Man Up 2

3.31.2010

1 Corinthians 16:13 13 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. ESV

Man up! That’s what we’d say – man up! Sounds good to me; sounds like something we ought to do. Question is: what does it mean to man up? We see manning up so infrequently that it’s hard to emulate because we don’t know what it looks like.

Many think manning up is anger or wrath. Others think manning up is violence or strength. Still others think it’s power and authority; or to some, to man up, is to possess education, skill, or intelligence. What does it mean to man up?

Man up = knowing God and rightly relating to Him that we can rightly relate to others. To act like men, as Paul encourages, means to submit to God’s leadership and to seek Him for every aspect of life that we may live it correctly and to the full. That’s what it means to man up.

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:27 ESV) Who I am ought to reflect who made me and that reflection is to man up and be all that God has created and intended for me to be.

Father in Heaven,

You intended for Your creatures to be and to do as You created them to be and to do. But sin ruined all that. But redemption is ruining sin and the effects of sin and freeing Your creatures to be what You originally intended – so help me God to man up and be all You’ve created me in Christ to be. Thank You that I don’t have to do it alone – I have the fulfillment of Christ and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit to see me through – amen.

Appearances

3.30.2010

1 Corinthians 15:6 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. ESV

Lest we race to finish 1 Corinthians 15, we need to consider something: Jesus Christ appeared a huge number of people after His resurrection. This is a colossal truth and one we must never overlook! Jesus also appeared to Paul the apostle from whom we get most of the New Testament teachings.

Why is this so important? It’s important because God made sure that many people knew and through them that many people would believe. Consider the prophet Mohammed; he was the only one who saw the ‘vision’ that got Islam off the ground – and what did he do then? – he persecuted the Church! And then Joseph Smith; he was the only one who found the golden tablets – and then what did he do? – he persecuted the Church. Name one cult leader after another and the pattern is always the same – only one gets the vision or revelation and immediately the Church becomes the target.

The appearance and presence of Christ does at least one thing: He makes the Church valuable – or at least He ought to… My attitude toward the Church is based in faith upon what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15 and in Christ’s appearance to me in my exposure to and acceptance His truth. This is so different than the way cults and false religions operate…amen?

Father in Heaven,

The promise of Jesus is: Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. “…And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest (reveal) myself to him.” That’s worth banking on and worth telling others about. Thank You for the Church and thank You that though You still speak in that still small voice, what You do is right out in the open! Amen.

Whatever God Does

3.29.2010

Judges 7:22 The Lord said to Gideon, “The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’"

Does it strike you odd that the Lord would say, “The people with you are too many for Me…”? Too many? God, You can do anything with anyone, so I find it odd that You would complain about too many people… unless You weren't complaining, (which You weren't) and unless You were making a point (which You were).

Sometimes God takes away all of our resources, our hopes, dreams, and desires (and whatever else) so that He alone can be the One to come through in our time of need - lest we say we did it, when it was Him all along, and we attempt to get the glory and He gets the bill...

God must be God, and totally God, in our hearts and minds or we will be – there is no middle ground. And whatever God does or doesn’t do must be acceptable; the bottom line is trust – and that is what I must do. So, I trust Him even when I don’t want to and even when I think I could do better (foolish man, when will you stop?)

Father in Heaven,

You said it Yourself, there are limits; no, not for You, but certainly for me. There is a limit to how much I trust in myself and my abilities and there must be no limit in how much I trust You. Help me to trust You more I pray in Jesus’ Name, amen.

A Worthy Act

3.26.2010

1 Corinthians 11:27 27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. ESV

There's nothing magical about the Lord’s Supper; there's something mystical. There is a way to go about it all wrong, and then there is a way to go about it properly. The Lord’s Supper is like a play where everyone who participates has a part. There is meaning and purpose to the Lord’s Supper and I think what Paul was teaching them here was: be mindful of why you do what you do and do it for the right reason – or don’t do it at all.

The Lord’s Supper is an act of remembrance; and by it, or by participating in it, we remember what the Lord did for us in His supreme sacrifice for our lives. That’s why I say it isn’t magical but it is mystical. Jesus’ sacrifice is way bigger than most of us think on most occasions, and the participation in the Lord’s Supper is supposed to bring us back to reality (so to speak) as to why He did what He did and the subsequent benefit to those who believe in what He did.

For me, the Lord’s Supper is an act on my part that makes me pause from all of the non-essentials of life and helps me remember the Essential – that Jesus Christ bore my sins upon Himself and went to the cross to give His life to pay the penalty of my sins so that I can live free in Him and in right standing before God for the rest of my earthly life and for all eternity… For me, that’s worth doing in a worthy manner because His was a worthy act.

Father in Heaven,

Like the feasts You prescribed for the ancient Israelites, the Lord’s Supper is something we must do and do properly. Help me always to have the right attitude about it and to be careful lest I relegate it to ritual rather than reality…I pray in Jesus’ Name, amen.

Looking for the Exit

3.25.2010

1 Corinthians 10:13 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. ESV

I’ve always struggled with is temptation sin, or the enticement to sin? And what’s the difference anyway? Temptation is very real and very present; most of the time I don’t even know I’m being tempted because I am so used to living with it. But here is how I think about temptation: Interstate Highways…

Say two of us are at work and one makes an untoward or critical comment about a third who is not present. I hear and then feel as if the criticism is warranted because that person has acted that same way around me and so from my mouth comes a like comment giving credence to what was said about our friend. The temptation is that fast-lane to process the remark, agree with it, and join in with criticism. The sin is to do it.

But Paul teaches us that along with the temptation there will be an off ramp provided to speak wisely or lovingly (in this situation) and diffuse what might be critical and judgmental comments that are, in reality, unwarranted because none of us really knows others that deeply and while they might act in a certain manner, there is always room for God’s love and grace.

My eyes must be peeled for the off-ramps and make the effort to stay away from the fast-lane of temptation lest I miss my exit. I must realize the consequences of temptation and my subsequent actions and seek for holiness at all cost because the way to defeat temptation is to see it and flee it.

Father in Heaven,

You also provide a way of escape that I may be able to endure the temptation and resist it. I pray for help and I pray for eyes to see and ears to hear that I may flee from the temptations that assault me…amen.

Borders and Boundaries

3.24.2010

Joshua 18:10b And there Joshua apportioned the land to the people of Israel, to each his portion. ESV

It strikes me somewhat odd that the establishment of the nation of Israel was limited to a regional establishment – there were borders and boundaries that were to be observed and respected. World domination was not the objective here. Each tribe was given its apportionment and was to be content with that.

But why not, world domination? I think God’s intent was for us to be content with what we have and let Him draw the world to us by the glory of that contentment. Happy is the person whose God is God and who life is admirably content in Him. There is something to be said for the person who is content.

Contentment is taught in the New Testament as well – Paul wrote to Timothy: Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. (1 Ti 6:6-8 ESV) The lesson for me is – have what you have and before God, be content with that. Whatever the Lord supplies beyond that, be content with what you have.

For Israel there were boundaries and borders established; with that however, the presence of a limitless God with Whom nothing is too difficult, and by Whom all have great gain…

Father in Heaven,

You have wonderfully provided for me and I thank You. Help me to learn to be content and through You to find the greater gain of helping others find You and all the benefits of that discovery. My life is Yours, use it as You will, I pray in Jesus’ Name, amen.

From For Through and Through

3.23.2010

1 Corinthians 8:6 6 "...yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist." ESV

Without Jesus I don’t stand a chance. Without Jesus I am naked. Without Jesus I am but an object of divine retribution and condemned to destruction. I am from God and exist for God by Jesus Christ through Whom is all creation and through Whom I exist. Anything outside of that is only and ever, divine consequence.

With Jesus I am taught how to live and enabled to love. In my life whenever love ebbs, it’s certain that my ‘self’ is flowing. The filter through which I am to live is the filter of love by which I approach God and relate to my fellow men; any other choice than this is disaster – not because God is mean, it’s that He is God, and from Him there is no other response I can expect.

If then through Jesus all things are and through Jesus I exist, then the litmus test is love and truth; and loving in truth. If ever I was a debtor, it is to this – through Jesus Christ and for God I exist. The call to this is the greatest calling of any man; and the fall from this is the most insane, stupid, and obnoxious act anyone could ever make… For me as God’s child I am reminded today that from God are all things by Jesus Christ and for God’s pleasure I exist through Jesus Christ.

Father in Heaven,

This is an awesome statement because You are awesome God; I want no middle ground. May my understanding be what my life truly is: from You and for You, through Christ and by Him – in His Name I pray and praise, amen!

The What Ifs

3.22.2010

1 Corinthians 7:17 17 Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. ESV

Although there wasn’t chapters and verses when this letter was written, Paul does seem to take on a list of topics that concerned the Corinthian Church. And as he systematically goes through the list we come to ‘chapter 7’ wherein Paul addresses some what ifs they had between marriage and devotion to the Lord. (I’ve always been a little bored with this chapter…)

Today however, the important thing I get out of all of this is this: “Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches.” Paul is saying there is the possibility of devotion in the faith and distraction, but each one of us is to lead the life the Lord has assigned us, to which God has called us. We’re not to daydream about the what ifs. The what ifs can lead to disaster and disobedience if we’re not careful. I think that’s what Paul was partially addressing in his words to these people.

I can burn up time with ‘what ifs’ quicker than a kid with three bucks in a candy store. I think the ‘what ifs’ can lead to temptation and certainly to distraction if they are entertained. The answer to that is, live the life that the Lord has assigned to me, to which God has called me; married, unmarried, whatever. God has saved me but He’s also assigned me to live out the faith He’s given right where I am and I am to follow Him there…

Father in Heaven,

This seems to be Your wakeup call to daydreamers who ask, ‘what if?’ I pray for the spiritual strength to deal with my daydreams and to live faithfully in the reality that You’ve given me – for Your glory and my salvation – amen.

This Cesspool – His Home

3.21.2010

1 Corinthians 6.20b So glorify God in your body. ESV

Something to do: glorify God in your body. Not just with your body but in your body. Why in and not with? God is to be glorified with our bodies because they are vessels which house our spirits. We are to glorify God with our bodies because with our human bodies, we interact with the world around us and our bodies are our servants to do God’s things and go where God sends.

But why in and not with? In because that is where God has chosen to dwell – not in His entirety but by His Spirit. In John 14 Jesus told His disciples that God would sent the Helper who would be with them and in them. God is not far away, He is up close and personal – our bodies are His temple – singly and corporately; individually and as the Church. Paul said glorify God in our bodies because God (at least in essence) has chosen to reside within our hearts.

So, because God has chose to call this cesspool home, I will glorify God in heaven and God within my heart – that’s where He is…

Father in Heaven,

You have chosen to live in my heart with all its subsequent sin and sliminess. You do so because You know that’s what it takes for me to get it. I want to get it and I want Your law written upon my heart that I may live the way You prescribe – help me God. And thank You for choosing to live in me, amen.

For You and For Others

3.20.2010

Ps 69:6 6 Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me, O Lord God of hosts; let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me, O God of Israel. ESV

Lord, let me walk in the purity of truth and avoid the stench of selfishness - Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me, O Lord God of hosts; let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me, O God of Israel. May I bring glory to Your Name and encouragement to others because I do - Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me, O Lord God of hosts; let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me, O God of Israel.

May I begin to see the light and walk accordingly - Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me, O Lord God of hosts; let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me, O God of Israel. May my actions and attitudes be wholly Yours - Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me, O Lord God of hosts; let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me, O God of Israel.

May I realize the consequences of my sin and selfish desires; and the rewards of faithfulness - Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me, O Lord God of hosts; let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me, O God of Israel.

Father, help me to see what is at stake every day; I ask for the Holy Spirit’s strength to live a life wholly obedient and devoted to You, and the Cause of Christ – for You and for others, in His Name, amen.

A Special Relationship

3.19.2010

1 Corinthians 4:15 15 For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. ESV

Who led you to Christ? Do you remember? What is your opinion of that person today? The Corinthians had gotten uppity and were dissing Paul, but he reminded them that if it were not for him they probably wouldn’t know Christ at all. Wow, that’s big; and now they wanted to bite the hand that birthed them and fed them – yikes!

Pride and arrogance are nasty things – I ought to know, I’ve got letters in both and am quite proficient. Today I’m thinking about how many times my arrogance has insulted leaders and fellow believers; my family members in Christ. It only takes a little disrespect in spiritually immature and unstable people to make a big deal out of nothing and to create rifts of rebellion.

The guy who led me to the Lord kicked me out of his church. Seems fitting, I was being a complete ***hole. I’m glad he did and I’m glad Paul rebuked the Corinthians – we need that sometimes to remember why we are where we are and how far we are fallen when we forget who we are…

Father in Heaven,

You sent a servant to share Jesus with me and I had such a hard time growing up. Father help me to grow and know that the pain of humiliation is a good teacher – I pray in Jesus’ Name, amen.

Only Be

3.18.2010

Joshua 1.18 "Only be strong and courageous.” ESV

Don’t panic. Never give in, never surrender. Don’t quit. Don’t be afraid. Only be strong and courageous. Of all the other things a person could be, today on the leading edge of a new day, at the gateway to a new adventure, perhaps the establishment of a new job, a new future, only be strong and courageous.

There are lots of unknowns. There are hurdles to leap, valleys to cross, mountains to scale and enemies to defeat – only be strong and courageous. There will be hurts, hassles, hang-ups; there will be casualties along the way, diagnoses to deal with – only be strong and courageous.

But why only this, and not something else? Because God is sending us and He isn’t counting on our defeat – only His resources to see us through – only be strong in the Lord and very courageous because to what God sends us to is to what He ordains for us to conquer – not in our resources, cleverness or skill, but in His strength alone – so there is no reason for anything other than being strong in Him and very courageous as His representative.

Today is a new day for me and I will only be strong and very courageous. I will be strong in the things I know the Lord is calling me to: hard work, a quiet spirit, commitment to the moment, and to represent Him well amidst my fellow man. Yesterday was a disaster, today I am reminded only be strong and courageous.

Father in Heaven,

You, who never leave me nor forsake me; You who rescue only those who take refuge in You; You are sending me forth this day to live accordingly and appropriately. I will do so Lord, but only as strong and courageous for it is Your Kingdom I represent and I am to do that well – in Jesus I pray, amen.

This is Different

3.17.2010

1 Corinthians 2:4-5 4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. ESV

What made the difference for Paul was his point of view – it was entirely of the Lord and none of him. Paul somehow understood the magnitude of his message and the temptation others might have to try to understand it with mere words of men. “Not so”, says Paul, “…my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” And even then he knew they would struggle as was evidenced in his writing to them to correct some abuses.

That is both the mystery and the majesty of our faith – it rests on God and His power and not in the wisdom and understandings of men. It also might explain why we seek so much from God and receive so little – we’re more content to be told what to believe than to seek God on His terms that our lives may be enriched according to Him and His power at work in our lives.

This is the difference: God’s power and presence in my life as He chooses, not as I deem. That makes me think differently about what I pray for and what the goals of my life really ought to be. And the demonstrations of God’s power are not as flashy as I think they ought to be but might in Him to see a person’s life completely changed for the good for eternity. Wow!

As Paul was focused completely on God and accepted whatever the Lord did, so must I be; so must I live. This is the difference: I will seek God on His terms and not demand my way. Then it is all Him and none of me and that’s the way it should be…

Father in Heaven,

You have blessed me with many freedoms and gifts for which I am thankful; but I don’t want to end up fat and forgetful, full of toys and food in a façade of false faith. Help me to walk humbly before You and to seek Your power to see my heart and the hearts of those around me changed that we may see you and follow You – I pray in Jesus’ Name, amen.

Its Power

3.16.2010

1 Corinthians 1:17 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. ESV

Everyone seems to like a good speaker; someone who can cleverly or creatively craft words to get the point across. It’s probably more accurate to say that everyone likes an interesting speaker. It helps.

But God doesn’t depend on elocution or allocution to get His point across – God makes His point in power and goes against the conventional, and acceptable, wisdom of man to do it. That’s why Paul said something to the effect of, “I came on a mission from God to share the truth in power so that the cross of Christ would not be robbed of its power through cleverness or eloquence. It ain’t the speaker or the methods used, it’s God!”

The power of God on display in my life is there to pique the hearts of those who see me so that they can see it is all Him and not me. I am a recipient of His power, not a possessor of His power. The power is in the message, not in me…

Father in Heaven,

May it be all You today and not me. May I hold my tongue, control my thoughts, and bring glory to You by my obedience and sacrifice that the cross of Christ would be the evidence of the power – I pray in His Name, amen.

Reciprocal Crucifixion

3.15.2010

Galatians 6:14 14 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. ESV

Dead plus dead equals dead. That’s the equation Paul spells out for them in Galatians 6; a reciprocal crucifixion in which both parties are dead to one another and thereby have no part of one another. The cross of Christ crucified the world to Paul. Therefore the world was dead and not only dead but dead as a result of being condemned and killed in a punitive action. And so was Paul to the world.

The importance of the reciprocal crucifixion was that there would be no chance that the two parties have any opportunity to mix – dead plus dead equals dead. It was the only hope of holy survival for Paul who lived out the words of Jesus that he would be in the world, but not of the world.

And it is my only hope as well. I must learn, grow and experience this dual crucifixion if I stand any hope at all of being effective only to heaven in this world. I must live and learn the boast that in the cross of Christ, the world is crucified to me and I to the world. There is no other way…

Father in Heaven,

You intentioned from the very beginning to save Your children from the world they know and bring them eventually into the world You promise; but that requires dual crucifixion whereby the pull of the world’s culture is killed in them and they to the world. Both parts must die to each other. Help me to live this life in Christ and help lead others to that same place – I pray in Jesus’ Name, amen.

Have

3.14.2010

Galatians 5:24 24 “And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” ESV

Have crucified, not will, not might, not ought – have; it’s a done deal. Today, I caught my flesh on several occasions trying to act as if nothing’s happened. I called it for what it was, my flesh; tomorrow I’ll call it for what it is: dead.

Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires because they know those passions and desires have no living place in the presence of Christ. Instead of calling them for what they are, we need to call them for what they are: crucified and powerless. The flesh doesn’t give up easily, but like pestilence or stray cats – cease to feed it and it will lose even more ground…

I must call it for what it is, dead. My flesh is dead and brings nothing to the table because each time I allow it, I call what is dead, alive and what is alive, dead. I know I’ll never win any battle if I allow my enemy to dictate the terms of engagement.

Father in Heaven,

Part of the deal is to call as dead what You call as dead. Help me in the battle for belief and help me to starve my dead passions so that they stay where they are – dead. I pray in the might of the Holy Spirit, amen.

Remember What It was Like

3.13.2010

Deuteronomy 24:22 22 You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt; therefore I command you to do this. ESV

What is the past good for? The past is good for lessons learned. Hopefully the things we did in the past we learn from, and either try to do again – if they are good – or avoid like the plague if they are bad. We’re not to live in the past but we are to remember it.

Paul said, “But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead…” Paul was forgetting what he’d built his life upon – all of his achievements and Jewish merits – but Paul never forgot he was a Jew; he forgot what he valued as important. Paul remembered where he came from and would be the first one to say, “Don’t build your life on man-made stuff in order to find worthiness and meaning; what’s important is the promise of God.”

God instructed His people to remember the grace He gave to them in their past slavery and to offer that same grace to others in their present distress – kind of a, be kind to others as I have been kind to you. His people were free from slavery but not free to be arrogant, hard-hearted, and mean…

Our freedom in Christ is partly our deliverance from arrogance and dispassion. Freedom in Christ opens our eyes to see that others may still be struggling with issues we’ve been delivered from. Freedom in Christ ought to foster compassion for the lost and an ability to identify with what they fight with on an ongoing basis. Freedom in Christ is the ability to remember what it was like without Him so that we can now what it’s like with Him to others who don’t yet know.

Father in Heaven,
You don’t expect me to live in the past but to learn from the past and live for now so that I can experience Christ in the moment with others and share Him with those who don’t yet know… in His Name, amen.

The Promised Spirit

3.12.2010

Galatians 3:14 14 “…so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.” ESV

God in me, Christ in me, the Spirit in me; the hope of glory. I try so hard to live the good life and try to keep myself from sin and the bad stuff. I hope I can do it only to find myself not doing it, and feeling guilty. But I forget – I forget it is Christ in me, the Hope of glory. I cannot do this on my own. I couldn’t sacrifice enough sheep and cattle, doves and pigeons – I can only depend on the sacrifice of Christ and the promised Spirit through faith.

God never intended for me to do this on my own because He knows the magnitude of the damage of sin upon the race of man – so He promised His Holy Spirit to dwell within each one who believes so that they may live in fellowship with Him and walk according to His customs and ways.

And today I am reminded of the Promised Spirit and what He is to me – my Hope of Glory and my Guide to help me make my way in faith in this hostile world that wants nothing to do with God.

Father in Heaven,
Thank You for the promised Spirit who lives within me and puts up with me and guides me in the Way. May I honor Your promise by cooperating with Him and seeking Your glory, not my own. Thank You for helping me – in Jesus’ Name, amen.

God Called Them His Sons

3.10.2010

Deuteronomy 14:1a “You are the sons of the Lord your God.” ESV

Even in antiquity; even in the Old Testament, God saw them as His children; He called them His sons. Paul said, “…And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. (Galatians 4:6-7) These truths are so big we can hardly comprehend them.

The difficulty of the Old Testament for me is the rules and the details of the rules. But I read it much differently when I realize God called them His sons. God’s laws were the proper way for sons to live, but God was always more interested in relationships than He was with laws.

Again, Paul says in Galatians, “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” (Galatians 4:4-5 ESV) God always saw them as His sons but had His eye on the future knowing that they needed way more than rules to cement their place in His family.

I am a child of the Living God. I was born of a woman (thank You God!) but born apart from the law. Through faith in Christ, the Perfect Sacrifice however, I too am included as a son of the Lord my God. So all that I do, think and say must come from the identity of who I am in Christ, not where I’m from. Today I celebrate that!

Father in Heaven,

You are my Father because by faith in Jesus Christ, I can call You that in all truth and with every benefit that goes along with it. Thank You. Father, fill me with Your Spirit this day to walk, talk and act as a son and to reflect Your heart to those who don’t yet know You want to be their Dad – I pray in Christ’s Name, amen.

The Language of Heaven

3.9.2010

Mark 16:17 17 "...And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues..."

Wherever you are in the debate of tongues or glossolalia in the Church, consider this: when Jesus said they will speak in new tongues whatever that sounds like, it’s for sure they will speak in the language of Truth. Now I’m not trying to shut down the argument of speaking in tongues but I am saying that to be born again is to speak the language of Heaven and that is the language of love and telling the truth. Most people in the world don’t like it, and most cannot understand it.

The telling the truth is the spiritual process of closing the doors of our hearts to all that is lies, false and worldly. New tongues are those that speak the truth in love to those who cling to the lies, the false and the worldly. New tongues might just be having a conversation with a coworker, friend or neighbor who for once hears the truth, and recognize their need.

Bottom line: the one who is born again listens and learns from the truth and begins to speak it; the one who isn’t doesn’t and can’t.

Because of my fellowship with Jesus Christ, I am to speak in new tongues, the language of truth, and communicate heaven to those who can only believe in earth. I am to get rid of stupid speech and speak in the tongue of truth.

Father in Heaven,

Jesus said, “And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues…” May that be my reality this day and always – I pray in His Name, amen.

True Loss

3.8.2010

Mk 15:31 31 So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself…” ESV

To many, if not most people, death is the end; death is the big deal; death is the final act. And in some respects it is but death is not the end nor is death the final act…

These Pharisees, like so many others, didn’t understand death and were of the opinion that because Jesus was dying (and ultimately died) that He somehow lost what is so important to man – life. They didn’t understand what they said they believed (resurrection from the dead) and they didn’t understand the imperfections, uncertainties, and mysteries of this life; to them death was the winner and those who died somehow lost.

They also didn’t understand mission or sacrifice. They didn’t realize the true purpose of all those sacrifices they made in their temple. The misunderstood the Torah and the Law of Moses. They didn’t see God because of their religion and all they could comprehend was Jesus losing out because they got what they demanded from Pilate.

Death is merely a door that all humans pass through in order to stand in the judgment before God. To some, to die without Christ is to lose out on fellowship with God for eternity – that is true loss. To others death is the gateway to unbroken life and friendship with God forever. And for any, true life is found when they’re life is given in sacrifice for the sake of others in obedience to God.

That is the death I seek because it is the Golden Gateway to God.

Father in Heaven,

May my life be a sacrifice for the sake of others and may I represent You well in understanding of what death is and what true life is – in Christ, amen.

Such a Mind as That

3.7.2010

Deuteronomy 5:29 29 Oh that they had such a mind as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments, that it might go well with them and with their descendants forever! ESV

They had their moments – once in a while they got it and saw clearly and understood. But those moments were few and far between; they failed far more often than they succeeded.

That’s just like us – once in a while we get it, but we fail more often than we succeed. The difference today is God says, “By My Spirit, and because My Son, I’ll see to it that they’ll get it!”

When I take my dog for her walk I often redeem the time by praying and remembering the day; what I’ve said, how I’ve behaved and such. That’s when I ask God to have a mind as that always. I get forgetful. I get distracted. I get caught up in gossip. I have ‘untoward’ thoughts. So I come back to the Lord and ask for His forgiveness and help to have a mind such as that always.

I want to fear the Lord and keep all of His commandments forever. But that’s why I have faith in Christ and the presence of the Holy Spirit – to keep me focused on the right things and to help me in the fight against all that is in me that is opposed to God…

Father in Heaven,

You expect faithfulness and effort on my part to come to measure the way I live with the way You desire for me to be; help me to have a mind such as that always – I pray through the Holy Spirit by faith Jesus Christ – amen.

Nothing More Nothing Less

3.6.2010

Deuteronomy 4:2 2 You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you. ESV

This principle finds us early on in the pages of the Bible – we’re to do only what God says; nothing more, nothing less. We’re not to add to them nor are we to take away from them; they are the complete deal and all we need to thrive and survive.

This calls for discernment and wisdom because some things in the Scripture are patterns of what ‘they (the ancients) did’ in their day, in their way, and not necessarily forms for us to follow today. What is required is a heart that says, “Lord, teach me how to live that I may hear Your voice and do exactly as You say, nothing more, nothing less.” And it calls for discipline - that all I have and am is to be treated as His for use at His disposal. Paul the Apostle said it this way: But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ… (italics mine) Philippians 3:7-8 ESV

The goal of my life is to know Him and use everything I have (that He's given) to bring that about.

Father in Heaven,

You have called me to know You and I want to do that – nothing more, nothing less. You have given me skills, abilities, preferences, passions – all these things; and I give them to You, that I may know You. Help me to hear, obey and walk in the way everlasting, I pray in Jesus’ Name, amen.

Geometry

3.5.2010

Deuteronomy 1:2 2 It is eleven days’ journey from Horeb by the way of Mount Seir to Kadesh-barnea. ESV

The shortest distance between two points is a straight line; the shortest point between God and me is love through obedience. It took Israel forty years to get where they needed to be. With the right heart it would have taken them eleven days.

Relationships and trust do not happen overnight; it takes time, investment, set-backs, forgiveness, encouragement and a whole host of other things to make them and keep them going. But the shortest point between love is obedience.

I wonder now how many years I have wasted in disobedience while God has been getting me to trust Him and love Him. It’s a simple geometric equation: the shortest distance between two points is…

A prayer I am praying these days goes like this: Father in Heaven,

Today Lord, I surrender total control of my life to You; accepting that I am to listen to You, obey You, and trust You to direct every move I make. I give over my hopes, dreams, ambitions, pleasures, and preferences. I give over my frustrations, disappointments, and heartaches. I will listen for Your voice, and do what You say. I pray for Your correction and discipline when I try to take the reins back. Help me, speak to me, and guide me I pray. Amen. I’m tired of wasting precious time and energy wandering around in the wilderness of my own foolishness and thinking, and trusting God to shorten the distance by helping me to see the value of true love through obedience.

Father God,

You know my heart and that’s my prayer in Jesus, amen.

Therefore – Ask and Believe

3.4.2010

Mark 11:24 24 “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” – Jesus (ESV)

In many of the commentaries I have read to see what the eggheads think about this statement of Jesus’, I mostly get that He is speaking figuratively about moving mountains and trying to get His point across that prayer is both powerful and productive. His point is that to get anything done, prayer is necessary. Therefore, as a non-egghead, I tend to think Jesus was speaking literally about moving mountains because He goes on to say, “Therefore…”

The therefore is there for this reason: we are to believe God when we approach Him in conversation. Jesus was teaching by cursing the fig tree (cf. Mark 11.12-14; 20ff) that prayer gets things done. But there is a Key Element (capitalization on purpose) to all prayer: the leading of the Holy Spirit. All prayer from the standpoint of the believer is Spirit-led; not all requests are. Some of the stuff we ask for is way off the map. Therefore, be Spirit-led in conversation with God letting His desires be yours, and He will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37.3,4).

Therefore, I will work by the Spirit to upgrade my prayer life from all personal matters to more Kingdom matters. I have the promise of God that He will care for me, therefore, I will thank Him for that and pray less about those issues and more about the lost ones around me who need His touch and salvation. And I will believe that He hears and answers prayer…

Father in Heaven,

You call me to prayer; You promise to provide; therefore, may my desires be Yours, and may the Holy Spirit lead me to pray appropriately and effectively – in Jesus’ Name I ask, amen.

Difficult but not Impossible

3.3.2010

Mk 10:27 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” ESV

Mark 10 (not unlike the rest of the Scripture) requires careful reading and thoughtfulness of what is being said. Jesus said it was hard for the rich person to enter the Kingdom of God but not impossible. Ask 10 random people and I bet you get a positive response from most of them, if not all, if you ask them if they’d like more money. Money gets things done for us humans. Most all of us recognize the power of money.

And while money can bring much freedom it can also bring much bondage. The difficulty of money is it means nothing in the Kingdom of heaven…except in how one uses it to glorify God and His Kingdom. Money needs to be handled very carefully or it will cause the possessor of it to be possessed by it. But that is where the Spirit of God is needed.

In reading Jesus’ words about money, I realize I need to be very careful with it, very cautious in how I use it and how I feel about it. I like to believe I can handle large sums of money but quickly realize I’ve rarely handled even small sums well. Money can be a snare for me and if God chooses to give me more I must be very careful how I steward it for His Kingdom and glory; it would difficult for me but with the Spirit of Christ, not impossible.

Father in Heaven,

Thank You for what money I do have and the things that it supplies me and my family. Help me to continually give over to Your control, my money and possessions lest they possess me and cause me to forget about You. Thank You for my job and for providing – I pray in Jesus’ Name, amen.