Saturday, February 20, 2016
These Things
2 Peter 1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Whatever "These Things" are, they must be pretty great because they promise that we will always bear fruit. This, after all, is the goal of our Heavenly Father – John 15:1-2. It’s also proof of our faith in Him – Luke 6:43-44.
If “These Things" can guarantee that we will always be fruitful, that we will always have spiritual discernment, that we will never doubt our salvation, and that we will never fall as a Christian, we need to know what they are.
2 Peter 1:5-7 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;] And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
We can’t do “These Things” on our own. We need to daily seek the Lord and ask Him to help us with all of them. He will if we let Him.
Friday, February 19, 2016
Hope For Tomorrow
On the eve of His death, standing in the shadow of Calvary, Jesus takes time to encourage His Disciples. Were their hearts troubled? Indeed they were. He has just told them of His impending death.
John 14:1-3 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so , I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Thank God, there is hope for tomorrow. The preparation for a place in the Heavenly City is for all believers. We will dwell in the Father’s House with the Father and His Son Jesus. We will be free from sin, sorrow, and suffering.
Try as I might, I could never adequately describe the glories of that place. I think Paul summed it up pretty well.
1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
John 14:1-3 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so , I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Thank God, there is hope for tomorrow. The preparation for a place in the Heavenly City is for all believers. We will dwell in the Father’s House with the Father and His Son Jesus. We will be free from sin, sorrow, and suffering.
Try as I might, I could never adequately describe the glories of that place. I think Paul summed it up pretty well.
1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
Thursday, February 18, 2016
God's Glory And Grace
Ephesians 3:17-19 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
It doesn’t fall to us to make the Christian life happen. We are to yield to the Lord. When we do, His power transcends our weakness and enables us to live for Him and to accomplish great things for His glory.
If we talk about Jesus, preach about Jesus, sing about Jesus, praise the name of Jesus, and be head over heels in love with Jesus, God will be glorified by our lives.
We will never grasp the fulness of God’s glory and grace in this life. But one day our bodies and minds will be glorified. When that happens we will understand Him. Then we will glorify Him throughout the ages for His grace in our lives.
It doesn’t fall to us to make the Christian life happen. We are to yield to the Lord. When we do, His power transcends our weakness and enables us to live for Him and to accomplish great things for His glory.
If we talk about Jesus, preach about Jesus, sing about Jesus, praise the name of Jesus, and be head over heels in love with Jesus, God will be glorified by our lives.
We will never grasp the fulness of God’s glory and grace in this life. But one day our bodies and minds will be glorified. When that happens we will understand Him. Then we will glorify Him throughout the ages for His grace in our lives.
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Our Rock And Shelter
Absalom, David’s son, is dead. He and his men were trying to kill King David and take his throne. He was fleeing from David’s men when the mule he was riding passed under a low limb. His hair got entangled in the tree and the mule rode off leaving him hanging there kicking in the air.
Joab, David’s general, found Absalom and, ignoring the clear command of David, killed the young rebel, 2 Sam. 18. David’s heart is breaking as he cries out to God.
Psalm 61:2-3 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.
Instead of facing the trials of life in your own power, cry out to the Lord, the Rock that is higher than you. Look to Him to shelter you from the storms coming your way.
Psalm 46:1-3 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Psalm 46:3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
Joab, David’s general, found Absalom and, ignoring the clear command of David, killed the young rebel, 2 Sam. 18. David’s heart is breaking as he cries out to God.
Psalm 61:2-3 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.
Instead of facing the trials of life in your own power, cry out to the Lord, the Rock that is higher than you. Look to Him to shelter you from the storms coming your way.
Psalm 46:1-3 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Psalm 46:3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
Tuesday, February 16, 2016
A Tender Heart
I just want to do the right thing. And what would that be? I’m not perfect and I don’t have all the answers, but I know that I should have a tender heart toward God. I know I should live as close to Him as best I can.
When He speaks---either in His Word or in His still, small voice, I know I should listen and obey anything He says. When I refuse to listen and obey Him my heart becomes callused.
Scar tissue is callus--- insensitive to feeling. When a heart becomes callused it loses its sensitivity to the Lord. I hope I never reach the place where I lose compassion for those who need the Lord, for those hurting and need prayer.
Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
When He speaks---either in His Word or in His still, small voice, I know I should listen and obey anything He says. When I refuse to listen and obey Him my heart becomes callused.
Scar tissue is callus--- insensitive to feeling. When a heart becomes callused it loses its sensitivity to the Lord. I hope I never reach the place where I lose compassion for those who need the Lord, for those hurting and need prayer.
Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Monday, February 15, 2016
Casting All Your Care
Psalm 37:5 Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
It seems my first response to adversity is worry. Then I fret. Why do I worry and fret over problems I know the Lord can solve? I’ve seen Him do it time and again.
I gave Him the cancer burden in ‘97 and He gave me the victory. Now that was a giant blessing and a beautiful spiritual experience.
Through the years I learned to wait on Him. Whither a tragedy or loss of sleep, my Lord fixed it in His way and in His time because He cares for me.
When the next misfortune or difficult situation arises, I will trust the Lord and He will "bring it to pass”. He’ll do the same for you---commit, wait, and trust.
1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
It seems my first response to adversity is worry. Then I fret. Why do I worry and fret over problems I know the Lord can solve? I’ve seen Him do it time and again.
I gave Him the cancer burden in ‘97 and He gave me the victory. Now that was a giant blessing and a beautiful spiritual experience.
Through the years I learned to wait on Him. Whither a tragedy or loss of sleep, my Lord fixed it in His way and in His time because He cares for me.
When the next misfortune or difficult situation arises, I will trust the Lord and He will "bring it to pass”. He’ll do the same for you---commit, wait, and trust.
Sunday, February 14, 2016
God-Like Love
1 Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal.
Charity is love believers receive from God through salvation. It’s distinct from and superior to any other kind of love. Regardless of what we do for Jesus, if it’s not done with the love from God it’s a waste of time.
No matter how beautiful your speech or how brilliant your rhetoric, without love you are simply a clanging cymbal. Have you ever been to a cymbal solo? It’s just noise. Without love, talk is cheap.
Great oratory can move a person's emotions. Great rhetoric can move a person's mind. A great speech can move a person's will, but only great God-like love can move a person's heart. Oratory can move one to tears, but only love can move one to Jesus.
Charity is love believers receive from God through salvation. It’s distinct from and superior to any other kind of love. Regardless of what we do for Jesus, if it’s not done with the love from God it’s a waste of time.
No matter how beautiful your speech or how brilliant your rhetoric, without love you are simply a clanging cymbal. Have you ever been to a cymbal solo? It’s just noise. Without love, talk is cheap.
Great oratory can move a person's emotions. Great rhetoric can move a person's mind. A great speech can move a person's will, but only great God-like love can move a person's heart. Oratory can move one to tears, but only love can move one to Jesus.
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