Passage of the Day: Reference of Today’s Chronological Bible Study: Judges, Chapters 10-12 … To study these chapters, go to this link -
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Highlight Reference Passage : Judges 10: 29-35 … 29 Then the Spirit of the LORD came on Jephthah. He crossed Gilead and Manasseh, passed through Mizpah of Gilead, and from there he advanced against the Ammonites. 30 And Jephthah made a vow to the LORD: “If you give the Ammonites into my hands, 31 whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites will be the LORD’s, and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering.”
32 Then Jephthah went over to fight the Ammonites, and the LORD gave them into his hands. 33 He devastated twenty towns from Aroer to the vicinity of Minnith, as far as Abel Keramim. Thus Israel subdued Ammon.
34 When Jephthah returned to his home in Mizpah, who should come out to meet him but his daughter, dancing to the sound of timbrels! She was an only child. Except for her he had neither son nor daughter. 35 When he saw her, he tore his clothes and cried, “Oh no, my daughter! You have brought me down and I am devastated. I have made a vow to the LORD that I cannot break.”
My Journal for Today: Today’s chronological read in Judges (in Chapters 10-12) takes me through a disturbing story involving the Judge, Jephthah, a man born as the illegitimate son of a prostitute, and a man who was disinherited by his father; yet, he became the leader of the Israelites, leading them out of a long period of idolatry and subjugation into victory over the oppressors of Israel.
Yet, in today’s passage we see that even though the Holy Spirit had come upon Jephthah; and he was called out by God, he was still a very fallible man who could – and did – make a rash promise to God without thinking through the ramifications of bargaining with God as to his own future. And the implications of this story certainly apply to all who call upon God – our God, … especially in times when things seem difficult or oppressive.
Perhaps in such times, you might have prayed rashly, “Lord, if You deliver me from this, I’ll ____________.” And I’ll let you fill in that blank of a promise, which you made to God, praying to overcome whatever dire circumstances led you to make such a promise about your future.
Well, Jephthah made such a promise, as we read above; and low-and-behold, it cost him the life of his only daughter. Now, perhaps we have not been so rash to make such a foolish promise to God; but God’s word is pretty clear in telling us never to make rash promises or vows to God.
And Jephthah should have known this principle because Moses had clearly stated this in the Book of the Law, which God’s people had to give them teaching in moments like these. In Deuteronomy 23: 21-23, God stated through Moses, “ If you make a vow to the LORD your God, do not be slow to pay it, for the LORD your God will certainly demand it of you and you will be guilty of sin. 22 But if you refrain from making a vow, you will not be guilty. 23 Whatever your lips utter you must be sure to do, because you made your vow freely to the LORD your God with your own mouth.”
And so, from these Old Testament teachings and true historical accounts like this one in the life of one of the Judges, we should certainly learn that God is not asking us to make rash promises about the hereafter. All God wants from us is our faith and trust in His promises for the here-and-now. We can also read that from the words of Solomon in a passage that you may have (and if not, should have) memorized. You may be thinking right now of Proverbs 3: 5-6, which is my wife’s favorite verse. It states, and I quote from memory (and the NKJV), … Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not on your own understanding, In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.
All God expected of Jephthah was trust in Him as the promise-keeping God of Israel. All God expects of us is that same faith and trust. So, today, as you follow along with me, reading through these passages in Judges, let’s ask ourselves if we’re trusting God the way we should; and if we’re tempted to make some very human, but very foolish, promise to God, let’s back away and simply trust that God knows best for us; and He will watch over us and guide us no matter what our circumstances might be.
My Prayer Today: … God, You are my God and You watch over me today; and that’s all I need to know. Amen
Showing posts with label truth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label truth. Show all posts
Monday, April 02, 2012
Friday, September 17, 2010
2010 – September 17 – Seeing Is Believing
Study from God’s Word… Job, Chapters 38 – 42 … Passage for Reflection: Job 42: 4 – 6 … NIV 4 "You [God] said, 'Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.' 5 My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. 6 Therefore, I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes."
My Journal for Today: It is a truism that we humans may imagine something; but when we see something or experience it, our perspective changes. I was told that going to the Holy Land would change the way I read and studied the Bible. I could understand that – intellectually – but now that I’ve been to Israel, I can “see” the truth in why people call Israel the “fifth gospel.” To a great extent the old adage, “seeing is believing,” is greatly true. But to a great extent the opposite is also very true: One will never truly “see” something until he “believes” it first.
Dr. Smith in his devotional for today makes some powerful, and truth-bearing statements. He writes, “… its one thing to hear, but another to see! It’s one thing to know; and another to understand. Indeed, it’s one thing to understand and yet another to act upon that understanding.
When I refused to believe the truth about Jesus, as Christ, [back in my angry days as an atheist] I had no clue about the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. But now I’ve SEEN the Truth; and The Truth has set me free. Once I was willing to believe and receive Jesus as Lord of my life, IN FAITH, I have been given “eyes” to see His truth; and a new consciousness to experience that truth; and this new perspective on life has given me the freedom, and power, to change.
Last week in my church we had a “cardboard testimony” service. A “cardboard testimony” is a before and after statement printed on a piece of common cardboard, telling how one’s life has been transformed/changed as a result of becoming a Christian. I participated in this demonstration of the changing power of Christ. On one side of my cardboard panel, my “before” testimony read, “Obsessed with p0rn.” On the other side, the “after” statement, I wrote, “Obsessed with God’s word!”
You see, my friend, nobody can tell me that one cannot or will not change when he truly repents and comes in faith to receive Christ as Savior and Lord; because I’ve seen and experienced the change; and I can give testimony – my testimony! – to that change. We could write about the power of God to change; and you can read about it in the Bible; but if you don’t believe it, you will never “see it,” and it will never be true … for you. But when you’ve been there; and experienced the reality of God’s transforming power, nothing that any atheist would ever argue has any meaning to dissuade you from the Truth.
The “Truth” is Jesus; and when you’ve “seen” Him in action – i.e., His Spirit changing your life – you KNOW He’s real; and no one could ever argue you out of that truth. I hope that all who read this have “SEEN” Jesus change your life; and I hope you share that before/after “cardboard” testimony with others.
BTW, … if you want to see a series of “cardboard testimonies,” go to this link.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, Jesus, You are my cardboard testimony. Amen
My Journal for Today: It is a truism that we humans may imagine something; but when we see something or experience it, our perspective changes. I was told that going to the Holy Land would change the way I read and studied the Bible. I could understand that – intellectually – but now that I’ve been to Israel, I can “see” the truth in why people call Israel the “fifth gospel.” To a great extent the old adage, “seeing is believing,” is greatly true. But to a great extent the opposite is also very true: One will never truly “see” something until he “believes” it first.
Dr. Smith in his devotional for today makes some powerful, and truth-bearing statements. He writes, “… its one thing to hear, but another to see! It’s one thing to know; and another to understand. Indeed, it’s one thing to understand and yet another to act upon that understanding.
When I refused to believe the truth about Jesus, as Christ, [back in my angry days as an atheist] I had no clue about the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. But now I’ve SEEN the Truth; and The Truth has set me free. Once I was willing to believe and receive Jesus as Lord of my life, IN FAITH, I have been given “eyes” to see His truth; and a new consciousness to experience that truth; and this new perspective on life has given me the freedom, and power, to change.
Last week in my church we had a “cardboard testimony” service. A “cardboard testimony” is a before and after statement printed on a piece of common cardboard, telling how one’s life has been transformed/changed as a result of becoming a Christian. I participated in this demonstration of the changing power of Christ. On one side of my cardboard panel, my “before” testimony read, “Obsessed with p0rn.” On the other side, the “after” statement, I wrote, “Obsessed with God’s word!”
You see, my friend, nobody can tell me that one cannot or will not change when he truly repents and comes in faith to receive Christ as Savior and Lord; because I’ve seen and experienced the change; and I can give testimony – my testimony! – to that change. We could write about the power of God to change; and you can read about it in the Bible; but if you don’t believe it, you will never “see it,” and it will never be true … for you. But when you’ve been there; and experienced the reality of God’s transforming power, nothing that any atheist would ever argue has any meaning to dissuade you from the Truth.
The “Truth” is Jesus; and when you’ve “seen” Him in action – i.e., His Spirit changing your life – you KNOW He’s real; and no one could ever argue you out of that truth. I hope that all who read this have “SEEN” Jesus change your life; and I hope you share that before/after “cardboard” testimony with others.
BTW, … if you want to see a series of “cardboard testimonies,” go to this link.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, Jesus, You are my cardboard testimony. Amen
Thursday, February 11, 2010
2010 – Day 42. Feb. 11 – Foolishly Testing God’s Word (Truth)
Study back to Numbers 22 - 24; Passage for Reflection: Numbers 23: 12 … NIV He [Balaam, the Sorcerer-Prophet to King Balak of Moab] answered, “Must I not speak what the Lord puts in my mouth.”
My Journal for Today: You Bible students have probably read and studied this curious passage which has a fearful Moabite King (Balak) seeking out a sorcerer (Balaam) to curse his enemies (Israel). And in this account we have the famous (or rather, “infamous”) account of “Balaam’s ass,” his donkey who does God’s bidding by actually speaking to Balaam about the power of God.
And don’t we see a lot of ourselves in these characters. We can see our fearfulness, as we come up against our own enemies in this world, … enemies like other religions, worldly power, tempting wealth, etc. And like Balak, we’d like to have our own “big stick” and be placed in a position to defeat our enemies. So, we call upon our diviners, … forces like education, science, or military power to put us in the position to be secure in the face of our enemies. But then, over and over again, we get the message from a God, Who cannot lie to us about Himself (see Numbers 23: 19); and He tells us over and over again in His word of truth, exactly what we need to hear about the blessings He has upon those who obey Him and His cursings on those who disobey Him.
Balak kept sending Balaam, over and over again, to try to hear what he wanted to hear, … trying to get Balaam to curse Israel, who were his enemies. But over and over again, God just put the mirror of truth in Balaam’s prophesies in front of Balak, even using a pagan magician, like Balaam, as His Prophet (don’t you love God’s sense of humor!). But in the end God can only reflect Himself through His mirror of truth; and how many times does our world need to hear God’s Prophets, reflecting truth … that abortion is evil or that homosexuality is an abomination or that Israel is God’s chosen people … before we – the world – will see that God cannot and will not reflect anything but truth from the mirror we know of as God’s word – The Bible.
We can – as some try to do – fashion interpretations of God’s truth to fit our world. There are people who call themselves “christian,” who try to get God’s word to say what they want to read … creating their own fashion of “truth,” We’ve read the lies; … like the Bible doesn’t mean what it says – literally; and we can accept homosexuality in our culture, which has evolved to a place where God can accept that lifestyle as “normal.” Or we read of “christians” who say that abortion can be accepted as a “choice” women should have to give them control of their bodies. Or we read that we need to allow Islam to be tolerated as a religion which serves the same “god” who was the God of Abraham.
Oh, how we can look into the mirror of truth; and by our own design see ourselves the way we want to see us, rather than using God’s mirror of truth (the Bible) and letting it show us the true image of the God Who is the only true God. How many times does God have to speak His truth in our midst; and we ignore it or disobey Him? How many times will God’s mercy and His grace give our world the chance to hear how He desires for all to be saved; BUT … and it’s a big “BUT,” for sure, … there will come a day, when, as it was for Balak, God’s truth will prevail; and His prophesies will unfold … AND the rain of righteousness will fall on the remnant of believers as well as on those who will not see truth in God’s mirror.
Balaam’s donkey cries out for us to see God’s truth for what it is … THE TRUTH; … and it has, is, and will unfold in the Person of Truth, Who is Jesus Christ! [e.g., meditate on John 14: 6]
My Prayer for Today: Lord, thank You for giving me Your mirror of Truth, which is Your word and Who is my Lord and Savior, Jesus. May I see clearly Your way and follow it. Amen
My Journal for Today: You Bible students have probably read and studied this curious passage which has a fearful Moabite King (Balak) seeking out a sorcerer (Balaam) to curse his enemies (Israel). And in this account we have the famous (or rather, “infamous”) account of “Balaam’s ass,” his donkey who does God’s bidding by actually speaking to Balaam about the power of God.
And don’t we see a lot of ourselves in these characters. We can see our fearfulness, as we come up against our own enemies in this world, … enemies like other religions, worldly power, tempting wealth, etc. And like Balak, we’d like to have our own “big stick” and be placed in a position to defeat our enemies. So, we call upon our diviners, … forces like education, science, or military power to put us in the position to be secure in the face of our enemies. But then, over and over again, we get the message from a God, Who cannot lie to us about Himself (see Numbers 23: 19); and He tells us over and over again in His word of truth, exactly what we need to hear about the blessings He has upon those who obey Him and His cursings on those who disobey Him.
Balak kept sending Balaam, over and over again, to try to hear what he wanted to hear, … trying to get Balaam to curse Israel, who were his enemies. But over and over again, God just put the mirror of truth in Balaam’s prophesies in front of Balak, even using a pagan magician, like Balaam, as His Prophet (don’t you love God’s sense of humor!). But in the end God can only reflect Himself through His mirror of truth; and how many times does our world need to hear God’s Prophets, reflecting truth … that abortion is evil or that homosexuality is an abomination or that Israel is God’s chosen people … before we – the world – will see that God cannot and will not reflect anything but truth from the mirror we know of as God’s word – The Bible.
We can – as some try to do – fashion interpretations of God’s truth to fit our world. There are people who call themselves “christian,” who try to get God’s word to say what they want to read … creating their own fashion of “truth,” We’ve read the lies; … like the Bible doesn’t mean what it says – literally; and we can accept homosexuality in our culture, which has evolved to a place where God can accept that lifestyle as “normal.” Or we read of “christians” who say that abortion can be accepted as a “choice” women should have to give them control of their bodies. Or we read that we need to allow Islam to be tolerated as a religion which serves the same “god” who was the God of Abraham.
Oh, how we can look into the mirror of truth; and by our own design see ourselves the way we want to see us, rather than using God’s mirror of truth (the Bible) and letting it show us the true image of the God Who is the only true God. How many times does God have to speak His truth in our midst; and we ignore it or disobey Him? How many times will God’s mercy and His grace give our world the chance to hear how He desires for all to be saved; BUT … and it’s a big “BUT,” for sure, … there will come a day, when, as it was for Balak, God’s truth will prevail; and His prophesies will unfold … AND the rain of righteousness will fall on the remnant of believers as well as on those who will not see truth in God’s mirror.
Balaam’s donkey cries out for us to see God’s truth for what it is … THE TRUTH; … and it has, is, and will unfold in the Person of Truth, Who is Jesus Christ! [e.g., meditate on John 14: 6]
My Prayer for Today: Lord, thank You for giving me Your mirror of Truth, which is Your word and Who is my Lord and Savior, Jesus. May I see clearly Your way and follow it. Amen
Saturday, September 05, 2009
2009 – Day 247.Sept 05 – Stay With The Truth
Passage of the Day: Job 21 … Linked for study …
My Journal for Today: Chuck Swindoll is right on target today, emphasizing what we can learn from Job’s response to the slander and innuendo from Zophar, who had used half-truths to accuse Job of some hidden wickedness in Job 20. And so, we can learn from Job’s response in Job 21.
And first we must know that Job avoided reactions based on feelings and came back to Zophar, responding with truth, truth, and more truth. You can sense the strength and calmness in Job’s discourse in Chapter 21 as our fallen hero calmly lays out an apologetic which is based in absolute truth.
This is a lesson in standing for truth which we, as Christians, must learn and use in a day which has become so hostile to believers. If you stand for Christ and the truth of the Gospel these days, you will ultimately be confronted with those who will spout untruth about Jesus or the Bible; and many of them will tell you that you have no right to speak about your faith in public, mocking what we believe as Christians.
And so, when this happens, how do you respond? Well, you do what Job did in today’s highlight chapter. You stick with the truth and calmly stand up for what is right. And I believe the best way to do this is by using testimony based in Scripture. Every Christian needs to be able to give his/her testimony. No one can argue with how the truth has affected you personally. They may assail you from their own personal beliefs, as Zophar did with Job; but Job just came back with a calm argument from his own experience and his knowledge of truth.
As Swindoll, rightly states: “Respond [to slander or false accusation] with true facts and accurate information, knowing the nature of your accuser. … Speak truth!” And there is no better source of truth when we stand for our faith than God’s word. And so, you will not be as vulnerable to the accusations from the world, the ploys of Satan, or from your own deceitful heart (i.e., the flesh) if you are well versed in the truth from God’s word. That’s why my mentor, years ago, took me slowly and deliberately through a season of Scripture memory. He knew that one day I was going to get into a battle for truth in my life; and he wanted my heart and mind to be so filled with the truth that I could use it as the sword of the Spirit, just as Paul teaches in Eph. 6: 17b, … just like Jesus Himself did when he was confronted by Satan in the wilderness (see either Mark 4 or Luke 4, the latter linked for your review).
If Job’s style of argumentation is good enough for Jesus, then I feel it’s good enough me, don’t you? Job used it effectively in today’s study. I pray that we’ll all be able to stand for truth as he did, using the method our Master used to combat the lies of Satan.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, help Your servants to be able to calmly and powerfully stand for truth using Your word whenever our enemies come against You with untruth. Amen
My Journal for Today: Chuck Swindoll is right on target today, emphasizing what we can learn from Job’s response to the slander and innuendo from Zophar, who had used half-truths to accuse Job of some hidden wickedness in Job 20. And so, we can learn from Job’s response in Job 21.
And first we must know that Job avoided reactions based on feelings and came back to Zophar, responding with truth, truth, and more truth. You can sense the strength and calmness in Job’s discourse in Chapter 21 as our fallen hero calmly lays out an apologetic which is based in absolute truth.
This is a lesson in standing for truth which we, as Christians, must learn and use in a day which has become so hostile to believers. If you stand for Christ and the truth of the Gospel these days, you will ultimately be confronted with those who will spout untruth about Jesus or the Bible; and many of them will tell you that you have no right to speak about your faith in public, mocking what we believe as Christians.
And so, when this happens, how do you respond? Well, you do what Job did in today’s highlight chapter. You stick with the truth and calmly stand up for what is right. And I believe the best way to do this is by using testimony based in Scripture. Every Christian needs to be able to give his/her testimony. No one can argue with how the truth has affected you personally. They may assail you from their own personal beliefs, as Zophar did with Job; but Job just came back with a calm argument from his own experience and his knowledge of truth.
As Swindoll, rightly states: “Respond [to slander or false accusation] with true facts and accurate information, knowing the nature of your accuser. … Speak truth!” And there is no better source of truth when we stand for our faith than God’s word. And so, you will not be as vulnerable to the accusations from the world, the ploys of Satan, or from your own deceitful heart (i.e., the flesh) if you are well versed in the truth from God’s word. That’s why my mentor, years ago, took me slowly and deliberately through a season of Scripture memory. He knew that one day I was going to get into a battle for truth in my life; and he wanted my heart and mind to be so filled with the truth that I could use it as the sword of the Spirit, just as Paul teaches in Eph. 6: 17b, … just like Jesus Himself did when he was confronted by Satan in the wilderness (see either Mark 4 or Luke 4, the latter linked for your review).
If Job’s style of argumentation is good enough for Jesus, then I feel it’s good enough me, don’t you? Job used it effectively in today’s study. I pray that we’ll all be able to stand for truth as he did, using the method our Master used to combat the lies of Satan.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, help Your servants to be able to calmly and powerfully stand for truth using Your word whenever our enemies come against You with untruth. Amen
Saturday, August 15, 2009
2009 – Day 226.Aug 15 – Watch and Wait
Passage of the Day: Job 2: 10 … But [Job] said to [his wife], “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.
My Journal for Today: Swindoll says today, “Job’s response to his wife’s suggestion that he curse God and die is magnificent.” And of course, Chuck is right; but don’t you just about gag when you read that verse. I do. I’m the type that says, “No way I could ever be able to respond like that if I had just lost my everything, including my kids; and I’m sitting there covered with boils.” And, … of course, … that’s the point, isn’t it?
Job’s response is not human. It is superhuman. It is Christlike in its faithfulness.
I have no doubt that this scenario is truth; because long ago I realized and resolved that all in the Bible is truth. Oh, you may ask, “Is it allegorical truth; or is it actual truth?” And to that I’d say, “Does it matter? … Truth is truth!” So, if we read it in God’s book, we are reading truth which God wants us to read so that we can be shaped by God’s Spirit, the Author of His truth, into the likeness of The Christ, the arch type of so many of the characters of the Bible, men or women like we have been studying, … Joseph, Moses, Elijah, Esther, or Job. In these character studies we see modeled elements of the character of Christ; and we can glean from them who or how we should grow to become in life.
That is why I gag at the prospect of being like Job in verse 10 of Job 2. I’m not that strong; and right now I have trouble identifying with Job’s trust in God. But I do see that this kind of strength is way more that we’d expect from any of us. It’s simply way more than human. And there in lies the lesson. It’s the character traits of faith and trust in God to which we should aspire. It’s the path of character development to which we must commit our lives to become. It’s the prayer, as I will shortly, to become more like Christ today than yesterday; and even more like Him tomorrow than today.
So, join me, my dear one; and let’s make a covenant to grow into the statement we read in today’s passage … to become more like Job as we read this account today. And perhaps one day, down the road of life, when we face some horrendous set of circumstances, we’ll respond by thinking and acting more like Job than we could today.
My Prayer for Today: Father, grow me into the image of Your Son, Jesus; and I pray this in His Name. Amen
My Journal for Today: Swindoll says today, “Job’s response to his wife’s suggestion that he curse God and die is magnificent.” And of course, Chuck is right; but don’t you just about gag when you read that verse. I do. I’m the type that says, “No way I could ever be able to respond like that if I had just lost my everything, including my kids; and I’m sitting there covered with boils.” And, … of course, … that’s the point, isn’t it?
Job’s response is not human. It is superhuman. It is Christlike in its faithfulness.
I have no doubt that this scenario is truth; because long ago I realized and resolved that all in the Bible is truth. Oh, you may ask, “Is it allegorical truth; or is it actual truth?” And to that I’d say, “Does it matter? … Truth is truth!” So, if we read it in God’s book, we are reading truth which God wants us to read so that we can be shaped by God’s Spirit, the Author of His truth, into the likeness of The Christ, the arch type of so many of the characters of the Bible, men or women like we have been studying, … Joseph, Moses, Elijah, Esther, or Job. In these character studies we see modeled elements of the character of Christ; and we can glean from them who or how we should grow to become in life.
That is why I gag at the prospect of being like Job in verse 10 of Job 2. I’m not that strong; and right now I have trouble identifying with Job’s trust in God. But I do see that this kind of strength is way more that we’d expect from any of us. It’s simply way more than human. And there in lies the lesson. It’s the character traits of faith and trust in God to which we should aspire. It’s the path of character development to which we must commit our lives to become. It’s the prayer, as I will shortly, to become more like Christ today than yesterday; and even more like Him tomorrow than today.
So, join me, my dear one; and let’s make a covenant to grow into the statement we read in today’s passage … to become more like Job as we read this account today. And perhaps one day, down the road of life, when we face some horrendous set of circumstances, we’ll respond by thinking and acting more like Job than we could today.
My Prayer for Today: Father, grow me into the image of Your Son, Jesus; and I pray this in His Name. Amen
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
2009 – Day 185.July 15 – Risk It!
2009 – Day 185.July 15 – Risk It!
Passage of the Day: Esther 4: 12 – 14 … 12 So they told Mordecai Esther’s words. … 13 And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: “Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
My Journal for Today: When you read and meditate on that short passage, does it shake you up a bit? Does it cause you, as it does me, to ask if we are doing enough with the gifts and talents we’ve been given by God at this time in God’s redemptive history to stand for the right or do what is necessary to relieve suffering in the world?
Oh, God’s truth about His plan and His will are clear in this passage. God’s will … WILL be done. He can use others to accomplish His purposes in the world. But when we don’t step forward and do what Christ said in Luke 9: 23, … to deny self, take up our crosses daily, and to follow Christ, we are the losers, not God. When He chooses to use someone else because we, whom He has shaped for this moment in time, back off and refuse to act as He had prepared us to act, we become Satan’s loser instead of God’s winner.
So, you may be saying, “But there is so much evil in the world and so much need!” And you are so, so right! But with all there is to be done for God’s kingdom, can we pick just one area of need or one issue to be God’s Esther … God’s agent at this moment in time? And Swindoll’s list of possibilities in his devotional for today tugs at the heart of anyone who reads his challenges.
Where do you stand on the pro-life crisis in the world? What are you doing about it? What about the gay marriage issue? Are we standing up and being heard on this issue as it becomes VERY politically incorrect to fight against the gay agenda? Do you feel a call, as my wife and I do, to fight against the onslaught of pornography in our culture? … Sure, there are other touch point issues in our day where evil is swirling out of control. Are we being heard by our congressmen or senators? Are we signing petitions or demonstrating, legally and peacefully, but forcefully, to make our views known? Are we giving our time, talents, and treasures so that we can be the mouths, arms, and legs of Jesus, fighting for what is right in the world today? Are we willing to become, as Ester did in her time, God’s person for just this moment it time?
What about the needs of others less fortunate or hurting in our world? Are we giving all we can to reputable ministries or missionary organizations to help meet the needs of others … the poor, the hungry, the dying? Are we doing something to help those caught in the prisons of addiction to alcohol, drugs, or sex? Are we being a light of Christ in the arena of ethnic prejudice, showing our hatred for bigotry and bias? Do you, as I do, do all you can, to stand for CHRISTIAN manhood or womanhood in a world that seeks to emasculate men? And above all are we responding to the Great Commission of God to go and make disciples of the world, teaching them to do what God has commanded?
So many issues … so many causes!!! Can’t we pick just one where God has prepared us with the resources, the talents, and/or the Spiritual gifting to be in the game, rather than as I said yesterday, sitting on the bench or up in the stands as an observer? My dear one, as He did with Esther, God has prepared you and me for just such a time such as this. It’s up to us to RISK IT and get in the game.
I don’t normally do this in my devotionals, which are almost exclusively based in information from God’s word and the devotional book I’m using. But God’s word is His truth; and just recently I was led to research a project being carried out by the wonderful ministry, Focus on the Family. It is called “The Truth Project;” and it has everything to do with what I’ve been given to share in this journal entry. So, if you read this and you’d like to learn more about how/where you might get involved in the struggle for truth in this world, I exhort you to go to this link - http://www.thetruthproject.org/ - and view either of the short promo trailers on The Truth Project. And then if you can, choose to go to one of the project training sessions being held around the country each year. You’ll be glad you did! My wife and I just went to one; and the four hours we invested and the registration fee to purchase a set of training DVDs was more than worth it. RISK IT; and find out more about The Truth Project. Again … you’ll be glad you did.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, help me to be a Truth seeker and a Truth spreader in this world. Help me to RISK IT ALL for You. Amen
Passage of the Day: Esther 4: 12 – 14 … 12 So they told Mordecai Esther’s words. … 13 And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: “Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
My Journal for Today: When you read and meditate on that short passage, does it shake you up a bit? Does it cause you, as it does me, to ask if we are doing enough with the gifts and talents we’ve been given by God at this time in God’s redemptive history to stand for the right or do what is necessary to relieve suffering in the world?
Oh, God’s truth about His plan and His will are clear in this passage. God’s will … WILL be done. He can use others to accomplish His purposes in the world. But when we don’t step forward and do what Christ said in Luke 9: 23, … to deny self, take up our crosses daily, and to follow Christ, we are the losers, not God. When He chooses to use someone else because we, whom He has shaped for this moment in time, back off and refuse to act as He had prepared us to act, we become Satan’s loser instead of God’s winner.
So, you may be saying, “But there is so much evil in the world and so much need!” And you are so, so right! But with all there is to be done for God’s kingdom, can we pick just one area of need or one issue to be God’s Esther … God’s agent at this moment in time? And Swindoll’s list of possibilities in his devotional for today tugs at the heart of anyone who reads his challenges.
Where do you stand on the pro-life crisis in the world? What are you doing about it? What about the gay marriage issue? Are we standing up and being heard on this issue as it becomes VERY politically incorrect to fight against the gay agenda? Do you feel a call, as my wife and I do, to fight against the onslaught of pornography in our culture? … Sure, there are other touch point issues in our day where evil is swirling out of control. Are we being heard by our congressmen or senators? Are we signing petitions or demonstrating, legally and peacefully, but forcefully, to make our views known? Are we giving our time, talents, and treasures so that we can be the mouths, arms, and legs of Jesus, fighting for what is right in the world today? Are we willing to become, as Ester did in her time, God’s person for just this moment it time?
What about the needs of others less fortunate or hurting in our world? Are we giving all we can to reputable ministries or missionary organizations to help meet the needs of others … the poor, the hungry, the dying? Are we doing something to help those caught in the prisons of addiction to alcohol, drugs, or sex? Are we being a light of Christ in the arena of ethnic prejudice, showing our hatred for bigotry and bias? Do you, as I do, do all you can, to stand for CHRISTIAN manhood or womanhood in a world that seeks to emasculate men? And above all are we responding to the Great Commission of God to go and make disciples of the world, teaching them to do what God has commanded?
So many issues … so many causes!!! Can’t we pick just one where God has prepared us with the resources, the talents, and/or the Spiritual gifting to be in the game, rather than as I said yesterday, sitting on the bench or up in the stands as an observer? My dear one, as He did with Esther, God has prepared you and me for just such a time such as this. It’s up to us to RISK IT and get in the game.
I don’t normally do this in my devotionals, which are almost exclusively based in information from God’s word and the devotional book I’m using. But God’s word is His truth; and just recently I was led to research a project being carried out by the wonderful ministry, Focus on the Family. It is called “The Truth Project;” and it has everything to do with what I’ve been given to share in this journal entry. So, if you read this and you’d like to learn more about how/where you might get involved in the struggle for truth in this world, I exhort you to go to this link - http://www.thetruthproject.org/ - and view either of the short promo trailers on The Truth Project. And then if you can, choose to go to one of the project training sessions being held around the country each year. You’ll be glad you did! My wife and I just went to one; and the four hours we invested and the registration fee to purchase a set of training DVDs was more than worth it. RISK IT; and find out more about The Truth Project. Again … you’ll be glad you did.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, help me to be a Truth seeker and a Truth spreader in this world. Help me to RISK IT ALL for You. Amen
Saturday, June 27, 2009
2009 – Day 177.June 27 – Two Solemn Reminders
2009 – Day 177.June 27 – Two Solemn Reminders
Passage of the Day: 1st Kings 21 … Linked for study …
My Journal for Today: From the highlighted passage today, Swindoll, in his devotional for this day, reminds his readers (me) of two awesome reminders.
#1 … THERE IS AN END TO GOD’S PATIENCE! And the truth of Isaiah 55: 8-9 applies here [check it out here!]. Sometimes we see injustice going on in the world; and we can’t figure out why God would allow mankind, especially leaders like Ahab and Jezebel, to do what they do, which is so obviously in opposition to God’s righteousness. Maybe you even feel like that right now when you see the world’s evil growing as it is. I do!
But God’s word is clear; and it says [Gal. 6: 7] “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” And as we see in today’s passage, that is exactly what happened to Ahab and Jezebel; but as is usually God’s way, it took a long time for the rope on God’s presence to come to an end because of God’s character of long-suffering. But it did come, even though the calamity of God’s judgment did not occur in his days but in the days of the next generation.
And right now, as I ponder God’s word in my devotional time, I’m thinking of how the Prophet Habakkuk could not understand why God was so slow in his estimation to bring judgment down upon God’s people for their ungodliness (see Habakkuk 1 - linked here). But God in His time and in His way brought down His wrath upon God’s people who had mocked the Lord for so long with their evil ways; and Habakkuk was given a front row seat to learn a lesson in patience and faith. And we should learn the same lesson by reading and internalizing Habakkuk 3: 17-18 - also linked. But remember – God’s patience and His mercy have limits – His limits – and He will not be mocked!
#2 … GOD KEEPS HIS WORD! And no political leader, no idolized entertainer or athlete, or no religious leader, who is put up on a pedestal, can escape this reality. Again I repeat the truth of Galatians 6: 7. What goes around, comes around! It is God’s law of just proportionality. We reap what we sow; and no one can rise above that truth. Ahab and Jezebel may have thought they could; but as we read, the hammer finally fell; and as you read, it even hurt the next generation even more than it did theirs. And God’s wrath can be a very ugly scene as God’s word documents for others when His wrath came upon those who were locked out of the ark when the floods came, or those who lived and did evil in Sodom and Gomorrah, or on anyone who mocks God by not receiving his long-suffering grace after the resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ, who was raised from the dead after dying for the sins of mankind.
Please, my dear one, don’t think you mock God by rejecting His saving grace or even, as a born-again Christian, you feel you can sin chronically and repetitively with no consequences. God’s wrath may be long in coming as we see evil being perpetuated in our day; but God will not be mocked; and WE WILL REAP WHAT WE SOW; and so, may God have mercy on His remnant, those of us who cry out to God for His grace, … the remnant who sees the evil but cannot do other than to walk in righteousness or to pray in the truth of 2nd Chron. 7: 14 - [read it here], and to wait on God’s judgment. We may not know when or how; but our culture and our world will reap what they sow; and again … may God have mercy on all as the rain will fall on the just as well as the unjust.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, have mercy on us! Amen
Passage of the Day: 1st Kings 21 … Linked for study …
My Journal for Today: From the highlighted passage today, Swindoll, in his devotional for this day, reminds his readers (me) of two awesome reminders.
#1 … THERE IS AN END TO GOD’S PATIENCE! And the truth of Isaiah 55: 8-9 applies here [check it out here!]. Sometimes we see injustice going on in the world; and we can’t figure out why God would allow mankind, especially leaders like Ahab and Jezebel, to do what they do, which is so obviously in opposition to God’s righteousness. Maybe you even feel like that right now when you see the world’s evil growing as it is. I do!
But God’s word is clear; and it says [Gal. 6: 7] “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” And as we see in today’s passage, that is exactly what happened to Ahab and Jezebel; but as is usually God’s way, it took a long time for the rope on God’s presence to come to an end because of God’s character of long-suffering. But it did come, even though the calamity of God’s judgment did not occur in his days but in the days of the next generation.
And right now, as I ponder God’s word in my devotional time, I’m thinking of how the Prophet Habakkuk could not understand why God was so slow in his estimation to bring judgment down upon God’s people for their ungodliness (see Habakkuk 1 - linked here). But God in His time and in His way brought down His wrath upon God’s people who had mocked the Lord for so long with their evil ways; and Habakkuk was given a front row seat to learn a lesson in patience and faith. And we should learn the same lesson by reading and internalizing Habakkuk 3: 17-18 - also linked. But remember – God’s patience and His mercy have limits – His limits – and He will not be mocked!
#2 … GOD KEEPS HIS WORD! And no political leader, no idolized entertainer or athlete, or no religious leader, who is put up on a pedestal, can escape this reality. Again I repeat the truth of Galatians 6: 7. What goes around, comes around! It is God’s law of just proportionality. We reap what we sow; and no one can rise above that truth. Ahab and Jezebel may have thought they could; but as we read, the hammer finally fell; and as you read, it even hurt the next generation even more than it did theirs. And God’s wrath can be a very ugly scene as God’s word documents for others when His wrath came upon those who were locked out of the ark when the floods came, or those who lived and did evil in Sodom and Gomorrah, or on anyone who mocks God by not receiving his long-suffering grace after the resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ, who was raised from the dead after dying for the sins of mankind.
Please, my dear one, don’t think you mock God by rejecting His saving grace or even, as a born-again Christian, you feel you can sin chronically and repetitively with no consequences. God’s wrath may be long in coming as we see evil being perpetuated in our day; but God will not be mocked; and WE WILL REAP WHAT WE SOW; and so, may God have mercy on His remnant, those of us who cry out to God for His grace, … the remnant who sees the evil but cannot do other than to walk in righteousness or to pray in the truth of 2nd Chron. 7: 14 - [read it here], and to wait on God’s judgment. We may not know when or how; but our culture and our world will reap what they sow; and again … may God have mercy on all as the rain will fall on the just as well as the unjust.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, have mercy on us! Amen
Friday, May 29, 2009
2009 – Day 148.May 29 – God’s Word Is Final
2009 – Day 148.May 29 – God’s Word Is Final
Passage of the Day: 1st Kings 17: 1 … 1 Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word."
My Journal for Today: Once again we’re back to the introduction of this man, … this Prophet, … Elijah; and in the focus verse for today, we read a very important phrase. It is found at the end of 1st Kings 17: 1; and it concerns God’s word, from Elijah to Ahab and God’s chosen people, that there was to be a drought which would last a number of years; and as Gods’ decree was spoken, God promised that the drought would not end until the end was decreed by God, “… except at my word.”
This is God speaking through Elijah; but though Swindoll doesn’t mention it, the decree of the drought’s end would not only come from the word of God but it would also not end until it came from the mouth of Elijah. Verse 17: 1 ends with this phrase “… except at my word;” and you’ll note that the pronoun “my” is not capitalized. It’s interesting to me; and I believe, that God was giving Elijah the leverage that God’s promise on the end of the drought would come - from God – though the mouth and prophesy of Elijah. So, if Ahab were to kill Elijah, I believe the drought would likely never have ended.
And that’s just how exacting and directing God’s will can be at times. God certainly provides His word and His promises from His word, … the Bible. But there are times when He will give His direction through gifted prophets, leaders, teachers, preachers and/or anointed messengers. This can make it a bit challenging at times to discern God’s will or His promise; because it takes Spirit-led listening to decipher God’s will when it comes from sources other than the Bible. But be assured, when God speaks on a given topic or directive, His word and/or His promises will come to pass. God doesn’t lie, which is also a clear promise of God in Numbers 23: 19, which states … God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? So, when Elijah spoke on behalf of God about the drought, you could bank on the results. There was going to be a drought!
As, Swindoll puts it, ”God keeps His promises. Agree with it or not, His word is final. He never forgets anything He promises. That’s right, … never!” And what that should do for us is the same that it was for Elijah. We should seek out and then be willing to declare, God’s promises.
Now, I know that His promises or His will for the lives of Christians or His Church can be obscure at times; but most certainly we should know and believe and declare that any promise which comes from His written word, the Bible, is a “done deal.” So, my fellow seeker, again, we need to be Elijahs for this world. When we know the truth, we need to be willing to declare it to the world … boldly and even loudly if necessary.
Do you have any doubts about God’s #1 promise is found in the Gospel … that Christ died for our sins and that He is the ONLY way, the truth, and the life. So, if we know that is God’s promise, what are we going to do today to be Elijah, declaring that promise to a dark and perverse world? If you stand convicted, as do I, by that prospect, let me pray for us both.
My Prayer for Today: Help me, and all my Christian brothers and sisters, to boldly declare the promise of Your salvation in and through YOU, dear Lord. Amen
Passage of the Day: 1st Kings 17: 1 … 1 Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word."
My Journal for Today: Once again we’re back to the introduction of this man, … this Prophet, … Elijah; and in the focus verse for today, we read a very important phrase. It is found at the end of 1st Kings 17: 1; and it concerns God’s word, from Elijah to Ahab and God’s chosen people, that there was to be a drought which would last a number of years; and as Gods’ decree was spoken, God promised that the drought would not end until the end was decreed by God, “… except at my word.”
This is God speaking through Elijah; but though Swindoll doesn’t mention it, the decree of the drought’s end would not only come from the word of God but it would also not end until it came from the mouth of Elijah. Verse 17: 1 ends with this phrase “… except at my word;” and you’ll note that the pronoun “my” is not capitalized. It’s interesting to me; and I believe, that God was giving Elijah the leverage that God’s promise on the end of the drought would come - from God – though the mouth and prophesy of Elijah. So, if Ahab were to kill Elijah, I believe the drought would likely never have ended.
And that’s just how exacting and directing God’s will can be at times. God certainly provides His word and His promises from His word, … the Bible. But there are times when He will give His direction through gifted prophets, leaders, teachers, preachers and/or anointed messengers. This can make it a bit challenging at times to discern God’s will or His promise; because it takes Spirit-led listening to decipher God’s will when it comes from sources other than the Bible. But be assured, when God speaks on a given topic or directive, His word and/or His promises will come to pass. God doesn’t lie, which is also a clear promise of God in Numbers 23: 19, which states … God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? So, when Elijah spoke on behalf of God about the drought, you could bank on the results. There was going to be a drought!
As, Swindoll puts it, ”God keeps His promises. Agree with it or not, His word is final. He never forgets anything He promises. That’s right, … never!” And what that should do for us is the same that it was for Elijah. We should seek out and then be willing to declare, God’s promises.
Now, I know that His promises or His will for the lives of Christians or His Church can be obscure at times; but most certainly we should know and believe and declare that any promise which comes from His written word, the Bible, is a “done deal.” So, my fellow seeker, again, we need to be Elijahs for this world. When we know the truth, we need to be willing to declare it to the world … boldly and even loudly if necessary.
Do you have any doubts about God’s #1 promise is found in the Gospel … that Christ died for our sins and that He is the ONLY way, the truth, and the life. So, if we know that is God’s promise, what are we going to do today to be Elijah, declaring that promise to a dark and perverse world? If you stand convicted, as do I, by that prospect, let me pray for us both.
My Prayer for Today: Help me, and all my Christian brothers and sisters, to boldly declare the promise of Your salvation in and through YOU, dear Lord. Amen
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