A Good Testimony

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.  (Hebrews 11:1, 2)

Our faith is the shield that armors us against the storms of spiritual attacks. It steadies us when sorrows crush our emotions and when disappointments threaten to steal our hope. Faith assures us of God's care and presence when the winds and rain threaten to destroy our possessions, unsettle our minds, and steal our peace.  Faith keeps us walking righteously, and we trust in God when others fall into despair and sin. Thank God for faith!

 

Every difficulty is an opportunity to believe God and exercising our faith in Him is the greatest work of all. Even a mustard seed of faith is greater than mighty works, and a small measure of faith is greater than a lifetime of labor. God sent His Son, that He might become the center of our hope and joy, and that we might put all our trust in His love and power. That was and will always be the Father's will, that we trust in Jesus as if our lives depend on it. In truth, our lives do depend on it; for true and new life come from faith in Jesus alone. All that God requires of us is faith, and faith always comes to God and believes God. Therein lies our good testimony. Is your testimony a good one?

 

Let's Pray - Dear Lord, thank You for the gift of faith. I will keep the faith in the face of every challenge. I believe in You, Lord, more and more each day! Amen.

Calm Through the Storm

He calms the storm, so that its waves are still. Then they are glad because they are quiet; so, He guides them to their desired haven. (Psalm 107:29-30)

God's mercy and faithfulness through difficult times is one of the Bible's major themes. Jesus makes it clear that the storms of life will beat down on each of us, and times of testing are as sure as the morning sun. Yet, we are instructed to have no fear, for the Lord will keep and deliver us from trouble, if we learn to call on Him, be still, and feed on His faithfulness. Storms are meant to teach us to trust, obey, and endure, because our Father is sure to be true to His Word and to never leave or forsake us. Remember, "Blessed is the man who endures temptation (testing); for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him." (James 1:12)

 

Beloved, be sure to root your soul in the soil of the scriptures, and place your hope in the Rock of Ages, Jesus alone. There will surely come a time when everything that can be shaken will be shaken, when fiery trials and temptations test the hearts of men and women. Then, the children of God will shine like the stars; and we will realize the storms were intended to strengthen our faith in the Lord. We have an anchor in Christ in those difficult days. If we remain steadfast in Him, we will no longer fear life's storms, and we will thank God for them. Lord, increase our faith!

 

Let's Pray - Father God, thank You for being with me through my toughest times. I realize more and more that You are always near, and You always hear me when I call. Thank You again. Amen.

He Who Comes

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 simply believes God. It believes He cares even though we experience distressing times, it believes He heals even when we are sick, that He saves though people around us are lost in sin, and that He is with us even when we feel alone. Faith won't give up due to any of these circumstances, because it is rooted in our eternal God, not our temporary plight. Faith looks at Jesus and refuses to look for another answer, another Savior. That is why faith alone pleases God. 

 

When God is pleased with us, we can ask, and it will be done for us. That is because faith is rooted in relationship, and that relationship brings us to a point of being one with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; and that is where we find complete agreement between all parties involved. The Lord is bringing us to the place where our concerns and prayers are identical to those of Jesus, who lives to intercede for us. Then, my prayer life becomes a fountain of blessing through which the Lord moves mountains and crushes the works of the devil. That is faith's reward — those who diligently seek God will find Him and abide with Him, and that is where our new and abundant life truly begins.

 

Let's Pray - Dear Lord, I will be one who continually comes to You by faith, and I know that You will reward me for seeking You. In fact, You are my great reward! Thank You. Amen.

Pray and Forgive

“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.” (Mark 11:25-26)

To be sure, there will be many offenses, slights, hurts, and attacks that are sent our way by the enemy of our souls. These are meant to plant a seed of bitterness and mistrust in our hearts which causes us to withhold love, and we can become cold to others without even realizing it. But God trusts us with these trials to give us the opportunity to forgive and love others, just as He has done for us. When we pass the test of loving those who hurt us, we are perfected in His love, and we are the light of the world we're called to be.

 

If I am honest, I have no desire or intention to forgive those who have hurt me; and even if I try, I simply do not find the power to do so. My resentment and distrust are real and justified in my mind. Every time particular people or experiences are even mentioned, I find my thoughts awash in ill-will and anger. Jesus knows and understands those fears and feelings; however, He has come to help me embrace a new, Kingdom-grounded reality. He died in my place and paid my sin-debt. By His blood, I have been washed clean and set apart for the Father's use and pleasure. Since He has removed me from the power and penalty of sin, I must be willing to do the same for others and release them (and myself) from the prison of condemnation, just as I have been released. Apart from Jesus, this is impossible; but with God, all things are possible — even forgiving those who hurt me. May we all forgive and move forward. Our freedom awaits. 

 

Let's Pray - Lord, help me forgive others, just as You have forgiven me. I release everyone who has ever offended me from the prison of my bitterness. Thank You for my new-found freedom. Amen.

What is Truth

Then Pilate said to Him, "So you are a King?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a King. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world— to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice." Pilate said to Him, "What is truth?" (John 18:37, 38, ESV)

Worldly people will always be callous and cynical about spiritual things. Pontius Pilate illustrates the insincerity of the worldly man, as he sarcastically scoffs at truth when it is standing right before him —"What is truth?" He had no real interest in truth, but in establishing and maintaining his own agenda, while denying and defying the authority of the Kingdom of God. Pilate was blind to the truth and blind to the Savior standing before him — and that continues to be true of the worldly man, even today. Pilate was not simple enough to believe, and his worldly mindset missed the most profound expression of truth there will ever be —Jesus. All he saw in Jesus was weakness, and his eyes were blind to the King of Glory who stood before him. If we are not careful, there will be a little "Pilate" in us, and we too will miss Christ in the crucial moment, because we are looking for someone or something "great." May we all take the more earnest heed to all the Lord is revealing — lest we, like Pilate, fail when we are tested.

 

"I am the way, the truth, and the life."

 

Let's Pray - Father, I accept the truth You spoke to me in Jesus, and in Him alone. He is enough for me, and the truth is found in Him. Amen.

Guarding Against Pride

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (Psalm 139:23, 24)

Pride is the most dangerous of sins, because it is blind to itself. It is a bold affront to God, and we're all guilty of it; yet it is so subtle that we rarely detect it, confess it, or pray about it. Pride plans, acts, and thinks independently of the Lord, even in ministry. Pride distorts our self-concept, props us up, puffs us up, and makes us believe things of ourselves and others that are not true. It makes us consider ourselves first and last, it takes and demands more credit than it deserves, and it thinks about itself more than it should. The prideful man doesn't respond to correction very well. Now, I'm sure each of us can immediately point to at least one person who fits this description. The proof that we are prideful is we didn't point to ourselves.

 

Pride can be most dangerous when we insist on being right. Only God is good, only God is wise, and only God is right; and we do well to remember that. As long as we stand on our Christian principles, our doctrines, and our knowledge, we will miss the heart of God every time; His is a heart of love. He is not at all impressed with rightness, but righteousness — and the Bible makes it clear that we have no righteousness of our own to stand on. Only in Jesus Christ do we find moral perfection, and He expressed that perfection through service and sacrifice, not by being right or superior to others. Remember, we are born again into a life that follows His example of humility, love, service, and sacrifice. That is where our pride dies, and Christ comes alive in us. That is what it means to be led in the "way everlasting." Search us and lead us in the everlasting way, Lord. Amen.

 

Let's Pray - Lord, forgive me for the sin of pride. I am guilty of thinking more of myself and less of others. Please help me to walk in the humility of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Increase Our Faith

And the apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." (Luke 17:5) 

Beware of a romanticized view of faith. Faith is not a tool to get what we want from God, but a means for God to get what He wants from us! Faith teaches us to wait, pray, and obey, while never imaging that God is anything but completely trustworthy, and that He will keep us and His promises to us. It is a partnership whereby we submit ourselves to God, believing and walking with Him toward things we can't yet see and what we don't yet have. But what we do have is most important, and that is a life hidden with God in Christ.

To increase our faith is to exercise our belief in God, so that it becomes the useful and powerful tool He intended. God is faithful, and as our faith increases, we glorify Him for all to see. Everything He permits in our lives, whether blessing or hardship, is to make us more like Jesus. He was tested and tempted, yet He remained faithful. The same will be true of us, if we abide in His love and heed His counsel. May our lives take on the sweetness of a faith-building adventure — joyful, and expectant; and may the Lord enrich and increase our faith, as we abide in Him daily.

Let's Pray - Father, may we not miss the opportunities You give us to increase our faith. May difficult times cause us to seek You more and more, and to worship You on a deeper level than we ever thought possible. In Jesus' name, Amen.

The Test of Faith

But Sarai was barren; she had no child. (Genesis 11:30)

Our difficulties are not difficult at all to God, even though they can frustrate us greatly and make us wonder if He is even aware of what we are facing down here! I believe the Lord tests us all at one point or another, just to teach us to believe in the power of His Word over the limits of our flesh. Abram and Sarai could not conceive a child, yet God was going to call them to be the father and mother of a holy nation, Israel. They would eventually become a man and woman of faith, and they would learn to walk with the Lord and wait on Him — but it wasn't going to be easy; and it's not going to be easy for us, either.

It is a snare to believe that faith leads to a smooth and trouble-free life — quite the opposite is true. Overcoming faith leads us to God, and it will bring us to a deep and abiding dependence on Him. Faith is the beginning and the end of our relationship with God, and it is generated and maintained in that relationship alone; therefore, it is impossible to approach the Lord on any other basis. There is no other way to please Him than to trust and obey Him at His Word. That is what faith is and does; it is our trust in God, and it always trusts in God. Do you always trust in God? Do you have faith?

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)

Let’s Pray – Lord, I learn through Abraham and Sarah that I can trust You with my life and the desires of my heart. I have come to believe that nothing is impossible for You.  Thank You, Father. Amen.

Who May Abide?

Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart. (Psalm 15:1-2)

Honesty is an essential trait of God’s children, and God can only reveal Himself to those of us who recognize and speak the truth in our own hearts. When we entertain any deception or dishonesty, we may see Jesus, but not accurately, and not as Lord and King. The longer we refuse to accept the truth about ourselves or anything else, the longer it takes for us to recognize what Jesus Christ has come to do in our lives. We will never find our true identity in what others say about us, or even what we say about ourselves. But immediately when the Lord speaks the truth and we receive it, we are set free to see Him for who He is, and to see ourselves for who we truly are.

And Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke, saying: ‘By those who come near Me, I must be regarded as holy; and before all the people I must be glorified.’” (Leviticus 10:3) 

The Holy Spirit searches our hearts with the intention of making us aware of anything that is an offense to Him. Drawing near to the Lord is not a frivolous thing, and those who come to Him must do so with pure intentions, for He will not be compromised by sin or fleshly agenda. Oh, that more of those who call themselves ministers would realize this; that the Lord is holy, and He will not partner with anyone or anything unholy. Let those who serve the Lord remember, The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom . . . (Proverbs 9:10). Take heed, men and women of God!

Let's Pray - Father God, please teach me to hallow Your presence, and may I always serve You humbly and acceptably. I tremble before Your Word. In Jesus, Amen.

Pure in Heart

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!” Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered and said to Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” (John 1:47-49)

How is it that Nathanael received the truth about Jesus so readily, when all Israel failed to recognize their Messiah? It was because Nathanael possessed integrity, which Jesus immediately recognized and acknowledged — “. . . an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” This was a man who was honest with himself and others, a man who kept his word, a straight-shooter, one who meant what he said and said what he meant. Jesus commended him for his truthfulness, because it made the way for him to see the Messiah. 

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." (Matthew 5:8) 

The Lord is willing to share life and truth with any man or woman, as long as they are honest. The moment we lie to God or ourselves, or refuse to acknowledge the truth we've been shown, we grieve the Holy Spirit away. The Lord will not partner with lies or liars, and integrity is a non-negotiable in the Kingdom. There are those who believe they can get away with something less than uprightness, but the Word makes it clear that is not so — Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:14) 

May we all, like Nathanael, be guileless, open-hearted, and prepared to receive the truth when it is presented to us. And remember, Jesus is the truth.

Let's Pray- Father, bless me with purity of heart today. I want to see You more clearly than ever before. In Jesus alone, Amen.

The Good Fight

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (2 Timothy 4:7)

There are many fights in life, but only one good fight. The good fight is the battle we wage to be sure God is glorified in everything we do. One thing matters — “Is God honored in this?” Peter says, If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. (1 Peter 4:14)

Paul reminds and encourages us to show up every day and fight the spiritual battles the Lord sets before us, to finish the course, and to keep the faith delivered to us once and for all by our Savior, Jesus Christ. So, be encouraged today. Ignite the flame within you with the Word of God and stand with the saints like never before. Lift your hands through the clouds and darkness all around you and be the conqueror God says you are. Put on the full armor of God, get in the fight, take back all Satan and sin have stolen from you, and magnify the Lord in all you do. Most importantly, know this — you have the victory in Christ Jesus. And remember, the only spiritual battle you can lose is the one you refuse to fight! Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. (Romans 8:37)

Let's Pray - Dear Father, make me a soldier in Your army, and deploy me on the mission to bring many souls to glory. Amen.

Will You Believe

Nicodemus said to Him, "How can these things be?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you a teacher of Israel and do not know these things? If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?" (John 3:9,10)

Nicodemus was asking the right questions, but the answers were not what he expected. That's because Jesus' words are spirit and life, and Nicodemus did not yet have ears to hear them. He was expecting Jesus to speak in the aloof, legalistic way he'd become accustomed to — yet, Jesus was speaking spirit and life, and that was new and unexpected. Nicodemus would never be the same after this conversation, and Jesus' words were going to draw him or repel him. How Nicodemus received those words depended on the condition of His heart, and the same is true of us. "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." (Revelation 2:7)

It is God's pleasure to give us the keys to the Kingdom, and our good pleasure to receive them. When we come to the Lord with our questions and cares, we must be prepared to hear Him in the spirit — that is the only language He speaks. He is the truth, and He speaks the truth. Those who are willing to trust and obey hear Him gladly, and the mysteries of faith become clearer to us all the time. Are you simple enough, humble enough, quiet enough to hear and understand spiritual things? Can you receive the truth?

Let's Pray - Lord, I humble myself before Your Word. I am determined to be simple and childlike enough to hear and obey. Thank You for ears to hear. In Jesus, Amen.

Go Make Disciples

Put on the whole armor of God . . . (Ephesians 6:11)

Spiritual life involves a tremendous amount of warfare, and the only uncertainty is whether those enlisted will actually show up for battle. Truly, there seems to be a multitude of legitimate reasons for dodging the draft. “My family needs me” . . . “I have important business to tend to” . . . “My hands are full already” . . . “Isn’t spiritual warfare for professional ministers anyway?” All too often, it’s all about us! How sad that we spend so much energy considering the price we pay to serve God, while forgetting the price Jesus paid to save us. The call to “go” will be answered by the chosen few willing to strap on the full armor of God and fight the good fight of faith, knowing the battle is the Lord’s and the victory is nigh. The armor is only for those who will fight; it is cumbersome and useless for saints who refuse to go to war.

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit . . . (Matthew 28:19)

We rejoice over those who believe and receive salvation, and we should! However, the work has just begun for that convert, and many arduous days and battles lie ahead. That is why our Lord instructed the apostles to go and make disciples, not just converts. God uses His disciples to come alongside His children and lead them into the beauty of the spiritual life. These are His most effective servants, and they have chosen to follow Jesus closely and glorify Him wherever they are sent. (That is why Satan doesn't fear converts — he fears disciples!) It is God's job to save souls, and it is ours to make disciples — disciples of Jesus, not of us or our way of thinking. This is the work God has given us to do, and may we do it without complaint and without fail.

Let's Pray - Father, I gladly put on the full armor, which is Christ. I am, therefore, girded up and prepared for every battle. In Him, I am victorious. Amen.

The Words I Speak

"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words I speak to you are spirit, and they are life." (John 6:62-63)

Jesus is not speaking to our common sense or human nature when He speaks, but to the new man who walks in the Spirit. The Holy Spirit living in us teaches us to hear the words of Jesus as they really are — spirit and life! We who have come alive in the Spirit, who worship in the Spirit, who pray in the Spirit, and who walk in the Spirit hear the Word of God in the Spirit, and we hear Him clearly. We realize Jesus gives us the power to do what He commands every time, as we yield to the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. God’s words make perfect spiritual sense to us now; and as we understand them, we will confidently embrace the commands of Jesus — even the impossible ones. "I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13)

If our minds are made up on any subject, God cannot speak to us there, and we are left to our own devices. That is where darkness begins to encroach and take a foothold. Our beliefs may be sincere and even scholarly, but they are an affront to the Holy Spirit; and if not dealt with, they will grieve Him away. The Kingdom has come to rule in our hearts, and no other interests, activities, or relationships are to compete with the Spirit. Let God's word penetrate, search, and convict. That is what it means to be honest with God.

Let's Pray - Lord, may we learn to hear what You are truly saying to us. You are not speaking to our intellect or our emotions, but to our spirits. Speak, Lord. We are listening. Amen.

Kill and Eat

And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.” And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” This was done three times.  (Acts10: 13-16a)

God works in spirit-filled believers in ways we never imagined. If we are truly spirit-filled, we are responding to God’s call to go where we would not have gone, love those we once felt nothing for, forgive those who hurt us most, and give what we would keep. Those things are true when the Holy Spirit is having His way with us. God was sending Peter, a Jew, to a place he would never have gone, and to minister the Gospel to people he didn’t think God even cared about. Peter’s obedience would make a way for those lost in ignorance and sin to enter into the Kingdom of God, because he allowed the Spirit to fill him and direct him.

I encourage you to trust God more than your feelings or experiences, like Peter did. He simply obeyed God. You, too, must obey Him, even when He takes you through new and uncomfortable challenges. He is an exceedingly gracious God who will perfect and prepare you by the Spirit who fills you. The lesson Peter learned is this — if you will obey God's voice, He will take you beyond your prejudices, and He will use you to accomplish His will.

Let's Pray - Lord, help me to trust You, even when I do not understand Your directions. I am willing to go where You send me and do as You command. Lead me, Lord. Amen.

The New Wine

Then He spoke a parable to them: “No one puts a piece from a new garment on an old one; otherwise the new makes a tear, and also the piece that was taken out of the new does not match the old. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine will burst the wineskins and be spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved. And no one, having drunk old wine, immediately desires new; for he says, ‘The old is better.’” (Luke 5:36-39)

When God's Kingdom comes, it brings a new way of seeing ourselves and everything around us. It's not that we did not see, but we did not see God! Our ability to perceive and understand spiritual things lies dormant until our spirits have been quickened by the Holy Spirit. Only then does the Word of the Lord begin to make sense and the Way becomes clear. This clarity is the birthright of the saint alone, while every other person walks in the darkness of the old; for only Christ can shine the light so we might see as He sees — so that we might see God.

Beware of the temptation to base your spiritual beliefs on the things around you. The saint who walks closely with God walks by faith and not by his natural sight. The unseen reality is that which is most important to acknowledge, and that is why we pray to the Father for His wisdom and spiritual understanding. The worldly viewpoint stands on human wisdom, while the Kingdom of God is a matter of eternal issues and realities. Our flesh will always hold on to the old and familiar, but our spirit-man knows God is doing a new thing in us, and the best is yet to come. Take hold of God in your spirit, and He will show you great and mighty things. Take hold of the new. 

Let's Pray - Dear Lord, may my heart remain open to the new things You place before me — things that have never been done or seen before! Thank You for this exciting life of faith! Amen.

Put it Away

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. (Corinthians 13:11)

God requires that my innocence give way to the spiritual maturity — maturity that comes through the wisdom and holiness found only in Jesus. My manhood is not found in what I possess or gain, but what I put away; in putting away childish speech and thinking, so that I might come to God as a man, not a boy. Putting away childish things means turning from my self-centered ways, so that I can look up and see Jesus. I must step out of the crib, take off the diaper, puts away the toys, come out from under the apron-strings, forsake all, and follows Jesus. That is the hard work I am called to do — and do it I must!

Make room for God today. Present yourself a living sacrifice, one who is willing to lose what you have in order to gain what God has for you. He desires to fill you, but you must first be empty. God will only lift up the life you lay down. May the Holy Spirit show you the relationships, activities, attitudes, and mindsets you need to put away. Your spiritual adulthood awaits.

Let’s Pray- Father, empty me, so that I might be filled with You. I lay aside all my ambitions, my hopes, my dreams, everything. Holy Spirit, come and rule in my heart. I want to grow up! Amen.

Nothing Can Separate

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)

Nothing can separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus. So, it does not matter what others do or say, whether they respect or disrespect me, thank me or use me, include or exclude me, honor or disdain me, bless or curse me. As long as I offer my body a living sacrifice to God each day and walk in the Spirit He gives, the Lord will receive me. That is the wisdom, the attitude, and the spiritual truth Paul is teaching here.

God's love completes us, and His grace is sufficient. It cannot be bested, out maneuvered, out worked, overwhelmed, or overcome — therefore, the battles and temptations we face cannot and will not separate us from the God who loves us. The Lord Jesus has been given all authority in heaven and earth, and all things exist for His pleasure and purpose. There is no one wiser, more powerful, or stronger than He. There is no time, realm, or circumstance where He is not God and He is not sovereign. We are His and we always will be, and nothing can snatch us from His hand. This the blessed assurance of those who have lost and found their lives in Jesus. We will never be separated from Him again — not by anyone or anything, ever. Amen.

Let’s Pray – Father, thank You for Your love that will never fail or forsake me, even in the worst of times. I am found in You and free in You, and I will give You praise and glory today. Amen.

Be Born Again

Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3)

These are among the most stunning and consequential words ever spoken. Only Jesus is able to speak like this, for in Him alone can the Kingdom be seen. He presents Himself as the context in which everything and anything about God is to be understood, and it requires a literal and spiritual re-birth to even begin comprehending those things. Up until the coming of the Messiah, men saw spiritual things through a glass darkly (1 Corinthians 13:12) — but in Christ, we are able to see the Lord "face-to-face," and we can see Him in no other way. Has God presented the risen Christ to you? Have you received Him on those terms? Are you truly “born again?”

Christ cannot be packaged in any formal doctrine or presentation. Jesus did not come to establish a religion, a set of rules and requirements, a denomination, or a movement. He came to announce and establish the Kingdom of God, to save us from our sins, to make a way back to the Father, and that is exactly what He did. Nothing can be added to or taken away from Jesus, for the fullness and pleasure of God dwell in Him alone. He is God's Word, and the Word says a man must be born again or he cannot see or comprehend the things of God. Simply said, Christ is Christianity, and Christianity is Christ. That is the Kingdom, and those who receive this truth see it — "You must be born again."

Let’s Pray – Father, Jesus made it clear that I cannot earn my salvation. It is the gift of God, and I must be born again in the Spirit in order to receive it. Here I am, O Lord. Thank You for the new birth in Jesus Christ. Amen.

Called to Liberty

For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. (Galatians 5:13)

The liberty we walk in was bought and paid for by the Lamb of God, who took away our sin-debt and set us free from the bondage and wages of sin. Nails were driven through the hands and feet of our Lord, and the banner waving over our lives is stained with His Blood. Freedom in Christ has been given that we might testify of the Great Emancipator and show the world what it means to be loosed from the chains of self and sin, to overcome our fears by faith, and to serve the Lord without a trace of self-consciousness. Oh, that we would realize that Christ has liberated and set us apart for His own pleasure! Now we are free to be love-slaves of our Lord and King, and to belong to Jesus and no one else — not even ourselves. 

One of the great battles we will wage as saints is the fight to remain agenda-free and to live sacrificially. We are most victorious and free when we let the Holy Spirit love and serve others through us, keeping our eyes off ourselves and locking them on our Lord's interests in men. He came to earth to give His life, and we are on earth that He might give that life to others through us. We have been set free for this purpose; not to use our freedom to do as we please, but as He pleases. The freedom to serve God and love others is the most exquisite liberty we can experience. That's what "Christian liberties" really means. 

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

Let’s Pray – Precious Lord, I thank You, that I have been set free to serve You and Your purpose for my life. May I be a continual blessing to Your church. In Jesus alone, Amen.

Love and Holiness

Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (1 John 4:7-11)

Some mistake the strength of conviction and the fight for what is right for love, and that is a grievous error. Feelings and conviction alone, no matter how strong, never lead us to perfect love. The fact that we feel strongly about someone or something does not mean the Lord feels the same. Our flesh and self-interest are the snare, limitation, and weakness of passion-driven love. God's love is not hindered at all by emotions, because His love is bound to His holiness, and only His love is perfected in that holiness. True love is not passion, and passion is not true love — our passion must mature into love by submission to the Holy Spirit.

The test of God's love in our hearts is how we treat those around us. If we do not love one another, we cannot rightly claim to love God. Our idea of love must be battered into shape by the mean world and people we encounter; and there will be those who are unlovable, but God expects us to love in spite of themselves —  in spite of ourselves. This is the true nature of holy love. It is not something romantic, passionate, or delicate, but precious, practical, and durable. May the Lord show us what love really means and how it behaves toward others. Teach us, Lord.

Let’s Pray – Lord, help me to walk in and express holy love; that is, the love of the Father, which is without selfishness or agenda. Teach me on a daily basis what that love looks and sounds like, and I will walk in that instruction. In Jesus, Amen.

The Wise Son

Jesus continued, "There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So, he divided his property between them. Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild (prodigal) living.  (Luke 15: 11-13)

The blessings we seek from God will distance us from Him, unless we are first pursuing an intimate relationship with Him. In spite of so much preaching today about our breakthroughs, our destiny, and our shining moment, the Bible is more focused on our character. So, our Father prepares and presents His wisdom to us every day, and we must be careful to turn aside from all other concerns and fellowship with Him through worship, prayer, and the Word. Our schedules tell us we don't have time for this, but our souls long for the moments of sitting at the table with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — laughing, feasting, talking, abiding in Him, and surrounded by His glory. While the prodigal son goes to his father to get a blessing, the wise son knows that being with his father is the blessing.

Have you been asking the Lord for things? Earthly things? Financial things? Success? Or have you been seeking His Kingdom? All those other things are secondary, but one thing pleases the Father — that we be more and more like His Son. Jesus did not concern Himself one bit with the things of this world, only that He might please the Father. Therefore, the Father was pleased with the Son, and He is pleased with us when we are found in Him. Let every other concern fade and seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Then, ask what you will, and it will be done for you. That is the life and the prayer of the wise son and daughter. That is your life.

Let's Pray - Precious Lord, I will prioritize my relationship with You, for that relationship is the primary focus of my life. All my springs are in You. Amen.

We Believe God

And he (Abraham) believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness. (Genesis 15:6)

Abraham's life is synonymous with the fundamental doctrine of grace and faith in God, by which every child of God is saved and secured into the Kingdom. His role and contribution to the Christian faith is invaluable, as he is the man the Lord chose to initiate the great Plan of Redemption, which is completed in our Savior, Jesus. Hundreds of years before the law was given to Moses on the mountain, Abraham demonstrated the righteousness according to faith that would supersede every effort to please God by works of the Mosaic law. He demonstrated that the law was written in his heart, long before it was ever written on tablets of stone. He believed the Lawgiver, and that belief was accounted to him for righteousness. Therefore, we who believe God today have the right to be called the children of Abraham, because we believe like He did — and how blessed we are to do so!

The term, "Father," is among highest designations one can receive, because it reflects that which is true of God, our Heavenly Father. Fathers possess life-giving seed and all its resident possibilities, and fathers of the faith reproduce that same faith in their spiritual children. That was true of Abraham, who not only became the father of nations, but he would become the father of all who believe God and take Him at His word. Abraham's greatness was found in his faith — a faith that pointed to his God. May that same faith be found in those who believe today, in those who make up the church, the true family of God.

Let’s Pray – Father, I am honored to be called a son of Abraham, because I believe in You, just as he did. Thank You for the gift of faith and use me to bring many more sons and daughters to glory. Amen.

Sanctify My Speech

But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. (James 3:8-10)

James says, "no man can tame the tongue," but every man can humble himself in the sight of the Lord and hide the Word in his heart — “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” (Matthew 12:34). Each disciple will fight the battle to tame the tongue, and we will win that battle when Christ is perfected in our hearts through regeneration and spiritual discipline. The Lord's words are spirit and life, and ours should be, too. So, be encouraged, because Jesus will sanctify our speech as He purifies our hearts.

If we speak our own words, they will be laced with self and sin, no matter how hard we try. Our hearts will betray us sooner or later, and our speech will reflect those areas we have not surrendered to God. So, the Spirit desires we lay our lives before Him, that He might touch us in places yet untouched, and sanctify us completely. Then, we are free to speak words that are spiritual, pure, refreshing, and "seasoned with salt." Only the Holy Spirit can accomplish this in us. So, stop trying to tame your tongue, and give God your heart.

Let’s Pray – Father, it is out of a pure heart I pray. Sanctify my speech, and may my words reflect my closeness with You. I want my speech to be a blessing today. Help me, Lord. Amen.

Build Your Altar

Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” And there he built an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him. (Genesis 12:7-8)

Whether we are aware or not, we are building a life with words, thoughts, and deeds that reflect the God or god we see. If we see the living and true God as revealed to us in Jesus Christ, our faith will produce a life of love, worship, and service to Him, and we will give Him glory and satisfaction. If we focus on the fleeting pleasures of this life, our faith will remain small and unproductive, as it is with many today. Jesus speaks of this sort when He says, "Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful." (Mark 4:18-19) Let us receive the privileges afforded to the children of Abraham who see the Lord and acknowledge Him, who "build an altar," who worship and honor God, who believe and receive all the promises of God — for all God's promises are "Yes and Amen" in Jesus Christ.

Let’s Pray – Dear Father, may my life be one of worship and acknowledgment of Your love and kindness. I will seize every opportunity You present me to lift up Your name for all to see. Amen.

God’s Difficult Lessons

Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of Hosts. (Zechariah 4:6)

We are made in the image of God, therefore, we are the most capable living creatures on earth. Even still, human ingenuity has no place in God's plans for His children, and this is a very difficult lesson to learn. The Lord has been so kind to bless us with the gifts of intelligence, creativity, physical strength, and free will. Along with this endowment comes grave responsibilities, and the child of God must learn to steward these gifts with a constant focus on the Lordship of Jesus Christ. In other words, we are never to exercise our gifts independent of the Lord. God's ways and thoughts are above ours, and we must believe His way is the only way. Our thoughts and ways are only pleasing to Him when we have asked for and received the Mind of Christ.

Our greatest successes and failures depend strictly on the choices we make to exercise faith or walk in worldly wisdom and human counsel. We must never insist on our way, and we must humble ourselves and walk in the steps ordained for us by God. His way or mine? This is a battle we will wage as long as we are here on earth, and it is the quintessential test. If we trust, obey, and wait, we will see the salvation of the Lord; and we will see it with the eyes of the Spirit. May the Lord give us eyes to see and hearts to understand. Remember, the battle is the Lord's, not ours — and the victory is sure.

Let’s Pray – Dear Lord, help me to understand Your ways. May my ways agree with Your in every circumstance. Please lead me by Your Spirit! Amen.

The Test of Humility

Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left.” And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar. Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east. And they separated from each other. (Genesis 13:9-11)

The conflict over Abram's interests versus Lot's was one of those controversies engineered by God, because He was determined to separate Abram and Sarai to Himself. Abram, to his credit, chose not to take preeminence, stake a claim, pull rank, negotiate, or even flip a coin. He simply humbled himself before Lot (who, as the younger, should have humbled himself before Abram), and his gracious behavior resolved the conflict before it could do more damage. Abram was led by the Spirit to humble himself and take what seemed less, and Lot took what looked best. To this very day, the children of Abraham walk in the Spirit of humility, and that Spirit will always lead us to the higher ground of consecration — separated unto the Lord. Abram humbled himself and passed the test, and so must we!

Humility is, perhaps, the most overlooked trait of greatness, and it is hard to find, even among saints. We, too often, fall into the false belief that we should be first, when Jesus clearly says the last will be first in His kingdom. Yet, the humble man and woman is always willing to take the lower place and wait for the Lord to exalt them in due time. Lot would soon regret his decision, and he would find himself in Sodom, a place destined for destruction. Abram, through humility, dwelled and prospered in the will of God. May we, as Abraham's children, follow his example, humble ourselves, and receive the promises that are ours in Christ.

Let’s Pray – Lord, teach us to understand the issues before us as You understand them. May we fight the right fights, letting go of what might seem good, and receive Your best! In Jesus Christ, Amen.

Husband and Wife

And it came to pass, when he was close to entering Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, “Indeed I know that you are a woman of beautiful countenance. Therefore, it will happen, when the Egyptians see you, that they will say, “This is his wife’; and they will kill me, but they will let you live. Please say you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that I may live because of you.” So, it was, when Abram came into Egypt, that the Egyptians saw the woman, that she was very beautiful. The princes of Pharaoh also saw her and commended her to Pharaoh. And the woman was taken to Pharaoh's house. (Genesis 12:11-15)

That which was promised to Abram was to come through Sarai. The Lord would produce a great nation through them, and He would not change His mind and bring that nation about through any other vessels. Yet, here we see them operating like those who had no relationship with God and no promises from Him, so Abram chose to compromise Sarai and protect himself at her expense. How many men have forfeited and forsaken the promises of God because they did not esteem the importance of oneness with their wives? What a travesty, and even today, too many men of God fall miserably short of loving their wives as they love themselves. Help us, Lord!

God would rectify the situation and remove Sarai from Pharaoh's grip — but unfortunately, Abram would fail this test again (Genesis 20:2). He and Sarai would eventually learn to rely on the Lord to protect them and show Himself strong on their behalf, but it was a slow and painful process. Sometimes, the Lord has to keep His promises in spite of our weakness — but He is patient, as He brings us into a life of grace and faith. Abram and Sarai would grow to trust God and receive His promises, but now, the Lord was teaching them all it meant to be husband and wife, and joint heirs of those promises. May every married couple take heed to this valuable lesson and learn to walk hand-in-hand through the years by faith.

Let's Pray – Dear Lord, may every married man endeavor to appreciate the gift he has in his wife. May he see her as the greatest gift the Lord will ever give him, and may his actions reflect that truth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

God Never Forgets

Then Abram said, “Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one born in my house is my heir!” (Genesis 15:3)

We will all experience difficult moments when it seems God forgot His promise or the time of fulfillment has expired; but He is simply developing patience in us and purifying our hearts. He is also preparing us to be a greater blessing than we can imagine, as others are being prepared to receive the blessings that will come through us. Even today, believers are walking in the blessings of Abraham, because he believed God. In the same way, many generations that follow us will walk in the blessings of our faith — if we believe!

God's ways are not our ways, and neither is His timing. He has the leisure and knowledge of past, present, and future, and He is the Master of the divine moment. Not even Jesus knows the precise hour of His return, and even He has chosen to wait on His Father, that the Father alone might be our All in All. Abraham's faith was rooted in trust, for the things God promised him were impossible, so it seemed. That trust was the fertile ground the Lord would use to do the impossible and make a way where there was none. Isaac was on the way, and Abraham would be tested in the interim. He would pass his test, and so must we — and pass it we will, by faith and faith alone.

Let's Pray – Father God, I trust You. It’s that simple. Help me in the times when I get impatient and weak. Speak to me, and encourage me, Lord. Thank You for purifying my heart and increasing my faith, even though it hurts! Amen.

Do Not Marvel

"Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’" (John 3:7)

Never dispute with a man or woman who says they cannot help the condition they are in because they were born that way. They were born that way, and so were you. When Adam fell, sin rushed in and infected us to the core, right down to our very DNA; and we became transgressors, rebels, and enemies of God by nature — human nature. All of us are natural-born sinners. We are liars, cheaters, selfish, hateful, prideful, and the list goes on and on. This is not easy to hear, but it is true. Only after acknowledging the awful truth about ourselves and others can we begin to understand the Lord's words, "You must be born again."

Jesus gave His life to tear down the partition sin erected between us and God. If any man or woman desires to know and be known by God, he or she must come to Him on the terms of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. No service we render or goodness we possess can earn us a place in the family of God, but we are related to Him on this one condition — "You must be born again." That is the central truth of the New Testament; that Jesus gave His life for us, and we must believe in Him in order to receive that life. That is God's condition, and His condition is His Son. There will never be another way, another truth, or another life. Jesus is all, and Jesus is enough.

Let's Pray - Dear Lord, I am a sinner, a wretched man, a rebel, and a cheat. Yet, You loved me in the midst of my sin and saved my soul by giving Your Son's life for mine. I will never cease believing, praising, thanking, and serving You. Amen. 

Lift Your Eyes

And the Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: “Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are—northward, southward, eastward, and westward; for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever." (Genesis 13:14,15)

There are things the Lord cannot and will not show you until He gets you alone. The Bible is filled with stories of men and women God sets apart to Himself — in fact, those men and women are the only ones He can truly and fully use. If we will not leave the comforts of home, riches, pedigree, human wisdom, or popularity we cannot be fully used by God, and our spiritual world-view remains limited, at best. Come away with God, then, lift your eyes.

It is rare that God will draw close to a man who is accepted and highly thought of by the world. It is also rare that He will use an exceptional man or one who is sufficient in himself. Rather, He looks for one who is simple and humble enough to believe. The world (and many in the church) will see that man as a strange choice, but the Lord sees the one who is not afraid to stand on His promises — and that faithful one must be willing to stand apart and stand alone. It may take some time for God to get a man off to Himself, but in His mind, the wait is worth it. That is the man He can speak to, and when He speaks, He will say, "Lift your eyes . . ." 

Let’s Pray – Father, thank You for showing us things as You see them. We lift our eyes today, and we see all creation poised to give You praise and glory. In Jesus, Amen.