Passage of the Day: Reference of Today’s Chronological Bible Study: Exodus, Chapters 33-35 … To study these chapters, go to this link -
Exodus 33: 7-11: … [Yahweh Meets With Moses] … 7 Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the “tent of meeting.” Anyone inquiring of the LORD would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. 8 And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent. 9 As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the LORD spoke with Moses. 10 Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to their tent. 11 The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.
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Exodus EXODUS 34:33-35 … : … [God’s Glory Revealed on Moses’ Face] … 33 When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face. 34 But whenever he entered the LORD’s presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, 35 they saw that his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the LORD.
My Journal for Today: Reading through Exodus, Chapters 33-35 in my daily chronological reading plan, a scenario involving God’s revealed glory to Moses struck me; and I chose (with God’s help I believe) two highlight passages (see above) which reflect this very personal relationship God had with His friend and chosen leader, Moses.
Have you ever wondered why God doesn’t seem to reveal Himself so personally and dramatically to us in these times as He did back with Moses in the era I’m reading/reporting on today? These encounters Moses had with God are called “theophanies;” and like several other Old Testament chosen ones, Moses had several of these (for example in the burning bush or in these scenarios reported above). And it was so apparent to the people that Moses had this special relationship with God; … so apparent that Moses’ face glowed with the radiance of God and even had to be covered with a veil.
But why Moses and not Bill Berry – or you? Why doesn’t God reveal Himself in some angelic or creational form as He did for Moses or Abraham or Daniel in the Old Testament [as we read above in Exod. 33: 11 or to Abraham in Gen. 18: 1-11 or to Daniel in Dan. 3: 25] ?
Well, … I believe there are two angles to answer that question.
The first is that God doesn’t need to be so dramatic in intervening - Himself - with mankind in this New Testament or New Covenant era because He has revealed Himself to man in a once-and-for-all incarnation in the form of His Son, Jesus, The Christ (read about that in Phil. 2: 6-11). AND, we also have God’s written story (i.e., HIStory), the Bible, where God, Himself, is revealed in the pages of Scripture [see 2nd Tim. 3: 16-17]; and God doesn’t need to travel in physical, revealed theophanies appearing as He did with His people when He was establishing His relationship with His chosen people, the original Jewish children. We – you and I – can simply go and have a revelational encounter with the living God everyday – if we so choose, as I have this morning – in and through His word. And though you may not see the glory of the LORD shining on Bill Berry’s face as God’s glory shone on Moses’ face, prayerfully you do see God’s glory shining – at least a little bit – in what I’m writing here … or maybe in the way I’m so compulsively addicted to pursuing my relationship through God’s word daily. Surely you don’t think that I’d be here, so obsessively – on a daily basis – NATURALLY; … do you? My friend, anything you read in these blogs or see in the way I live which reflects the character of God IS NOT NATURAL. It’s not Bill Berry! It’s a God thing!!!
And my second way of answering my rhetorical question (in bold above) is that we do have glimpses of God’s glory in our lives; and sometimes He shows himself pretty clearly in the events of life to us; or sometimes these signs of the living God are more subtle. Have you ever had something happen to you that simply could not be explained naturally or in terms of human reality? Well, I sure have. >>> Many of you have heard or read my testimony of how God used the number 13 in my life to reveal Himself to me … so clearly that I could not deny Him. If you’re reading this and you don’t know that story, email me (at … willieb13@rocketmail.com ); and I’ll be glad to tell you about it. But I’ve had other times where God just showed up – in wonderful ways – to remind me of His presence or His power; and I call these “glimpses of glory.” And if you know God as your personal LORD and Savior, I’d bet you have a story or two of such glimpses of God’s reality in your life.
So, our faces as Christians may not shine forth as did the face of Moses as he intervened with/for God in Exodus; but if you have a deepening relationship with God, wrought through your discipleship and devotional life with God in pursuit of the LORD through His word, in prayer, and in time spent with Him daily, it’s going to show in your life … the decisions you make, … the peace of your waiting on God, … and your power in spiritual warfare daily. That my friend is giving you – and others – a glimpse of God’s glory in/through your life. And it is the working out of the truth we read in passages like ... Josh. 1: 8, Prov. 3: 5-6, Psalm 119: 9-11, Ephesians 2: 10, 1st Cor. 10: 13, and of course, Jesus’ spoken word in Matt. 5: 16 and Luke 9: 23. And, … when others see these truths shining forth in your life, they get a glimpse of God’s glory and they can see Him – and not the reality of your humanity – in and through the proclamations, choices, and actions of your life.
Oh, … that is my prayer this morning for all of us.
My Prayer Today: … Lord, reveal Yourself to us in Your word; and then shine brightly as we reflect these glimpses of Your glory in and through our lives. Amen
Showing posts with label God's light. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God's light. Show all posts
Friday, February 10, 2012
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
October 11, 2011 … Dead to Sin
Passage of the Day: Romans 6: 1 – 2 [see verse in bold/underlined] … Rom. 5: 20 The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. --- Rom. 6:1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?
My Journal for Today: It is important for all true Christians to have a foundational understanding of our relationship with sin. The Apostle Paul was confronted by this basic doctrinal issue when he asked the important rhetorical question in his letter to the Romans (v. 6: 1). In the context of what he had just written in Rom. 5: 20 – 21 (printed above for your context and edification), Paul asked, “Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?” And to this question Paul answers with the strongest negation found in the Greek language, which is “me” (pronounced “may”) – a small word but a very strong statement, which in our language is the equivalent of saying, “Absolutely not!” … or … “Forget it!” … or maybe, more colloquially, … “NO WAY!”
And so, my fellow Christian, here’s the simple truth. A true, born-again believer in Christ is dead to sin. However, the dilemma found in that same Christian is the fact that this person (maybe it’s you or me) has a sin nature with which he must contend. But for a REAL Christian to continue in conscious, unrepentant, and habitual sin with no remorse is a virtual and spiritual impossibility. Besides today’s cited passage, Paul repetitively in his epistles harkens to this reality (see Eph. 2: 1 – 5 [linked] and Col. 1: 13 - 14).
We, who now are in Christ, have been bought by the atonement of our Savior, … saved from the darkness of death into the light of eternal life. And though the Christian, retaining a sin nature, may sin – even by choice – such sin will never happen for the born-again believer without redress or conviction by the Holy Spirit, Who now resides in the heart of that believer for eternity.
In the ministry to which I’ve been called to serve, which deals with Christians who fall prey to habitual, or even repetitive, sexual sin, I’m often asked, “How could I truly be a Christian and continue to sin in this way sexually?” To such a question I usually ask a diagnostic question in retort, asking, “When you do sin – even repetitively – do you enjoy the results of your sin afterwards or does the sin satisfy your inner being?” The true Christian responding to my question will answer, “No, way!” [which, BTW, is the same strong negation as the Apostle used in Greek in Rom. 6:1] And continuing, … the Christian who has denied any satisfaction from the chosen sin pattern usually also reports having severe, acute remorse from the conviction they feel from God’s Spirit after a bout or binge into selfish sensual sin. Often the remorse/guilt from the sin drives that one to periods [even long periods] of sobriety from sexual sin; and the valley of remorse can stay with that one for a period of time, even at times allowing that believer to experience to climb to a higher place of joy from their relationship with Christ. This is what I call the roller-coaster ride of repentance and remorse of the immature Christian, riding high when he is pure and then falling fast into the valley of despair involving the chosen sin. As I say, that’s the way of the immature Christian. However, it’s the mature Christian who learns to level off in his/her life of faith, knowing that living with the joy resulting from obedience to God’s way is worth what it takes to stay on an even keel in the life of a Christian, and realizing to follow and live out what that more mature Christian learns in order to avoid sin and practice spiritual temperance. And when, in the mature and long lasting decision to follow Christ, rather than self, that maturity becomes so joyful that he/she wants to help others find that dying to sin and living in Christ is so much more fulfilling than any fix one might get from partaking of the sin nature.
So, if you’re reading this as a fellow Christian, KNOW this! In Christ, you are – and choose to be - dead to sin. It is a defeated foe. Yes, sin is a persistent foe; … but in Christ you will ultimately win the battle!
My Prayer Today: In You, Lord, sin has no sway over me! Amen
My Journal for Today: It is important for all true Christians to have a foundational understanding of our relationship with sin. The Apostle Paul was confronted by this basic doctrinal issue when he asked the important rhetorical question in his letter to the Romans (v. 6: 1). In the context of what he had just written in Rom. 5: 20 – 21 (printed above for your context and edification), Paul asked, “Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?” And to this question Paul answers with the strongest negation found in the Greek language, which is “me” (pronounced “may”) – a small word but a very strong statement, which in our language is the equivalent of saying, “Absolutely not!” … or … “Forget it!” … or maybe, more colloquially, … “NO WAY!”
And so, my fellow Christian, here’s the simple truth. A true, born-again believer in Christ is dead to sin. However, the dilemma found in that same Christian is the fact that this person (maybe it’s you or me) has a sin nature with which he must contend. But for a REAL Christian to continue in conscious, unrepentant, and habitual sin with no remorse is a virtual and spiritual impossibility. Besides today’s cited passage, Paul repetitively in his epistles harkens to this reality (see Eph. 2: 1 – 5 [linked] and Col. 1: 13 - 14).
We, who now are in Christ, have been bought by the atonement of our Savior, … saved from the darkness of death into the light of eternal life. And though the Christian, retaining a sin nature, may sin – even by choice – such sin will never happen for the born-again believer without redress or conviction by the Holy Spirit, Who now resides in the heart of that believer for eternity.
In the ministry to which I’ve been called to serve, which deals with Christians who fall prey to habitual, or even repetitive, sexual sin, I’m often asked, “How could I truly be a Christian and continue to sin in this way sexually?” To such a question I usually ask a diagnostic question in retort, asking, “When you do sin – even repetitively – do you enjoy the results of your sin afterwards or does the sin satisfy your inner being?” The true Christian responding to my question will answer, “No, way!” [which, BTW, is the same strong negation as the Apostle used in Greek in Rom. 6:1] And continuing, … the Christian who has denied any satisfaction from the chosen sin pattern usually also reports having severe, acute remorse from the conviction they feel from God’s Spirit after a bout or binge into selfish sensual sin. Often the remorse/guilt from the sin drives that one to periods [even long periods] of sobriety from sexual sin; and the valley of remorse can stay with that one for a period of time, even at times allowing that believer to experience to climb to a higher place of joy from their relationship with Christ. This is what I call the roller-coaster ride of repentance and remorse of the immature Christian, riding high when he is pure and then falling fast into the valley of despair involving the chosen sin. As I say, that’s the way of the immature Christian. However, it’s the mature Christian who learns to level off in his/her life of faith, knowing that living with the joy resulting from obedience to God’s way is worth what it takes to stay on an even keel in the life of a Christian, and realizing to follow and live out what that more mature Christian learns in order to avoid sin and practice spiritual temperance. And when, in the mature and long lasting decision to follow Christ, rather than self, that maturity becomes so joyful that he/she wants to help others find that dying to sin and living in Christ is so much more fulfilling than any fix one might get from partaking of the sin nature.
So, if you’re reading this as a fellow Christian, KNOW this! In Christ, you are – and choose to be - dead to sin. It is a defeated foe. Yes, sin is a persistent foe; … but in Christ you will ultimately win the battle!
My Prayer Today: In You, Lord, sin has no sway over me! Amen
Wednesday, October 05, 2011
October 5, 2011 … Children of Darkness
Passage of the Day: 1st John 1: 6 [see underlined and highlighted verse in bold] … 6 If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin. 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
My Journal for Today: I strongly believe that John MacArthur is correct (from today’s Strength for Today devotional) that we live in an age where most people will not take responsibility for their sinfulness; and I contend this includes many who claim to be “christian,” blaming societal factors or genetics for their behavioral choices. And many non-believers in our culture even claim that studying and living by a strict biblical code of conduct will damage self esteem. Hence, we see groups like the ACLU and the People for the American Way doing all they can to strip concepts like “Christ, Christianity, and/or God” from the public arena of discussion. There is even a political move in this country to codify Christian rhetoric as “hate speech,” with a desire to prosecute those who use scriptural doctrine as behavioral standards for issues such as labeling homosexuality as “sinful” or trying to protect the traditional concept of marriage of “one man married to one woman” in our society.
Yet, we read in Scripture (see Mark 2: 17) that Jesus, Himself, pronounced His mission to be a healer for those sickened by their sin and His purpose to free those imprisoned by the effects of sin (see Luke 4: 18). And if that’s Christ’s mission – to save the lost from their bondage to sin and to heal and release the believers who remain bonded to Satan’s sin call – it should be our mission [i.e., as Christians] as well … i.e., to do all we can to eradicate sinful choices from our lives and to be a channel of the Savior to the blinded non-believers who need to see the truth of Christ’s saving mission.
The Apostle John, in today’s passage, clearly points Christians who continue to walk in the darkness of the flesh by denying their sin, are missing the mark of Christ’s mission. And the Apostle further teaches his readers that only those who have been cleansed by Christ’s blood [i.e., born-again believers] will be able to walk in His light (see 1st John 1: 7).
Of course, it is true that we cannot escape our inherited sin nature (see Rom. 3: 23); and if/when we do deny it, we deceive ourselves (the natural condition written of in Jer. 17: 9 and also by John in 1st John 1: 8). And worst of all, by John’s truth [see 1st John 1: 10], when we deny our sin, we make God out to be a liar (to ourselves or to others). And this, my dear fellow Christians, is serious blasphemy and will, if uncleansed by conversion (for the lost) or confession (for believers), leads the lost to the darkest place of all – Hell – or believers to a dark place in this life where that Christian’s witness is dissipated, damaged, and/or dampened. That place is separation from Christ’s fellowship; and it’s a place of death for the lost and a place of despair for the Christian.
In meditating on this, I ask myself, “What am I doing to be cleansed and purged of the effects of sin in my life today?” And I’m driven to my knees to confess and receive Christ’s blood-bought grace.
My Prayer Today: O, Lord, help me to see clearly where I have sinned and gone astray from Your path so that I can be cleansed and enlightened to stay on track. Amen
My Journal for Today: I strongly believe that John MacArthur is correct (from today’s Strength for Today devotional) that we live in an age where most people will not take responsibility for their sinfulness; and I contend this includes many who claim to be “christian,” blaming societal factors or genetics for their behavioral choices. And many non-believers in our culture even claim that studying and living by a strict biblical code of conduct will damage self esteem. Hence, we see groups like the ACLU and the People for the American Way doing all they can to strip concepts like “Christ, Christianity, and/or God” from the public arena of discussion. There is even a political move in this country to codify Christian rhetoric as “hate speech,” with a desire to prosecute those who use scriptural doctrine as behavioral standards for issues such as labeling homosexuality as “sinful” or trying to protect the traditional concept of marriage of “one man married to one woman” in our society.
Yet, we read in Scripture (see Mark 2: 17) that Jesus, Himself, pronounced His mission to be a healer for those sickened by their sin and His purpose to free those imprisoned by the effects of sin (see Luke 4: 18). And if that’s Christ’s mission – to save the lost from their bondage to sin and to heal and release the believers who remain bonded to Satan’s sin call – it should be our mission [i.e., as Christians] as well … i.e., to do all we can to eradicate sinful choices from our lives and to be a channel of the Savior to the blinded non-believers who need to see the truth of Christ’s saving mission.
The Apostle John, in today’s passage, clearly points Christians who continue to walk in the darkness of the flesh by denying their sin, are missing the mark of Christ’s mission. And the Apostle further teaches his readers that only those who have been cleansed by Christ’s blood [i.e., born-again believers] will be able to walk in His light (see 1st John 1: 7).
Of course, it is true that we cannot escape our inherited sin nature (see Rom. 3: 23); and if/when we do deny it, we deceive ourselves (the natural condition written of in Jer. 17: 9 and also by John in 1st John 1: 8). And worst of all, by John’s truth [see 1st John 1: 10], when we deny our sin, we make God out to be a liar (to ourselves or to others). And this, my dear fellow Christians, is serious blasphemy and will, if uncleansed by conversion (for the lost) or confession (for believers), leads the lost to the darkest place of all – Hell – or believers to a dark place in this life where that Christian’s witness is dissipated, damaged, and/or dampened. That place is separation from Christ’s fellowship; and it’s a place of death for the lost and a place of despair for the Christian.
In meditating on this, I ask myself, “What am I doing to be cleansed and purged of the effects of sin in my life today?” And I’m driven to my knees to confess and receive Christ’s blood-bought grace.
My Prayer Today: O, Lord, help me to see clearly where I have sinned and gone astray from Your path so that I can be cleansed and enlightened to stay on track. Amen
Tuesday, October 04, 2011
October 4, 2011 … God Is Light … God’s Word Is Truth
Passage of the Day: 1st John 1: 5 … This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all.
My Journal for Today: If you’ve studied God’s word for any length of time, I’m sure you’ve noted the biblical usage of the light versus dark metaphor, often used to compare holiness to evil or truthfulness to dishonesty. Scripture also clearly refers to our Lord as “… abounding in … truth,” as did Moses in Exodus 34: 6 [NASB] , or the Psalmist referring to God as “… the God of truth” [in Psalm 31: 5], or Isaiah using the same reference in Isaiah 65: 16. Jesus, Himself, called Himself “… the way, the TRUTH, and the life (see John 14: 6).”
We, as Christians, can not only lean on the character of God as being truth and light, especially from our relationship with Christ; but we also can lean on his Word as the reflection of His truth and light. David prayed (in 2nd Samuel 7: 28), “O Sovereign LORD, you are God! Your words are trustworthy, …"; and Jesus prayed (in John 17: 17), “Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.“ And you may have memorized, as have I, one verse from the acrostic poem about God’s word in Psalms 119: 105, which states “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.“
Therefore, when we are looking for light in the darkness which surrounds us in the world; … when we are looking for truth when it comes to moral decisions in our life, we Christians, who believe in the absolute truth of God’s word (believing in 2nd Tim. 2: 16, 17), can KNOW, beyond any doubt, that no evil or dishonesty can emanate from God and His word (see Ps. 5: 4). Therefore, since God cannot lie (see Numbers 23: 19 and Titus 1: 2), we will always be led by His light to make decisions that are in line with God’s will and His truth when we seek His will and/or His way through His word.
This then begs certain questions. As we deal with sin in our lives (i.e., the darkness of evil and dishonesty), … do we know where to find God’s light? In other words, how well versed are we in God’s word so that we can see His light shining on the path of truth when we’re faced with the temptation of evil or in a fog of untruth? How much do we lean on God’s word to provide us with His light to straighten our path in life (see Prov. 3: 5 – 6)?
If we avoid God’s word; or if we’re unwilling to devote the time and diligence to put God’s word deeply into our hearts via memorization of His truth, how can we expect to navigate the fog of darkness from this world and the deception of our own hearts [see Jer. 17: 9 and Ps. 119: 9]?
I leave it to you to deal with those questions personally. I’ve certainly had to deal with them in my life. They were questions I faced years ago in my discipleship; and I can testify that deciding in my heart to surrender to God’s call and to pursue His word rigorously in my life (as one would find in a careful study of Psalm 119) has been the most productive life discipline in which I have ever chosen to involve myself. I pray that you will find the truth of that memorable Scripture passage, to which I referred above, Psalm 119: 9, 11, to be an incredibly powerful light, one which is God’s prescription for avoiding sin and dealing with darkness in our lives.
My Prayer Today: The more I know Your word, Lord, the more I know You and the more You light up my life. Amen
My Journal for Today: If you’ve studied God’s word for any length of time, I’m sure you’ve noted the biblical usage of the light versus dark metaphor, often used to compare holiness to evil or truthfulness to dishonesty. Scripture also clearly refers to our Lord as “… abounding in … truth,” as did Moses in Exodus 34: 6 [NASB] , or the Psalmist referring to God as “… the God of truth” [in Psalm 31: 5], or Isaiah using the same reference in Isaiah 65: 16. Jesus, Himself, called Himself “… the way, the TRUTH, and the life (see John 14: 6).”
We, as Christians, can not only lean on the character of God as being truth and light, especially from our relationship with Christ; but we also can lean on his Word as the reflection of His truth and light. David prayed (in 2nd Samuel 7: 28), “O Sovereign LORD, you are God! Your words are trustworthy, …"; and Jesus prayed (in John 17: 17), “Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.“ And you may have memorized, as have I, one verse from the acrostic poem about God’s word in Psalms 119: 105, which states “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.“
Therefore, when we are looking for light in the darkness which surrounds us in the world; … when we are looking for truth when it comes to moral decisions in our life, we Christians, who believe in the absolute truth of God’s word (believing in 2nd Tim. 2: 16, 17), can KNOW, beyond any doubt, that no evil or dishonesty can emanate from God and His word (see Ps. 5: 4). Therefore, since God cannot lie (see Numbers 23: 19 and Titus 1: 2), we will always be led by His light to make decisions that are in line with God’s will and His truth when we seek His will and/or His way through His word.
This then begs certain questions. As we deal with sin in our lives (i.e., the darkness of evil and dishonesty), … do we know where to find God’s light? In other words, how well versed are we in God’s word so that we can see His light shining on the path of truth when we’re faced with the temptation of evil or in a fog of untruth? How much do we lean on God’s word to provide us with His light to straighten our path in life (see Prov. 3: 5 – 6)?
If we avoid God’s word; or if we’re unwilling to devote the time and diligence to put God’s word deeply into our hearts via memorization of His truth, how can we expect to navigate the fog of darkness from this world and the deception of our own hearts [see Jer. 17: 9 and Ps. 119: 9]?
I leave it to you to deal with those questions personally. I’ve certainly had to deal with them in my life. They were questions I faced years ago in my discipleship; and I can testify that deciding in my heart to surrender to God’s call and to pursue His word rigorously in my life (as one would find in a careful study of Psalm 119) has been the most productive life discipline in which I have ever chosen to involve myself. I pray that you will find the truth of that memorable Scripture passage, to which I referred above, Psalm 119: 9, 11, to be an incredibly powerful light, one which is God’s prescription for avoiding sin and dealing with darkness in our lives.
My Prayer Today: The more I know Your word, Lord, the more I know You and the more You light up my life. Amen
Sunday, September 11, 2011
September 11, 2011 … The Spirit and God’s Will
[Sober remembrance of 9 - 11 - 01! – Ten Years Ago!] …
Passage of the Day: Ezekiel 36: 27 [see bold, underlined verse in context] … [God through the Prophet to Israel] 26 “I will give you a new heart and put a new Spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. 28 You will live in the land I gave your forefathers; you will be my people, and I will be your God. … ”
My Journal for Today: There is no doubt, when one carefully studies both the Old and New Testaments, that the Holy Spirit has a pertinent, practical, and powerful ministry to shine God’s light on His will for His people (which is stated to Israel by God through His Prophet, Ezekiel, in today’s verse, but applies to all of God’s people by extension). Today’s verse, as well as Isaiah 63: 11 – 14, both written centuries before Pentecost, where God’s Spirit was given by God to His New Covenant Church, clearly indicate that it has been God’s purpose [i.e., His will], to guide all of His people to His way and to protect them through their (our) obedience to His will. And now, beyond Israel and His Old Covenant promises, God’s Spirit has been imparted to all believers to give all of His children clear direction and the covering of His power (see Romans 8: 14).
The ministry of the Holy Spirit is God’s light, shining on His path of righteousness to insure that His faithful and obedient followers would see His way clearly and follow His path (see Ps. 119: 105 – I hope you have that one memorized!). And as long as we, who are His followers (see another memorable verse Luke 9: 23), search for His light, trusting it from His Spirit, God will lead us on the right path (and a third verse we all should have in our hearts … Prov. 3: 5 – 6).
Are you, as I am, a follower of Christ – i.e., one of His disciples? If you respond affirmatively to that question, I would think that you would be feeling the weight of conviction, as am I, from God’s Spirit in this moment (and that is God, the Holy Spirit, shining His light on your - our - path). Therefore, we must ask ourselves how God can and will shine His light more clearly on our path; and the answer to that is through the Spirit’s most clearly defined source of light, … His Holy Word! If one believes the truth of 2nd Tim. 3: 16 – 17 as well as the reality of Isaiah 55: 11 and all of Psalm 119, you will believe as I do, that we Christians can best find God, the Holy Spirit, leading us by the light of His truth in and through His word. And when we do delve into God’s word, searching for His light, God will be there in the Person of His Spirit edifying and enlightening us to His will through His word.
My Prayer Today: Even now as I search your word, Lord, shine Your light on my path, precious Spirit! Amen
Passage of the Day: Ezekiel 36: 27 [see bold, underlined verse in context] … [God through the Prophet to Israel] 26 “I will give you a new heart and put a new Spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. 28 You will live in the land I gave your forefathers; you will be my people, and I will be your God. … ”
My Journal for Today: There is no doubt, when one carefully studies both the Old and New Testaments, that the Holy Spirit has a pertinent, practical, and powerful ministry to shine God’s light on His will for His people (which is stated to Israel by God through His Prophet, Ezekiel, in today’s verse, but applies to all of God’s people by extension). Today’s verse, as well as Isaiah 63: 11 – 14, both written centuries before Pentecost, where God’s Spirit was given by God to His New Covenant Church, clearly indicate that it has been God’s purpose [i.e., His will], to guide all of His people to His way and to protect them through their (our) obedience to His will. And now, beyond Israel and His Old Covenant promises, God’s Spirit has been imparted to all believers to give all of His children clear direction and the covering of His power (see Romans 8: 14).
The ministry of the Holy Spirit is God’s light, shining on His path of righteousness to insure that His faithful and obedient followers would see His way clearly and follow His path (see Ps. 119: 105 – I hope you have that one memorized!). And as long as we, who are His followers (see another memorable verse Luke 9: 23), search for His light, trusting it from His Spirit, God will lead us on the right path (and a third verse we all should have in our hearts … Prov. 3: 5 – 6).
Are you, as I am, a follower of Christ – i.e., one of His disciples? If you respond affirmatively to that question, I would think that you would be feeling the weight of conviction, as am I, from God’s Spirit in this moment (and that is God, the Holy Spirit, shining His light on your - our - path). Therefore, we must ask ourselves how God can and will shine His light more clearly on our path; and the answer to that is through the Spirit’s most clearly defined source of light, … His Holy Word! If one believes the truth of 2nd Tim. 3: 16 – 17 as well as the reality of Isaiah 55: 11 and all of Psalm 119, you will believe as I do, that we Christians can best find God, the Holy Spirit, leading us by the light of His truth in and through His word. And when we do delve into God’s word, searching for His light, God will be there in the Person of His Spirit edifying and enlightening us to His will through His word.
My Prayer Today: Even now as I search your word, Lord, shine Your light on my path, precious Spirit! Amen
Monday, July 11, 2011
July 11, 2011 … Sensitivity to Sin
Passage of the Day: 1st John 1: 5 – 10 … 5 This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.
8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word has no place in our lives.
My Journal for Today: Yesterday we saw that the first element to look for in the assurance of our salvation is a deep and abiding relationship with Christ, a communion of worship and life with God’s Spirit, growing and maturing as we live for God’s glory [see 1st John 1: 3]. Today in our text passage, we look at the second indicator to which the Apostle John exposes to help believers KNOW that they are saved; and this element is the sensitivity to sin.
And in today’s text on the matter, we see one of the most common word pictures used in scripture to describe sin or sinfulness; and that is “darkness” verses “light” (i.e., Godliness, righteousness, or Christlikeness). For support of this, see also Ps 119: 105 and Prov. 6: 23 in the Old Testament. And in addition to today’s text from the NT, the Apostle Paul also wrote about sinfulness verses righteousness, using the dark/light word picture in Romans 7: 14 – 25. And in the Rom. 7 passage we read of Paul personalizing the battle we all have with self verses Savior … the darkness of our own hearts and the light found in our relationship with Christ. And in Rom. 7: 25 you will read of Paul’s recognition, as we read in today’s text, of our need to surrender to the light of Christ. And then all of Romans 8 is the victory story that results when we live in the light of Christ. And from John, in 1st John 1: 9 from today’s passage [a verse you may have memorized], we read of God’s remedy for the believer who is willing to surrender to God [i.e., the Light], recognizing and confessing his/her sinfulness … and that is to be cleansed and brought out of darkness and into God’s light.
Having been in that place of darkness in my past; and having experienced the truth of 1st John 1: 9 and the victory of Romans 8, I firmly believe, with personal witness, that there is no more lonely or forlorn place for a true Christian than to be walking in the darkness brought on by a believer’s selfish choices, taking him/her out of fellowship with Christ and out of the light provided by our Lord. However, the opposite of that is true as well … that a Christian, walking in surrender to God, will experience all the fruit that walking in the Light of Christ affords, which includes a blossoming of all of the fruit of the Spirit (see Gal. 5: 22, 23).
And so, I’d exhort any reader of this journal entry to make Psalm 119: 105 a strong memory verse for your life … praying continually for Christ’s light to shine on your path so that you can walk in His light, following Him as He commands in Luke 9: 23.
My Prayer Today: Thank you for Your light, Lord! Amen
8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word has no place in our lives.
My Journal for Today: Yesterday we saw that the first element to look for in the assurance of our salvation is a deep and abiding relationship with Christ, a communion of worship and life with God’s Spirit, growing and maturing as we live for God’s glory [see 1st John 1: 3]. Today in our text passage, we look at the second indicator to which the Apostle John exposes to help believers KNOW that they are saved; and this element is the sensitivity to sin.
And in today’s text on the matter, we see one of the most common word pictures used in scripture to describe sin or sinfulness; and that is “darkness” verses “light” (i.e., Godliness, righteousness, or Christlikeness). For support of this, see also Ps 119: 105 and Prov. 6: 23 in the Old Testament. And in addition to today’s text from the NT, the Apostle Paul also wrote about sinfulness verses righteousness, using the dark/light word picture in Romans 7: 14 – 25. And in the Rom. 7 passage we read of Paul personalizing the battle we all have with self verses Savior … the darkness of our own hearts and the light found in our relationship with Christ. And in Rom. 7: 25 you will read of Paul’s recognition, as we read in today’s text, of our need to surrender to the light of Christ. And then all of Romans 8 is the victory story that results when we live in the light of Christ. And from John, in 1st John 1: 9 from today’s passage [a verse you may have memorized], we read of God’s remedy for the believer who is willing to surrender to God [i.e., the Light], recognizing and confessing his/her sinfulness … and that is to be cleansed and brought out of darkness and into God’s light.
Having been in that place of darkness in my past; and having experienced the truth of 1st John 1: 9 and the victory of Romans 8, I firmly believe, with personal witness, that there is no more lonely or forlorn place for a true Christian than to be walking in the darkness brought on by a believer’s selfish choices, taking him/her out of fellowship with Christ and out of the light provided by our Lord. However, the opposite of that is true as well … that a Christian, walking in surrender to God, will experience all the fruit that walking in the Light of Christ affords, which includes a blossoming of all of the fruit of the Spirit (see Gal. 5: 22, 23).
And so, I’d exhort any reader of this journal entry to make Psalm 119: 105 a strong memory verse for your life … praying continually for Christ’s light to shine on your path so that you can walk in His light, following Him as He commands in Luke 9: 23.
My Prayer Today: Thank you for Your light, Lord! Amen
Sunday, April 17, 2011
April 17, 2011 … Supernatural Darkness
Passage of the Day: Matthew 27: 45 … [During Christ’s crucifixion] From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land.
My Journal for Today: John MacArthur in his devotional for this date from Strength for Today helped me learn about this darkness that enveloped the countryside at mid-day during Christ’s crucifixion. The darkness referred to in today’s verse has been historically confirmed to have taken place worldwide at the very moment of time mentioned in this scripture. Most certainly it could not have been caused by a parallel-occurring solar eclipse. That is astronomical and scientific fact.
MacArthur posits, and I agree, that this darkness was like that reported repeatedly put forth by Jesus in the book of Matthew (see Matt. 8: 12; 22: 13; 25: 30), … a darkness where there will be “…weeping and gnashing of teeth.” This is the outer darkness associated with God’s judgment; and MacArthur indicates that this was the darkness in Matt. 27: 45, a darkness which shadowed the world, indicating the spiritual time when God’s wrath was visited upon Jesus, as our Lord took upon His shoulders the sinfulness of mankind.
This was time of the “cup” which Christ dreaded so much as he shed drops of blood, sweat, and tears in the Garden of Gethsemane. This was the moment when God, the Father, turned His back on His Son because the Son had taken upon Him the sins of all mankind. This was the darkest moment in the history of mankind – literally and spiritually. It was the time when the Lamb of God was slain; and MacArthur says that the darkness on that day was “… a graphic portrayal of the cross as the focal point of God’s wrath, a place of His immense judgment … a place of horrible spiritual darkness.”
And yet, three days later, in the event that all believers associate with the Light of the World, Christ was risen; and now we associate sin with darkness (as in today’s verse) and light with God’s holiness and purity … and of course, with Christ Himself. To be in the light is to be in Christ. To be in the darkness is to be under the influence of Satan, sin, and self.
In the ministry which I’ve been called and ordained to lead, BattlePlan Ministry, which helps men come out of the darkness of sexual sin into the light of purity and victory in Christ, the men often, upon confessing some episode of sin to their fellow BPM warriors in our men’s discipleship meetings, refer to actually “feeling” the light of Christ when they are cleansed of the darkness of sin, i.e., experiencing the light which comes from cleansing confession (see 1st John 1: 9 and/or 2nd Cor. 5: 17).
So, may we ever be in pursuit of God’s light and doing all we can to avoid the darkness of our sin nature.
My Prayer Today: Lord, I go to Your light! Amen
Saturday, May 23, 2009
2009 – Day 142.May 23 – Penetrating the Darkness
2009 – Day 142.May 23 – Penetrating the Darkness
Passage of the Day: 2nd Samuel 22: 1 – 31 or Psalm 18: 1 – 30 …
Link to 2nd Sam. 22 for study …
Also link to parallel version in Psalm 18 …
My Journal for Today: After reading these parallel versions of the same song from David, focus on Verse 29 of 2nd Sam. 22 or Verse 28 or Psalm 18, which truthfully sings …
28 For You will light my lamp;
The LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.
Now, Swindoll asks some pertinent questions, which I condense into one: “Ever been into some tough times when things seemed very dark?” Of course, you have; … we all have! Well, the bottom line becomes, “Is God your light in the dark times?” He obviously was for David; and the King of Israel captured his feelings about this in the poignant Psalm we read from two versions today, a song which we should remember to give us insight and encouragement when things seem so very dark.
I really love the story Swindoll tells in today’s devotional to illustrate the truth of verse 29 from 2nd Sam. 22. He relates his boyhood days, when his dad showed him how to gig flounder at night in shallow waters, by using a small lamp to light the way. He relates that the flounder would come into the shallows to feed on shrimp; and using the small lamp his dad used just gave enough light to see about one step forward and to reveal the flounder.
This story is doubly telling as a word picture; because there are times when we “flounder” in the darkness; and we need a light to move forward. And the light of God is very often just revealing enough to see one step at a time; but when we seek it, God’s light of truth is there to light the way. I think about this truth also with regard to following God’s word, which we know from Psalm 119: 105 is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.
We need to always remember the truth from these songs when things seem threatening and dark. If we’re willing to humble ourselves to seek God’s light, He will provide it, usually through His word, allowing us to see ahead just far enough to take the next step. Below I pray a prayer that I pray almost every day and very often when things are dark in my life.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, shine Your light brightly on my path so I can’t help but see it to follow You. Amen
Passage of the Day: 2nd Samuel 22: 1 – 31 or Psalm 18: 1 – 30 …
Link to 2nd Sam. 22 for study …
Also link to parallel version in Psalm 18 …
My Journal for Today: After reading these parallel versions of the same song from David, focus on Verse 29 of 2nd Sam. 22 or Verse 28 or Psalm 18, which truthfully sings …
28 For You will light my lamp;
The LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.
Now, Swindoll asks some pertinent questions, which I condense into one: “Ever been into some tough times when things seemed very dark?” Of course, you have; … we all have! Well, the bottom line becomes, “Is God your light in the dark times?” He obviously was for David; and the King of Israel captured his feelings about this in the poignant Psalm we read from two versions today, a song which we should remember to give us insight and encouragement when things seem so very dark.
I really love the story Swindoll tells in today’s devotional to illustrate the truth of verse 29 from 2nd Sam. 22. He relates his boyhood days, when his dad showed him how to gig flounder at night in shallow waters, by using a small lamp to light the way. He relates that the flounder would come into the shallows to feed on shrimp; and using the small lamp his dad used just gave enough light to see about one step forward and to reveal the flounder.
This story is doubly telling as a word picture; because there are times when we “flounder” in the darkness; and we need a light to move forward. And the light of God is very often just revealing enough to see one step at a time; but when we seek it, God’s light of truth is there to light the way. I think about this truth also with regard to following God’s word, which we know from Psalm 119: 105 is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.
We need to always remember the truth from these songs when things seem threatening and dark. If we’re willing to humble ourselves to seek God’s light, He will provide it, usually through His word, allowing us to see ahead just far enough to take the next step. Below I pray a prayer that I pray almost every day and very often when things are dark in my life.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, shine Your light brightly on my path so I can’t help but see it to follow You. Amen
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