Weekly Devotion 1.29.2012

James 4.6-10

6 But he gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say, "God opposes the proud but favors the humble."7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. 9 Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.

Upon reception of Christ as our Savior, Man and God enter into a covenant relationship.  Much like a marriage, this entry represents an intimate, passionate, and abundant relationship that lasts for eternity.  While we often treat a relationship with God as a distant, metaphysical experience, we forget that we are created in God's image.  What I mean to say is that we should expect our communication with God to mirror, at least in many ways, the communication which occurs in other relationships.  

This is exactly what we see in James 4.  What we see James discussing here is the process for drawing close to God.  This process is designed to help us "stand against such evil desires" which cause our hearts to be proud.  Pride negatively impacts and or destroys any such relationships, and it is no different with God.  When our hearts are filled with pride in our accomplishments and our selfish glorification, how can we expect intimacy with God?  How can we learn anything or pray for anything if our hearts are turned inward?

Rather, James says that we should turn our hearts to the Lord.  We are instructed to "humble [ourselves] before God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."  This is the first step in intimacy with God--the purging of pride and its replacement with humbleness.  For many years I found it difficult to love God like I would love a wife or a mother, father, brother, etc.  The source was that I was not willing to submit my heart to God.  Fear of a release of excess emotion or hidden burdens WILL prevent us from worshipping God in spirit and in truth.  But when we humble ourselves before Him, when we forget about everyone and everything else around and within us, then we can speak to God openly and without fear.  You see, it is never God who is unwilling to speak to us--He meets us right where we are, but our hearts must be open right where we are.

What does it look like when our hearts are humbled before the Lord?  It is, simply put, sheer bliss.  Someone very wise told me to schedule dates with God, as one would his wife.  Take time to go somewhere, just you and Him, to talk, worship, and read His Word.  We should do this daily, but pick a day once a week or two to make it special.  Walk out into nature or go somewhere you can really connect with Him.  Sing songs, write poetry, or do whatever special it is you do to love Him.  I promise you that you will enjoy these times, and God will as well! It is sometimes difficult for us to imagine, but God craves to spend time with us!  1 John 4:9-10  tells us "this is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."  Beloved, if God loved us so much that He would send Himself to die for us that we might be with Him, ought we not believe that He desires fellowship with us?  

Take time this week to be intimate with God.  Reflect and meditate on His word and His precepts.  How great a God we serve!  Seek His face daily!  Lamentations 3.22-25 tells us that "because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him. " Oh, what a mighty God we serve!  Amen.

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Weekly Devotion 12.25.2011

God's Guiding Stars

Matthew 2.9-11

⁹ After [the Magi] had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. ¹¹ On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

 

Long before GPS or map technology came about, traveling in the ancient world implied a treacherous, long, and often undulating journey.  When we read of the Magi, we must understand that the journey "from the East" suggests a rather lengthy journey that could have spun from weeks to months.  Yet in this journey we see a subtle yet powerful message:  God sends direction when we need it.  Matthew explains that the "star [the Magi] had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was."  Let us stop and consider the meaning of this.  The star was not merely a directional navigator, but an indicator of God's direction and eternal guidance to achieve His purposes in our lives.  If God can guide a star to point others to Jesus, He can guide you and I to Him.  Indeed, He doesn't stop there!  Once we have Christ in our hearts, the Holy Spirit points us like a star into the land of blessing and purpose.  You see, God's plans for us are mighty and wonderful.  Never has he led a man or woman fully dedicated to Him into the void.   Even through the vast and limitless expansion of stars above, God cares enough to guide His children through a single star.

 

In Genesis 15.5 we see that "[God take Abram] outside and [say], 'Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.' Then he [says] to him, 'So shall your offspring be.'"  What is God saying here?  Once again, He is using stars to demonstrate that the immensity of heaven is under His command, and He will bless Abram with descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky. 

 

This Christmas season, these two illustrations of stars ought to cause us to realize something:  God is always giving us a star to point the way to Christ's will.  Just as the Magi were pointed to the Christ-Child, so are we everyday.  Let us listen to the Holy Spirit.  Let our hearts be open and tender about the things of God.  Beloved, may our whole being be excited and joyful each day at the works God is doing with His children.  Isn't it great to be a child of God?

Only One Thing is Needed

Luke 10.38-42

38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” 41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one.[f] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

How easy it is during the holiday season to get caught up in the yearly festivities and lose sight of the birth of Christ and the uniting of family. When there is work to be done, when preparations are to be made, when others must be accommodated, the true purpose of not only Christmas but all events in life often fall along the wayside. I believe this is most certainly true for most all of us in our spiritual walk with Christ. Like Martha, God grants us tremendous opportunities to serve Him. These opportunities are intimate and exciting, with Christ Himself coming to meet us! Yet rather than fall at His feet and worship Him, we allow the mindset of task completion to overtake worship. When we are in this mindset we, like Martha, often blame others for our own lack of focus.

What can solve this? Jesus proclaims to Martha: “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one.” What an amazing, comforting verse! When our lives appear to tailspin into unmanageable tasks where the core mission of God’s kingdom is forgotten or pushed to a lower priority, Jesus repeatedly calls our name and tells us not to worry or be upset. Only one thing is needed: a heart of worship. Mary, too, served the Lord by falling at her feet and worshipping Him. Nowhere do the scriptures suggest that this was all she did. She may well have been prepared to cook and tend to His needs. But her attitude was to “seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he [would] give [her] everything [she needed]” (Matthew 6.33).

What are we seeking after? Life is busy, and God has charged us to set our hands to being about the business of His kingdom. But He has called us to worship Him. He has called us to pray, read and meditate on His Word, engage in fellowship with other believers, and reach out to the lost. These are not side tasks—they are the fundamental flow of all other things. Let us be like Mary and fall on our knees before Jesus. Only then will our hearts be charged and humbled enough to serve God faithfully and fully! Amen.

Weekly Devotion 12.18.2011

Only One Thing is Needed

Luke 10.38-42

 

 ³⁸ As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. ³⁹ She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"  ⁴¹ "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, ⁴² but few things are needed—or indeed only one.^[f] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

 

How easy it is during the holiday season to get caught up in the yearly festivities and lose sight of the birth of Christ and the uniting of family.  When there is work to be done, when preparations are to be made, when others must be accommodated, the true purpose of not only Christmas but all events in life often fall along the wayside.  I believe this is most certainly true for most all of us in our spiritual walk with Christ.  Like Martha, God grants us tremendous opportunities to serve Him.  These opportunities are intimate and exciting, with Christ Himself coming to meet us!  Yet rather than fall at His feet and worship Him, we allow the mindset of task completion to overtake worship.  When we are in this mindset we, like Martha, often blame others for our own lack of focus.

 

What can solve this?  Jesus proclaims to Martha:  "Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one."  What an amazing, comforting verse!  When our lives appear to tailspin into unmanageable tasks where the core mission of God's kingdom is forgotten or pushed to a lower priority, Jesus repeatedly calls our name and tells us not to worry or be upset.  Only one thing is needed:  a heart of worship.  Mary, too, served the Lord by falling at her feet and worshipping Him.  Nowhere do the scriptures suggest that this was all she did.  She may well have been prepared to cook and tend to His needs.  But her attitude was to "seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he [would] give [her] everything [she needed]" (Matthew 6.33). 

 

What are we seeking after?  Life is busy, and God has charged us to set our hands to being about the business of His kingdom.  But He has called us to worship Him.  He has called us to pray, read and meditate on His Word, engage in fellowship with other believers, and reach out to the lost.  These are not side tasks—they are the fundamental flow of all other things.  Let us be like Mary and fall on our knees before Jesus.  Only then will our hearts be charged and humbled enough to serve God faithfully and fully!  Amen.

 

 

 

Weekly Devotion 11.21.2011

God's Plans of Success for the Righteous

2Sa 15:31-37 NLT - [31] When someone told David that his adviser Ahithophel was now backing Absalom, David prayed, "O LORD, let Ahithophel give Absalom foolish advice!" [32] When David reached the summit of the Mount of Olives where people worshiped God, Hushai the Arkite was waiting there for him. Hushai had torn his clothing and put dirt on his head as a sign of mourning. [33] But David told him, "If you go with me, you will only be a burden. [34] Return to Jerusalem and tell Absalom, 'I will now be your adviser, O king, just as I was your father's adviser in the past.' Then you can frustrate and counter Ahithophel's advice. [35] Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, will be there. Tell them about the plans being made in the king's palace, [36] and they will send their sons Ahimaaz and Jonathan to tell me what is going on." [37] So David's friend Hushai returned to Jerusalem, getting there just as Absalom arrived.

Absalom had it all figured out, or so he supposed. With David routed from Jerusalem, the favor of the people at his feet, and an army at his side, Absalom might well have had reason to boast using purely earthly logic. The one thing he lacked, however, was righteousness. In Absalom's every action we see demonstrations of his brewing anger and well-planned intentions of revenge, first on Amnon, secondly on Joab, and now on his own father.

In strike contrast to his son, King David relies upon the Lord and the advice of godly advisors for instruction. Almost without exception his actions are first measured with righteousness and the alignment to the will of God. Repeatedly we see the Lord directing the heart and mind of David, and David responding to the Lord's voice. Because of this, the Lord is with David even when nearly all of Israel has turned to serve Absalom. It is here in 2 Samuel 15 that, yet again, the Lord is upon David's very thoughts. While most would be quick to draw the sword, to weep in shame or fear, or flee, David's faith is in the Lord! We see in verse 32 that Hushai the Arkite was waiting for David on the Mount of Olives. What perfect timing! God divinely placed Hushai in the right place at the right time. Hushai would play a critical role as a counter advisor to Absalom to put down the rebellion in Israel.

A valuable lesson is found in the story of King David and Absalom: the Lord directs the righteous to succeed. Proverbs 3.5-6 instructs us to "trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take." No matter what situation you find yourself in, know that the Lord has already provided paths for you to succeed. Not merely to flee, but to conquer. So many are convinced that God's paths are to be places of hiding from the world, when in reality, the Lord is leading our paths directly to the battlefield to fight or to the fortress to prepare to fight. The Lord wants us to succeed! We must take action, believing and trusting that He will guide us. The faith of the Christian must be unwavering. James says in James 1.6-7 that "when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord." Are we asking for success? Are we believing the Lord will provide it? David believed, and the Lord sent him Hushai. God's provisions abound in our times of trial and temptation. The question is not whether God will equip us, but whether we will choose to use His equipment to succeed in all we do.

God's Plans of Success for the Righteous

God’s Plans of Success for the Righteous

2Sa 15:31-37 NLT - [31] When someone told David that his adviser Ahithophel was now backing Absalom, David prayed, "O LORD, let Ahithophel give Absalom foolish advice!" [32] When David reached the summit of the Mount of Olives where people worshiped God, Hushai the Arkite was waiting there for him. Hushai had torn his clothing and put dirt on his head as a sign of mourning. [33] But David told him, "If you go with me, you will only be a burden. [34] Return to Jerusalem and tell Absalom, 'I will now be your adviser, O king, just as I was your father's adviser in the past.' Then you can frustrate and counter Ahithophel's advice. [35] Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, will be there. Tell them about the plans being made in the king's palace, [36] and they will send their sons Ahimaaz and Jonathan to tell me what is going on." [37] So David's friend Hushai returned to Jerusalem, getting there just as Absalom arrived.

Absalom had it all figured out, or so he supposed. With David routed from Jerusalem, the favor of the people at his feet, and an army at his side, Absalom might well have had reason to boast using purely earthly logic. The one thing he lacked, however, was righteousness. In Absalom’s every action we see demonstrations of his brewing anger and well-planned intentions of revenge, first on Amnon, secondly on Joab, and now on his own father.

In strike contrast to his son, King David relies upon the Lord and the advice of godly advisors for instruction. Almost without exception his actions are first measured with righteousness and the alignment to the will of God. Repeatedly we see the Lord directing the heart and mind of David, and David responding to the Lord’s voice. Because of this, the Lord is with David even when nearly all of Israel has turned to serve Absalom. It is here in 2 Samuel 15 that, yet again, the Lord is upon David’s very thoughts. While most would be quick to draw the sword, to weep in shame or fear, or flee, David’s faith is in the Lord! We see in verse 32 that Hushai the Arkite was waiting for David on the Mount of Olives. What perfect timing! God divinely placed Hushai in the right place at the right time. Hushai would play a critical role as a counter advisor to Absalom to put down the rebellion in Israel.

A valuable lesson is found in the story of King David and Absalom: the Lord directs the righteous to succeed. Proverbs 3.5-6 instructs us to “trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” No matter what situation you find yourself in, know that the Lord has already provided paths for you to succeed. Not merely to flee, but to conquer. So many are convinced that God’s paths are to be places of hiding from the world, when in reality, the Lord is leading our paths directly to the battlefield to fight or to the fortress to prepare to fight. The Lord wants us to succeed! We must take action, believing and trusting that He will guide us. The faith of the Christian must be unwavering. James says in James 1.6-7 that “when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.” Are we asking for success? Are we believing the Lord will provide it? David believed, and the Lord sent him Hushai. God’s provisions abound in our times of trial and temptation. The question is not whether God will equip us, but whether we will choose to use His equipment to succeed in all we do.