Always Be Ready

Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” (Matthew 21:18-19)

 

When Jesus encounters the fig tree, He finds it fruitless, and He is greatly displeased, because He was hungry. His disappointment with the tree is actually quite surprising, considering the fact that it was not the season for figs -- When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. (Mark 11:13b) Yet, He cursed the tree for fruitlessness anyway! Jesus was obviously expecting figs, even though it was not fig season. The only conclusion we can possibly come to is this -- when Jesus is looking for fruit, we had better have fruit. In other words, Be ready in and out of season. (2 Timothy 4:2)

 

The Lord does not view times and seasons the way we do. He is not bound by the clock on the wall, because He is sovereign, and His reign is eternal. When we were born again in the Spirit, He placed eternity in our hearts, and we began to comprehend life in the Spirit. We are no longer limited in our thinking and doing, because we have entered a realm where we understand spiritual things, where nothing is impossible, and the impossible is nothing! When we rightly esteem the Spirit-filled life, we will always be prepared for the divine moments and encounters Jesus engineers. We are always ready to glorify our God, and we are true to Him no matter the cost. May the Lord find our branches laden with the fruits of the Spirit, and may Jesus be refreshed and glorified in us no matter the season. 

 

Let's Pray - Father, I realize You will return like a thief in the night. Therefore, I am to be ready for Your return. May You find acceptable spiritual fruit on my branches, and may that fruit refresh You and bring You glory. Amen. 

Come Follow Me

Now the Lord had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, from your family, and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you." (Genesis 12:1-6)

 

"If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple." (Luke 14:26-27)

 

Every man God calls to Himself will face the challenge of leaving what he has for what God has for him. In order for the Lord to draw us to Himself, He must draw us away from the familiar, and we have to lay down the life we know and love to receive the life He promises. Abram is a picture of true worship and devotion, which moves beyond words and good intentions and manifests in obedience, especially when it's difficult. God is not asking Abram to leave a bad situation for a good one -- any fool knows to do that! He's asking him to trust and believe Him, to leave all and follow Him, to prefer and prioritize Him, to go to a place without knowing what or where that place is, and to walk by faith and not by sight. "Sell all you have . . . and come follow me." (Luke 18:22)

 

A crowded life is one God cannot (and will not) use. Those of us who come to Him cannot bring along our schedules and possessions; those things will not fit through the narrow door entered by the few. You will notice that everyone who profoundly affects your life for Christ is one who is "sold out" to Him. That is the one God sends, because he or she will be faithful with the strength He pours into them. The Lord is looking for the one He can trust with souls, and that one is willing to forsake all he has to receive all the Lord would give. Jesus will not share His disciple with anyone or anything else. Are you His disciple? His and His alone?

 

Let’s Pray – Lord, I will respond when You call, and I will do so without doubting. I have learned that You are trustworthy, and You always lead me in the righteous path. Here I am, Lord, at Your service. Amen.

The Chosen Few

"So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen." (Matthew 20:16)

 

In other words, few will prove themselves worthy of the call by laying down their lives, picking up their cross, and following Jesus. Answering the call of the Lord is not merely agreeing to do things for God, but we must obliterate our allegiance to any other relationship, any other cause, any other creed, and any other obligation. Our commitment to Jesus must become and remain unrivaled, and few of us ever reach that place of surrender.

That being said, it is God's sovereign right to choose who He will. At times, His choices seem strange to us, certainly not what we would have expected or chosen. For instance, who would have chosen Saul of Tarsus to be the quintessential apostle to the young church of Jesus Christ? Didn't he brutally persecute the church? Who would have chosen Gideon over the more qualified soldiers and leaders of his day? Why was Abram chosen out of all the men on earth? Didn't David have seven older brothers when he was anointed by Samuel? Why did Jesus choose uneducated and uncultured men to be His disciples, not to mention Judas, His betrayer? Yes, the Lord chooses some very unlikely and unworthy vessels. We must learn to see ourselves the same way, because God chose us, too. 

You did not choose Me, but I chose you . . . (John 15:16)

Let's Pray - Lord, please count me among the faithful; one who not only speaks what is right but does what is right. I know I am not worthy, but I want to be counted among the few. Amen. 

Beware of Ambition

Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, "Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask." And He said to them, "What do you want Me to do for you?" They said to Him, "Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory." (Mark 10:35-37)

 

Wanting to be first or great was not the disciples' only problem. Having Jesus right before them and not recognizing Who or what they were looking at was the real issue. God Himself was living among them, not only as Lord, but as the Son and Servant of Man -- bearing their burdens, healing their diseases, feeding, caring, teaching, sacrificing, and blessing. Yet, they could only see the perks of power and the awe it inspired. They were called to be co-servants with Jesus, but they were blind-sided by pride and ambition. Nothing much has changed. 

 

But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you ask." (Mark 10:38)

We must beware of ambition, no matter how "spiritual" it is. David's ambition caused him to number God's people. Moses' ambition caused him to slay the Egyptian. Aaron and Miriam's ambition caused them to challenge Moses' authority. There are many more examples of selfishness in the scriptures, and there are many in the church today. But our Lord humbled Himself, laid down His life, served us, and suffered the most shameful and painful death imaginable out of obedience to the Father. We, then, must reject the temptation to glorify ourselves, and we must sit in the lowest place, not the highest. That is what our Lord did, and now He is seated next to the Father. Let Him be your Example and follow Him today.

 

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. (James 4:10)

Let's Pray - Precious Lord, teach us that humility is the highest attribute, and we must lay our lives down in order to be lifted up. Save us from the craven sin of selfish ambition. In Jesus alone, Amen.

Best Laid Plans

Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. And she had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar. So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the Lord has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai. (Genesis 16:1-2)

 

Far too often, we compromise the work of the Lord by seeking to accomplish our ends by our means, when He would have us humble ourselves, be patient, be still, and wait until He renews our strength. Even today, much that is promoted as Christian ministry is actually the result of restlessness, prayerlessness, and human ingenuity which the Bible simply calls foolishness. If the Lord is teaching His children anything at all in this day, I believe it is, "Jesus alone is enough!" Our efforts to save, rescue, serve, and change the world are more a hindrance to His plan than a help. Christ alone is the Word of God, and the only thing the Lord has to say to the world is, "This is my beloved Son. Hear Him!" Let us not produce "Ishmaels" through our ambition and the works of our flesh, when the promises of God are fulfilled in Isaac. May the Lord teach us to be still and know that He is God!

 

Let’s Pray – Father, give us the wisdom and patience to wait on You, no matter how long that wait may be. There is no substitute for the divine, and may we not look for or employ any. Christ and Christ alone! Amen.

At His Feet

Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. (Luke 10:38-39)

 

There are many things one might desire to be noted for, but Mary of Bethany will always be remembered for finding her place at Jesus' feet. She was the one who sat at His feet and heard His word, while others found themselves busy and distracted by other things. She was the one who poured precious and expensive perfume on His head and feet, wiped His feet with her hair, filling the air with the fragrance of extravagant worship. She fell at His feet and rose up to witness Jesus raising her brother Lazarus from the dead. No, she never took her eyes off Jesus, or left her place at His feet. Mary will forever be remembered for being at the feet of Jesus. May the same be said of me. 

Let's Pray - Lord, thank You for showing us the value of worship in the Kingdom. Let us be a people noted for the praises we lift to our King. In Jesus, Amen.

Ready to Serve

So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you." (John 13:12-15)

 

Servanthood is something entirely different in the Kingdom than it is in the world. Jesus understood what it meant to be a Son, so He was not ashamed to be a servant. In His mind, there was no contradiction. We tend to see servants as less-than or inferior to those being served; therefore, servants are often roughly treated and lightly esteemed. Not so in the Kingdom of God! A servant's heart is highly valued by the Lord, especially among His sons and daughters. That is why Jesus is the perfect example of royalty, sonship, and servanthood —- and His example reflects the heart of His Father.

 

We can never fully know what it means to rule well until we learn to serve well. Our Heavenly Father is a most profound picture of selflessness and service, and it all flows out of His deep and abiding love for us. He serves us daily with provision, care, health, and protection; and He has provided us an eternal inheritance by the atonement accomplished for us by the Son of His love. His grace and mercy are ours in an endless supply, and our help comes to us continually from His sanctuary. We are most like Him when we, too, serve others as we have been served. May we be found doing for others as Christ has done for us. 

 

Let's Pray - Lord, You have adopted me and made me a son. Now give me a servant's heart, just like the heart of Jesus. I am ready to serve. Amen.

 

Help Me Believe

And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them. But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened. (Luke 24:11-12)

 

Jesus never speaks idle words. The apostles did not believe, because they did not yet realize that every word He spoke to them was eternal truth, and nothing was spoken lightly or carelessly. If they had understood this, they would not have been surprised that He rose from the dead, because He told them He would. What was it that made the disciples unable to hear the truth spoken to them for three and a half years? Likewise, what is it that keeps me deaf, blind, and afraid to take the Lord at His word? Why am I so often stressed when the Lord has promised me peace? Why am I so easily ensnared by sin when the Savior has put sin to death on the cross? Why am I so slow to believe? Help me, Lord!

 

Believing God is simple, and that is where we so often fail. When we are simple enough to keep our eyes on Jesus, we are capable of walking on water; but the moment we look away, we begin to sink in doubt and sin. The lilies of the field, birds of the air, and fish of the sea never fret or worry - yet they have all their needs met. Oh, that we were that childlike and simple! Only the saint who is stupid enough to trust God finds the perfect peace He promises. May the Lord help us and give us the Mind of Christ and a heart that simply believes Him. 

Let's Pray - Father, I believe - help my unbelief! May I receive every word of Jesus as spirit and life, and may that word be my daily bread. Amen.

Remember His Words

Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’” And they remembered His words. (Luke 24:5-8)

 

There is nothing more important for us to believe than Jesus died and rose victoriously from the grave. That fact is the most important truth of all, because it transcends history and opens the door to eternal life for those who believe. If we keep this in mind, we will stay focused on Jesus, overcome every enemy, and thrive even in trying times. Our faith will not fail in the crucial hour, because it is based on the glorious truth that Jesus is alive, and now He lives in us!

 

And they remembered His words.

We must make a determined practice of calling to mind the words of our Lord. The difference between heaven or hell coming to bear in our lives are the words that come to mind when we are pressed. Encouragement or discouragement? Light and life, or darkness and death? Earthly wisdom or godly counsel? The choice is ours. Are we developing the disciplines of the Spirit by prayer, worship, and meditating on the Scriptures? Be sure to take the Lord's instructions to heart -- to receive and believe His words. Let those words be the words you remember, and the words you obey.

 

Your word I have hidden in my heart,

That I might not sin against You. (Psalms 119:11)

 

Let's Pray - Lord, may we remember Your words in the crucial hour. Whenever we are perplexed, may we harken back to Your words. We look only to You. Amen.

Wait for Him

And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me;" (Acts 1:4)

 

The Lord instructed His disciples to wait. Wait for what? Wait for who? They were to wait for the Holy Spirit, who would come upon them and take up residence in them. The Kingdom they were to receive would not manifest around them, but in their hearts and minds. Only then would they be fit to be witnesses to Him, to comprise His Church, and to show the world His glory. They could not earn or purchase this Kingdom. They could not discover or invent it. They simply had to wait for it and wait they did! We, too, must wait. 

Many have gone out into ministry without waiting, only to find that they do not possess the "stuff" it takes to endure and complete the work. That is because no man or woman is sufficient for the task apart from the commission and power of the Holy Spirit. Oh, we can do church, preach, meet, and perform all the duties and tasks one might expect of a minister or a church; and there is more than enough dead religion in the world to prove that point. If the Lord is going to work through us, we must first wait, receive the Holy Spirit, and then go forward in His strength. Jesus will give us the power to do what He commands, and that power is ours in the Spirit, and in Him alone. We may not like to wait, and we may not want to wait, but woe to us if we don't wait. 

Wait on the Lord;

Be of good courage,

And He shall strengthen your heart;

Wait, I say, on the Lord! (Psalms 27:14)

Let's Pray - Lord, may I not move until I am filled and sent by Your Holy Spirit. Then I will be a witness to Your glory and grace. Thank you for every opportunity to bless Your name. Amen.

Rejoice in This

"Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven." (Luke 10:20)

It is unwise to desire great things on this earth, especially great "Christian" works. Jesus was not concerned or impressed with any of those things, and He did not want His disciples to be either. They were to be fully focused on their relationship to the Father, just as Jesus was. The greatest thing a saint can do is to be found in Christ, and that saint must wage and win a great battle to stay focused on Him. Life in Christ is the paramount thing, so let us rejoice in Him and Him alone!

 

God's love is not like ours; it is not based on emotion or affinity, but it is holy, and that is a different kind of love altogether. His love is righteous and pure, and it is perfectly and exclusively expressed in Jesus. Any understanding of love not founded in Jesus is counterfeit and illegitimate, for Jesus is God, and God is love. The Father loves all that pertains to His Son, and nothing else, and we make a grave mistake to think He loves anyone or anything apart from Jesus. For those of us who love the Lord, our names are written in heaven, and in blood -- the precious Blood of the Lamb. That is why we rejoice in Him alone, and we will continuously do so until He returns.  

 

Let's Pray - Precious King, it is a joy to be found in You, to be led by You, and to glorify You. That is why I live, and that is why I rejoice. In Jesus, Amen.

A Heavenly Kingdom

Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6)

The disciples still did not get it. Even after Jesus was crucified and rose from the dead, they were still clueless about the kingdom of God, and it showed by the question they asked. They did not yet understand that the kingdom they would inherit is not of this world, but a heavenly kingdom. Even today, many Christians are trying to establish heaven's rule on earth through their activities, strivings, and religion; but the Lord desires to place His Kingdom in our hearts, if we will receive it. That is where He seeks to rule. Does He rule in your heart? 

Those who are close to Jesus are prepared spiritually for the challenges and opportunities before them, and they faithfully and patiently accomplish the will of God on the earth. It is not for us to know times and seasons, but to know our God; and His abiding presence is the readiness to operate wisely no matter the season or circumstance. That is what it means to be His witness, and our lives are the undeniable proof that His Word is true. Yes, the King is alive, the Kingdom has been restored, and it has taken up residence in us. Long live the King!

 

Let's Pray - Father, give me eyes to see and ears to hear heavenly things. Thy Kingdom come, and Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Amen.

A Better Plan

"Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you." (John 16:7)

There were things that Jesus' disciples could not do as long as He remained with them. Had Jesus remained on the earth, the Holy Spirit would never have been sent to abide with them and dwell in their hearts. They would have never received the power and ministry of the living Christ, and they would have never taken their eyes off Him to see the needy souls all around them. Still, it did not seem right to them that Jesus would leave. After all, He promised never to leave or forsake them, and He always keeps His promises -- yet, He was going away. They did not realize He was preparing their hearts to be the temple He would dwell in by His Spirit. He would come again; this time to dwell within and remain forever.

 

Sometimes it seems that Jesus has gone away and left us in this mean and cruel world to fend for ourselves, but that is not true. He has gone to the Father and sent the Holy Spirit, and now He is present throughout the world in our hearts and His church. While He was on earth, His presence was localized in His physical body -- but through us, Jesus is everywhere, and the Gospel is lived and preached wherever we go. Today, Jesus is seated at the right hand of God; and yet, He is alive and well on earth -- that is, in us who are filled with His Spirit. That is the advantage Christ spoke of when he said it was best that He went away, so that He could send His Spirit, who will never go away. As long as He abides in our hearts, His love abounds through us, and there is hope for this dark and desperate world. That is the Good News, and that is God's plan. His plan is a good plan. 

 

Let's Pray - Father, thank You for the gift of that Holy Spirit, who is given to me as a guarantee of all You promised me -- life everlasting. In Jesus alone, Amen.

Begotten of Him

Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. (1 John 5:1)

 

Believing God's Word is the most important thing we will ever do. Jesus Christ is the Word of God, and the faithful saint is filled with the joy and Spirit of Jesus Christ. Therefore, we will overcome the world, all its temptations and lusts, and all preoccupation with that which is perishing, because we are settled and focused on our new life Jesus. Faith points us upward and forward, and the life God gives us is evidenced in the power to live victoriously, to love our brothers and sisters, and to rejoice in the goodness of our God.

 

Jesus is the only obsession a saint can afford to have. We must not be overtaken by a passion for ministry or souls, and we must be careful lest we are overwhelmed by the desperate plight and needs of men. Remember, "The poor you have with you always . . ." Our faces must be set like flint toward the Savior, unless we are sure to get lost in the controversies and stark realities of the world around us. We must remember that Jesus has not only set us free from sin, but from the pervasive powers of darkness that exercise sway in the world system of things. Ours is a new and better world, and a new and better focus; that is, the Kingdom of God which has come and taken residence within us. We are the ones "born of God," who set our minds on things above, not things below. We are the ones who believe.

 

Let's Pray - Dear Father, I believe! Help me to believe even more. I want all the benefits of trusting in Christ. Amen.

Your Own Affections

You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections. (2 Corinthians 6:12)

In other words, you cannot go any farther with God until you surrender your right to yourself. This is where formal Christianity goes to die. Instead of dying to ourselves and learning to see things as our Father sees them, we cling to our selfish, religious views of God and miss the relationship available to us when we humbly submit to Him. As long as we hold on to our preferences and prejudices, we limit what the Lord can do in us. Help us, Father.

 

Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. (John 8:36)

 

The Christian life is one of freedom and creativity. The Holy Spirit will show us things we never imagined, unless we limit Him with our own knowledge and agenda. Any day might be the day when the Lord teaches you a valuable truth that changes everything from that point forward. But if we cling to the old, the new thing God would do is lost to us. There is always much more to know than we know, much more to see than we've seen, and much more to be than we've been. The Spirit desires to bring us to a place of unbroken fellowship and deeper understanding; a place where we are unrestricted. That is what it truly means to be free. 

Let's Pray - Dear Lord, thank You for the freedom to say, "No," to myself. I want to love what You love, see what You see, and agree with You at every turn. Thank You, and Amen.

Looking Unto Jesus

. . . looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)

Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem. (Luke 9:51)

Jesus could not be distracted, nor detained, nor detoured. His short time on earth was coming to an end, and though that end would be tragic and painful, it was the will of the Lord; not something to be avoided, but to be endured. Jesus was focused on that which only He and the Father could understand, and that focus was Jerusalem. Jerusalem is a microcosm of the Christ-rejecting world, obsessed with its own darkness, deaf, blind and oblivious to its Savior and its salvation. It was there, and only there that the Son of Man would present Himself one final time, only to be betrayed, arrested, beaten, spit upon, tried, condemned, and cast outside the city gates to be crucified with murderers and thieves; to be buried and, hopefully, forgotten. He knew all this, and yet, He was determined to go to Jerusalem, to die for our sins, and save our souls. This is the awesome Christ we serve! To God be the glory.

Let's Pray - Lord Jesus, may we never lose sight of the price You paid to save us. We will praise and glorify You forever. Amen. 

A Different Spirit

But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted —you may well put up with it! (2 Corinthians 11:3-4)

 

“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. (Matthew 10:34) 

 

The peace that Jesus brings is not peace as the world understands it. Jesus is the dividing line between all that God accepts and all that He rejects. The sword Jesus speaks of is the Gospel which separates believers from unbelievers, saints from sinners, light from darkness, and life from death. The sword is the Cross, which separates the children of God from the children of the devil, and those who go on to fullness in Christ from those who are complacent. Our walk with Jesus will make us very few friends in this world, but it will make us true friends of God. 

 

Some in the church have succumbed to the temptation to mix enterprise, academia, and lofty-sounding "wisdom" with the simple message of the Gospel. While many are drawn to these sideshows for a time, nothing can satisfy the soul but Jesus, and every man must come to God through the atonement, the broken body and shed blood of Jesus Christ -- there is no other way. Their attempts to soften the Gospel produces weak Christians who don't know the Lord or walk in the power of His Spirit. Yet, the Lord knows those of us who are dedicated to Him and His Word, and we do not receive a watered-down Jesus fit for public consumption!

Let's Pray - Precious King, please forgive us for sharing a compromised message, which isn't the Gospel at all. May we boldly proclaim Jesus and nothing else. Amen.

Less is More

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. (1 Corinthians 1:13)

We have been set free to forgive, forget, put childish things away, and press on in the strength and power of Jesus Christ. It is a shame for a Christian to be stuck in yesterday’s activities and relationships. When we are pursuing and serving God in His house, in His Word, and in the prayer closet, we will receive the power of the Holy Spirit who sets us free from the bondage of old things and equips us for what lies ahead. Remember, the Lord is doing a new thing, and you are that new thing. Step into the new.

 

We suppose the Lord is going to do and show us new things all the time, but He will not. Why should He, when He knows we will bring old relationships, habits, and concerns into the new season? That was the egregious error Paul warred against in the early church. Men supposed the church should hearken back to the Old Testament economy and their obsession with Judaism and national Israel. They sought to shackle the Body of Christ to the Law of Moses, and the Holy Spirit would have none of it. Even today, men tout legalism and Zionism as New Testament concepts, but that is simply a refusal to put away childishness and come into God's fullness — and all the fullness of God is found in Jesus Christ. May the Lord help us grasp the fact that spiritual maturity is not made up of things we add, but things we put away . . . but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

 

Let's Pray - Lord, I am determined to put away childishness. Draw me to the maturity You desire from me. I want to be fully grown in Christ. Amen.

Is That All?

Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (1 John 5:5)

Before we were saved, we were obsessed with the world, its affairs, and all manner of worldly things. It mattered greatly what others thought and said about us, how well we were liked, and whether or not we were accepted. But once we looked into the face of Jesus Christ, we saw what God values, and nothing mattered anymore but Him. That's how you know a true Christian; their life, speech and actions have a heavenly fragrance about them. God's love flows through them all the time, because He abides in them and with them. These are the ones who have come to Jesus and overcome the world in Him.

 

"You mean, all I have to do is believe? I don't have to follow laws and rules, submit myself to religious rituals and heroic feats of sacrifice?" No. All you and I must do is believe that Jesus is the Son of God, God Himself, who came in flesh to destroy the works of the devil and redeem those who receive Him. This is the Good News, and we must be sure to accept it in its fullness and simplicity. Nothing need be added to it or subtracted from it. Jesus is the fullness of the Godhead and the complete Message and Messenger of God. He has overcome the world, and we are overcomers in Him. Amen!

 

Let's Pray - Father, I choose the simplicity of faith in Jesus with nothing added and nothing taken away. Thank You that all the fullness of God dwells in Him alone. Amen.

Believe in the Son

He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” (John 3:36)

 

Every true believer has come to God on the terms set before us in Jesus, and our relationship to Him hinges on the choice we make to take Him at His word, and to let Him have His way in our lives. We are not naturally born into God's kingdom, but we are born again in the Spirit. Those who have laid down their lives and received His life are the only ones who can claim to have life. That life doesn't start when we die and go to heaven, but heaven is ours now, and the earmarks of eternity are evident in us today.

 

For by grace you have been saved through faith. (Ephesians 2:8) Do not spend your time trying to prove the existence and goodness of God to those who do not have faith. They cannot hear you or believe your testimony, simply because they do not have the faith necessary to do so. No amount of wisdom, intelligence, reasoning, miracles, mighty works, or even one being raised from the dead and ascending to the heavens will move the faithless man one inch closer to God. God's children are those who have received the gift of faith -- those who simply believe God and believe in His Son. May all others come to believe as we have, and may they come to believe before it's too late.

 

Let's Pray - Dear Lord, thank You for the gift of salvation and faith in the Man, Jesus Christ. I pray that You will use me to share the Gospel and to see many sons and daughters come into Your Kingdom. Amen.

Adding to My Faith

But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith . . . (2 Peter 1:5)

 

Now, of course, we cannot add anything to the work accomplished by our Savior, Jesus Christ. He lived a life of service and sacrifice, He was tempted in all respects without sinning, He shed His sinless blood for our sins, He rose victoriously from the grave, and He ascended on high to His rightful place with the Father. When Peter says, "add to your faith," he is speaking of the spiritual maturity that is "added" to us when we walk by faith in God. If we give the Holy Spirit our attention, He will begin to progressively display the sweetness and holiness of Jesus Christ through us; and that is the unmistakable sign of a living, growing, and productive faith.

 

We cannot claim to have true faith apart from Christlikeness. Living faith must be followed closely by Christian character. Character is the virtue developed in us when we learn to apply the Word of God to our lives and circumstances one opportunity at a time. We obtain true Christian character through a growing willingness to measure our works, our speech, and our motives by the standard of the scriptures; and the Spirit will educate and perfect us down to the smallest detail. As He does, the measure of Christ in us increases to the point of identification — "For to me, to live is Christ . . ." (Philippians 1:21) Remember, only Jesus Christ pleases the Father, so let the measure of Christ increase in you daily. Add to your faith.

 

Let's Pray - Lord, I desire to possess an ever-growing belief in the Son of God and His sovereign work in my life. I will apply myself to the work You set before me diligently and thoughtfully. In Jesus alone, Amen.

Believe That He Is

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

 

Faith is so important to God that He refuses to interact with us on any other basis. Faith is the deal-maker and lack of faith is the deal-breaker in our life with God. It is the choice to hear, believe, and act according to what the Lord says and who He is. Faith is the only capacity we possess that allows us to see Him clearly and serve Him acceptably. Faith is the work that God requires of us, and only the work we do by faith will survive the fiery scrutiny of a Holy God.

 

Faith is realized in the determination to seek a God who is invisible. That is where the true work of the Spirit lies — the invisible realm. Faith is counter-intuitive, and it requires that we believe God's promises even before they come to pass. Therefore, spritual things cannot be understood or perceived like natural things. Faith alone develops our spiritual eyes and ears, and it elevates us to a realm where all things are possible, if we just believe. God promises to reward those who seek and serve Him faithfully. Matthew 7:7 says, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." So, go ahead and take God at His word — ask, seek, and knock. Exercise and increase your faith. Your reward and your Rewarder await.

 

Let's Pray - Thank You, Lord, for imparting faith to me. Increase my faith daily, and I will present myself for Your service and Your glory. In Christ alone, Amen.

Witnesses to Me

". . . and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) 

 

The servant of God must avoid anything that takes his focus off Jesus Christ. Yes, there is much work to do, so many meetings to attend, so many events to plan, and so much enterprise in Christian ministry today. There are many who need our help, many hungry mouths to feed, so many who are thirsty, so many who are poor and naked, and so many who are lost and broken. Yet, Jesus did not instruct His disciples to focus on any of these things, but to go to Jerusalem and wait. Wait for what? To do great spiritual feats and exploits, revivals, to start great movements, and plant churches? No! ". . . but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me . . ." That is the essence of service to God — waiting on His power to be an effective witness. Sadly, so many go out to do things for God who have never waited on Him and never received the power of the Holy Spirit! "Be witnesses to Me . . ." — not great and wonderful ministers, but witnesses to a great and wonderful God. Remember, "witness" is not a verb, but a noun — a witness is not something you do, but someone you are, and only the Holy Spirit can make you a witness to Christ. While the world cannot see God Himself, they should clearly see Him in you, His true witness. Wait on God, and let Him be seen in you today.

Let's Pray - Father God, may we be perfect reflections of Your Son today. May men surely know that there is a God in heaven, because of the saints they encounter on earth. Amen.

 

Learning About Faith

 Now Joshua the son of Nun sent out two men from Acacia Grove to spy secretly, saying, "Go, view the land, especially Jericho." So they went, and came to the house of a harlot named Rahab, and lodged there. (Joshua 2:1-2)

Rahab is the last person we might expect to find as an example of biblical faith; yet, there she is, a woman, a Gentile, and a harlot! She is not the type of person we thought God could use, not someone we thought He would reveal Himself to, and certainly not someone we thought we'd find in the lineage of Jesus Christ! We didn't see her coming, and perhaps that reveals how much we have yet to learn about God, and about faith!

If we read the scriptures carefully, we will find faith wrapped in the most unlikely packages. Take, for instance, the boy with the basket —“There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?” (John 6:9) Yet, Jesus would lift that basket up to the Father and feed five thousand men, not to mention the women and children. Jesus uses the mustard seed as the picture of great faith, the kind of faith that uproots great trees and moves mountains. Perhaps the Lord is working in your life through people and methods you have not considered. Perhaps He is waiting for you to walk, pray, and live by faith, not by sight. Perhaps He wants to do a new thing in you, something others might say you are not qualified to do, something never done before, something greater than you expected. Perhaps He is teaching you about faith. Perhaps . . .

Let's Pray - Dear Lord, faith is not always found where we expect it. I pray that You find faith in me when You return. Give me an active faith like Rahab's. In Jesus, Amen.

 

Who’s Your Daddy?

When Saul saw David going out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the commander of the army, “Abner, whose son is this youth?” And Abner said, “As your soul lives, O king, I do not know.” So the king said, “Inquire whose son this young man is.” (1 Samuel 17:55-56)

The scriptures tell us that those who are born again have become "brothers and sisters" of our Lord Jesus Christ. How proud Jesus is to present us to the Father as family members! Hebrews 2:11-13 says, For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying: “I will declare Your name to My brethren . . . and again: “Here am I and the children whom God has given Me.” We know we are God's children, because we bear a distinct and unmistakable likeness to His Son, Jesus Christ. We walk in the same sweet Spirit He walked in, and we glorify the Father by following our Shepherd wherever He leads. Welcome to the family of God!

Just as Saul sought to identify David's father, so men will want to know the source of your faith, hope, peace, love and joy. David's character harkened back to the man who raised him, the man who taught him about the Lord and His power, the man who taught him to be fear-less and faith-full, the man who gave him his name and identity, the man whose God became David's God. Saul insisted on knowing the father responsible for the young man who possessed such skill and confidence — and even now, men want to know the name of our Heavenly Father. Let's make sure to tell them.

Let's Pray - Abba, I will gladly tell the world that You are my Father. All I have, all I am, all I want is found in my relationship with You. In Jesus alone, Amen.

Can’t Go Back

Saul took him {David} that day, and would not let him go home to his father's house anymore. (1 Samuel 18:2)

 King Saul was greatly impressed by the bravery and skill of the young man, David, who slew the giant and brought about a rousing and improbable victory for Israel. Of course, it was not David's abilities that won the battle, but faith in his Heavenly Father. David knew God intimately, quite unlike Saul and his army — and it is still true today that the children of God accomplish mighty feats impossible for children of the world. Thus, every spiritual victory is wrought from the depths of our knowledge of the Father. Welcome to the victorious life.

 

Scripture teaches us the battle is the Lord's, the weapons of our warfare are mighty, and the victory is nigh. This understanding is foreign to those who have no grasp of spiritual things. The same Goliath who sent waves of fear through the hearts of Saul's men was put to death by a boy and a rock. That boy had faith and that rock was Jesus. So it is today, that those who do great exploits do so by their faith in God, standing on the Rock of Jesus Christ. Just as David's faith propelled him into the life he was called to, so will yours. You are walking by faith now, and you can never go back to the common-sense life you once lived . . . and would not let him go home to his father's house anymore.

 

Let's Pray - Dear Lord, I desire to know You and exercise faith like David, when he faced Goliath. Thank You for the victory You give me as I draw close to You through prayer, the Word, and the fellowship of believers. In Jesus, Amen.

Children of God

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! (1John 3:1)

 

"A Father and His Children" might very well be deemed the foundational theme and principle of the Bible. God's family means everything to Him; so much so, that He spent what He valued most to secure our salvation, our security, and our eternal place in that family. What a wonderful reality we enjoy! We are not only servants and subjects, but sons and daughters, heirs of the Kingdom, and joint heirs with Jesus through no goodness of our own. It is a gift from our Father, and what a marvelous gift it is. Welcome to the family of God in Jesus Christ!

 

To be called a child of God is the highest designation we will ever receive. We are related to Him by blood -- that is, the blood Jesus shed for us on the cross of Calvary. His precious blood washes away everything in our lives that offends the Father, and His broken body is the door through which we enter into relationship with a holy God. That is the singular message we have been given to share with the world, that the doors to heaven have been opened, and Jesus is the open door for all who simply come. God has made the way for us to receive and enjoy all it means to be His child, and we are wise to take full advantage. Welcome, once again, to the family. 

 

Let's Pray - Thank You for drawing us out of the death and darkness of the world into the kingdom of Your dear Son, Jesus. It is an awesome privilege to be called brothers and sisters of Jesus and children of the Living God! Amen.

Get Out Now

Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, from your family, and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you.” (Genesis 12:1)

 The Lord is not telling us to isolate ourselves, or to be dismissive of friends and relatives, or to shun or ignore others -- but to separate ourselves unto God. When we focus on Jesus, other concerns will simply fade away in the light of His glory; and at moments when we experience the pain and anxiety of separation, the Lord will give us a glimpse of His plan and purpose. We must simply obey His voice and follow every direction given by the Holy Spirit, and we will always find ourselves in the center of His will. Abraham learned this important lesson. Have you?

 

In order to receive the new thing, we must be willing to depart from the old. For instance, one of the greatest challenges the early church faced was the temptation to mix the old order with the new. Paul, in particular, took great exception to those who would impose the Law of Moses on the New Testament Church. All that is ours by grace would have been lost in the futile exercise of trying to please the Lord by works of the law. Even today, there are those who prefer the old over the new, but our Lord is determined to bring us into the uncharted territories of faith. May we take hold of the limitless future that awaits us once we are willing to obey God and "Get out . . ."

 

Let’s Pray – Lord, I will obey when You call me apart from the world, even from those I know and love. Your will and purpose are greater than mine. Therefore, Thy will be done. Amen.

 

Not My Will

. . . saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” (Luke 22:42)

 The servant of the Lord is not often tempted to sin, but daily tempted to put himself first. As long as we are enamored with our gifts and concerned about what a blessing we are, we remain babes fit only for drinking and serving milk. We must get to the point where sacrificial living is the norm; only then are we truly set apart by God for His purpose. Once we are "crucified with Christ," the laid-down life is the only one we know, and we resist every temptation to take it up again. Remember, you first have to lay your life down in order to take up His.  

 

Self-sympathy is demonic, and it is the archenemy of the Christian worker. People we serve may abandon us, revile us, slander us, and do all manner of evil to us; but the Bible teaches we are blessed when they do! The shield of faith will extinguish every arrow shot at us; and we are to stand through it all and be found living victoriously in Jesus, who Himself was treated with bitterness and contempt. Walking in God's will is sure to take us through some rough seasons and over difficult terrain, but the servant of the Lord has counted the cost and found Jesus worthy of the glory our suffering will bring Him. Surely, we know that no weapon formed against us will prosper. So, may the Lord's will be done, as we lay down our lives, pick up our cross, and glorify His name. Amen.

Let's Pray - Lord, mine is a laid-down life. Help me not to pick it up again, for it is the life of Christ that matters most. Amen.

Wisdom Calls Aloud

Wisdom calls aloud outside; she raises her voice in the open squares. She cries out in the chief concourses, at the openings of the gates in the city. (Proverbs 1:20)

The wisdom God offers His children must be received in the same spirit in which it is offered. The Lord gives His counsel and guidance to His children because He loves us, and we receive that counsel because we love Him. His wisdom is stored up for us, and it is an endless supply of His favor and His willingness to show us the way in which we ought to live. The complexities of life are such that we need the loving voice of our Heavenly Father to guide us through them well, and His guidance brings us to a wellspring of health that blesses us and everyone around us. When His wisdom becomes ours, we bring grace and light to every situation, and God is glorified in us.

Wisdom is the dividing line between those who truly belong to God and all others, and between the works of God and those of the flesh. His wisdom is spiritual, and it is only manifest in Jesus Christ and those who follow Him closely. When worldly wisdom encroaches upon the church, she loses her life and substitutes her own goodness for the goodness of a holy God. That is the state of many in the church who present a form of godliness, but they possess none of the power and wisdom of heaven. Yet, our Lord patiently waits for us to respond to His call to come to Him for wisdom -- to come to Him for Christ. Jesus is the wisdom of God. Come.

Let's Pray - Lord, I will respond to Your call to receive wisdom. I want to live a life that is directed by You and Your divine counsel. Thank You, Lord. Amen.