Passage of the Day: [NIV] Philippians 2: 3 - Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
Note the NASB version - Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; …
My Journal for Today: I’ve added the NASB version of Phil. 2: 3 above as well as the NIV because this translation defines “humility” as “humility of the mind,” emphasizing the attitudinal quality we’ve been discussing in depth this month. The Apostle Paul had a real challenge in describing this quality to his Christian readers his epistle in the 1st century. According to John MacArthur in Strength for Today, these 1st century believers in Philippi were influenced heavily by the Greek culture of the day; and the Greeks thought of humility as an attitude only for slaves. So, using any term to describe “humility” to Greek minds in those days would have been considered as an extreme term of derision. Therefore, to discuss the concept of “humility of the mind” (see NASB version above), Paul invented a new Greek term, a compound word, “tapienophronsune,” because his readers in that culture would have never responded constructively to the common Greek term for humility, “tapeinos.” This latter term would have referred to slaves graveling in lowliness before their masters. So, Paul compounded this word for “lowliness” with the Greek word for “heart” or “mind” to produce what is translated in the KJV of Phil. 2: 3 as “lowliness of mind.” Paul was trying to help the Christians at Philippi to be able to put the concept of Christlike humility into some operational context where they would understand the importance of this attitude quality of Christlikeness without dismissing it as a “slave-like” attitude.
Paul, of course, fully understood how difficult it was for anyone to wrestle with pride and a deceitful heart [as you probably know from Jer. 17: 9]. One can read Paul’s story, reported by Luke in Acts 9, or his self described struggles with pride and sin in Romans 7, verses 14 - 24. So, Paul empathized with the readers of his epistle to the Philippians, as well he would with believers even now, as to how difficult it was or is to develop the Christlike mindset of humility that would allow believers to develop unity in Christ’s Church, which they (we) would need to confront the world and walk with worthiness as Christians (again revisit Ephesians 4: 1 – 4).
To bring the good news of the Gospel to a world which puts “humility” down, which is as true today as much as it was in the 1st century, is very difficult. We know that one cannot receive Christ as Savior and Lord without an attitude of humility. So, it behooves all of us, who follow Christ and His Great Commission (in Matt. 28: 19 - 20), to keep on being as humble as we can to receive the enabling grace we will need to bring the Gospel to a lost world.
My Prayer Today: Help me, Lord, to think of others before self. Amen
Showing posts with label pride. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pride. Show all posts
Friday, March 18, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
March 17, 2011 … Threats to Humility: Selfishness and Conceit
Passage of the Day: Philippians 2: 3 - 4 - Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
My Journal for Today: Well, here we have our premise for the month stated very clearly in another way by an Apostle who was languishing in prison when he wrote this, totally humbled before God, yet exhorting believers to learn what he had learned in life – that the only way to live in God’s kingdom is to humble ourselves before God and others. The Apostle Paul realized how common it was (is) for Christians to succumb to the very human drives of selfishness or conceit, setting aside humility, and thereby forfeiting God’s grace in their endeavors. That’s why he was so forcefully exhorting the church at Philippi (and us too!) to avoid such self-directed agendas, which he knew would lead to factionalism and divisiveness within the church – which, in turn, he knew would destroy the unity about which he wrote to others in the church at Ephesus (Eph. 4: 3 - 6). He also warned the church at Corinth in this way (1st Cor. 3: 3); and he told the Galatians (see Galatians 5: 16) how imperative it was to bring selfishness under control.
But do we in the church of today understand and apply that repetitive exhortation? Do we get it?! I think not! Unfortunately, there is far too much factionalism and denominational pride standing in the way of God’s Church being able to use the presence and power of God through His unlimited gift of grace in today’s world. Oh, if we – the Church - could simply live as God dictated to us in today’s verse.
As John MacArthur points out in Strength for Today, it is not wrong for believers or God’s church to have agendas and/or plans as long as the attitudes behind these plans are motivated by humility and a consideration for all involved; … hence, the pronouncement of Phil. 2: 3 – 4. If this were to be the case in God’s church and for individual believers, God would be lifted up by the humility of those who mimic His attitude, which just happens to be the subject of Paul’s charge in the very next verse (see Phil. 2: 5). However, when foolish selfishness and/or vain conceit are at the heart of the plans we conceive in life or as His church, we move out on our own; and that was the prospect that Paul was trying to help the Philippians (and us) to avoid.
Prayerfully we will get the message and then live it the way God intended for us to live.
My Prayer Today: Lord, convict me … direct me … to consider others first in all my plans. Amen
My Journal for Today: Well, here we have our premise for the month stated very clearly in another way by an Apostle who was languishing in prison when he wrote this, totally humbled before God, yet exhorting believers to learn what he had learned in life – that the only way to live in God’s kingdom is to humble ourselves before God and others. The Apostle Paul realized how common it was (is) for Christians to succumb to the very human drives of selfishness or conceit, setting aside humility, and thereby forfeiting God’s grace in their endeavors. That’s why he was so forcefully exhorting the church at Philippi (and us too!) to avoid such self-directed agendas, which he knew would lead to factionalism and divisiveness within the church – which, in turn, he knew would destroy the unity about which he wrote to others in the church at Ephesus (Eph. 4: 3 - 6). He also warned the church at Corinth in this way (1st Cor. 3: 3); and he told the Galatians (see Galatians 5: 16) how imperative it was to bring selfishness under control.
But do we in the church of today understand and apply that repetitive exhortation? Do we get it?! I think not! Unfortunately, there is far too much factionalism and denominational pride standing in the way of God’s Church being able to use the presence and power of God through His unlimited gift of grace in today’s world. Oh, if we – the Church - could simply live as God dictated to us in today’s verse.
As John MacArthur points out in Strength for Today, it is not wrong for believers or God’s church to have agendas and/or plans as long as the attitudes behind these plans are motivated by humility and a consideration for all involved; … hence, the pronouncement of Phil. 2: 3 – 4. If this were to be the case in God’s church and for individual believers, God would be lifted up by the humility of those who mimic His attitude, which just happens to be the subject of Paul’s charge in the very next verse (see Phil. 2: 5). However, when foolish selfishness and/or vain conceit are at the heart of the plans we conceive in life or as His church, we move out on our own; and that was the prospect that Paul was trying to help the Philippians (and us) to avoid.
Prayerfully we will get the message and then live it the way God intended for us to live.
My Prayer Today: Lord, convict me … direct me … to consider others first in all my plans. Amen
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
March 15, 2011 … Threats to Humility: Possessions and Position
Passage of the Day: Philippians 2: 3 - Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit; but with humility of mind, let each of you regard one another as more important than himself.
My Journal for Today: We continue on with a discussion of life issues which promote pride and thereby impede us from a Christlike attitude of humility. And two such issues are possessions and position.
Moses clearly warned God’s people, and thereby all of us, against the pride that grows out of achievement and accumulation, when he wrote in Deut. 8: 17 – 18 …
SCRIPTURE: Deut. 8: 17-18 … You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." 18 But remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth, …
I think we all know that the pride which can come along with the accumulation of wealth/power often goes hand-in-glove with class-related pride. I know that on more than one occasion, even after I became a Christian, on several occasions, I became convicted of thinking of myself as “better than” someone else just because of where I lived or because of those with whom I associated. But, in these instances, God has helped me to confess of this sinful pride and repent to pursue a more Christlike humility. What about you? Have you ever had to turn around from prideful selfishness or vain conceit?
But we have a model, the perfect model of just the opposite, in the life and ministry of our Lord, Jesus, … a life devoted to humble ministry to the poor, … a life totally devoid of class-related pride. And Christ’s most ardent and righteous anger was directed at religious leaders who loved to flaunt their position/power (see Matt. 23: 5 – 7).
SCRIPTURE: Matt. 23: 5-7 … [Jesus] "Everything they [the religious leaders] do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; 6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; 7 they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them 'Rabbi.' "
The advertising industry today tries to get us to buy into the world’s siren call to have more … or to be the best we can be … or to build our self-image. But God’s anger is severe, as we read above, against such attributes [see also Isaiah 3: 16 – 26 - linked here]; and the Holy Spirit, through John taught us to avoid the pride of life which comes from the lust of the flesh and the eyes (see 1st John 2: 15-17) … because nothing eternal comes from these pride-driven attitudes.
My Prayer Today: Keep me, Lord, from the pride of life as seen in this world. Amen
My Journal for Today: We continue on with a discussion of life issues which promote pride and thereby impede us from a Christlike attitude of humility. And two such issues are possessions and position.
Moses clearly warned God’s people, and thereby all of us, against the pride that grows out of achievement and accumulation, when he wrote in Deut. 8: 17 – 18 …
SCRIPTURE: Deut. 8: 17-18 … You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." 18 But remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth, …
I think we all know that the pride which can come along with the accumulation of wealth/power often goes hand-in-glove with class-related pride. I know that on more than one occasion, even after I became a Christian, on several occasions, I became convicted of thinking of myself as “better than” someone else just because of where I lived or because of those with whom I associated. But, in these instances, God has helped me to confess of this sinful pride and repent to pursue a more Christlike humility. What about you? Have you ever had to turn around from prideful selfishness or vain conceit?
But we have a model, the perfect model of just the opposite, in the life and ministry of our Lord, Jesus, … a life devoted to humble ministry to the poor, … a life totally devoid of class-related pride. And Christ’s most ardent and righteous anger was directed at religious leaders who loved to flaunt their position/power (see Matt. 23: 5 – 7).
SCRIPTURE: Matt. 23: 5-7 … [Jesus] "Everything they [the religious leaders] do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; 6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; 7 they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them 'Rabbi.' "
The advertising industry today tries to get us to buy into the world’s siren call to have more … or to be the best we can be … or to build our self-image. But God’s anger is severe, as we read above, against such attributes [see also Isaiah 3: 16 – 26 - linked here]; and the Holy Spirit, through John taught us to avoid the pride of life which comes from the lust of the flesh and the eyes (see 1st John 2: 15-17) … because nothing eternal comes from these pride-driven attitudes.
My Prayer Today: Keep me, Lord, from the pride of life as seen in this world. Amen
Monday, March 14, 2011
March 14, 2011 … Threats to Humility: Strength and Boasting
Passage of the Day: Ephesians 4: 1 – 2 - 1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
My Journal for Today: Okay, are we getting the message? … Again from Paul’s oft repeated passage in Ephesians 4, we again read of God’s exhortation toward humility. But Paul wasn’t the only New Testament writer with this pronouncement. We read the same from other church leaders in 1st Peter 5: 5,6 and James 4: 4 – 8 … that our attitude of humility is the key to the sanctifying grace that comes from a believer’s relationship with Christ. Certainly when we have three different early church Apostles or leaders exhorting from the power and inspiration of the Holy Spirit and teaching the same lesson, we ought to tune in and apply this repeated lesson to our lives as Christians, don’t you think? And with that in mind, John MacArthur from his devotional book, Strength for Today, begins a brief series here today toward the end of his month of lessons on the attitudes of Christ, teaching about the most common threats to our humility … i.e., those areas where pride, the antithesis of humility, either creeps or crashes into our hearts/minds, giving Satan a foothold into our life and blunting the Holy Spirit’s expression of Christ in or through our life.
The first of these pride threats is what MacArthur calls “ability pride,” where we, as Christians, are tempted to rely on our own strengths or talents rather than surrendering in all circumstances to the power of God to work in our lives. Let me use myself as an example.
Teaching is one of my spiritual gifts. It’s “easy” for me to teach; and I find great spiritual satisfaction when I’m able to relate Godly or biblical principles to others when God uses me to teach them. However, when I have an opportunity to teach God’s principles and life lessons, it’s very easy for me to get prideful especially when someone tells me afterward, “Good lesson, Bill.” In such an instance if I can’t recognize, and preferably verbalize, that it was God’s grace through His Spirit enabling me to teach HIS lesson through me, I’ve let the enemy win a skirmish in the battles of life. My perspective must always give God His glory when He uses a gift that He gave me and principles which are His to give Him the glory. Though He may have used me; … it’s not about me [!]… it must always be about HIM.
MacArthur reminds us about “verbal pride” as well. It would have been better had the person who encouraged me about my teaching to have said, “Bill, God really used you today to teach me; so let’s both praise Him for that!” We all too often are – or at least I am – willing to let others ingratiate us for some achievement, knowing full well that that God should get the glory.
We’ll be looking in the next days at more of these points about pride; and I need it … for sure!!
My Prayer Today: Help me, Lord, to remain humble to give You the glory! Amen
My Journal for Today: Okay, are we getting the message? … Again from Paul’s oft repeated passage in Ephesians 4, we again read of God’s exhortation toward humility. But Paul wasn’t the only New Testament writer with this pronouncement. We read the same from other church leaders in 1st Peter 5: 5,6 and James 4: 4 – 8 … that our attitude of humility is the key to the sanctifying grace that comes from a believer’s relationship with Christ. Certainly when we have three different early church Apostles or leaders exhorting from the power and inspiration of the Holy Spirit and teaching the same lesson, we ought to tune in and apply this repeated lesson to our lives as Christians, don’t you think? And with that in mind, John MacArthur from his devotional book, Strength for Today, begins a brief series here today toward the end of his month of lessons on the attitudes of Christ, teaching about the most common threats to our humility … i.e., those areas where pride, the antithesis of humility, either creeps or crashes into our hearts/minds, giving Satan a foothold into our life and blunting the Holy Spirit’s expression of Christ in or through our life.
The first of these pride threats is what MacArthur calls “ability pride,” where we, as Christians, are tempted to rely on our own strengths or talents rather than surrendering in all circumstances to the power of God to work in our lives. Let me use myself as an example.
Teaching is one of my spiritual gifts. It’s “easy” for me to teach; and I find great spiritual satisfaction when I’m able to relate Godly or biblical principles to others when God uses me to teach them. However, when I have an opportunity to teach God’s principles and life lessons, it’s very easy for me to get prideful especially when someone tells me afterward, “Good lesson, Bill.” In such an instance if I can’t recognize, and preferably verbalize, that it was God’s grace through His Spirit enabling me to teach HIS lesson through me, I’ve let the enemy win a skirmish in the battles of life. My perspective must always give God His glory when He uses a gift that He gave me and principles which are His to give Him the glory. Though He may have used me; … it’s not about me [!]… it must always be about HIM.
MacArthur reminds us about “verbal pride” as well. It would have been better had the person who encouraged me about my teaching to have said, “Bill, God really used you today to teach me; so let’s both praise Him for that!” We all too often are – or at least I am – willing to let others ingratiate us for some achievement, knowing full well that that God should get the glory.
We’ll be looking in the next days at more of these points about pride; and I need it … for sure!!
My Prayer Today: Help me, Lord, to remain humble to give You the glory! Amen
Sunday, January 09, 2011
January 9, 2011 … Humility ... Essential for Christlikeness
Passage of the Day: Ephesians 4: 2a – Be completely humble and gentle; …
My Journal for Today: Here early in the year in my morning devotionals, we’ve been dwelling, from John MacArthur’s Strength for Today on Eph. 4: 1. Now we move on, as Paul begins his instructions on the qualities of a Christian life that is a walk “worthy” of Christlikeness. And it is of interest to me that the first two characteristics of Christlikeness Paul chooses to describe are HUMILITY and MEEKNESS [or “gentleness”]. Interestingly enough, these are the only two character traits that Jesus ever used to describe Himself (see Matthew 11: 29 below).
>>> SCRIPTURE: [Jesus speaking] Matt. 11: 29 “Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle [also translated “meek”] and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
In his devotional, MacArthur concentrates today on the quality of HUMILITY, which is a quality of Godliness that is often referenced in the book of Proverbs [see below Prov. 3: 34; 15: 33; and 22: 4] . Therefore, humility obviously is a quality for Christians to pursue as we grow in Christ, desiring to be like Him.
>>> SCRIPTURE: Prov. 3: 34 He [God] mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble.
>>> Prov. 15: 33 The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor.
>>> Prov. 22: 4 Humility and the fear of the LORD bring wealth and honor and life.
And … both James (in James 4: 6) and Peter (in 1Peter 5: 5-7) also support the importance of developing humility as a Christian, with both authors quoting Prov. 3: 34 in those passages, even declaring that humility is the key to God’s grace (see statement from 1st Peter 5 below).
>>> SCRIPTURE: 1st Peter 5: 5 Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. 7Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.
Pride, we know, and as we can read in the above scriptures, is the exact opposite of humility; and we know from Genesis 2 that pride was the “birth mother” of all sin. Satan, in fact, was expelled from heaven because of his anti-humility (i.e., pride) – see Isaiah 14: 13-14, where the fallen angel Lucifer says “I will” several times before God said “No, you won’t” and expelled the prideful angel from heaven. And so, since all sin has its root in pride; and since sin is defiance of and separation from God, humility becomes the attitude that is essential for both salvation and sanctification.
As to salvation, no one will ever enter God’s Kingdom without coming, to God’s throne of grace to receive God’s gift of salvation by HUMBLY declaring that Christ is that one’s Lord and Savior. And no one can be sanctified and walk in the power of God unless he/she can be HUMBLE enough to receive God’s grace, which God is so freely and willingly doles out through His Spirit to his humble servants.
It is when we walk humbly, as did Christ (see Phil. 2: 5-11), and when we have a Christlike attitude of humility (and meekness) that God can lift us up (again, see 1st Peter 5: 6) and give us His power so that we can be His witnesses on earth (see Acts 1: 8).
So we choose … humility or pride; and when we do, God promises – and will supply - all the grace we need for eternity and for our walk with Him here in this life as well.
So, … what is our choice today?
My Prayer Today: Lord, I tremble to pray this prayer; but I do pray that You help me to be humble. Amen
My Journal for Today: Here early in the year in my morning devotionals, we’ve been dwelling, from John MacArthur’s Strength for Today on Eph. 4: 1. Now we move on, as Paul begins his instructions on the qualities of a Christian life that is a walk “worthy” of Christlikeness. And it is of interest to me that the first two characteristics of Christlikeness Paul chooses to describe are HUMILITY and MEEKNESS [or “gentleness”]. Interestingly enough, these are the only two character traits that Jesus ever used to describe Himself (see Matthew 11: 29 below).
>>> SCRIPTURE: [Jesus speaking] Matt. 11: 29 “Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle [also translated “meek”] and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
In his devotional, MacArthur concentrates today on the quality of HUMILITY, which is a quality of Godliness that is often referenced in the book of Proverbs [see below Prov. 3: 34; 15: 33; and 22: 4] . Therefore, humility obviously is a quality for Christians to pursue as we grow in Christ, desiring to be like Him.
>>> SCRIPTURE: Prov. 3: 34 He [God] mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble.
>>> Prov. 15: 33 The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor.
>>> Prov. 22: 4 Humility and the fear of the LORD bring wealth and honor and life.
And … both James (in James 4: 6) and Peter (in 1Peter 5: 5-7) also support the importance of developing humility as a Christian, with both authors quoting Prov. 3: 34 in those passages, even declaring that humility is the key to God’s grace (see statement from 1st Peter 5 below).
>>> SCRIPTURE: 1st Peter 5: 5 Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. 7Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.
Pride, we know, and as we can read in the above scriptures, is the exact opposite of humility; and we know from Genesis 2 that pride was the “birth mother” of all sin. Satan, in fact, was expelled from heaven because of his anti-humility (i.e., pride) – see Isaiah 14: 13-14, where the fallen angel Lucifer says “I will” several times before God said “No, you won’t” and expelled the prideful angel from heaven. And so, since all sin has its root in pride; and since sin is defiance of and separation from God, humility becomes the attitude that is essential for both salvation and sanctification.
As to salvation, no one will ever enter God’s Kingdom without coming, to God’s throne of grace to receive God’s gift of salvation by HUMBLY declaring that Christ is that one’s Lord and Savior. And no one can be sanctified and walk in the power of God unless he/she can be HUMBLE enough to receive God’s grace, which God is so freely and willingly doles out through His Spirit to his humble servants.
It is when we walk humbly, as did Christ (see Phil. 2: 5-11), and when we have a Christlike attitude of humility (and meekness) that God can lift us up (again, see 1st Peter 5: 6) and give us His power so that we can be His witnesses on earth (see Acts 1: 8).
So we choose … humility or pride; and when we do, God promises – and will supply - all the grace we need for eternity and for our walk with Him here in this life as well.
So, … what is our choice today?
My Prayer Today: Lord, I tremble to pray this prayer; but I do pray that You help me to be humble. Amen
Sunday, November 28, 2010
2010 – November 28 – Raising Our Ambitions Lower
Study from God’s Word… On his second missionary journey, Paul writes two letters to the church of Greek converts in Thessalonica, where he had visited on his way to Corinth during this journey. Reading today through the 1st Letter to the Thessalonians … Passage for Reflection: 1st Thessalonians 4: 11-12, in the context of Paul’s letter to Greek Christians on how to live a life more pleasing to God … NIV 1 As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. …
9 Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. 10 And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, 11 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
My Journal for Today: If you’re a new convert or a relatively immature believer (spiritually), reading through Paul’s letter to relatively new Christians in Thessalonica is a good read for direction in sanctification. Well, actually it’s a good study for mature Christians too; … as a check-up to see if one is living the Christian life the way it should be lived to please God.
Today’s highlight passages pose an interesting lesson for those of us Christians who, today, live in a world which honors assertive, if not aggressive, ambition. And Dr. Smith’s devotional title for today is an interesting one: Raising Our Ambition Lower. And what the Apostle Paul was teaching in 1Thes 4: 11-12, and Dr. Smith is reinforcing with his title, is that Christians in any pagan or assertively non-Christian culture need to avoid getting caught up in the magnetic draw of the world to “climb the ladder” of worldly success by being ambitious to get ahead.
But Paul is not trying to get Christians (that’s us, as well as the Thessalonians) to not be ambitious. No, he’s just trying to get the focus of our ambition on what is pleasing to God and not necessarily to mankind … or even more so to self. Whereas Satan, the world, and most certainly our own flesh would have us being ambitious to climb over others, God’s ambition would be for us to help others who need support. It’s the message Jesus continually taught while on earth … that the last will be first and the first will be last.
So, Dr. Smith is asking us to evaluate where, and to what, we direct our ambitions. Is our drive to please others or live according to God’s way of living? Is our motivated purpose to be ahead in the world or ahead in God’s kingdom by serving others? Are we compulsively driven to stand and help others rise to God’s standards; or are we ambitious to climb on top of others on the way up the human ladder of worldly success?
Well, I used to be driven to be seen by others and to get feedback from others as to my professional prowess. Now, my driven ambitions are to know my God as intimately as possible and to follow His lead as closely as possible. I guess I’m in that later-life mode as a Christian to become what Paul was writing about to the Thessalonians. So, I pray we’re all “raising our ambitions lower” to honor and glorify God.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, help me to make less of myself so that You may be elevated in the eyes of all who see You in me. Amen
9 Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. 10 And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, 11 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
My Journal for Today: If you’re a new convert or a relatively immature believer (spiritually), reading through Paul’s letter to relatively new Christians in Thessalonica is a good read for direction in sanctification. Well, actually it’s a good study for mature Christians too; … as a check-up to see if one is living the Christian life the way it should be lived to please God.
Today’s highlight passages pose an interesting lesson for those of us Christians who, today, live in a world which honors assertive, if not aggressive, ambition. And Dr. Smith’s devotional title for today is an interesting one: Raising Our Ambition Lower. And what the Apostle Paul was teaching in 1Thes 4: 11-12, and Dr. Smith is reinforcing with his title, is that Christians in any pagan or assertively non-Christian culture need to avoid getting caught up in the magnetic draw of the world to “climb the ladder” of worldly success by being ambitious to get ahead.
But Paul is not trying to get Christians (that’s us, as well as the Thessalonians) to not be ambitious. No, he’s just trying to get the focus of our ambition on what is pleasing to God and not necessarily to mankind … or even more so to self. Whereas Satan, the world, and most certainly our own flesh would have us being ambitious to climb over others, God’s ambition would be for us to help others who need support. It’s the message Jesus continually taught while on earth … that the last will be first and the first will be last.
So, Dr. Smith is asking us to evaluate where, and to what, we direct our ambitions. Is our drive to please others or live according to God’s way of living? Is our motivated purpose to be ahead in the world or ahead in God’s kingdom by serving others? Are we compulsively driven to stand and help others rise to God’s standards; or are we ambitious to climb on top of others on the way up the human ladder of worldly success?
Well, I used to be driven to be seen by others and to get feedback from others as to my professional prowess. Now, my driven ambitions are to know my God as intimately as possible and to follow His lead as closely as possible. I guess I’m in that later-life mode as a Christian to become what Paul was writing about to the Thessalonians. So, I pray we’re all “raising our ambitions lower” to honor and glorify God.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, help me to make less of myself so that You may be elevated in the eyes of all who see You in me. Amen
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
2010 – June 16 – Something Fishy About Obedience
Study from God’s Word… Jonah, Chapters 1 – 3; 2nd Kings 13: 5; 14: 25-27; 2 Kgs 13; 6 … Passage for Reflection: Jonah 2: 10 … NIV And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.
My Journal for Today: Well, if you read my devotional blog yesterday, you read of the wild and almost absurd story of a dead man being resurrected from death by being thrown by friends onto the dry bones of Elisha, the dead prophet; and if you think that was a wild and crazy story of God intervening into the lives of His children to make a point, what about the even wilder story of the reluctant Prophet, Jonah?
And as I told a bunch of men yesterday, when we read and digest stories like these in the Bible, we’re forced – almost like Jonah was – to decide … #1 … do we believe what is being related (by God) is actually true; and … #2 … do we get (i.e., understand and internalize) what God is saying from the story? And this story of Jonah has made its way, amongst all the stories in the Old Testament times, into God’s Holy Word. So, #1 … do you believe it’s true? And #2, what can we learn from it?
Sometimes, it stretches our human intellect to declare that the story of Jonah is not just some prophetic fish tale; but it’s important that we stretch ourselves into the realm of intellectual discomfort to believe the story … then we must do our best to let God speak through the reality of His truth to teach us something, … in this case about disobedience and the sovereignty of God.
Because, if we decide (and it’s always a decision) to BELIEVE God’s word is always true (and I ask you to recall or learn about the Greek concept of “believe,” which may require a little research into the Greek term, “pisteuo”), you will, in the case of the story of Jonah, come to a realization that you can’t hide from the plans of God; and even when we make disobedient decisions, as Jonah did, God is God; and He’s going to have His way, even if He has to use a bunch of innocent sailors, a big fish, a very reluctant and bigoted preacher, and a pagan King to bring about His will of salvation for His children … yes, even to a bunch of worldly Arab gentiles, like the Ninevites.
And the thing I bring away from a restudy into this wild fish story about Jonah, is that I need to follow God’s will for my life, even when it means going out of my comfort zone to do so, especially when it involves being obedient to the Great Commission (I hope you can quote that one from Matt. 28: 19-20). When God calls us to be humble and follow Him (once again, remember Luke 9: 23), the lesson we learn from being disobedient or reluctant may not involve being shipwrecked, eaten by a fish, and resurrected from a disaster; but if God needs to teach us to be humble and/or obedient, the challenges He puts us through may seem to us like those faced by Jonah. And I hope that I, for one, can just BELIEVE God, humbly seek His will, and then be in surrender to allow God’s Spirit to do what God says He will do in Isaiah 41: 10 and/or 1st Cor. 10: 13 (and if you don’t have the content of those two passages memorized, I charge you to do so – yes, to get out of your comfort zone and let God lift you up with His truth!!!).
Do you BELIEVE [yes, I mean “pisteuo”) the great fish story?! If so, we need to learn from it and let it direct us to lay aside fleshly desires and follow our God.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, I believe, … I receive, … and prayerfully, I will achieve Your will. Amen
My Journal for Today: Well, if you read my devotional blog yesterday, you read of the wild and almost absurd story of a dead man being resurrected from death by being thrown by friends onto the dry bones of Elisha, the dead prophet; and if you think that was a wild and crazy story of God intervening into the lives of His children to make a point, what about the even wilder story of the reluctant Prophet, Jonah?
And as I told a bunch of men yesterday, when we read and digest stories like these in the Bible, we’re forced – almost like Jonah was – to decide … #1 … do we believe what is being related (by God) is actually true; and … #2 … do we get (i.e., understand and internalize) what God is saying from the story? And this story of Jonah has made its way, amongst all the stories in the Old Testament times, into God’s Holy Word. So, #1 … do you believe it’s true? And #2, what can we learn from it?
Sometimes, it stretches our human intellect to declare that the story of Jonah is not just some prophetic fish tale; but it’s important that we stretch ourselves into the realm of intellectual discomfort to believe the story … then we must do our best to let God speak through the reality of His truth to teach us something, … in this case about disobedience and the sovereignty of God.
Because, if we decide (and it’s always a decision) to BELIEVE God’s word is always true (and I ask you to recall or learn about the Greek concept of “believe,” which may require a little research into the Greek term, “pisteuo”), you will, in the case of the story of Jonah, come to a realization that you can’t hide from the plans of God; and even when we make disobedient decisions, as Jonah did, God is God; and He’s going to have His way, even if He has to use a bunch of innocent sailors, a big fish, a very reluctant and bigoted preacher, and a pagan King to bring about His will of salvation for His children … yes, even to a bunch of worldly Arab gentiles, like the Ninevites.
And the thing I bring away from a restudy into this wild fish story about Jonah, is that I need to follow God’s will for my life, even when it means going out of my comfort zone to do so, especially when it involves being obedient to the Great Commission (I hope you can quote that one from Matt. 28: 19-20). When God calls us to be humble and follow Him (once again, remember Luke 9: 23), the lesson we learn from being disobedient or reluctant may not involve being shipwrecked, eaten by a fish, and resurrected from a disaster; but if God needs to teach us to be humble and/or obedient, the challenges He puts us through may seem to us like those faced by Jonah. And I hope that I, for one, can just BELIEVE God, humbly seek His will, and then be in surrender to allow God’s Spirit to do what God says He will do in Isaiah 41: 10 and/or 1st Cor. 10: 13 (and if you don’t have the content of those two passages memorized, I charge you to do so – yes, to get out of your comfort zone and let God lift you up with His truth!!!).
Do you BELIEVE [yes, I mean “pisteuo”) the great fish story?! If so, we need to learn from it and let it direct us to lay aside fleshly desires and follow our God.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, I believe, … I receive, … and prayerfully, I will achieve Your will. Amen
Monday, February 08, 2010
2010 – Day 39. Feb. 8 – Crowned with Humility
Study from Numbers 12 – 14; Passage for Reflection: Numbers 12: 3 … NIV Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.
My Journal for Today: In the chapters we read today, the statement from Num. 12: 3 just jumps out from the pages of scripture. It’s like a neon sign, lauding Moses’ character trait of humility; … and God’s word becomes outright superlative about it, declaring Moses to be the most humble man on earth.
And we see some comparisons in these chapters as well, … the most obvious being Moses’ brother, Aaron, and his sister, Miriam, both of whom had become prophets among God’s peoples, with the people looking to them for support of Moses. And early in Numbers 12 we read of Miriam, followed by Aaron [what a “wuss” is Aaron ;>), disputing Moses’ choice of a Cushite wife (we don’t know what has happened to Zipporah, his Midianite wife). But God became so displeased at Miriam’s grumbling against God’s chosen #1 Prophet that she was given a case of leprosy for a week as a lesson in humility.
Then we read – ONCE AGAIN – of the Israelites becoming prideful and selfishly grumbling against God, with their lack of faith on display when the 12 spies came back from Canaan with their fearful report (well, at least 10 of 12). And the people grumbled – AGAIN – that they should rather have stayed back as slaves in Egypt. And we know what happened there; … off they were sent by God for 40 years in the wilderness to learn their lesson in humility.
Humility is obviously a quality God honors very, very, very highly. If you do a biblical study in humility, you find that in both the Old and New Testaments that God honors the humble (with His grace) but simply refuses to honor the prideful (go back and read Prov. 3: 34, 1st Peter 5: 5-6, and James 4: 6 … as well as how Paul had to learn to be humble via Satan’s thorn when he learned to receive God’s empowering grace – in 2nd Cor. 12: 7-10). And here we have Moses, God’s shining example of humility.
Have you ever wondered, as F. LaGard Smith discussed today, why Moses was so humble? Here he had been in the very presence of God, really the only man to that date who had had face-to-face encounters with God. God generally spoke to His Prophets indirectly – through dreams or visions; but not Moses. With this humble man, it was mano-a-mano interaction; and you’d think that such encounters would cause a man like Moses to fall trap to the very human default of pride.
In fact, religious leaders are particularly vulnerable to slipping into pridefulness, … aren’t they? Think of examples in Scripture like Jonah or even the Apostle Peter. In today’s church environment, Pastors, especially high profile televangelists, often get acute cases of pridefulness when so many people put them up on pedestals as their preaching becomes very well known. It’s hard for any public leader to remain humble; – think of our Presidents and political leaders in the past decades who’ve fallen prey to pride, finding it very difficult to humbly cope with the power which comes with their office.
So, back to the question of how Moses was able to remain so humble; and though you might say that it had something to do with Moses remembering his roots or being convicted by his past sin (remember he’d been spared by God even though he murdered an Egyptian). Or maybe you might speculate that it was because he’d been given a 40 year lesson in humility out there in the Negev deserts as a shepherd. And maybe some of that is true; but I agree with Dr. Smith in thinking that Moses was such a humble man because he had developed such a deep, deep and abiding relationship with the living Lord. Moses had an audience with God everyday; and when you’ve gone that deep with the Creator of the Universe, it’d pretty hard to become prideful about anything.
And I think therein we have a key to leading us toward God’s highly desired quality of humility and away from man’s default character weakness of pride. Some of the most humble people I know, now in my life, are those who have the deepest and most disciplined devotional relationships with God. They are the ones who never miss a day being with God and digging deep into His word, which is the repository of God’s treasure of grace in this world. Oh, how I pray that I can develop the kind of humility which God honored in Moses and He desires for all of His children. And I will continue to seek out that humility by learning more about my God in my daily encounters with Him … just as I’m doing as I write this … on this very morning.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, show me all of Yourself and help me to see less of myself as I see more of You. Amen
My Journal for Today: In the chapters we read today, the statement from Num. 12: 3 just jumps out from the pages of scripture. It’s like a neon sign, lauding Moses’ character trait of humility; … and God’s word becomes outright superlative about it, declaring Moses to be the most humble man on earth.
And we see some comparisons in these chapters as well, … the most obvious being Moses’ brother, Aaron, and his sister, Miriam, both of whom had become prophets among God’s peoples, with the people looking to them for support of Moses. And early in Numbers 12 we read of Miriam, followed by Aaron [what a “wuss” is Aaron ;>), disputing Moses’ choice of a Cushite wife (we don’t know what has happened to Zipporah, his Midianite wife). But God became so displeased at Miriam’s grumbling against God’s chosen #1 Prophet that she was given a case of leprosy for a week as a lesson in humility.
Then we read – ONCE AGAIN – of the Israelites becoming prideful and selfishly grumbling against God, with their lack of faith on display when the 12 spies came back from Canaan with their fearful report (well, at least 10 of 12). And the people grumbled – AGAIN – that they should rather have stayed back as slaves in Egypt. And we know what happened there; … off they were sent by God for 40 years in the wilderness to learn their lesson in humility.
Humility is obviously a quality God honors very, very, very highly. If you do a biblical study in humility, you find that in both the Old and New Testaments that God honors the humble (with His grace) but simply refuses to honor the prideful (go back and read Prov. 3: 34, 1st Peter 5: 5-6, and James 4: 6 … as well as how Paul had to learn to be humble via Satan’s thorn when he learned to receive God’s empowering grace – in 2nd Cor. 12: 7-10). And here we have Moses, God’s shining example of humility.
Have you ever wondered, as F. LaGard Smith discussed today, why Moses was so humble? Here he had been in the very presence of God, really the only man to that date who had had face-to-face encounters with God. God generally spoke to His Prophets indirectly – through dreams or visions; but not Moses. With this humble man, it was mano-a-mano interaction; and you’d think that such encounters would cause a man like Moses to fall trap to the very human default of pride.
In fact, religious leaders are particularly vulnerable to slipping into pridefulness, … aren’t they? Think of examples in Scripture like Jonah or even the Apostle Peter. In today’s church environment, Pastors, especially high profile televangelists, often get acute cases of pridefulness when so many people put them up on pedestals as their preaching becomes very well known. It’s hard for any public leader to remain humble; – think of our Presidents and political leaders in the past decades who’ve fallen prey to pride, finding it very difficult to humbly cope with the power which comes with their office.
So, back to the question of how Moses was able to remain so humble; and though you might say that it had something to do with Moses remembering his roots or being convicted by his past sin (remember he’d been spared by God even though he murdered an Egyptian). Or maybe you might speculate that it was because he’d been given a 40 year lesson in humility out there in the Negev deserts as a shepherd. And maybe some of that is true; but I agree with Dr. Smith in thinking that Moses was such a humble man because he had developed such a deep, deep and abiding relationship with the living Lord. Moses had an audience with God everyday; and when you’ve gone that deep with the Creator of the Universe, it’d pretty hard to become prideful about anything.
And I think therein we have a key to leading us toward God’s highly desired quality of humility and away from man’s default character weakness of pride. Some of the most humble people I know, now in my life, are those who have the deepest and most disciplined devotional relationships with God. They are the ones who never miss a day being with God and digging deep into His word, which is the repository of God’s treasure of grace in this world. Oh, how I pray that I can develop the kind of humility which God honored in Moses and He desires for all of His children. And I will continue to seek out that humility by learning more about my God in my daily encounters with Him … just as I’m doing as I write this … on this very morning.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, show me all of Yourself and help me to see less of myself as I see more of You. Amen
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
2009 – Day 264.Sept 22 – “I Am in Awe”
Passage of the Day: Job 40: 1-5 … From The Message Version …
1-2God then confronted Job directly: "Now what do you have to say for yourself? Are you going to haul Me, the Mighty One, into court and press charges?"
3-5 Job answered: "I'm speechless, in awe—words fail me. I should never have opened my mouth!I've talked too much, way too much. I'm ready to shut up and listen."
My Journal for Today: I’ve gone to Peterson’s colloquial version of Scripture in Job 40, which, in the first five verses, shows where Job had come to realize how he had become too self assured and too determined in his defense before his four worldly friends. God had, in Chapters 38-39 deftly and powerfully put Job in his place; and now Job was forced to acknowledge his insignificance to the Almighty God.
The question immediately as to personal application becomes, “Am I seeing myself in proper proportion to my God?” Well, in these first five verses of Chapter 40 we read a model of humility, vulnerability, and reality.
Job first humbly acknowledges his awe, being in the presence of God; and that’s a position we need to continually hold in that we choose to come into the presence of the Throne of Grace, bearing our burdens before our Lord. Well, Job came to realize that before his calamities arose, he had gotten too self assured; and now he needed to bring himself down before the Creator of the world and acknowledge his dependence upon his God.
Secondly, we read how Job admits that he had likely over-spoken his case before God, questioning the “WHY” of his circumstances in all the confusion of his loss and pain. Actually God doesn’t mind any of His children bringing their feelings to Him as we read in Lam. 3: 22-23 or 1st Peter 5: 7; but we, as Job did here, need to do so with vulnerability, recognizing that God is still – and always - totally in control.
And finally, Job recognized and acknowledged what I’ve just said … the reality that we need to be in a listening posture when we come to God because we’re never in an adversarial role with our God. God is not on “the other side” of our circumstances. As I’ve said often – and need to remember - life often causes us to challenge our belief in the truth of Romans 8: 28 and to seek HOW we can grow from life’s circumstances rather than to know WHY things are not going the way we’d like to see them.
After Job acknowledged God so humbly in today’s highlighted passage, I can just imagine a wry smile coming over the face of our Lord as He knew that Job was now in a posture of readiness to receive God’s grace. And don’t you know, my dear one, that we so desperately need God’s grace. So, when – hopefully not IF – you go to God today, come to our Lord with a posture of humility, laying all pride aside; and when we do that, we’ll find what is promised in God’s word (see Prov. 3: 34, James 4: 6) that God will pour His grace into humility; but He will resist pride whenever He sees it raise its ugly head.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, I pray that I don’t need to ask for You to help me find true humility this day. But if so, please do so; because I so need Your grace! Amen
1-2God then confronted Job directly: "Now what do you have to say for yourself? Are you going to haul Me, the Mighty One, into court and press charges?"
3-5 Job answered: "I'm speechless, in awe—words fail me. I should never have opened my mouth!I've talked too much, way too much. I'm ready to shut up and listen."
My Journal for Today: I’ve gone to Peterson’s colloquial version of Scripture in Job 40, which, in the first five verses, shows where Job had come to realize how he had become too self assured and too determined in his defense before his four worldly friends. God had, in Chapters 38-39 deftly and powerfully put Job in his place; and now Job was forced to acknowledge his insignificance to the Almighty God.
The question immediately as to personal application becomes, “Am I seeing myself in proper proportion to my God?” Well, in these first five verses of Chapter 40 we read a model of humility, vulnerability, and reality.
Job first humbly acknowledges his awe, being in the presence of God; and that’s a position we need to continually hold in that we choose to come into the presence of the Throne of Grace, bearing our burdens before our Lord. Well, Job came to realize that before his calamities arose, he had gotten too self assured; and now he needed to bring himself down before the Creator of the world and acknowledge his dependence upon his God.
Secondly, we read how Job admits that he had likely over-spoken his case before God, questioning the “WHY” of his circumstances in all the confusion of his loss and pain. Actually God doesn’t mind any of His children bringing their feelings to Him as we read in Lam. 3: 22-23 or 1st Peter 5: 7; but we, as Job did here, need to do so with vulnerability, recognizing that God is still – and always - totally in control.
And finally, Job recognized and acknowledged what I’ve just said … the reality that we need to be in a listening posture when we come to God because we’re never in an adversarial role with our God. God is not on “the other side” of our circumstances. As I’ve said often – and need to remember - life often causes us to challenge our belief in the truth of Romans 8: 28 and to seek HOW we can grow from life’s circumstances rather than to know WHY things are not going the way we’d like to see them.
After Job acknowledged God so humbly in today’s highlighted passage, I can just imagine a wry smile coming over the face of our Lord as He knew that Job was now in a posture of readiness to receive God’s grace. And don’t you know, my dear one, that we so desperately need God’s grace. So, when – hopefully not IF – you go to God today, come to our Lord with a posture of humility, laying all pride aside; and when we do that, we’ll find what is promised in God’s word (see Prov. 3: 34, James 4: 6) that God will pour His grace into humility; but He will resist pride whenever He sees it raise its ugly head.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, I pray that I don’t need to ask for You to help me find true humility this day. But if so, please do so; because I so need Your grace! Amen
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
2009 – Day 174.June 24 – When the Darkness Hits
2009 – Day 174.June 24 – When the Darkness Hits
Passage of the Day: 1st Kings 19: 1 – 9 … Linked for study …
My Journal for Today: In today’s devotional guidepost from Chuck Swindoll, he tries to help answer the question as to why our Prophet/Hero, Elijah, found himself in the pitiful mess he was in under that broom tree in the wilderness. How could a man who had just been on such a spiritual and personal high fall so low? And the answers should call attention to a number of warning posts for our consideration as Christian warriors.
First, and I think foremost, Elijah had just experienced his highest high spiritually, bringing down the prophets of Baal and calling down fire and rain from God on high. And we simply must learn that we become quite vulnerable to our sense of pride and hyper-ego when are riding the high of victory or success in life. I’m thinking now of a couple of other examples of this in Scripture, … Moses in the OT and the Apostle Paul in the NT. Both of them experienced some deep and discouraging setbacks after they had been riding highs in doing God’s business. And anytime God allows us to go high in life, we need to stay grounded and realize that God’s grace cannot pour into a mindset of pride (read the truth about it in Prov. 3: 34, 1st Peter 5: 6, and James 4: 6).
Secondly, Elijah was physically and emotionally exhausted; and fatigue can make cowards of anyone. The Prophet had been riding on the edge of life spiritually for years, during the drought, and like most of the people, he was expended of physical sustenance. Then he had that ego trip of out outrunning Ahab’s chariot, which likely took place in the mud of a flood. And then he had to run to escape Jezebel’s pursuit. I can remember my old high school football coach quoting the great football coach Vince Lombardi, who was the one who said, “Fatigue makes cowards of us all.” So, when it came to practicing in the heat of August our coach was preparing us to be in shape for the games in September, knowing that tired football players are vulnerable to defeat. And this was where Elijah found himself, panting in fear and fatigue under that broom tree.
Finally, and I think this is a biggie, … Elijah had separated himself over time from the fellowship of other believers to rally around him and lift him up. I’m thinking now of that marvelous passage in Exodus 17 [linked for you] about Aaron and Hur lifting up the tired arms of Moses so that God could bring victory in battle for God’s people. I think of Jesus surrounding himself with disciples as He walked His walk of ministry all the way to the cross. Man was created for togetherness and fellowship with God and his fellow man. Hence the exhortation in Hebrews 10: 24-25 [also linked for you], not to set ourselves apart from other believers, especially as we see the day of the Lord approaching. And Elijah had become a “Lone Ranger” believer over time; and this made him vulnerable to his spiritual enemies.
So in Elijah’s broom tree pity party, we see the result of allowing pride, fatigue, and loneliness into our minds and lives. And the vigilance lesson is rather straight forward. As warriors for God, we simply cannot allow ourselves the luxury of become prideful when God brings victory in our lives. We must stay disciplined in our physical/emotional lives so that we avoid abject fatigue from making us cowards in battle. And finally we simply must stay connected to other Christians who, when we might get tired or disoriented from battle, can lift us up and keep us going.
Do you have these factors in mind as you have prayerfully put together a battle plan for life? Because if you don’t have a plan to remain humble, in shape, and connected, you can bet Satan has a plan to help you become prideful, broken down physically, and disconnected from God’s people. He will do all he can to see you become prideful, fatigued, and disoriented so that he can take you to some broom tree and hear you give up on being a warrior for God.
My Prayer for Today: Oh, Lord, help me to stay focused on You, … to remain vigilant and in shape for battle, … and always to stay connected to the family of God. Amen
Passage of the Day: 1st Kings 19: 1 – 9 … Linked for study …
My Journal for Today: In today’s devotional guidepost from Chuck Swindoll, he tries to help answer the question as to why our Prophet/Hero, Elijah, found himself in the pitiful mess he was in under that broom tree in the wilderness. How could a man who had just been on such a spiritual and personal high fall so low? And the answers should call attention to a number of warning posts for our consideration as Christian warriors.
First, and I think foremost, Elijah had just experienced his highest high spiritually, bringing down the prophets of Baal and calling down fire and rain from God on high. And we simply must learn that we become quite vulnerable to our sense of pride and hyper-ego when are riding the high of victory or success in life. I’m thinking now of a couple of other examples of this in Scripture, … Moses in the OT and the Apostle Paul in the NT. Both of them experienced some deep and discouraging setbacks after they had been riding highs in doing God’s business. And anytime God allows us to go high in life, we need to stay grounded and realize that God’s grace cannot pour into a mindset of pride (read the truth about it in Prov. 3: 34, 1st Peter 5: 6, and James 4: 6).
Secondly, Elijah was physically and emotionally exhausted; and fatigue can make cowards of anyone. The Prophet had been riding on the edge of life spiritually for years, during the drought, and like most of the people, he was expended of physical sustenance. Then he had that ego trip of out outrunning Ahab’s chariot, which likely took place in the mud of a flood. And then he had to run to escape Jezebel’s pursuit. I can remember my old high school football coach quoting the great football coach Vince Lombardi, who was the one who said, “Fatigue makes cowards of us all.” So, when it came to practicing in the heat of August our coach was preparing us to be in shape for the games in September, knowing that tired football players are vulnerable to defeat. And this was where Elijah found himself, panting in fear and fatigue under that broom tree.
Finally, and I think this is a biggie, … Elijah had separated himself over time from the fellowship of other believers to rally around him and lift him up. I’m thinking now of that marvelous passage in Exodus 17 [linked for you] about Aaron and Hur lifting up the tired arms of Moses so that God could bring victory in battle for God’s people. I think of Jesus surrounding himself with disciples as He walked His walk of ministry all the way to the cross. Man was created for togetherness and fellowship with God and his fellow man. Hence the exhortation in Hebrews 10: 24-25 [also linked for you], not to set ourselves apart from other believers, especially as we see the day of the Lord approaching. And Elijah had become a “Lone Ranger” believer over time; and this made him vulnerable to his spiritual enemies.
So in Elijah’s broom tree pity party, we see the result of allowing pride, fatigue, and loneliness into our minds and lives. And the vigilance lesson is rather straight forward. As warriors for God, we simply cannot allow ourselves the luxury of become prideful when God brings victory in our lives. We must stay disciplined in our physical/emotional lives so that we avoid abject fatigue from making us cowards in battle. And finally we simply must stay connected to other Christians who, when we might get tired or disoriented from battle, can lift us up and keep us going.
Do you have these factors in mind as you have prayerfully put together a battle plan for life? Because if you don’t have a plan to remain humble, in shape, and connected, you can bet Satan has a plan to help you become prideful, broken down physically, and disconnected from God’s people. He will do all he can to see you become prideful, fatigued, and disoriented so that he can take you to some broom tree and hear you give up on being a warrior for God.
My Prayer for Today: Oh, Lord, help me to stay focused on You, … to remain vigilant and in shape for battle, … and always to stay connected to the family of God. Amen
Saturday, May 16, 2009
2009 – Day 135.May 16 – When God Says No
2009 – Day 135.May 16 – When God Says No
Passage of the Day: 2nd Samuel 7: 4 – 17 … Link to 2nd Sam. 7 for study …
My Journal for Today: Isn’t it stifling at times when God says, “No;” and you had plans that seemed so God honoring? And as we read in today’s passage, sometimes God’s “No” is not chastisement or a penalty for sin. No, it may just be God redirecting us for our own good and/or for His glory.
God’s plan can be a mystery to us. Read and meditate here on Isaiah 55: 8 – 9, which says, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” That’s a humbling directive, isn’t it? God is God; and we are not! It can really be just that simple at times when we diligently following God with commitment and direction. But we let our feelings and/or our pride get in the way.
We FEEL (and the operant word there is “feel”) that we should go in one direction for God; but we sense from Him that He says, “No, go in this other direction, which is My direction.” And we can’t understand why God would take us in another way than the one we FEEL is the way we should go. David would have loved to build a temple for God; but God said, “No, it will be your son who does that.” That wasn’t a punishment for David’s pridefulness or sinfulness. It was simply God being God.
But, … Ouch! That had to have hurt David’s pride; and maybe that was exactly the point. All too often it may be our pride that causes us to FEEL that we should go one way; and God needs for us to be humble, so He takes us in another direction, which will glorify His Name; and it hurts our pride.
Oh, this pride thing is a bug-a-boo, isn’t it? I sometimes wonder why God gave mankind the capability of being prideful. But then again, if we couldn’t choose pride over humility, the concept of “faith” would have no meaning. If we were automatons for God, He would really not get the glory, as He does when we, by faith, choose humility and set aside pride to follow God, especially when the outcome seems so mysterious to us.
David needed to learn that lesson as God was teaching him through the Prophet, Nathan. And so do we need to learn that lesson today. … Hey, dear one who might be reading this; … will you join me in covenant with God today, that we won’t let our feelings get in the way of God’s direction for our lives? Join me in praying to God that we allow Him to take us wherever He would lead us for our good and His glory. Let’s declare His directive from that verse I quote so often in my devotionals, Luke 9: 23, which is Christ saying to any or all of His disciples, "Just follow Me!”
My Prayer for Today: My Lord, I need to say it every day … You are God and I am not! Amen
Passage of the Day: 2nd Samuel 7: 4 – 17 … Link to 2nd Sam. 7 for study …
My Journal for Today: Isn’t it stifling at times when God says, “No;” and you had plans that seemed so God honoring? And as we read in today’s passage, sometimes God’s “No” is not chastisement or a penalty for sin. No, it may just be God redirecting us for our own good and/or for His glory.
God’s plan can be a mystery to us. Read and meditate here on Isaiah 55: 8 – 9, which says, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” That’s a humbling directive, isn’t it? God is God; and we are not! It can really be just that simple at times when we diligently following God with commitment and direction. But we let our feelings and/or our pride get in the way.
We FEEL (and the operant word there is “feel”) that we should go in one direction for God; but we sense from Him that He says, “No, go in this other direction, which is My direction.” And we can’t understand why God would take us in another way than the one we FEEL is the way we should go. David would have loved to build a temple for God; but God said, “No, it will be your son who does that.” That wasn’t a punishment for David’s pridefulness or sinfulness. It was simply God being God.
But, … Ouch! That had to have hurt David’s pride; and maybe that was exactly the point. All too often it may be our pride that causes us to FEEL that we should go one way; and God needs for us to be humble, so He takes us in another direction, which will glorify His Name; and it hurts our pride.
Oh, this pride thing is a bug-a-boo, isn’t it? I sometimes wonder why God gave mankind the capability of being prideful. But then again, if we couldn’t choose pride over humility, the concept of “faith” would have no meaning. If we were automatons for God, He would really not get the glory, as He does when we, by faith, choose humility and set aside pride to follow God, especially when the outcome seems so mysterious to us.
David needed to learn that lesson as God was teaching him through the Prophet, Nathan. And so do we need to learn that lesson today. … Hey, dear one who might be reading this; … will you join me in covenant with God today, that we won’t let our feelings get in the way of God’s direction for our lives? Join me in praying to God that we allow Him to take us wherever He would lead us for our good and His glory. Let’s declare His directive from that verse I quote so often in my devotionals, Luke 9: 23, which is Christ saying to any or all of His disciples, "Just follow Me!”
My Prayer for Today: My Lord, I need to say it every day … You are God and I am not! Amen
Monday, May 11, 2009
2009 – Day 140.May 11 – Taking Control
2009 – Day 140.May 11 – Taking Control
Passage of the Day: 2nd Samuel 2: 1 – 7 … Link to passage for study …
My Journal for Today: Finally the time came for David to move from fugitive to monarch. But with Saul now dead by his own hand, how did David move ahead? He had been a dozen or more years fleeing Saul and fighting in the desert wilderness; and David had learned to look to God before leaping ahead on his own. And this is the lesson we should learn from today’s passage in David’s life.
When we get an opportunity, perhaps a promotion or the chance to exercise our own control in life, the natural tendency is going to be to “take control” in the flesh. However, it would be wise to learn from David’s life here. The first thing David did when he was finally anointed to be the King in Judah was to humbly wait on God for direction and guidance. And that it is the ever present life lesson we get from God’s wisdom in Proverbs 3: 5 – 6, linked here for your convenience.
And I hope you have that one passage memorized and down cold; because the guidance from God’s truth here can impact anyone throughout our lives. And David, in our study today, is a good example of this truth. When we have the opportunity to exercise power or control in life, the wisest thing we can do is to set aside pride and humbly do what Christ commands in Luke 9: 23 … to set aside self and follow our Savior no matter what the daily cross might be.
Now, back in the day when our passage today was describing David’s time of anointing, God spoke directly, and even audibly, to His servants or anointed leaders. But in this time of the New Covenant, God primarily “speaks” to His followers through His word, … the Bible. And that is why the advice of Prov. 3: 5 – 6 and from the very words spoken by our Lord in Luke 9: 23 are so pertinent to us in life. Because when we have the chance to move ahead and direct the affairs of mankind, exercising God-given control, when we follow His word, we will find His will and His way; and He will lead us to take Godly actions which will glorify our Father in Heaven. Relying on self, however, will very often lead to selfish disaster.
So, here we have another inventory moment, … one of those “pop quizzes” from God’s truth, … a 2nd Cor. 13: 5 moment, … a test of our faith. And I ask myself, “Bill, do you filter ALL of your directions and decisions through God’s word for guidance and confirmation?” And to that question, I can honestly say that I’ve come to the place where that is my reflex and “M.O.” in life. How about you? Are you looking to God’s word, and going to God in prayer (as we’re directed in Phil. 4: 6 – 7) to seek out God’s peace as our stamp of approval on the decisions we make?
If you’re not, I would exhort you to begin developing and acquiring the discipline which was exhibited by David in today’s passage. Take it from one who has learned by the life courses of “hard knocks.” Going to God first and humbly finding His will through His word is going to pay big dividends in your life if you can learn that as a discipline rather than relying on our own hearts and our flesh to make important decision in life.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, may I humbly seek Your way through Your word to guide me in life. Amen
Passage of the Day: 2nd Samuel 2: 1 – 7 … Link to passage for study …
My Journal for Today: Finally the time came for David to move from fugitive to monarch. But with Saul now dead by his own hand, how did David move ahead? He had been a dozen or more years fleeing Saul and fighting in the desert wilderness; and David had learned to look to God before leaping ahead on his own. And this is the lesson we should learn from today’s passage in David’s life.
When we get an opportunity, perhaps a promotion or the chance to exercise our own control in life, the natural tendency is going to be to “take control” in the flesh. However, it would be wise to learn from David’s life here. The first thing David did when he was finally anointed to be the King in Judah was to humbly wait on God for direction and guidance. And that it is the ever present life lesson we get from God’s wisdom in Proverbs 3: 5 – 6, linked here for your convenience.
And I hope you have that one passage memorized and down cold; because the guidance from God’s truth here can impact anyone throughout our lives. And David, in our study today, is a good example of this truth. When we have the opportunity to exercise power or control in life, the wisest thing we can do is to set aside pride and humbly do what Christ commands in Luke 9: 23 … to set aside self and follow our Savior no matter what the daily cross might be.
Now, back in the day when our passage today was describing David’s time of anointing, God spoke directly, and even audibly, to His servants or anointed leaders. But in this time of the New Covenant, God primarily “speaks” to His followers through His word, … the Bible. And that is why the advice of Prov. 3: 5 – 6 and from the very words spoken by our Lord in Luke 9: 23 are so pertinent to us in life. Because when we have the chance to move ahead and direct the affairs of mankind, exercising God-given control, when we follow His word, we will find His will and His way; and He will lead us to take Godly actions which will glorify our Father in Heaven. Relying on self, however, will very often lead to selfish disaster.
So, here we have another inventory moment, … one of those “pop quizzes” from God’s truth, … a 2nd Cor. 13: 5 moment, … a test of our faith. And I ask myself, “Bill, do you filter ALL of your directions and decisions through God’s word for guidance and confirmation?” And to that question, I can honestly say that I’ve come to the place where that is my reflex and “M.O.” in life. How about you? Are you looking to God’s word, and going to God in prayer (as we’re directed in Phil. 4: 6 – 7) to seek out God’s peace as our stamp of approval on the decisions we make?
If you’re not, I would exhort you to begin developing and acquiring the discipline which was exhibited by David in today’s passage. Take it from one who has learned by the life courses of “hard knocks.” Going to God first and humbly finding His will through His word is going to pay big dividends in your life if you can learn that as a discipline rather than relying on our own hearts and our flesh to make important decision in life.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, may I humbly seek Your way through Your word to guide me in life. Amen
Thursday, April 02, 2009
2009 – Day 91.Apr. 2 – Not Indispensable
2009 – Day 91.Apr. 2 – Not Indispensable
Passage of the Day: Numbers 11: 24 – 30 … 24 So Moses went out and told the people the words of the LORD, and he gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people and placed them around the tabernacle. 25 Then the LORD came down in the cloud, and spoke to him, and took of the Spirit that was upon him, and placed the same upon the seventy elders; and it happened, when the Spirit rested upon them, that they prophesied, although they never did so again.26 But two men had remained in the camp: the name of one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad. And the Spirit rested upon them. Now they were among those listed, but who had not gone out to the tabernacle; yet they prophesied in the camp. 27 And a young man ran and told Moses, and said, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” 28 So Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, one of his choice men, answered and said, “Moses my lord, forbid them!” 29 Then Moses said to him, “Are you zealous for my sake? Oh, that all the LORD’s people were prophets and that the LORD would put His Spirit upon them!” 30 And Moses returned to the camp, he and the elders of Israel.
My Journal for Today: Do you sometimes get the feeling that you’re hot stuff?! For the past few days here in Memphis, TN, the University of Memphis basketball coach has been hearing that he is indispensible to basketball success at the U. of M. And at the University of Kentucky where he has been recruited to go and serve, he’s been reading in the papers that he’s their savior, coming there to resurrect a dying program. Hey, Coach Cal, it’s all an April Fool’s joke; you’re not as hot as you might think you are!
Maybe you’ve been in a place where you felt like the program you’re leading, the ministry where you served, or the job you hold could not do it’s work without you. I confess that this has crossed my mind as I do the work of Battle Plan Ministry where God brought me to get the ministry started and to carry it on in Christ’s Name. And therein lies the answer to all of this pridefulness. No basketball coach is indispensible. No ministry leader is irreplaceable. There is only one indispensable, irreplaceable One; and He is Jesus Christ.
Hey Bill Berry; get it straight. If BattlePlan Ministries is God’s design; and it is for His glory, He can and will replace the leader whenever He needs to (Hey, Bill; that’s you!); and He may even pick a better leader. I got a kick out of the fact that Joshua was one of the two younger men who were jealous for Moses’ role as prophet in today’s passage; and it was Joshua who would one day be selected to become the prophet leader of God’s people when Moses died.
So, if you think you’re hot stuff, my dear reader; … DON’T! Christ is the only hot One; and He is totally indispensable as the Lord of lords and the King of kings. He and only He can lead us where we need to go; and only He can save us – as He has already done – from our base nature, … from our sinfulness. So, I stand convicted. There will be another one someday who will replace me at the helm of leadership in BattlePlan Ministries; and my family will grow and move on even without its dad and granddad. God leads BattlePlan Ministries; and God leads the Berry Patch as well.
And so, I yield to Him in all things and at all times.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, You are all things at all times to me. Have mercy on my pridefulness. Help me to remain humble before your throne of grace. Amen
Passage of the Day: Numbers 11: 24 – 30 … 24 So Moses went out and told the people the words of the LORD, and he gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people and placed them around the tabernacle. 25 Then the LORD came down in the cloud, and spoke to him, and took of the Spirit that was upon him, and placed the same upon the seventy elders; and it happened, when the Spirit rested upon them, that they prophesied, although they never did so again.26 But two men had remained in the camp: the name of one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad. And the Spirit rested upon them. Now they were among those listed, but who had not gone out to the tabernacle; yet they prophesied in the camp. 27 And a young man ran and told Moses, and said, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” 28 So Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, one of his choice men, answered and said, “Moses my lord, forbid them!” 29 Then Moses said to him, “Are you zealous for my sake? Oh, that all the LORD’s people were prophets and that the LORD would put His Spirit upon them!” 30 And Moses returned to the camp, he and the elders of Israel.
My Journal for Today: Do you sometimes get the feeling that you’re hot stuff?! For the past few days here in Memphis, TN, the University of Memphis basketball coach has been hearing that he is indispensible to basketball success at the U. of M. And at the University of Kentucky where he has been recruited to go and serve, he’s been reading in the papers that he’s their savior, coming there to resurrect a dying program. Hey, Coach Cal, it’s all an April Fool’s joke; you’re not as hot as you might think you are!
Maybe you’ve been in a place where you felt like the program you’re leading, the ministry where you served, or the job you hold could not do it’s work without you. I confess that this has crossed my mind as I do the work of Battle Plan Ministry where God brought me to get the ministry started and to carry it on in Christ’s Name. And therein lies the answer to all of this pridefulness. No basketball coach is indispensible. No ministry leader is irreplaceable. There is only one indispensable, irreplaceable One; and He is Jesus Christ.
Hey Bill Berry; get it straight. If BattlePlan Ministries is God’s design; and it is for His glory, He can and will replace the leader whenever He needs to (Hey, Bill; that’s you!); and He may even pick a better leader. I got a kick out of the fact that Joshua was one of the two younger men who were jealous for Moses’ role as prophet in today’s passage; and it was Joshua who would one day be selected to become the prophet leader of God’s people when Moses died.
So, if you think you’re hot stuff, my dear reader; … DON’T! Christ is the only hot One; and He is totally indispensable as the Lord of lords and the King of kings. He and only He can lead us where we need to go; and only He can save us – as He has already done – from our base nature, … from our sinfulness. So, I stand convicted. There will be another one someday who will replace me at the helm of leadership in BattlePlan Ministries; and my family will grow and move on even without its dad and granddad. God leads BattlePlan Ministries; and God leads the Berry Patch as well.
And so, I yield to Him in all things and at all times.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, You are all things at all times to me. Have mercy on my pridefulness. Help me to remain humble before your throne of grace. Amen
Monday, March 09, 2009
2009 – Day 67.Mar. 9 – Leave Of Absence
2009 – Day 67.Mar. 9 – Leave Of Absence
Passage of the Day: Exodus 4: 18 … 18 So Moses went and returned to Jethro his father-in-law, and said to him, “Please let me go and return to my brethren who are in Egypt, and see whether they are still alive.” And Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.”
My Journal for Today: I’m glad that Swindoll highlights this transitional passage in Moses’ life, which shows a lot about how Moses’ character had developed out there in the desert.
Here we are. Moses had just been hanging out with God Himself in the form of a burning bush; and God has recruited the shepherd to be His agent of redemption for God’s people, the Jews in Egypt. And Moses now knows that he will carry a staff which can become a snake; and he will be crying out, in God’s Name, to Pharaoh, “Let my people go!” … But does Moses take all that to Jethro, the man who had become his adopted daddy?
No, in meekness and humility and respect, he simply goes to the man who had entrusted his flocks to Moses for 40 years and quietly asks if he may be released to go down and see about the status of his brethren, the Jews, in Egypt. And Swindoll points out that this shows a lot about both the man Moses had become and the God, Who was calling Moses out to be the savior of God’s people.
Here we see what Moses had become in 40 years, … a GENTLEman, … a humble man, … both qualities we know are primary facets of the character of our Savior. By the way, they are the only two descriptive qualities Jesus ever used to describe Himself (you can check that out in Matt. 11: 29). So, he goes to Jethro in gentleness and humility; and he doesn’t bowl him over with a wild story, something like, “Dad, you’re not going to believe what I just saw. I was in the presence of The God of our father, Abraham, in a burning bush up there on the mountain. And God says I’m going down to Egypt and lead my people out of there! So, I’m out of here tomorrow. Sorry!”
No, God doesn’t demand his believers, especially those whom He calls into leadership, to be flashy and flaunt the power of God within. God only asks us to be available, to be humble, and to follow where He would lead. In fact, God will honor the kind of humility and meekness exhibited by Moses in today’s highlight passage from God’s word by pouring mercy and grace into these Christlike qualities. Scripture says it in many places in the Bible that God pours His grace into humility; but He cannot do so to those who are filled with puffed-up pride. (Check it out in Prov. 3: 34, James 4: 6, and 1st Peter 5: 5-6)
And so, we see God’s man, exhibiting God’s love and patience and a servant’s heart as he goes to the Midianite Prince and asks for a leave of absence to go to Egypt. And God, in His love and mercy and grace had prepared the heart of Moses’ adopted dad to give Moses the release he sought to go down and do business for God in Egypt. This is certainly an attitude lesson for us all. Patience and gentleness and humility should always be our M.O., rather than puffed-up pride and power-driven ego.
God simply says [from that verse I refer to so often in Luke 9: 23), “Deny yourself and follow Me.” And that’s exactly what Moses did.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, I have Your power in me; but all You ask me to be is Your feet, when You say, “Go!” Amen
Passage of the Day: Exodus 4: 18 … 18 So Moses went and returned to Jethro his father-in-law, and said to him, “Please let me go and return to my brethren who are in Egypt, and see whether they are still alive.” And Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.”
My Journal for Today: I’m glad that Swindoll highlights this transitional passage in Moses’ life, which shows a lot about how Moses’ character had developed out there in the desert.
Here we are. Moses had just been hanging out with God Himself in the form of a burning bush; and God has recruited the shepherd to be His agent of redemption for God’s people, the Jews in Egypt. And Moses now knows that he will carry a staff which can become a snake; and he will be crying out, in God’s Name, to Pharaoh, “Let my people go!” … But does Moses take all that to Jethro, the man who had become his adopted daddy?
No, in meekness and humility and respect, he simply goes to the man who had entrusted his flocks to Moses for 40 years and quietly asks if he may be released to go down and see about the status of his brethren, the Jews, in Egypt. And Swindoll points out that this shows a lot about both the man Moses had become and the God, Who was calling Moses out to be the savior of God’s people.
Here we see what Moses had become in 40 years, … a GENTLEman, … a humble man, … both qualities we know are primary facets of the character of our Savior. By the way, they are the only two descriptive qualities Jesus ever used to describe Himself (you can check that out in Matt. 11: 29). So, he goes to Jethro in gentleness and humility; and he doesn’t bowl him over with a wild story, something like, “Dad, you’re not going to believe what I just saw. I was in the presence of The God of our father, Abraham, in a burning bush up there on the mountain. And God says I’m going down to Egypt and lead my people out of there! So, I’m out of here tomorrow. Sorry!”
No, God doesn’t demand his believers, especially those whom He calls into leadership, to be flashy and flaunt the power of God within. God only asks us to be available, to be humble, and to follow where He would lead. In fact, God will honor the kind of humility and meekness exhibited by Moses in today’s highlight passage from God’s word by pouring mercy and grace into these Christlike qualities. Scripture says it in many places in the Bible that God pours His grace into humility; but He cannot do so to those who are filled with puffed-up pride. (Check it out in Prov. 3: 34, James 4: 6, and 1st Peter 5: 5-6)
And so, we see God’s man, exhibiting God’s love and patience and a servant’s heart as he goes to the Midianite Prince and asks for a leave of absence to go to Egypt. And God, in His love and mercy and grace had prepared the heart of Moses’ adopted dad to give Moses the release he sought to go down and do business for God in Egypt. This is certainly an attitude lesson for us all. Patience and gentleness and humility should always be our M.O., rather than puffed-up pride and power-driven ego.
God simply says [from that verse I refer to so often in Luke 9: 23), “Deny yourself and follow Me.” And that’s exactly what Moses did.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, I have Your power in me; but all You ask me to be is Your feet, when You say, “Go!” Amen
Saturday, March 07, 2009
2009 – Day 65.Mar. 7 – And The Answer Is …
2009 – Day 65.Mar. 7 – And The Answer Is …
Passage of the Day: Exodus 4: 1 – 10 … Read passage from this link …
My Journal for Today: Swindoll’s right again. After one reads this scenario of Moses trying to apply his human weaknesses to the potential of trying to be God’s spokesman before Pharaoh, the excuses Moses comes up with are pictures of our own feelings as we are called by Christ by the Great Commission (Matt. 28: 19-20) or God’s charge to be His witness to the world (Acts 1: 8).
But just as in those New Testament callings, God gives us, as he did with Moses, His power to take away all of our excuses. But our first reaction, when we think of God calling us to be His spokesperson here on earth, is to balk in fear. And why is that? And Swindoll nails it again, our feeble excuses and fearful back peddling always comes from the mother of all fears, … the parent emotion of all sin, … and that is PRIDE.
We rightfully imagine that our own strength or intelligence in trying to witness for God will not be strong enough; and we simply don’t want to seem like a fool in front of our family, friends, or fellow humans. Ironically, as I indicated, the first part of our assumption is accurate. We are not smart enough or strong enough, in and of our own abilities, to be God’s witness. But where do we get the idea that saying, “I don’t know,” will be put down by others to whom we witness about God in our lives.
No, when we are confronted by someone who has to admit weakness or error, the truth is that we don’t disrespect another who says, “I don’t know.” Admit it. When we pump them with logical questions about something, and we back them into a logical corner, when they admit their weakness, we don’t disrespect them for admitting weakness, do we? No, the truth is that honestly admitting ignorance or weakness is viewed with empathy and respect when someone else is courageous enough to admit he or she can’t handle a situation. But because of pride we let our imaginations run wild when we think of trying to witness for God, thinking that others will see us as stupid or weak.
The reality, which I’ve come to discover over the years, is that when I’m witnessing for God, especially with my testimony, no one can argue with me. Oh, my antagonists may be able to pump unanswerable questions at me or challenge the logic of Scripture, if I were to quote it. However, NO ONE can argue with a personal testimony. So, when I witness as to how God has changed my life, there’s no smart comeback to challenge me; and in situations like those God’s power is in my testimony.
And the other point I’ve come to understand and trust is the truth that God will not only never leave me in the lurch when I’m witnessing for Him; but He has always goes on ahead of me to set the ground for me as I stand for Him. That’s the promise of Deut. 31: 6, 8 from the Old Covenant as well as Hebrews 13: 5 in the New Testament is that God will NEVER forsake me. Just as Moses discovered that God will allow us to be His witness with the Lord’s power speaking, we can go forth and witness to the world with the Holy Spirit preparing the way for us and being there in our testimonies.
Oh, it may not be a rod turning into a serpent or the hand in the bosom slight of hand as it was for Moses; but it will be God standing with us when we stand for Him. We simply have to set aside our human pride and fears; and trust that God will be there with us when we become witnesses for Him. As we’ll be seeing in upcoming devotionals, Moses would learn that truth; and he would come to stand with and for God against Pharaoh. But right now we need to be asking ourselves why we don’t or can’t go forth in faith to witness for our Lord; and we need to do so with the faith that God will never put us in a situation we cannot handle with Him being there with us (see 1st Cor. 10: 13). When we learn that lesson, we can be just as “dangerous” for God as Moses was about to become in Pharaoh’s court.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, I go forth to witness for You. Amen
Passage of the Day: Exodus 4: 1 – 10 … Read passage from this link …
My Journal for Today: Swindoll’s right again. After one reads this scenario of Moses trying to apply his human weaknesses to the potential of trying to be God’s spokesman before Pharaoh, the excuses Moses comes up with are pictures of our own feelings as we are called by Christ by the Great Commission (Matt. 28: 19-20) or God’s charge to be His witness to the world (Acts 1: 8).
But just as in those New Testament callings, God gives us, as he did with Moses, His power to take away all of our excuses. But our first reaction, when we think of God calling us to be His spokesperson here on earth, is to balk in fear. And why is that? And Swindoll nails it again, our feeble excuses and fearful back peddling always comes from the mother of all fears, … the parent emotion of all sin, … and that is PRIDE.
We rightfully imagine that our own strength or intelligence in trying to witness for God will not be strong enough; and we simply don’t want to seem like a fool in front of our family, friends, or fellow humans. Ironically, as I indicated, the first part of our assumption is accurate. We are not smart enough or strong enough, in and of our own abilities, to be God’s witness. But where do we get the idea that saying, “I don’t know,” will be put down by others to whom we witness about God in our lives.
No, when we are confronted by someone who has to admit weakness or error, the truth is that we don’t disrespect another who says, “I don’t know.” Admit it. When we pump them with logical questions about something, and we back them into a logical corner, when they admit their weakness, we don’t disrespect them for admitting weakness, do we? No, the truth is that honestly admitting ignorance or weakness is viewed with empathy and respect when someone else is courageous enough to admit he or she can’t handle a situation. But because of pride we let our imaginations run wild when we think of trying to witness for God, thinking that others will see us as stupid or weak.
The reality, which I’ve come to discover over the years, is that when I’m witnessing for God, especially with my testimony, no one can argue with me. Oh, my antagonists may be able to pump unanswerable questions at me or challenge the logic of Scripture, if I were to quote it. However, NO ONE can argue with a personal testimony. So, when I witness as to how God has changed my life, there’s no smart comeback to challenge me; and in situations like those God’s power is in my testimony.
And the other point I’ve come to understand and trust is the truth that God will not only never leave me in the lurch when I’m witnessing for Him; but He has always goes on ahead of me to set the ground for me as I stand for Him. That’s the promise of Deut. 31: 6, 8 from the Old Covenant as well as Hebrews 13: 5 in the New Testament is that God will NEVER forsake me. Just as Moses discovered that God will allow us to be His witness with the Lord’s power speaking, we can go forth and witness to the world with the Holy Spirit preparing the way for us and being there in our testimonies.
Oh, it may not be a rod turning into a serpent or the hand in the bosom slight of hand as it was for Moses; but it will be God standing with us when we stand for Him. We simply have to set aside our human pride and fears; and trust that God will be there with us when we become witnesses for Him. As we’ll be seeing in upcoming devotionals, Moses would learn that truth; and he would come to stand with and for God against Pharaoh. But right now we need to be asking ourselves why we don’t or can’t go forth in faith to witness for our Lord; and we need to do so with the faith that God will never put us in a situation we cannot handle with Him being there with us (see 1st Cor. 10: 13). When we learn that lesson, we can be just as “dangerous” for God as Moses was about to become in Pharaoh’s court.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, I go forth to witness for You. Amen
Thursday, February 26, 2009
2009 - Day 56. Feb. 26 - Selfless Dedication
2009 – Day 56.Feb.26 – Selfless Dedication
Passage of the Day: Exodus 2: 15 – 25 … Linked to passage for study ...
My Journal for Today: Is the deliverer of a nation raised in a palace with dreams of taking his people into glory as was Moses when he was raised by Pharaoh to be Pharaoh? No, … in this instance, a deliverer was birthed when he took the opportunity to save and serve seven Midianite women at the well who were being harassed by some lowly shepherds (see Exod. 2: 19).
There’s a great line of truth from Swindoll’s devotional today as he writes, “If you can’t do the good you would; do the good you can.” … I’m sure Moses dreamed of being the leader of a great people as their Pharaoh; but here he was humbled to be in the desert wilderness amongst Bedouin shepherds. But when the circumstances presented themselves for him to step in and be a savior and servant to seven innocent Midianites, Moses was there for them, humbly stepping in to rescue them and even to serve them in a way that we now see was a type of Christ.
Christ, as we know in Matt. 20: 28 or Mark 10: 45 said, “… the Son of Man did not come into the world to be served, but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many.” That, my fellow Christian, is the attitude and heart of a deliverer; and that was the heart of Moses as he stepped forward to be “the deliverer” for those seven daughters of Reuel, a Sheik of Midian. It was that act of selfless dedication which began Moses’ apprenticeship in humility, a deliverer’s training program which lasted 40 years in that desert place. But, as we know if read on in his story, it led to Moses being used by God for God and for God’s people, … a life of selfless dedication in surrender to the God Who would use a lowly shepherd to lead His people out of bondage.
Sometimes we get impatient as we seek to be God’s servant where we’re planted. It may be frustrating to live as we live or work as we work, thinking that there must be something bigger or better God has for us. But perhaps God simply wants us to serve Him right where we are, doing what we do; and perhaps He has greater plans for us. Or maybe not! Maybe God has placed us exactly where we are to serve Him as we are because there is someone in bondage right there in our lives who needs God’s deliverance. Whom do you know or work with whom you know is in bondage to there lost self? Perhaps you are to be used by God as the deliverer of this soul in bondage.
I leave it to you in this moment of meditation, just as I’m convicted by this time with God, to see if God has brought us to the place were we are in this life to be the servant for someone and maybe even their deliverer.
My Prayer for Today: Oh, Lord, show me whom I can serve and allow me to help You save someone in my life who needs to be set free of their bondage to sin. Amen
Passage of the Day: Exodus 2: 15 – 25 … Linked to passage for study ...
My Journal for Today: Is the deliverer of a nation raised in a palace with dreams of taking his people into glory as was Moses when he was raised by Pharaoh to be Pharaoh? No, … in this instance, a deliverer was birthed when he took the opportunity to save and serve seven Midianite women at the well who were being harassed by some lowly shepherds (see Exod. 2: 19).
There’s a great line of truth from Swindoll’s devotional today as he writes, “If you can’t do the good you would; do the good you can.” … I’m sure Moses dreamed of being the leader of a great people as their Pharaoh; but here he was humbled to be in the desert wilderness amongst Bedouin shepherds. But when the circumstances presented themselves for him to step in and be a savior and servant to seven innocent Midianites, Moses was there for them, humbly stepping in to rescue them and even to serve them in a way that we now see was a type of Christ.
Christ, as we know in Matt. 20: 28 or Mark 10: 45 said, “… the Son of Man did not come into the world to be served, but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many.” That, my fellow Christian, is the attitude and heart of a deliverer; and that was the heart of Moses as he stepped forward to be “the deliverer” for those seven daughters of Reuel, a Sheik of Midian. It was that act of selfless dedication which began Moses’ apprenticeship in humility, a deliverer’s training program which lasted 40 years in that desert place. But, as we know if read on in his story, it led to Moses being used by God for God and for God’s people, … a life of selfless dedication in surrender to the God Who would use a lowly shepherd to lead His people out of bondage.
Sometimes we get impatient as we seek to be God’s servant where we’re planted. It may be frustrating to live as we live or work as we work, thinking that there must be something bigger or better God has for us. But perhaps God simply wants us to serve Him right where we are, doing what we do; and perhaps He has greater plans for us. Or maybe not! Maybe God has placed us exactly where we are to serve Him as we are because there is someone in bondage right there in our lives who needs God’s deliverance. Whom do you know or work with whom you know is in bondage to there lost self? Perhaps you are to be used by God as the deliverer of this soul in bondage.
I leave it to you in this moment of meditation, just as I’m convicted by this time with God, to see if God has brought us to the place were we are in this life to be the servant for someone and maybe even their deliverer.
My Prayer for Today: Oh, Lord, show me whom I can serve and allow me to help You save someone in my life who needs to be set free of their bondage to sin. Amen
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