. 1: 13 - 14).
We, who now are in Christ, have been bought by the atonement of our Savior, … saved from the darkness of death into the light of eternal life. And though the Christian, retaining a sin nature, may sin – even by choice – such sin will never happen for the born-again believer without redress or conviction by the Holy Spirit, Who now resides in the heart of that believer for eternity.
In the ministry to which I’ve been called to serve, which deals with Christians who fall prey to habitual, or even repetitive, sexual sin, I’m often asked, “How could I truly be a Christian and continue to sin in this way sexually?” To such a question I usually ask a diagnostic question in retort, asking, “When you do sin – even repetitively – do you enjoy the results of your sin afterwards or does the sin satisfy your inner being?” The true Christian responding to my question will answer, “No, way!” [which, BTW, is the same strong negation as the Apostle used in Greek in Rom. 6:1] And continuing, … the Christian who has denied any satisfaction from the chosen sin pattern usually also reports having severe, acute remorse from the conviction they feel from God’s Spirit after a bout or binge into selfish sensual sin. Often the remorse/guilt from the sin drives that one to periods [even long periods] of sobriety from sexual sin; and the valley of remorse can stay with that one for a period of time, even at times allowing that believer to experience to climb to a higher place of joy from their relationship with Christ. This is what I call the roller-coaster ride of repentance and remorse of the immature Christian, riding high when he is pure and then falling fast into the valley of despair involving the chosen sin. As I say, that’s the way of the immature Christian. However, it’s the mature Christian who learns to level off in his/her life of faith, knowing that living with the joy resulting from obedience to God’s way is worth what it takes to stay on an even keel in the life of a Christian, and realizing to follow and live out what that more mature Christian learns in order to avoid sin and practice spiritual temperance. And when, in the mature and long lasting decision to follow Christ, rather than self, that maturity becomes so joyful that he/she wants to help others find that dying to sin and living in Christ is so much more fulfilling than any fix one might get from partaking of the sin nature.
So, if you’re reading this as a fellow Christian, KNOW this! In Christ, you are – and choose to be - dead to sin. It is a defeated foe. Yes, sin is a persistent foe; … but in Christ you will ultimately win the battle!
My Prayer Today: In You, Lord, sin has no sway over me! Amen
My Journal for Today: It is important for all true Christians to have a foundational understanding of our relationship with sin. The Apostle Paul was confronted by this basic doctrinal issue when he asked the important rhetorical question in his letter to the Romans (v. 6: 1). In the context of what he had just written in Rom. 5: 20 – 21 (printed above for your context and edification), Paul asked, “Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?” And to this question Paul answers with the strongest negation found in the Greek language, which is “me” (pronounced “may”) – a small word but a very strong statement, which in our language is the equivalent of saying, “Absolutely not!” … or … “Forget it!” … or maybe, more colloquially, … “NO WAY!”
And so, my fellow Christian, here’s the simple truth. A true, born-again believer in Christ is dead to sin. However, the dilemma found in that same Christian is the fact that this person (maybe it’s you or me) has a sin nature with which he must contend. But for a REAL Christian to continue in conscious, unrepentant, and habitual sin with no remorse is a virtual and spiritual impossibility. Besides today’s cited passage, Paul repetitively in his epistles harkens to this reality (see Eph. 2: 1 – 5 [linked] and Col. 1: 13 - 14).
We, who now are in Christ, have been bought by the atonement of our Savior, … saved from the darkness of death into the light of eternal life. And though the Christian, retaining a sin nature, may sin – even by choice – such sin will never happen for the born-again believer without redress or conviction by the Holy Spirit, Who now resides in the heart of that believer for eternity.
In the ministry to which I’ve been called to serve, which deals with Christians who fall prey to habitual, or even repetitive, sexual sin, I’m often asked, “How could I truly be a Christian and continue to sin in this way sexually?” To such a question I usually ask a diagnostic question in retort, asking, “When you do sin – even repetitively – do you enjoy the results of your sin afterwards or does the sin satisfy your inner being?” The true Christian responding to my question will answer, “No, way!” [which, BTW, is the same strong negation as the Apostle used in Greek in Rom. 6:1] And continuing, … the Christian who has denied any satisfaction from the chosen sin pattern usually also reports having severe, acute remorse from the conviction they feel from God’s Spirit after a bout or binge into selfish sensual sin. Often the remorse/guilt from the sin drives that one to periods [even long periods] of sobriety from sexual sin; and the valley of remorse can stay with that one for a period of time, even at times allowing that believer to experience to climb to a higher place of joy from their relationship with Christ. This is what I call the roller-coaster ride of repentance and remorse of the immature Christian, riding high when he is pure and then falling fast into the valley of despair involving the chosen sin. As I say, that’s the way of the immature Christian. However, it’s the mature Christian who learns to level off in his/her life of faith, knowing that living with the joy resulting from obedience to God’s way is worth what it takes to stay on an even keel in the life of a Christian, and realizing to follow and live out what that more mature Christian learns in order to avoid sin and practice spiritual temperance. And when, in the mature and long lasting decision to follow Christ, rather than self, that maturity becomes so joyful that he/she wants to help others find that dying to sin and living in Christ is so much more fulfilling than any fix one might get from partaking of the sin nature.
So, if you’re reading this as a fellow Christian, KNOW this! In Christ, you are – and choose to be - dead to sin. It is a defeated foe. Yes, sin is a persistent foe; … but in Christ you will ultimately win the battle!
My Prayer Today: In You, Lord, sin has no sway over me! Amen
Monday, October 10, 2011
October 10, 2011 … A Right View of Self
Passage of the Day: Psalm 51: 6 [see verse in bold/underlined] …
1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge. 5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. 6 Surely You desire truth in the inner parts; You teach me wisdom in the inmost place. 7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones You have crushed rejoice. 9 Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.
My Journal for Today: In the past two days of this study into the nature of sin, which is actually a study of the inner nature of mankind and my humanity, I’ve noted that true confession of sinfulness involves a right view … #1, of sin and … #2, of God. And to put a tag on this three-part mini-study, John MacArthur in his Strength for Today devotional on this date, helps me [us] see that this self-inventory also involves #3, … a right view of self.
I agree with MacArthur, who contends that a great many non-believers, and unfortunately far too many Christians, have fallen prey to the cultural trend toward boosting “self-esteem.” There are literally hundreds of self-help books on the market; and “self-esteem” gurus, like Oprah or Dr. Phil, who have become the leaders of our self-improvement market of pseudo-spiritual teachers. And many Christians get sucked into this vortex of belief which touts believing in self, following so-called “Christian” teachers like Joel Osteen. If you’re reading this, my friend, it’s all a lie from hell which causes us to take our eyes off of our Savior and onto self. Jesus clearly taught (see an old favorite in my devotionals – Luke 9: 23a) that any disciple of His must “deny self;” and so any worldly teaching that promotes or lifts up “selfism,” is an anti-Christ teaching.
Perhaps some of this, from a Christian standpoint, could come from a misshaped view of Jesus’ teaching from Matt. 19: 19 to “… love our neighbor as yourself,” which is not a mandate for self-love, but Christ’s command of what the Apostle Paul covered in Phil. 2: 3 – 4, … for Christians to “… consider others better than (i.e., before) ourselves.” To Jesus, the love of others came out of the recognition of the reality that God is in our hearts, and whenever we choose (and love is always a choice, not a feeling) to love others first, we are giving them [i.e., others] the same love that God gives to us through His Spirit, which is a sinless, selfless love, [i.e., “agape” love] … not a love of self extended to others to make us feel good. But our self-help gurus would have us believe that we must first love ourselves so that we can be able to reach out to others. Hopefully you can see the skin of this lie which is wrapped around a teaching of Christ. Oh, how clever the enemy can be!! Ironically we can love ourselves if and when we’re able to choose to love the God in us, who is Emmanuel … i.e., Christ. And when we love Him, receiving the grace of God through His Spirit, we’re able to extend our love of God in us to others and fulfill the Law of Christ (again Matt. 19: 19).
Actually, as we read in today’s verse of emphasis from Psalm 51: 6, David’s confessional hymn, we see that David recognized from whence the ability to love others came, … from God’s heart to ours … from God’s love of our very created being. He recognized that we would only be able to relate to God’s truth when we submitted to that truth. David saw that he (and, by extension, we) could only have true cleansing from sin and then witness to others when we could/would allow God to witness His holiness to the heart of mankind. In Ps. 51: 12 - 17 David writes of how joyfully he would witness God’s truth to others (i.e., to love others) or to praise God adequately, only when he could be rid of the sin that had plagued him. These latter verses are the outcries of a conquered, contrite, and openly-confessed sinner who had become surrendered to the love of God.
David had learned (of which you can read in 2nd Sam. 12: 10 – 19) that any sin has grave consequences. For David his sinfulness cost not only David, but his family and the nation of Israel; and Ps. 51 is David’s realization that he had to have a right view of himself, as well as a right view of his sin and his God, for him to be able to confess and get into a right relationship with God.
Therefore, when we seek cleansing from our sin, as did David, by our open and honest confession at God’s throne of grace, we must see our selves in the light of God’s holiness, seeking, with true humility, God’s cleansing from which we WILL find healing and restoration of our relationship with Christ (again, see and be uplifted by the powerful truths in Ps. 103: 8 – 13 and 1st John 1: 9).
My Prayer Today: Lord, You are God; and I am not! Heal me of my unholiness. Amen
1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge. 5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. 6 Surely You desire truth in the inner parts; You teach me wisdom in the inmost place. 7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones You have crushed rejoice. 9 Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.
My Journal for Today: In the past two days of this study into the nature of sin, which is actually a study of the inner nature of mankind and my humanity, I’ve noted that true confession of sinfulness involves a right view … #1, of sin and … #2, of God. And to put a tag on this three-part mini-study, John MacArthur in his Strength for Today devotional on this date, helps me [us] see that this self-inventory also involves #3, … a right view of self.
I agree with MacArthur, who contends that a great many non-believers, and unfortunately far too many Christians, have fallen prey to the cultural trend toward boosting “self-esteem.” There are literally hundreds of self-help books on the market; and “self-esteem” gurus, like Oprah or Dr. Phil, who have become the leaders of our self-improvement market of pseudo-spiritual teachers. And many Christians get sucked into this vortex of belief which touts believing in self, following so-called “Christian” teachers like Joel Osteen. If you’re reading this, my friend, it’s all a lie from hell which causes us to take our eyes off of our Savior and onto self. Jesus clearly taught (see an old favorite in my devotionals – Luke 9: 23a) that any disciple of His must “deny self;” and so any worldly teaching that promotes or lifts up “selfism,” is an anti-Christ teaching.
Perhaps some of this, from a Christian standpoint, could come from a misshaped view of Jesus’ teaching from Matt. 19: 19 to “… love our neighbor as yourself,” which is not a mandate for self-love, but Christ’s command of what the Apostle Paul covered in Phil. 2: 3 – 4, … for Christians to “… consider others better than (i.e., before) ourselves.” To Jesus, the love of others came out of the recognition of the reality that God is in our hearts, and whenever we choose (and love is always a choice, not a feeling) to love others first, we are giving them [i.e., others] the same love that God gives to us through His Spirit, which is a sinless, selfless love, [i.e., “agape” love] … not a love of self extended to others to make us feel good. But our self-help gurus would have us believe that we must first love ourselves so that we can be able to reach out to others. Hopefully you can see the skin of this lie which is wrapped around a teaching of Christ. Oh, how clever the enemy can be!! Ironically we can love ourselves if and when we’re able to choose to love the God in us, who is Emmanuel … i.e., Christ. And when we love Him, receiving the grace of God through His Spirit, we’re able to extend our love of God in us to others and fulfill the Law of Christ (again Matt. 19: 19).
Actually, as we read in today’s verse of emphasis from Psalm 51: 6, David’s confessional hymn, we see that David recognized from whence the ability to love others came, … from God’s heart to ours … from God’s love of our very created being. He recognized that we would only be able to relate to God’s truth when we submitted to that truth. David saw that he (and, by extension, we) could only have true cleansing from sin and then witness to others when we could/would allow God to witness His holiness to the heart of mankind. In Ps. 51: 12 - 17 David writes of how joyfully he would witness God’s truth to others (i.e., to love others) or to praise God adequately, only when he could be rid of the sin that had plagued him. These latter verses are the outcries of a conquered, contrite, and openly-confessed sinner who had become surrendered to the love of God.
David had learned (of which you can read in 2nd Sam. 12: 10 – 19) that any sin has grave consequences. For David his sinfulness cost not only David, but his family and the nation of Israel; and Ps. 51 is David’s realization that he had to have a right view of himself, as well as a right view of his sin and his God, for him to be able to confess and get into a right relationship with God.
Therefore, when we seek cleansing from our sin, as did David, by our open and honest confession at God’s throne of grace, we must see our selves in the light of God’s holiness, seeking, with true humility, God’s cleansing from which we WILL find healing and restoration of our relationship with Christ (again, see and be uplifted by the powerful truths in Ps. 103: 8 – 13 and 1st John 1: 9).
My Prayer Today: Lord, You are God; and I am not! Heal me of my unholiness. Amen
Monday, September 26, 2011
September 26, 2011 … The Spirit Brings Understanding
Passage of the Day: John 16: 25 [Jesus speaking] … " Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father.”
My Journal for Today: In yesterday’s discussion of our relationship with our precious Holy Spirit, we were led, as in today’s verse, by the words of Jesus in His Upper Room Discourse, helping His inner circle of disciples (as well as for you and me) to see the infinite value of the teaching ministry of God’s Spirit in the lives of believers. As I related earlier, before I became a Christian I had studied much of the New Testament in college. Yet, as a non-believer at that time I had no personal insights into the personal application of God’s truths … not a clue! Yet now, when I read and study the same New Testament, God’s Spirit helps me to grow in the understanding of the truths that He has for me [yes, me personally].
My friend and fellow seeker, I don’t know how you feel about this very personal enlightenment ministry of the Holy Spirit; but it’s great for me! It’s the way I find my way through life; and that’s the way it is for all who’ve received Christ as their Savior/Lord [and I’m praying that’s you, too]. No, we may not always understand exactly what Gods’ word has for us when we study it. We’re human; and we can let pride or our sin-laden, deceitful hearts get in the way of Spirit-led understanding (see Jer. 17: 9). However, praying for God’s wisdom (see James 1: 5 - 6) and diligently seeking God’s purpose will yield powerful, fruitful results (see Isaiah 55: 11) as God’s Spirit takes my surrendered attitude and my seeking heart and shines God’s light on my interpretation of His truth (Psalm 119: 105).
The Apostle Paul makes this process clear in his epistle to the Church and to all Christians (see 1st Cor. 2: 6 – 16 - linked here for your study). Here God’s Spirit, through Paul, teaches that one who does not have God’s Spirit as their Teacher, not even the intellectual or the powerful non-believer, can ever expect to be able to plum the depths of God’s mind from Scripture (see Isaiah 55: 8 – 9). Quoting conceptually from Isaiah 64: 5, 17, Paul proclaims that without the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit, mankind just won’t - and can’t - “get it” when it comes to knowing God and His ways. However, Paul posits that the believer, if so motivated and surrendered, will be able to discern God’s ways and His will from His word; because, … having God’s Spirit in his/her heart, Christians have the very mind of Christ to guide our way.
And my fellow seeker, did you get that last truth?! (See 1st Cor. 2: 16) If you, as I am, are a disciple of Christ and a diligent seeker after His truth, we have the very mind of God in our hearts to be able to discern God’s light shining on our path. Is that not the best deal going?!
If we assume this to be truth – and I do by experience; – then all of us, as believers (i.e., as born-again Christians), need to trust God’s word and His Spirit-anointed teachers/preachers to show us His way through the maze we call life (see Prov. 3: 5 – 6). I don’t know about you; but it is exciting to me to know that if I dig into God’s word with the help of His Spirit, I will be able to understand the very mind of God and use His truth as a torch to light His path for my life (again see the truth of Ps. 119: 105).
That’s what I’m doing on this very morning with this devotional; and I hope anyone who reads this will appreciate the wondrous power we have in God’s Spirit to seek and to glean the mind of God. And may I take the liberty to link you to a wonderful song, performed by Kristyn Getty, which expresses what I’ve been trying to write here this morning. PLEASE LISTEN TO this YouTube piece as a prayer from all believers; and be grateful – as am I – for God’s ever penetrating, ever probing, and ever powerful ministry of truth through His word.
My Prayer Today: Show me Your way … from Your word, Lord! Amen
My Journal for Today: In yesterday’s discussion of our relationship with our precious Holy Spirit, we were led, as in today’s verse, by the words of Jesus in His Upper Room Discourse, helping His inner circle of disciples (as well as for you and me) to see the infinite value of the teaching ministry of God’s Spirit in the lives of believers. As I related earlier, before I became a Christian I had studied much of the New Testament in college. Yet, as a non-believer at that time I had no personal insights into the personal application of God’s truths … not a clue! Yet now, when I read and study the same New Testament, God’s Spirit helps me to grow in the understanding of the truths that He has for me [yes, me personally].
My friend and fellow seeker, I don’t know how you feel about this very personal enlightenment ministry of the Holy Spirit; but it’s great for me! It’s the way I find my way through life; and that’s the way it is for all who’ve received Christ as their Savior/Lord [and I’m praying that’s you, too]. No, we may not always understand exactly what Gods’ word has for us when we study it. We’re human; and we can let pride or our sin-laden, deceitful hearts get in the way of Spirit-led understanding (see Jer. 17: 9). However, praying for God’s wisdom (see James 1: 5 - 6) and diligently seeking God’s purpose will yield powerful, fruitful results (see Isaiah 55: 11) as God’s Spirit takes my surrendered attitude and my seeking heart and shines God’s light on my interpretation of His truth (Psalm 119: 105).
The Apostle Paul makes this process clear in his epistle to the Church and to all Christians (see 1st Cor. 2: 6 – 16 - linked here for your study). Here God’s Spirit, through Paul, teaches that one who does not have God’s Spirit as their Teacher, not even the intellectual or the powerful non-believer, can ever expect to be able to plum the depths of God’s mind from Scripture (see Isaiah 55: 8 – 9). Quoting conceptually from Isaiah 64: 5, 17, Paul proclaims that without the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit, mankind just won’t - and can’t - “get it” when it comes to knowing God and His ways. However, Paul posits that the believer, if so motivated and surrendered, will be able to discern God’s ways and His will from His word; because, … having God’s Spirit in his/her heart, Christians have the very mind of Christ to guide our way.
And my fellow seeker, did you get that last truth?! (See 1st Cor. 2: 16) If you, as I am, are a disciple of Christ and a diligent seeker after His truth, we have the very mind of God in our hearts to be able to discern God’s light shining on our path. Is that not the best deal going?!
If we assume this to be truth – and I do by experience; – then all of us, as believers (i.e., as born-again Christians), need to trust God’s word and His Spirit-anointed teachers/preachers to show us His way through the maze we call life (see Prov. 3: 5 – 6). I don’t know about you; but it is exciting to me to know that if I dig into God’s word with the help of His Spirit, I will be able to understand the very mind of God and use His truth as a torch to light His path for my life (again see the truth of Ps. 119: 105).
That’s what I’m doing on this very morning with this devotional; and I hope anyone who reads this will appreciate the wondrous power we have in God’s Spirit to seek and to glean the mind of God. And may I take the liberty to link you to a wonderful song, performed by Kristyn Getty, which expresses what I’ve been trying to write here this morning. PLEASE LISTEN TO this YouTube piece as a prayer from all believers; and be grateful – as am I – for God’s ever penetrating, ever probing, and ever powerful ministry of truth through His word.
My Prayer Today: Show me Your way … from Your word, Lord! Amen
Sunday, September 25, 2011
September 25, 2011 … The Need for Understanding
Passage of the Day: John 16: 12, 25 … [Jesus speaking] … 12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. … 25 Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father.”
My Journal for Today: It’s quite apparent that the original twelve Disciples were, at times, overwhelmed and cloudy, to say the least, by the teachings of their Master and the One Whom at least eleven of them, at the time He spoke the words of today’s highlighted passage, believed Jesus to be The Messiah. And when Jesus taught in figurative sayings or language (as in John 6: 35 or 6: 53 – 58 or 8: 12), His followers were perplexed. It was not until these men were indwelt by the Holy Spirit, after Jesus’ resurrection, did their light of understanding come on. And all one has to do to confirm this is to note Peter, the impetuous and wayward follower before Pentecost, the one who denied Christ before His death; and then we see Peter, the Apostle who became the steady-as-a-rock disciple after Pentecost, the one who could lead so many to Christ and the one who became the brilliant, Spirit-inspired preacher, pastor, and leader of the early Church. And what was the difference of Peter before and after Christ had ascended into heaven? You guessed it … the light of insight, edification, and power provided by God’s Spirit [see Acts 1: 8, also the words of Jesus to His disciples].
And while I certainly don’t compare my own mind to the depth of clarity displayed by Peter after Pentecost, I can well compare myself in my pre-Christian days to his impetuous nature as he balked in fear, running from who he really was in Christ. Yet, how I view and interpret God’s word now as compared to my pre-Christian days is like day versus night. Before I came to know Christ as my Savior/Lord, when I was an angry “agnostic,” God’s teachings, even when I took courses in the New Testament as literature in college, were unrevealed to me. It was like being in a fog and not having a clue as to my direction. However, now, with the Spirit’s guidance, God’s word draws me out of the fog of life, ever being a beacon that points me from the darkness into the light [as described in Psalm 119: 105].
Where would you be without the guiding light of God’s Spirit and the clarity provided by His word? Yes, even the Christian can be clueless, unless he/she surrenders and uses the Spirit-enlightened truth of Scripture to light the path of life. The darkness of this world can be overwhelming; but thankfully God has provided His Light of Scripture and the Person of His Spirit as our beacon to make it through the storm clouds of this life. May we, who know Christ as The Messiah and Lord, draw heavily upon God’s Spirit to shine a light on our path (again, please see Proverbs 3: 5, 6 and Psalm 119: 105, which I do hope you have deeply seated in your heart).
My Prayer Today: You, precious Spirit, give me all understanding, my Lord. Amen
My Journal for Today: It’s quite apparent that the original twelve Disciples were, at times, overwhelmed and cloudy, to say the least, by the teachings of their Master and the One Whom at least eleven of them, at the time He spoke the words of today’s highlighted passage, believed Jesus to be The Messiah. And when Jesus taught in figurative sayings or language (as in John 6: 35 or 6: 53 – 58 or 8: 12), His followers were perplexed. It was not until these men were indwelt by the Holy Spirit, after Jesus’ resurrection, did their light of understanding come on. And all one has to do to confirm this is to note Peter, the impetuous and wayward follower before Pentecost, the one who denied Christ before His death; and then we see Peter, the Apostle who became the steady-as-a-rock disciple after Pentecost, the one who could lead so many to Christ and the one who became the brilliant, Spirit-inspired preacher, pastor, and leader of the early Church. And what was the difference of Peter before and after Christ had ascended into heaven? You guessed it … the light of insight, edification, and power provided by God’s Spirit [see Acts 1: 8, also the words of Jesus to His disciples].
And while I certainly don’t compare my own mind to the depth of clarity displayed by Peter after Pentecost, I can well compare myself in my pre-Christian days to his impetuous nature as he balked in fear, running from who he really was in Christ. Yet, how I view and interpret God’s word now as compared to my pre-Christian days is like day versus night. Before I came to know Christ as my Savior/Lord, when I was an angry “agnostic,” God’s teachings, even when I took courses in the New Testament as literature in college, were unrevealed to me. It was like being in a fog and not having a clue as to my direction. However, now, with the Spirit’s guidance, God’s word draws me out of the fog of life, ever being a beacon that points me from the darkness into the light [as described in Psalm 119: 105].
Where would you be without the guiding light of God’s Spirit and the clarity provided by His word? Yes, even the Christian can be clueless, unless he/she surrenders and uses the Spirit-enlightened truth of Scripture to light the path of life. The darkness of this world can be overwhelming; but thankfully God has provided His Light of Scripture and the Person of His Spirit as our beacon to make it through the storm clouds of this life. May we, who know Christ as The Messiah and Lord, draw heavily upon God’s Spirit to shine a light on our path (again, please see Proverbs 3: 5, 6 and Psalm 119: 105, which I do hope you have deeply seated in your heart).
My Prayer Today: You, precious Spirit, give me all understanding, my Lord. Amen
Monday, July 11, 2011
July 11, 2011 … Sensitivity to Sin
Passage of the Day: 1st John 1: 5 – 10 … 5 This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.
8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word has no place in our lives.
My Journal for Today: Yesterday we saw that the first element to look for in the assurance of our salvation is a deep and abiding relationship with Christ, a communion of worship and life with God’s Spirit, growing and maturing as we live for God’s glory [see 1st John 1: 3]. Today in our text passage, we look at the second indicator to which the Apostle John exposes to help believers KNOW that they are saved; and this element is the sensitivity to sin.
And in today’s text on the matter, we see one of the most common word pictures used in scripture to describe sin or sinfulness; and that is “darkness” verses “light” (i.e., Godliness, righteousness, or Christlikeness). For support of this, see also Ps 119: 105 and Prov. 6: 23 in the Old Testament. And in addition to today’s text from the NT, the Apostle Paul also wrote about sinfulness verses righteousness, using the dark/light word picture in Romans 7: 14 – 25. And in the Rom. 7 passage we read of Paul personalizing the battle we all have with self verses Savior … the darkness of our own hearts and the light found in our relationship with Christ. And in Rom. 7: 25 you will read of Paul’s recognition, as we read in today’s text, of our need to surrender to the light of Christ. And then all of Romans 8 is the victory story that results when we live in the light of Christ. And from John, in 1st John 1: 9 from today’s passage [a verse you may have memorized], we read of God’s remedy for the believer who is willing to surrender to God [i.e., the Light], recognizing and confessing his/her sinfulness … and that is to be cleansed and brought out of darkness and into God’s light.
Having been in that place of darkness in my past; and having experienced the truth of 1st John 1: 9 and the victory of Romans 8, I firmly believe, with personal witness, that there is no more lonely or forlorn place for a true Christian than to be walking in the darkness brought on by a believer’s selfish choices, taking him/her out of fellowship with Christ and out of the light provided by our Lord. However, the opposite of that is true as well … that a Christian, walking in surrender to God, will experience all the fruit that walking in the Light of Christ affords, which includes a blossoming of all of the fruit of the Spirit (see Gal. 5: 22, 23).
And so, I’d exhort any reader of this journal entry to make Psalm 119: 105 a strong memory verse for your life … praying continually for Christ’s light to shine on your path so that you can walk in His light, following Him as He commands in Luke 9: 23.
My Prayer Today: Thank you for Your light, Lord! Amen
8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word has no place in our lives.
My Journal for Today: Yesterday we saw that the first element to look for in the assurance of our salvation is a deep and abiding relationship with Christ, a communion of worship and life with God’s Spirit, growing and maturing as we live for God’s glory [see 1st John 1: 3]. Today in our text passage, we look at the second indicator to which the Apostle John exposes to help believers KNOW that they are saved; and this element is the sensitivity to sin.
And in today’s text on the matter, we see one of the most common word pictures used in scripture to describe sin or sinfulness; and that is “darkness” verses “light” (i.e., Godliness, righteousness, or Christlikeness). For support of this, see also Ps 119: 105 and Prov. 6: 23 in the Old Testament. And in addition to today’s text from the NT, the Apostle Paul also wrote about sinfulness verses righteousness, using the dark/light word picture in Romans 7: 14 – 25. And in the Rom. 7 passage we read of Paul personalizing the battle we all have with self verses Savior … the darkness of our own hearts and the light found in our relationship with Christ. And in Rom. 7: 25 you will read of Paul’s recognition, as we read in today’s text, of our need to surrender to the light of Christ. And then all of Romans 8 is the victory story that results when we live in the light of Christ. And from John, in 1st John 1: 9 from today’s passage [a verse you may have memorized], we read of God’s remedy for the believer who is willing to surrender to God [i.e., the Light], recognizing and confessing his/her sinfulness … and that is to be cleansed and brought out of darkness and into God’s light.
Having been in that place of darkness in my past; and having experienced the truth of 1st John 1: 9 and the victory of Romans 8, I firmly believe, with personal witness, that there is no more lonely or forlorn place for a true Christian than to be walking in the darkness brought on by a believer’s selfish choices, taking him/her out of fellowship with Christ and out of the light provided by our Lord. However, the opposite of that is true as well … that a Christian, walking in surrender to God, will experience all the fruit that walking in the Light of Christ affords, which includes a blossoming of all of the fruit of the Spirit (see Gal. 5: 22, 23).
And so, I’d exhort any reader of this journal entry to make Psalm 119: 105 a strong memory verse for your life … praying continually for Christ’s light to shine on your path so that you can walk in His light, following Him as He commands in Luke 9: 23.
My Prayer Today: Thank you for Your light, Lord! Amen
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