Wrestling Before God

And he arose that night and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven sons, and crossed over the ford of Jabbok. He took them, sent them over the brook, and sent over what he had. Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. (Genesis 32:22-23)

Jacob wrestled with God, just as he had been wrestling with every person and situation life had ever presented to him. He was a “born fighter,” even struggling with his brother Esau in the womb of his mother (striving to be born first). Then, He wrestled with Esau for the family birthright and Isaac’s blessing. He wrestled with Laban for Rachel and a living for 21 years. In this passage, he was anticipating yet another struggle with Esau. Fighting is all Jacob had ever done, but he did not realize he was only fighting himself. It would be quite a few more years before he would learn to fight the Lord's battles, not his.

Many saints today are just like Jacob, fighting battle after battle, controversy after controversy, all the while falling short of entering into the rest of God. Jacob plotted and lied for the things God would have given him if he waited and walked by faith. The same is so with many Christians today with their belligerent words and actions -- claiming to stand for God, but simply warring and walking in the flesh and accomplishing nothing eternal. We, like Jacob, must learn to fight the good fight of faith, where the only cause is Christ and the only enemy is sin. That is where we learn to wrestle before God, not with Him. Help us, Father!

Let's Pray - Lord, teach me to agree with you at every turn. I must learn to wrestle before You, not against You or men. Forgive me for being slow to recognize Your will. In Jesus, Amen.

Love and Revenge

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:21)

No other power can compete with love, so it never has to get even. Love will never allow us to act in kind with those who wrong us, or the world, or those who don't know the Lord. Our example is Jesus, and He never avenged Himself, vindicated Himself, or felt the necessity of explaining Himself. His love spoke for Him, and He ever lives as the Lover and Savior of all men. Remember, love is the best revenge. 

“But I say to you who hear: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you . . . (Luke 6:27)

These are among the most powerful words ever spoken, and we must be careful not to miss what is most important. The central point is not, "Love your enemies . . ." The most important words here are, "But I say to you . . ."  The fact that Jesus is the One speaking is what matters most, and His commands are only possible to obey in His strength. We cannot love our enemies on our own, even if we desire to do so. But when we begin to see things as Jesus reveals them, even impossible things become possible. Everything around us changes when we make the decision to follow Him, and He gives us the Holy Spirit, so we can actually do what He commands. Our lives are a sweet fragrance to Christ when we learn to see and pray for others like He does -- even our enemies. Help us, Lord!

Let's Pray - Father God, teach me to love others regardless of how I am treated. Then I will know that the love of God truly dwells in me. In Jesus I pray, Amen.

The Anointed Teacher

But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth. 

(1 John 2:20-21)

. . . for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. (John 15:15)

Revelation is the means whereby a teacher accurately sees and conveys the things of God, and that teacher must first wait for God to reveal Himself. The true teacher of righteousness waits patiently on the Lord, and he or she is careful to speak only what is heard from the Father. Herein is the point of separation between the teacher who walks in the anointing of the Holy Spirit and all others. The anointed ones speak what they have heard from God, and they speak from His authority and no other. Christ alone builds the Church. Christ alone understands the Church. Anointed teachers hear Christ alone and share what they hear.  

Let's Pray - Precious Father, may I teach only by the anointing of the Holy Spirit. He is the only authority on earth who can rightly divide Your word. Thank You for giving me Your Spirit to teach Your children. Amen.

On This Rock

And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18)

Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? 

(John 3:9-10)

Any intellectually-based attempt at explaining the Church of God is the vain pursuit of men who think too much of themselves and too little of God. The Bible is the only explainer/expositor with the authority to speak on such matters. Only the Holy Spirit can lead us to an accurate assessment of what we witness as it pertains to Christ's Body. We must only repeat what we have been told in the Word, not what we have concluded or reasoned in our minds. The Cross is the only grounds for understanding the Church born out of its stark reality, and no man fully understands the Cross but the Son of Man, Jesus Christ. 

There are legions of expert teachers on the Church of Jesus Christ, yet our thoughts about the Church mean absolutely nothing. No matter how noble or well-conceived, they amount to nothing. No man can bring anything of value, material or immaterial, into the House of God. The Church is not founded on, defined by, or bound to a single human thought -- it is the Body of Christ, and Christ is her head. She is the singular thought of God alone. He needs no help from us in defining or directing her. Far too many churches and institutions that claim to be Christ and Bible-centered are anything but, and they seek to legitimize an academic approach to spiritual things which has resulted in the weakening of the Church and the shipwreck of the faith of many. The power of the Good News is found in its simplicity, and it must be presented in a way that even a child can understand. The Scriptures tell us it is our Lord's job to build the Church, and it is our job to be the church He builds. May He give us more and more understanding and humility in these things.

Let's Pray - Lord, may we take our direction from You alone, and not from men. Reveal Yourself to those who wait on You. We will wait and listen. In Jesus alone, Amen.

Remove Your Shoes

Then the Commander of the Lord's army said to Joshua, “Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy.” And Joshua did so. (Joshua 5:15)

This is a picture of the simple and unadorned relationship God desires with His children. Adam and Eve were “naked and unashamed” in the beginning, while enjoying intimate fellowship and knowledge of the Lord. Thus, the Lord was telling Joshua to come out from behind any covering, any agenda, or anything of self, and stand before Him on the basis of God’s holiness alone. This is the supernatural preparation the Lord desires for all those He commissions to do His will. Everything we do must stand on the sovereignty of God, and nothing else. So, take off those shoes!

God will unmask every son or daughter He draws to Himself. He will first strip us of any sense of self-righteousness and the worldly knowledge we mistakenly call wisdom. As Joshua found out, God was not on His side, nor was He on the side of Israel and their armies. God is never on our side, but we are to be in agreement with Him, because His side is the only one that matters. That is a completely different point of understanding. Remember, God chose Israel, and He chose Joshua -- not the other way around. The Commander of the Lord’s Army reminded Joshua who the true Leader was -- and He never had to remind Him again.

Let's Pray - Dear Lord, may there be nothing between me and You. I remove everything in my life that might hinder our relationship. I will remove my shoes. Amen.

Cover Your Mouth

Then Job answered the Lord and said:

“Behold, I am vile;

What shall I answer You?

I lay my hand over my mouth.

Once I have spoken, but I will not answer;

Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further.” (Job 40:3-5)

We must be careful not to speak hastily about the things of God, because those things are spiritually discerned, and God may be working on a level we have not considered. Each of us, if we are to go on with the Lord, is going to have to lay our hand on our mouth like Job did, and not speak until the Spirit gives utterance. When Job saw God, he realized his error. He had reduced the Lord to a god of his own understanding, and that is no God at all! Like Job, we must come to see God as He is, not how we imagine Him. When we do, He calls us friends, and then He can trust us with His Word and witness.

When Job finally saw the Lord, all his complaints and self-justification melted away in the presence of the awesome Lord of All. And when the Lord spoke to Job, He did not offer an explanation, an apology, or any other words of clarification, except, "I AM!" Right then, Job realized the Lord is sovereign and holy, and He has the right to do whatever He desires, even when it means untold pain and suffering. He is God, and He will make all things work together for good for those He calls and loves. Job could never have seen God this clearly apart from what he had gone through; and, as a reward, he received peace beyond understanding, two times the blessings he had before, and a testimony second to none. What an awesome God we serve!

Let's Pray - Lord, please help me to look to You and trust in Your sovereignty in every situation, especially in times of difficulty and testing. All my answers are in Jesus Christ. Amen.

Reaping and Sowing

So it came to pass in the morning, that behold, it was Leah. And he said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served you? Why then have you deceived me?” And Laban said, “It must not be done so in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. Fulfill her week, and we will give you this one also for the service which you will serve with me still another seven years.” (Genesis 29:25-27)

Reaping and sowing is an unbreakable spiritual law, and Laban’s act of deceiving Jacob was a classic example of that law working itself out in real time. By deception, Jacob wrestled the blessing and birthright from his brother Esau, the firstborn of Isaac and Rebekah -- and now he was deceived when he was given Leah, Laban’s firstborn, when he thought he was marrying her younger sister. Remember, God is not mocked. His Word is true, and it applies directly to the lives of men and women, particularly His children. The promises and blessings spoken over us do not absolve us from the consequences of our sinful acts. We will reap what we sow! Take heed to yourself, my friend.

Let's Pray - Lord, may I acknowledge the lesson taught in this Scripture passage, and may I sow good seeds, so I may reap a good harvest in all I do. In Jesus, Amen.

Yoke of Manhood

Now Samson went to Gaza and saw a harlot there, and went in to her. (Judges 16:1)   

                                                                 

Somewhere in Samson’s spiritual development, there was an abortion, and his manhood was the fatality. The result was an extended adolescence and careless behavior that complicated every effort God made to mature him and use him for His glory. Samson’s manhood was crushed to death by seduction, the archenemy of every male soul. Seduction is the tool Satan most often uses to derail men of God, and he is too often successful. Every man needs to heed God's call to wisdom, and men who sense that God wants to use them need to take heed all the more intently. Let every man be sure to accept the yoke of manhood bestowed on us by Jesus Christ.

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. (James 1:13-15)

We know the story of Samson’s life and death, and some see him as a tragic hero. But truly, God does not look for heroism, He looks for faith. Samson experienced some extraordinary moments, but he proved untrustworthy in spiritual things, and that would work out poorly for him. He constantly gave in to his fleshly desires, and the lack of discipline led to his demise. Even though he killed many of Israel’s enemies, his ministry cannot be looked upon as successful or exemplary. God was victorious in spite of Samson, not because of him, and that was not as the Lord would have it. Every saint should pay close attention to the lessons Samson’s life teaches, and may we all respond to God’s call to obedience, wisdom, and maturity.

Let's Pray - Father, may I never be careless in my speech or behavior, and may I keep my body holy and separated unto You for Your use. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Everyone Who Loves

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. (1 John 4:7)

It is impossible to express true love apart from God, and that may be an astounding statement to some. But John presents a definition of love unlike any other; that love is strictly a God-thing, and anything that is not from God is something less than love. Our feelings may be passionate, sincere, deeply felt, and lavishly expressed, but if they are not of God, it is not love. John says, everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. This statement takes love out of the realm of human thought and expression, and places it in the realm of the spirit. In other words, God is love, and only those born of God truly express love according to His Person and His measure.

. . . because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:5)

If we can satisfy God’s command to love without the Holy Spirit, why did the Father send Him? Obviously, we need Him in order to love as God loves. Our Lord will never be satisfied with love that doesn’t meet His standard, and that standard is only satisfied in Jesus Christ. God's love is holy and divine, and it alone is without agenda or prejudice. The Lord wants to bring us to the higher ground of holy love, far past emotion and passion; and He will, if we allow. Only God’s love is true love. Just remember, "For God so love the world . . . " (John 3:16)

Let's Pray - Dear Lord, teach me to love as I am loved by Jesus. May my love be derived from the Holy Spirit Who dwells in me, and from no other source. Thank You, Amen. 

Shrewd and Courageous

Then Jael, Heber's wife, took a tent peg and took a hammer in her hand, and went softly to him and drove the peg into his temple, and it went down into the ground; for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died. (Judges 4:21)

So the woman said to Joab, “Watch, his head will be thrown to you over the wall.” Then the woman in her wisdom went to all the people. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and threw it out to Joab. Then he blew a trumpet, and they withdrew from the city, every man to his tent. So Joab returned to the king at Jerusalem. (2 Samuel 20:21b-22)

These two women demonstrated the shrewdness we must note and emulate in our dealings with Satan and sin. They were not fearful, but bold and decisive. They were wise and calculating in the most forthright and effective manner. They were not willing to abide the danger Sisera and Sheba represented to them and their people, so they took it upon themselves to do what must be done -- and the Lord was with them!

God has no use for heroes or heroines, but He can do incredible things with those who are faithful, wise, and shrewd. Our duty is to be prepared when the fateful moment arrives, and no one knows when that is. Any day can be the day when the Lord trusts us with an otherwise impossible difficulty; but we will succeed mightily in that moment, because God is with us, and we are with Him. That is why Paul encourages us to be ready in season and out, for we do not know when the Lord will present us with the opportunity to glorify His name. May we not seek to be heroes, but to be faithful. That way, God gets the glory, and that is the way it should be. All glory to God!

Let's Pray - Father, give us the wisdom, shrewdness, and courage it takes to be victorious in our battles. May we believe Your word and act accordingly in every situation. In Jesus, Amen.

To Kill a Spider

The spider skillfully grasps with its hands, and it is in kings’ palaces. (Proverbs 30:28)

Our lives are to be testaments to the saving and sanctifying power of our God and Savior, and our bodies are rightly called the temple of the Holy Spirit. We are the dwelling place of the Most High, and He expects us to do all He instructs to keep our hearts clean and suitable for His habitation. Yet, even in the most pristine, finely appointed and decorated rooms (hearts), one may find a spider on the ceiling or the wall. The spider is there without invitation, unwelcome, and dreaded indeed! But, there it is, and we are wise and prudent to put away our dread and rid the room of the spider, whatever it takes. This is a picture of the life and work of even the loveliest Christian. We must have a fierce and deadly attitude when it comes to dealing with the sin that seems insignificant and seeks to go unnoticed, while dwelling comfortably among the beautiful furnishings appointed by God.

Our enemy is ruthless and willing to take whatever ground we allow. Like a spider, he will silently weave his web. If we are not more determined than he is, Satan will make himself comfortable, and he will eventually be a nuisance and a snare to us. May the Lord give us understanding and determination in these matters.

Let's Pray - Lord, teach me and give me the courage to do everything necessary to live a holy life. May I offer You a clean heart to live in each day. In Jesus, Amen.

Last and First

Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called? If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. (James 2:5-10)

James is not saying it is a sin to be rich, but saints must first be rich toward God. Material wealth must never be our focal point or primary goal, nor does having earthly riches commend us to God. Our Father always looks at the heart, and our hearts must be filled with His Spirit of grace and kindness toward all -- especially toward the poor and needy. 

Understand clearly that the last will be first in the Kingdom. The forgotten will be remembered, those who weep will laugh, the poor will be provided for, the hungry fed, and the Lord will give beauty for ashes. We who are blessed and favored are not called to debase ourselves with some morbid display of lowliness, but we are instructed to humble ourselves and take every opportunity to share the love and blessings we have received without pride or prejudice toward anyone for any reason. God does not play “favorites” and neither must we. 

Let's Pray - Father, may we treat every man and woman as we desire to be treated. May prejudice not be found in our hearts or in your church. In Jesus, Amen.

Pride and Prejudice

My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,” have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? (James 2:1-4)

Pride will always manifest in our treatment of those we deem "other." You can tell the truth about a man by how he treats those who are not like him and can do nothing tangible for him. Our treatment of those who may have or know less than us is a deadly accurate test of Christian character, and God will judge us if we judge others. The attitude that pleases God manifests itself in thinking well of "the least of these," and in doing well by serving their needs and honoring their persons. The beauty of the Church of Jesus Christ is that she is not obsessed with herself, her beauty, or her prosperity, but that she is determined to be a blessing to those all around her. 

But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’ (Luke 13:27) 

It is to our shame that there is rampant pride and prejudice in the Church of Jesus Christ, and there is often no difference from the world in this matter. But God cannot and will not tolerate partiality in His house, and we are foolish to think otherwise. Rest assured, the Lord knows those who belong to Him and those who pretend. Our religion is to be pure and undefiled, and our love for one another, particularly the least of these, is the clearest sign that God is among us. True fellowship among believers must be impartial and free from judgment. That is what pleases the Lord, and that is when He dwells in our midst.

Let's Pray - Father, prejudice and pride should not have a place in my heart or the heart of the church. Forgive us, and give us the heart of Jesus for others, no matter who they are or what their status. Amen.

Standing with Him

And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him. Then Herod, with his men of war, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate. That very day Pilate and Herod became friends with each other, for previously they had been at enmity with each other. (Luke 23:10-12)

The voices of evil seek to shape the context of every conversation and to bring about their own version of reality. The voices of envy, jealousy, greed, ridicule, and hypocrisy still seek to drown out the sweet sound of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Yet the answer is the same, "I Am." 

Jesus came into the world to save sinners, and to do so, He paid the cost for our sins -- and those of us who believe receive everlasting life in return for our faith. So, we must stand with Him, even in our most difficult moments -- for if we suffer with Him, we will also be glorified together with Him (Romans 8:17). Let the voices shout, but they are only for a moment. We must pick up our own cross and follow Him. Surely, He lives, and because He lives, so do we!

Proverbs 11:21 says, Though they join forces, the wicked will not go unpunished; but the posterity of the righteous will be delivered.

All the evil forces of the world may combine their efforts against the Lord's saints, but if we stand firm, no weapon formed against us will ever prosper. We must learn to consider it a privilege to be accused and spoken evil of because of our faithful witness of Jesus Christ. If friendship with the world is enmity against God, let us welcome their scorn. The Lord has promised us abundant life, and that without sorrow or regret. Let us walk more boldly in that promise day by day. The battle is the Lord's, and the victory is sure.

Let's Pray - Dear King, I will stand with Jesus, because He has stood with me through every storm and difficulty. Help me to walk by faith in Him, and I will be victorious in every season and through every trial. Amen.

Yes I Am

Immediately, in the morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council; and they bound Jesus, led Him away, and delivered Him to Pilate. Then Pilate asked Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?" He answered and said to him, “It is as you say.” And the chief priests accused Him of many things, but He answered nothing. Then Pilate asked Him again, saying, “Do You answer nothing? See how many things they testify against You!” But Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled. (Mark 15:1-5)

Jesus committed Himself to the will of the Father, and He had no interest in defending or shielding Himself from the slanderous accusations of the Jews. He was fully reconciled to the plan of redemption and determined to take His place as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. There was no need to plead His case or promote His cause, and He did not open His mouth even once to tell His side of the story. There was only one question He took the time to respond to, and one point He found worth making - "I Am!" 

"Yes, I Am the Son of God." 

"Yes, I Am the Savior of the world."

"Yes, I Am the King of Glory."

To this very day, there are only two types of people in the world; those who acknowledge and receive the truth about Jesus and those who do not. What we believe about Christ is the only thing that matters to the Father, and faith in Him is the lone criteria for those He draws close versus those He rejects. We fool ourselves if we believe there is any other way to the Father, any other truth, or life in anyone else but Jesus. Worldly people may marvel, but we believe, and believing in Christ is all that matters to God.

Let's Pray - Dear Lord, we receive Jesus for who You say He is. He is our everything! Thank You for this life-giving revelation. Lord, we believe! Amen.

Confident and Strong

Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth! (Psalms 46:10)

Stillness is a powerful tool in the hands of a believer. It is the temper of mind that allows God to perfect us in the wisdom that comes to those who wait on Him. While activities and busy-ness may gratify our souls for a moment, we are never truly satisfied until we are standing on the Rock of Ages, quiet and still in His presence. The Psalmist says we are planted like trees by rivers of living water (Psalm 1). There we find the blessed assurance of His care for us and His sovereignty over all things concerning us. The saint who acknowledges the Lord as he should is sure to be found at the feet of Jesus, in confidence and strength.

We have to get to the point where we are sick and tired of ourselves and our own devices, because God will not move until we are. He will not partner with a believer who is not yet surrendered to His will; but the instant we are, the heavens are open to us. God must be exalted, not men. Therefore, we must cease from our activities (no matter how noble), yield to Jesus, and let Him lead. It takes longer than it should for us to learn this lesson.

Let's Pray - Father, I am firmly planted, and I have set my mind and heart on heavenly things. May I be in agreement with You, receiving Your guidance, wisdom, and counsel; refusing to be worried or afraid and following You closely each day. Amen.

Just Be Still

Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed and be still. (Psalms 4:4)

Anger and sin are bedfellows; they have always been and always will be. Sinners are angry, and angry people easily fall into sin -- and we should all take heed. The Lord wants each of us to know that He cares deeply for us, so that we are not perpetually worried or angry about what others say or do. We must learn to trust Him with every outcome, and to refuse to respond in kind to the people and things that anger us.

The Lord has not instructed us to deny or ignore our righteous anger, but to put our lives in His holy hands, and to know that He will judge every word and deed rightly, righteously, and in His time. God does not deal angrily with us, and neither should we with others. Handling anger poorly leads to sin and sorrow, while being still and quiet gives God the opportunity to move as He sees fit. Give everything over to Him, my friend -- be still and wait on the Lord. 

. . . for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. (James 1:20)

Let's Pray - Father God, help me to submit my cares to You at every turn; especially things that produce hurt, anger, and fear. I submit my life to Your care and authority. Amen.

Hear Ye Him

Then it happened, as they were parting from Him, that Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” (Luke 9:33-35)

Peter spoke when he should have been quiet, and he proposed human works where worship was due. So it is with much of the restless activities of Christians today. Yet, the Father spoke clearly and forthrightly to correct Peter's error, instructing him to be quiet and, "Hear Him!" In the same way, the Lord is redeeming and re-training our instincts, so that we will know when to speak and when to be silent -- when to be still, and when to move. Teach us, Lord!

There is not a single great Christian enterprise or movement in the entire New Testament, but you would not know that by today's preaching. God did not employ messengers with soaring rhetoric, convincing arguments, divine strategies and tactics, or great resources to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. But He used the foolishness of preaching the simple gospel truth, and He sent messengers who were willing to be broken bread and poured-out wine, those willing to be treated poorly and persecuted. We must be sure not to build tabernacles to our own ideas of worship and wait attentively for the voice and instruction of the Lord. Remember, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. And before you go forward in any spiritual work, consider the words of the Father -- “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!”

Let's Pray - Dear Lord, teach us the be swift to hear and slow to speak. May we give You the worship You deserve, not the works of our fleshly understanding. In Jesus, Amen.

More Than Fair

"But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them." (Luke 6:32)

The question is not whether people are lovable, peaceable, kind, and gentle -- but, am I? We are not to be concerned with receiving fairness and justice, but we are to be fair and just always. Jesus is our standard, and He died for those who spit on Him and beat Him. That is the true measure of Christlikeness -- we love and respect those who may never offer us the same grace in return; and we do so without partiality or prejudice of any kind. Help us, Father!

God's standards are higher than even the most noble man and woman among us, and they are impossible to reach without the Holy Spirit. Surely, we have all tried to do those things Jesus commanded in our own strength, and we failed miserably. Pray for those who hate us? Do good those who attack us with their words and actions? Honor those who dishonor us? No, many Christians are not even willing to do these things at all, and today's saints are more likely to be found fighting for their rights and vilifying those with whom they disagree, rather than praying for them! May the Lord do a new thing in us and give us a heart for others that reflects His. Jesus is truly the only way, the only truth, and the only life, and we can never please the Father apart from Him. How we need the Holy Spirit! Amen.

Let's Pray - Lord, help us pass the test of loving others whether or not they love us. That is what You did, and we must do the same. Amen.

Faith and Understanding

By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. (Hebrews 11:1-3)

God's Word was manifested in all that we see around us. His Word "framed" or hung the galaxies, and their order is maintained by that Word. This verse categorically disproves evolutionary science and popular theories on the origin of man and the universe. There was no "big bang" or "primordial soup," no Cro-Magnon man or simian ancestors. By faith, we understand the Word the Lord speaks, and that Word brought the entire universe into being. Amen.

Never get frustrated with anyone’s inability or unwillingness to receive or believe the scriptures. The truth we believe is only accessed by faith -- a faith they do not have. By faith we understand . . .  It is foolish to expect a blind person to see, or a faithless man to believe. Spiritual things are only ascertained by faith, and God made it that way. He chose to cloak Himself in invisibility, and to test our heart to see whether or not we will come to Him on His terms. When we do, we receive His wisdom (which seems like foolishness to the world), and we walk in the light of spiritual understanding, not the darkness and futility human wisdom. Everything God says and promises is ours by faith and faith alone. So, keep believing God and the Word He speaks. He is pleased when we do.

Let's Pray - Father, I believe in the creative power of Your Word. Thank You for speaking into my life and changing me by the sheer force of that Word. Speak on, Lord. Amen.

Not My Will

Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” (Matthew 26:38-39)

The Lord Jesus came to earth on a mission, and in order to accomplish that mission, He was going to have to give His life in the most painful and humiliating way. He was not the kind of king, nor was this the kind of kingdom His disciples or Israel expected -- nor could they understand the words He spoke or the path He walked. Jesus was keenly aware that no one on earth would understand, and He would have to resist every fleshly temptation to consider anyone's will other than the Father's -- even His own.

There will be times when doing the Lord's will is very painful, and we may even question why things are as they are or must be done a certain way. No one around us may understand what God is doing with us, and we are left with no common-sense explanation for the situation in which we find ourselves. Every man or woman God calls and chooses will experience these times, just as our Savior did; and we will keep coming back to those times until we come to the same point of surrender, ". . . nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will." God's will for us can only be accomplished when we break from the natural tendency to go our way, leave all, and follow Jesus. May we not shrink from the call and accept the will of the Father, even when it hurts. Remember, the Father always knows best.

Let's Pray - Dear God, give me the same attitude and courage Jesus had. May I submit myself freely to Your will, especially when it is most difficult. Amen.

Ambassadors for Christ

Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:20-21)

God has committed to us the "word of reconciliation." Our sanctified lives are the message God is communicating, and we have overcome by the Blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. The blood has accomplished all God intended in providing the substance of our victory, and our lives are the undeniable proof that the blood will never lose its power. As His "ambassadors," we represent His interests in the world, the salvation of many souls, and the Kingdom established everywhere He sends us. We have no interest or agenda of our own. We are representatives of a higher authority, and our message and methods are spiritual.

The Bible calls us ministers of a New Covenant -- that which has taken effect due to our Lord's triumph over sin. That is the best news there could ever be; that we are no longer slaves to self and sin, and we are indeed free to live for God and give Him glory. We have actually become His righteousness, and now God calls us the light (or hope) of the world. Our lives are proof of all the Bible teaches and promises, and as God's ambassadors, our lives point to a greater life and reality that can only be found in Christ. Let the Lord plead His cause through you. Time is short, and He has many sons and daughters to save before the door closes. 

Let's Pray - Dear Lord, thank You for the blood of Jesus that washed away my sins. I am not worthy to be called "righteous," but I receive that calling with gladness. You are worthy of all my praise! Amen.

Reconciled to Him

Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.(2 Corinthians 5:18-19)

We have been "reconciled" to God through the atonement of Jesus Christ, whose blood erased the stain of the sin and the tragic record of our past. We are "new," untainted, unencumbered, and set free from a debilitating record of moral and spiritual failure, and the Gospel speaks to the new creature. The old man seeks to convince us that a cleaned-up version of ourselves is sufficient, but it clearly is not. God would have us move and think forward, and in terms we have never considered -- spiritual terms.

Our preaching is not to focus on how sad and sinful men are, but how good and gracious our God is. We are to be walking, loving, and living examples of what the Lord desires to do for every man and woman. We are not superhuman or special, nor are we spiritual monuments or trophies. The Lord has placed us in this rough and tumble world to walk by faith and glorify Him in the most ordinary ways. When others see the perfection of Christ working itself out through imperfect people like us, they have a reason to hope and believe. That is the word of reconciliation; "God saved and sanctified me, and He can do the same for you, too." Keep preaching, beloveds. Others we may not be aware of are listening. God is reconciling the world to Christ through us. Be reconciled!

Let's Pray - Father, may I be faithful to preach the message of reconciliation through the Cross of Christ Jesus. Use me to help bring many sons and daughters to glory. In Jesus alone, Amen.

A New Creature

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (2 Corinthians:17)

The new man and woman are a work wrought in the Spirit, therefore, the "new" is not at all dependent on the old. God is not bound by the past when He shapes us for the future. He does not have to re-invent us, to clean us up, or re-outfit us. We are not re-creations, but new creatures, and the new man is not hindered by old considerations. God does not need the permission or approval of anyone in our past to bless and help us in the present and future, because He alone is our God and Provider. What the Lord is going to do with us is not dependent or determined by our experience, nor does He take heed to our résumé or qualifications. He does the new thing in us according to His own will and counsel, not according to what we've done, or what anyone says. We must learn to see ourselves in the light of God's sovereignty, not our history.

For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. (Hebrews 8:7)

The Lord is too wise and shrewd to ever pour new wine into old wineskins, so we can only go forward with Him when we cut ties with yesterday's relationships, methods, and ways of thinking. We often hold on to temporary things as if they are eternal, and we regard eternal things as temporal. That is a grave mistake, because what God is going to do is entirely separate from what He did in the past. Let the Holy Spirit refresh you with a new heart and mindset. Look ahead and not back (this takes a tremendous amount of effort, but it is worth it). Set your eyes on Jesus, put your hands to the plow and don't turn back. God's promises are fulfilled in Christ, and Christ lives in you! Your best days ahead.

Let's Pray - Dear Father, thank You for making me new and setting me free from the baggage of my old life. I will praise You with the fresh vigor of a new man. Amen.

Call to Me

"Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know." (Jeremiah 33:3)

God longs for us to look to Him in prayer. He has chosen to present Himself and His will to those who ask in faith, believing that He is present and deeply concerned with our needs and desires. When we set ourselves to pray, we cannot be defeated, we are not easily discouraged, and we expect to hear the voice of God who promises to respond to our prayers. Since God promises to answer, we must call, and we must call more often and earnestly.

Yet you do not have because you do not ask. (James 4:2)

There is a realm that opens up to us through prayer that will remain closed otherwise. The Lord so loves conversation with us that He simply will not move until we speak to Him in earnest prayer and intercession. Yes, there is much in the way of joy and blessings that lie dormant in the fallow ground of prayerlessness. That is because, God only trusts those who pray -- those who come to Him on His terms, those who come believing, and those who come in the name of His Son. "If only we had known!" -- we might say. "If only we had prayed!" -- the Bible teaches. Those who know God pray, and those who pray know God. That is what Jeremiah is teaching here.

. . . pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. (Matthew 6:6)

Let's Pray - Father God, thank You for being a God who hears and answers prayer. I will be found in the closet of prayer more and more, praying confidently and in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Hope in Christ

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14)

Believers in Christ are the only people on earth with true hope. There is no other reliable source of genuine hope in the universe, as men without God can only look upon their past with regret, their present with frustration, and their future with dread. The outlook is bleak for the sinner, and every attempt at hope without God is a fairy tale and empty promises that cannot be fulfilled by the one making them. God's children are the only people on earth who can reasonably expect and declare that the best is yet to come.

The Bible teaches us to be intensely forward-looking. That is because we have only begun to understand the height, breadth, and depth of the Father's love. It will truly take all eternity and more to exhaust the vastness of our God, and the Lord would have us embrace that eternal perspective today. When we focus on heaven, nothing that happens on earth, good or bad, can stumble us or discourage us. We have the blessed outlook of those who seek the Lord and celebrate His goodness no matter the circumstance. May we take hold of God's promises and embrace a heavenly outlook on all the joys and challenges before us.

But as it is written:

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,

Nor have entered into the heart of man

The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”  (1 Corinthians 2:9)

Let's Pray - Dear God, I gladly lay all my care and hopes at Your feet. You are the reason for the confidence in which I walk. In Jesus, Amen.

Jesus the Same

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)

Jesus is our only reference point for true manhood, righteousness, holiness, wisdom, and love. He alone is without sin, thus, He alone can afford to remain the same - yesterday, today and forever. We find our assurance in Him, His promises, His sacrifice, His death, His resurrection, His relationship to the Father, His Holy Spirit, His promises, and His Word. The fact that He will never change is the Solid Rock of our salvation, and we have confidence that allows us to walk boldly before God and men, with never a hint of compromise or fear.

When Adam and Eve sinned, they created a great chasm between God and man, between heaven and earth, and between the spiritual and natural realm. Even the ground was cursed for man's sake, and that which God created "good" suffered because of Adam's sin. The eternal Son of God (the second Adam) took on flesh and came to earth at the appointed time, and in Him eternity and history are reconciled. His broken body is the door to heaven for those who believe, and His shed blood cleanses us for the Spirit's abiding presence. He will never leave or forsake us; and when our time on earth is done, He will take us to the place He has prepared for the righteous, and we will live with Him forever. Yes, He is God of our past, present, and future - yesterday, today, and forever. That is what it means to be His, and that is why we walk in confidence and perfect peace. Amen.

Let's Pray - Father God, I have found my very identity in Jesus, and in Him alone. Thank You for surrounding me with Your grace and the knowledge of Your love for me. Amen.

Let Us Walk Properly

Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. (Romans 13:13-14)

Walking "properly" - (decorously, decently, in a seemly manner, beautifully, modestly, with charm and winsomeness). We are to walk in the light and in a manner which God displayed in Christ. Ours is to be a life of integrity, transparency, and righteousness. We are instructed to put off carelessness, recklessness, unseemly and indecent behavior, as well as ugly and offensive speech to one another. We are to "put on" Jesus Christ, walk in the Spirit, and remove all vestiges of the self-centered life we once lived. The Lord dwells in us to help us do all these things. Hallelujah!

The most prominent characteristic of the church of Jesus Christ is the love we show one another, and that is how we should be known. Thus, the true church is called to be the safest and most loving family on earth. Any church where sin and corruption exist and persist is not the church, but a counterfeit; and the same is true of those who call themselves Christians. The church is the Body of Christ, therefore, it is not an organization, denomination, or affinity group. We are the actual representation of the Man Jesus; and if the world is going to see God, they will see Him in us, His children. That is why our speech and behavior are to be beyond reproach, and we are to be a blessing and refreshment to all. No, we are not sin-less, but we are sin-free; free to walk in a way that glorifies the Lord for all the world to see.  

. . . the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless." (Genesis 17:1)

Let's Pray - Father, teach us to walk uprightly and in the fear of the Lord. We must "put on" Jesus, and He must be the preeminent feature of our lives. Lead us in the way, in Jesus' name, Amen.  

One Thing You Lack

Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. (Mark 10:21-22)

Even the most noble of us fall short of God's glory and His righteous requirements. Our most sincere efforts to do good cannot bridge the gap between us and the Lord, for our righteousness is like filthy rags to Him. Even our valiant efforts to "give back," to show love and kindness, and come to the aid of others are insufficient at best; and our sin makes us contributors to the death, disease and suffering we're trying to relieve. There is no other way to God than the cross. Pick it up and follow Jesus.

Our own noble works and best intentions are an insult to the Holy Spirit. Christianity is overrun with good people doing good things. Yet, they are missing the most necessary practice of obeying the Word, looking unto Jesus, and waiting on Him. Remember, nothing good ever rises up to God from us, except worship and praise. Every good thing comes down to us from Jesus Christ, and there is no other way. Upon realizing this, many have gone away sorrowful, back to their world, their ways, and their riches. May we choose to rejoice in His Word, sell all, and follow Him. 

Let's Pray - Father, Jesus is the only way to live a life pleasing to You and to be productive in the Kingdom. Today, I will pick up my cross and follow. Lead me, Sir. Thank You.

Having These Promises

Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (2 Corinthians 7:1)

There are those who preach that Jesus is somehow sympathetic with our struggles against self and sin. I've even heard those struggles called a "beautiful mess!" Nothing could be more foolish! Our "mess" is not attractive or beautiful to God, and we only need to look to the tragedy of Calvary to see what God thinks of our "mess." Jesus dealt with sin ruthlessly on the Cross, where He set us free from the law of sin and death. Therefore, we must never tell the Lord that He is not able to sanctify us and make us holy, or we are too broken and helpless for Him to perfect us. If He is not able to do that, He is not God. But He is God, and God Almighty. He has sanctified us wholly; and, now, we must put the mess of selfishness and sin to death in our members. That is the supreme effort we put forth daily -- to glorify God, and prove He is more than able to do what He promised.

If the Lord has challenged you with difficulty, it is because He loves you. He wants you to learn to be satisfied in Jesus alone, looking only to Him. He is freeing you from all dependence on man's company and approval, as you learn to be His disciple. Now you understand what Paul is after with his instruction to "cleanse ourselves." God wants complete and unfettered access to you. Remember, you have His promises, and you belong to Him.

Let's Pray - Father, it is imperative that I make my life completely open and available to You. Therein is my joy and health. I love You. Amen.