March 6, 2011 … Cleansed Hands and Hearts

Passage of the Day: James 4: 8c [note underlined/bold portion in context] – 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

My Journal for Today: As we’ve been reflecting on James 4: 8 the last three days in my devotional entries, the Apostle James gives believers the absolute requirements, or at the very least the character traits, necessary for the humility we need as Christians to approach God in seeking a deep and abiding relationship with Christ. For that today, John MacArthur exposes Jesus’ brother James saying that we must have “clean hands” and a “clean heart.” The former, having “clean hands,” is a reference to the Jewish priestly ceremony of hand washing in the Temple before the priest could or would approach God in the Holy of Holies (see Exod. 30: 19 – 20). In the New Covenant, of course, all believers form a “royal priesthood;” [see 1st Pet. 2: 9] therefore, our walk as believers should be clean so that we can approach God’s throne of grace to avoid the death knell of sin [which is defined as anything separating our character from God’s].

However, beyond this requirement of walking with clean hands [i.e., purity of action], for a believer to be truly humble at God’s throne, he/she must also have a “clean heart” [i.e., purity of attitude]. In other words, the thoughts, motives, and desires of the Christian must be fully cleansed before that one could ever expect to receive God’s grace. God’s word is clear about the natural condition of the human heart [see Jer. 17: 9]; and as we think in our spiritual heart, so we live (see Prov. 23: 7 in the NKJV – which states: “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.”).
SCRIPTURE: Ezekiel 18: 31-32 … 31 “Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the Lord GOD. “Therefore turn and live!”

Hence, as today’s exhortation by James, as well as this statement, directly from God, in the Old Testament (i.e., from Ezekiel 18: 31-32 - above), we who have perpetually deceitful hearts, must keep short accounts with God for our sinfulness. Fortunately we have God’s promise that He will cleanse the heart of any humble believer willing to confess his/her sin. I’ll bet you already know that promise in 1st John 1: 9 (if not, I challenge you to memorize that verse and use its application when the Holy Spirit convicts you, as He does me, of sinfulness almost daily, if not momentarily). If we humbly come to God’s throne of grace fully cleansed by the blood of Christ of our sin [and we can according to 1st John 1: 9], we can expect our Lord to shower us with His grace, … just as He did on the cross.

So, join me in a covenant THIS DAY to walk and live purely so that we can live as believers fully covered by the grace of God.

My Prayer Today: Help me, Lord, to have clean hands and a clean heart as I live for You. Amen

2009 – Day 284.Oct 12 – A New Beginning

Passage of the Day: Acts 9: 10 – 19 … 10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. 12 And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.” 13 Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” 17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. 19 So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.

My Journal for Today: Don’t you just love the message of metamorphosis in the life of the Apostle Paul, being transformed by God’s grace from a murderous marauder to a zealot for the Gospel. Oh how I identify with this message of hope, having been a Saul of Tarsus in my life and having been raised from the ashes of sinful living to become an Ordained messenger of the Gospel in my own life time.

I hope that any who are reading this are not imprisoned by the lies of shame and blame the enemy would love to see us carrying around from anything in our past. The message of God’s saving grace is so simple and complete. It is actually found in that great victory chapter of Romans 8, where in verse 1, God had him write, “There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Do you believe that, my friend? Do you live with that truth in your heart? I hope so; because if you do and you’ve forgiven yourself for anything in your past, just as has God if you are saved, then you can become, as I am, a poster child for another of God’s great truths from the Apostle Paul, … that one from 2nd Cor. 5: 17.

My friend, take in one of the greatest truths in all of the Bible, "… if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” … Now, dear one, meditate on that one for a moment. Think on the reality and hope embedded in that message.

You know, it is said that Ted Bundy, the infamous serial killer, came to Christ a short time before he was executed for his murderous life. Remember that Jesus told the one thief on the cross that his repentance and acknowledgement of Christ as the Son of God would mean that this thief is now with Christ in heaven. So, if God can save a Saul of Tarsus, or the thief on the cross, or even a Ten Bundy, our God can save and forgive ANYONE; and that includes Bill Berry … or you. My dear friend, if God can forgive and save a Bill Berry, His grace and mercy can – and has – saved you from any sin in your past.

We simply have to allow Him to forgive us; and then we have forgive ourselves; and, in the hope of Christ, we are and remain saved from any sin … sins past, sins present, and yes, even sins in the future.

What a glorious hope we have in our Savior, Jesus.

Let it go, my friend. If you have anything in your past which has you shackled by your own shame, let it go! If you are in Christ, dear one, and you have confessed this past to your Lord and Savior, in the words of Christ Himself from the cross, “It is finished!” You are now cleansed FOREVER; and you can walk from this day forth as the new creation in Christ you are.

My Prayer for Today: Lord, I pray that all who are in You accept the truth and reality of Your saving grace and live as You have cleansed us … forevermore. Amen

A Pastor’s PS: If you’d like to meditate on the truths in this journal entry for today, click on this link and you can see a music video of the wonderful song sung by Casting Crowns, … East to West. I hope you’ll take this in. It’s well worth the few minutes you’ll take to do it. … <’BB><

2009 – Day 141.May 22 – Downward Steps of Sin

2009 – Day 141.May 22 – Downward Steps of Sin

Passage of the Day: 2nd Samuel 13: 1 – 30 and 2nd Samuel 18: 24 – 33 … 2nd Samuel 13 and 18 linked for your study …
2nd Samuel 13 –
2nd Samuel 18 -

My Journal for Today: I hope you’ve digested the scriptures passages from today’s lesson, because the truth contained in this biblical scenario holds a somber reality for followers of God. And if I may summarize the bottom line with an exhortation, these passages teach us that we cannot compromise God’s precepts and principles with selfish desires. As Swindoll points out at the end of his entry for today, “God is not mocked;” and our author/teacher points out that we cannot go through life picking and choosing righteousness or sin. To compromise and choose sin will always lead to a downward spiral of circumstances, which may become overwhelming in our lives. As we read today, that was David’s plight; and prayerfully we’re learning proactive lessons from David’s life.

As David languished in the death of his sons, one at the hand of the other and the other at the hands of David’s own soldiers, it’s not difficult to imagine how David would have liked to rewind the tape of his life, desiring that he should have been off doing battle with his mighty men the night he decided to stay home and to walk over and take a peek at Bathsheba over that balcony. Or having taken the peek, we can imagine that David would have wished he had confessed his lust before God right there on the spot, repented, and left his home to go back to the battle fields.

BUT, … neither righteous course was his choice. No, David chose to act on selfish lust and then to cover his sin and then to take the life of a comrade and then to deny his own sinfulness by trying to forget it all. But God was not mocked; and David, even after confessing and repenting of his sin, paid the price for his past laziness, his pride, and his arrogance before God. And now we read where it got him.

Oh, I’ve been there and done that in my life; and it is true that we have a loving and merciful God Who can choose to forgive when we humbly repent of our sin; but do not expect that our sin will be free of any consequences. God truly will not be mocked; and THERE WILL BE consequences for sin. Therefore, I quote Swindoll’s recommendations for any who might be convicted of their sinfulness in reading this devotional entry. Swindoll writes …

>>> “Turn your life over to Him [i.e., God]. Broken and bruised, twisted and confused, just lay it out before Him. Ask Him to give you the grace and strength to face the consequences realistically and straight on.”

And then I would add, … we must honestly and forthrightly confess everything to God; and pray for His mercy from the truth of 1st John 1: 9 [linked], so that, even though there will be consequences for our sin, we can at least face them, knowing that we are cleaned and covered by the blood of The Lamb of God.

My Prayer for Today: Oh, my Lord, You have covered me, forgiven me, and cleansed me by Your blood. Oh, praise Your Holy Name !! Amen

2009 - Day 20 - Guilty

January 20, 2009 … Swindoll’s Topic for Today: Guilty

Passage of the Day: Genesis 42: 21 – 24 … 21 Then they said to one another, “We are truly guilty concerning our brother, for we saw the anguish of his soul when he pleaded with us, and we would not hear; therefore this distress has come upon us.” 22 And Reuben answered them, saying, “Did I not speak to you, saying, ‘Do not sin against the boy’; and you would not listen? Therefore behold, his blood is now required of us.” 23 But they did not know that Joseph understood them, for he spoke to them through an interpreter. 24 And he turned himself away from them and wept. Then he returned to them again, and talked with them. And he took Simeon from them and bound him before their eyes.

My Journal for Today: “We are truly guilty,…” were the words of Joseph’s brothers as they were confronted with the reality of their past actions when they were merely reminded of their deed by the questions from this young Prime Minister. And yet they didn’t know that their brother stood right before them; and Joseph could understand their Hebrew words, though he cunningly used an interpreter to give the brothers the impression that he didn’t speak their language. And the reactions of the brothers were emotionally wrenching, or maybe uplifting to Joseph, who had to leave their presence because he became so emotional hearing them admit their guilt.

We don’t know exactly what the tears from Joseph represented. It could have been joy in finding the family he had lost; or it could have been tears of empathy, because Joseph knew exactly what it felt like to be in the custody of a power over their life. But we do know that Joseph had to turn or walk away from his brothers to hide his emotions. And we also know, from the unfolding of the story to come that Joseph’s emotions were devoid of any bitterness toward the brothers – a most super-natural response, for sure!

Now, we see a carefully enacted ploy develop to move his brothers to go back to Canaan and bring his father and younger brother, Benjamin to him. But no matter what their sentence from Egypt, through Joseph, the past guilt of these men had caught up to them. As Swindoll very perceptively writes, “… when God comes to tap on stooped shoulders and to break a guilty heart, He does not stop with a slight nudge or mild reproach.” And that is why believers, who live by the truth of 1st John 1: 9 (as I pointed out yesterday), must keep short accounts of sin, coming to God’s throne of grace for cleansing from confession any time sin is perpetrated, comes to one’s consciousness, and is acknowledged by the guilty party.

However, we can be so stupid at times as Christians, holding on to guilt and shame, when it is needlessly retained. How intelligent is it to hold on to a burning ember when we only need discard it and receive the balm of healing from a merciful and graceful God Who promises us complete cleansing and healing from His blood? That’s just dumb [!]; and as my wife often says, “There’s no real cure for dumb.” But so often we can be so dumb as followers of Christ; can’t we?

I hope we can be smarter than the brothers of Joseph, who held on to their guilt for over two decades. But as they confronted the Prime Minister of Egypt, who unbeknownst to them was their brother, little did they know that they were going to have to pay the piper … and the piper was Joseph, … the one whom they had wronged; and this was about to become apparent to them. Stay tuned! The plot thickens; and the truth is more wondrous than any novel.

My Prayer Today: Lord, help me to be always open and real with You, holding on to no shame and seeking Your mercy. Amen

2009 - Day 19 - Taking Responsibility

January 19, 2009 … Swindoll’s Topic for Today: Taking Responsibility

Passage of the Day: Genesis 42: 1 - 24 ... Go to this link to study this passage …

My Journal for Today: Here we have a most interesting scenario. After his years as a slave in Egypt, in prison unjustly for two years, and those years of administration and stewardship as the #2 in command in Egypt, Joseph encounters the brothers who years before had put him into a pit and sold him into slavery; and now we read that these brothers thought Joseph to be dead to their family.

It would be very easy in this confrontation between the brothers and Joseph to make the brothers into the bad guys; and most certainly the brothers had wronged their little brother in their past jealousy. However, as the scene unfolds here, we actually read of the brothers taking ownership of their ill begotten decision to sell Joseph into Egyptian slavery.

As Swindoll’s devotional points out, in verse 21 of Gen. 42, we read a very telling use of pronouns … “Then they said to one another, ‘ We are truly guilty concerning our brother, for we saw the anguish of his soul when he pleaded with us, and we would not hear; therefore this distress has come upon us.’ ” Note how the brothers, to one another, were taking direct ownership of their treatment of Joseph now that they were confronted with this memory and Joseph’s strategic ploy to bring his father and younger brother, Benjamin, back into his life. The lesson is revealed from these brothers; and Swindoll writes, “The first step toward softening a seared conscience is taking responsibility for one’s own personal guilt.”

Joseph’s brothers could not blame their dad’s passivity or Daddy’s favoritism of Joseph in those early years. Those factors may have contributed to their jealousy and anger back then; but their choice to toss their brother into that pit and sell him was their choice, not the fault of their father. Even if Joseph, in his youth, had been an arrogant youngster [which may have been the case], it would not have excused them for the ungodly choice of selling their brother into slavery. But now, they were seeing their true sinfulness and taking the responsibility for these past deeds. And so we read the brothers pointing directly to themselves with the series of “we” pronouns in verse 21 above.

Yes, God had engineered all of Joseph’s past to bring him to this place of family confrontation; and as we’ll read later this month, there will be more to this story as it unfolds. However, here we learn a valuable lesson of conviction when an ungodly set of circumstances is clearly uncovered. When we are wrong, we are wrong; and only by recognizing, acknowledging, and confessing our sinfulness can God bring about the ultimate cleansing of this guilt.

New Covenant believers should know the truth of God’s word in 1st John 1: 9 about God’s grace being available to cleanse ANY believer in ANY situation for the confession of ANY sinfulness. Sometimes, that’s hard for obedient and Godly believers to accept … that God will actually provide His saving grace of forgiveness whenever that one is willing to take responsibility for sin and confess those sins before God and mankind. And this is the lesson we see shining forth from this family confrontation, involving Joseph and his brothers.

Oh, how I pray we all can glean truth and grow from this scene.

My Prayer Today: Lord, when I am wrong, I am wrong; and praise Your mercy and cleansing grace when I am willing to acknowledge my sin and bring my faults to you. Amen