Never Lose Hope

Then He spoke a parable to them, that men ought always to pray and never lose hope. (Luke 18:1)

Our Lord is sharing something essential with His disciples — prayer is the only way to maintain a hopeful outlook through the bleak seasons we are sure to experience; in other words, the prayerful saint is the hopeful saint, and Jesus wants us to never lose our hope, so we must pray! The Lord told us clearly that we will suffer tribulation in this world; yet we are to be of good cheer, because He has overcome the world, and we are overcomers in Him. We all would lose hope for some people and circumstances apart from the assurance we receive from prayer and intercession. The Lord has ordained prayer as His formula for spiritual sustenance and success.

Then He (Jesus) said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.” (Luke 22:46)

 A praying saint may travail and suffer, he may struggle and wonder when God will answer, she may grapple with feelings of defeat and depression — but the fact that we persevere in prayer is the surest sign we have not lost heart. The prayer of faith girds and guards the heart of the intercessor, keeping us connected to an invisible stream of spiritual strength through faith, and we never doubt that God will keep His Word and glorify His Son, if we will just believe — if we will just pray. May the Lord increase the faithful in the earth, and may we never take our eyes off the promise and the Promise Keeper.

Let's Pray - Father, Your Word says You will keep me in perfect peace, as long as my eyes and heart are fixed on You. Help me stay focused and prayerful, so that I might see Your Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus alone, Amen.

The Holy Challenge

When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.”  So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.  (Luke 5:8-11)

 

A man cannot honestly understand who he is until he encounters a true man of God. Only when he is confronted by the holiness in another can he compare the true measure of himself against God’s standard of manhood — “I am a sinful man, O Lord!”  Immediately the decision must be made. “Do I shrink back in fear, or do I answer the call in my spirit to follow Jesus?”

 

It is God’s will that no one remain the same once they’ve encountered Jesus. Peter would have turned back, "Depart from me…" But the call of God on his life would not let him stay where he was. His fear would have caused him to run from the One he should run to, but Jesus promised him a relationship with God that would make him all he was created to be. It was an irresistible promise to become a real man, and Peter took that challenge. Have you taken God's challenge? Have you decided to follow Jesus? There will never be a more important question, or a more consequential answer.

 

Let's Pray - Dear Lord, I, like Peter, take the challenge to become a real man. I desire to all You have ordained for me, and I will walk in the steps You have ordered. Here I am, Lord. Use me. Amen.

Commanded to Love

“These things I command you, that you love one another.”  (John 15:17)

 

Many believe love to be a voluntary emotion, and that we should love according to what we feel in our hearts. If so, does God honestly expect us to love unlovable people, or those who hurt us and mean us harm? Does God expect us to love those we don't like, who are nothing like us, or whose behavior we disdain? These are difficult questions to wrestle with as we learn to love as Christ commands, and this is where we must surrender our understanding and receive the love poured in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. Otherwise, it is impossible to get beyond ourselves and our fears into the realm of holy love.

 

It may seem odd that Jesus commands us to love, but it makes a remarkable difference to see love as a commandment and not an emotion. Jesus can command and empower us to love, because He has taken it out of the natural realm and placed it in the framework of the spirit. He did that when He bore all our sins and sicknesses, and when He gave His life for ours on the Cross of Calvary — all out of love. God's love is spiritual, based on the work and person of Jesus Christ who is God, and who is love. So, let this be said of us; that we love like Jesus loves, that we are filled with love by the Spirit, and we are filled with love for one another.

 

Let's Pray - Father, it is good and right to learn to define love as You do. Teach me to appreciate the opportunity to love as You command. May my words and deeds be salt and light in the earth, and may You be glorified in Your servant. Amen.

The Power of Words

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

 

"But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment." (Matthew 12:36)

 

What a marvelous blessing it is to become a wise steward of the tongue! Jesus tells us His words are spirit and life — much more than syllables and sounds, but they are alive and living and able to accomplish the purpose for which they are spoken. There are no idle words from the mouth of God, and as we mature in Him, there will be fewer and fewer from us. Our words are pregnant with meaning and effect, and the Lord will hold us accountable for them. Perhaps we should give longer and wiser consideration before we speak.

 

The Lord is pleased when we speak words of blessing and truth, and when our speech reflects His express viewpoint. The lips of the child of God should release the sweetness of the heart of God and be rooted in faith and kindness. Let us at all cost avoid bitter and scornful words that do not reflect the love of our Lord. Jesus is the example we are to follow in our conversation, and His example is one of perfection. May the Holy Spirit teach us to communicate in a perfect way that strengthens and redeems.

 

Let's Pray - Father God, help me to speak words that bring life and love to every conversation. I will follow the example and instruction of my Lord to speak the truth in love, and in a way that builds up and strengthens the one who hears me. In Jesus alone, Amen.

I Chose You

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give you.” (John 15:16)

This is the divine order of the life of God's servants. The Lord calls and chooses us out of the world, appoints and commissions us into His service, plants and places us where He desires, and we come to Him for everything pertaining to life and godliness. That is God's plan, and it cannot be defeated or frustrated by any ungodly force or being. It is Jesus who holds the keys to time and eternity, and His purpose will always be fulfilled in those who walk closely with Him. 

"And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But not a hair of your head shall be lost. By your patience possess your souls." (Luke 21:17-19)

 

Friendship with God is the sovereign choice of Jesus, and He offers it to whomever He wills. It is an awesome honor to be called apart from the world into the confidence of God and to be trusted with spiritual matters. God has appointed His chosen ones to this, and if we are faithful, He will produce godliness in us that will feed a world hungry for Jesus, the Bread of Life. No tree the Lord plants eats its own fruit or seeks to lavish its produce on itself (as some shamelessly do); but we are God’s gifts to the world, and our relationship with Him avails to us the endless supply of heaven, so that His will is unfailingly accomplished through us everywhere we are sent.

 

Let's Pray - Dear Father, I realize I am a servant of Yours by no merit of my own, but by Your sovereign grace and choice. All my confidence and joy are found in You! I love You, Lord. Amen.

Light vs. Darkness

Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. (Acts 12:1-2)

 

The church of Jesus Christ is never at home in this world, and the more contrast there is between the children of light and the children of darkness, the more uncomfortable our lives here will be. That is why it is such a sad thing to witness Christians endeavoring to be friends with the world, "giving back," serving the community, etc. These sound like noble and desirable goals, but the Lord saved us for a much higher purpose — to glorify Jesus Christ. Yet, some are drawn back to the world out of a sense of their own righteousness and the needs of men that have nothing to do with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For them, the offense of the Cross has ceased, because they seek to please people and to be highly thought of for their good works. This is a strong temptation, because it appeals to a sense of our own adequacy and goodness, when the Scriptures make it clear that no one is good but God. Lord, help us!

 

Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 

James was not killed because he was doing good things, but he was killed because of his powerful witness of Jesus Christ. The peace and prosperity of the Jerusalem church was challenged by the brutal tactics of a tyrant king, whose ultimate aim was to be seen as God; therefore, the church of the living God was threat to him, and Satan incited him to violence. Even today, the true church is faced with the demand to bow before the political and cultural gods of this world, or to face persecution at the hands of those “Herods,” who would be God. But the children of light stand apart as pilgrims and strangers in the world, and they have no need to be included or accepted by men. Our days here may be difficult, and we may never find ourselves comfortable in this world, but there awaits the crown of life for all who endure to the end. May the Lord give us strength and discernment in these things.

 

Let's Pray - Dear Lord, we look forward to the rule of the Kingdom of Heaven on the earth. Until then, give us strength, power, and protection from the enemy. May our witness only get stronger as the opposition increases. Be glorified in Your children. Amen. 

The Friend of God

"No longer do I (Jesus) call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all the things I heard from My Father I have made known to you."  (John 15:15)

 

The Lord has many followers, but few friends. Friends are those who draw closed to Jesus on His terms, and His terms are spiritual, not soulish, emotional, or religious. Friendship with Jesus draws us into the realm of spiritual intimacy where the love, knowledge, and counsel of God are made available to us and no one else. Close friends are free to share themselves with one another and enjoy that freedom because of a bond of trust developed over time and experiences. We know we are friends of Christ when He is the Lord of our lives; then the knowledge of God is poured out on us abundantly, and we begin to hunger for it more and more each day.

 

You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. (John 15:14)

Most human friendships are based on affinities, shared interests and desires, or emotional ties; but it is not so in the Kingdom. The Lord is holy, and He will only enter into friendship with holy men and women. He will never be related to sin and selfishness, and He is not interested in associations and affiliations that do not glorify the Father. Therefore, we must be obedient to His Word, if He is to identify us as friends. Once He can trust us to follow Him closely, He can share His heart with us as a friend desires to do. Are you trustworthy in that way? Do you follow His commands? If so, you are a friend of God. Remember, we are not His friends until He says we are. What is He saying about you?

 

Let's Pray - Father, thank You for calling me Your friend through Your Son, Jesus Christ. I desire to be the kind of friend that represents You well and obeys Your every command. In Jesus, Amen.

I Encourage Myself

Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. (1 Samuel 30:6)

David’s example in this passage is a tremendous testimony to the heart of a worshiper who is fully engaged with the Lord through prayer and obedience. David's response to the catastrophic events he faced was not natural, but supernatural – an outgrowth of a daily life of devotion. When he might have resorted to self-defense, depression, despondency, deflecting, accusing, and sulking, he teaches us to go to the secret place and seek the mind of Christ. When others were demanding immediate action, David waited and prayed. When he could have sought man’s advice, David inquired of the Lord. The relationship with God he had cultivated in his daily life became his salvation in the crisis, and so must it be with us all.

 

That which is inside us comes out when we are pressed. If we are filled with the Spirit of God, we will respond with prayer, intercession, and wisdom in difficult times. If we are filled with fleshly and worldly motives, our response will be selfish and cowardly. If our hearts are pure, so will our speech and behavior be, for Jesus says, “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:38) 

The Lord would have us be prepared for the days of trial that surely lie ahead; and when everyone around us is distressed, may we, like David, encourage ourselves and those around us in the Lord our God.

 

Let's Pray - Father, I will seek your face for the strength I need, so that I may respond well in the moment of crisis. Teach me to turn to You and move at the Spirit's direction when I am tested. Amen.

All About Love

In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us . . . (1 John 4:10)

 

The Bible is a love letter, though we often fail to realize it. From Genesis to the Revelation, the Bible’s all about love. From the Fall of Man to the Cross of Christ — from Egypt through the desert to the Promised Land — from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to Peter, James, and John — from the snake to the dove — from the Glory leaving the temple to the Holy Spirit falling at Pentecost – yes, from Alpha to Omega it’s all about love. This love finds its perfection in God Himself, and is offered to us in Jesus, who is God Himself — and poured out on us in the Holy Spirit, who is God Himself. Yes, the Bible is all about love and all about God, who actually is love.

 

. . . not that we loved God . . .

It is a wonderful thing to come to God on His terms — spiritual terms — and to leave our emotions and passions out of the equation. God's love is not dependent on any happenstance or feeling. It is Who He is, and it is who we become when we walk in that love. God's love in us will take us higher and deeper than we could ever go, and it will make us vessels of honor and instruments fit for glorious works. We cannot reach it by any effort of our own, but God's love reaches us, if we will just bow down. How great is our God, and how great is His love toward us! This is the Good News in which God's children rejoice. 

And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord; it shall rejoice in His salvation. (Psalms 35:9)

 

Let's Pray - Dear Lord, thank You for Your overcoming, overwhelming, redeeming love. I desire to share the love You have poured out on me with others. Lead me, and I will follow Your example of loving others. In Jesus, Amen.

Believing in Him

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

 

This is perhaps the most quoted verse in the Bible, and rightly so. It is the best news ever proclaimed, the simplest and most direct answer to life’s most important question. It is the revelation of God’s love manifest in Jesus — whose life on the earth, death on the cross, resurrection from the dead, ascension to the right hand of God, and His return comprise the central reality of all time and eternity. 

For God so loved the world … 

Everything that has ever been done or said will be measured by the words spoken in this verse. There is no truth beyond it, no one or thing outside its reach, no man, woman, or angel above it, and no thought that isn’t subject to it. God’s love given to us in Jesus Christ is all that truly matters, and it is the key to the door we must step through to be at peace with a holy God. What an honor to come to God, and to come on His terms! Our present and eternal state depend on it. 

 

Let's Pray - Father God, thank You for the gift of everlasting life through Jesus, my Savior. It is the solid rock on which I stand. All glory to You, Lord. Amen. 

Food Which Endures

Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him." Then they said to Him, "What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?" Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent." (John 6:27-29)

 

With God, success isn’t primarily about reaching our goals, but it’s about what our goals are. If we reach our goals but they are not what the Lord would have for us, then we are not truly successful. Our success in God’s eyes depends entirely on what we are working for. So, what does God tell us we are supposed to work for? In this passage Jesus tells us, “Don’t labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life…” In other words, don’t spend your life on things that won’t matter in the end. Spend your life knowing and obeying Jesus Christ, who is the Bread of Life, “the food which endures to everlasting life.” Jesus simplifies things for us and says, “The work of God is to believe in me.” What God evaluates is our belief in Jesus. That’s it. What a liberating thing it is to know that God has given us such a short to-do list!

 

Let's Pray - Dear Father, thank You for teaching me what success truly means. I desire to be found in You, and my values are those of the Kingdom of Heaven. In Jesus, Amen.

You Follow Me

Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.” (John 21:21-22)

 

". . . what is that to you?"

What the Lord chooses to do with and for others is none of our concern. Comparison and envy are the root of all insecurity. God distributes opportunities, goods, and attributes according to His wisdom, and He is not accountable to us for an explanation. We are, on the other hand, accountable to Him for that which He has given us! There is a great deal of wisdom in this.

 

"You follow Me."

Our walk with God is a very personal one, and while we are members of one another, there is a beautifully unique work He is doing in each one individually. We are to come alongside and build one another up, and to be sure not to interfere in God's sovereign work in others. This takes a great deal of self-control, but that is what God expects. We must remember His specific words to each of us, to follow Him closely, watch with Him at all times, and leave every other soul to Him. Then, He will use us to the benefit of our brothers and sisters, and we will be instruments of blessing everywhere He sends us.

 

. . . that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you . . . (1 Thessalonians 4:11)

 

Let's Pray - Lord, forgive me for comparing myself and my work to any other saint, and for being overly involved in the lives of others. You have a plan for each of Your children and may we all look to You alone for our strength and purpose. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Fear and Isolation

And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time." And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. (1 Kings 19:1-3)

 

Elijah was fresh off the greatest spiritual victory of his life, as God had proven Himself in the eyes of all Israel. Yet, at the voice of the evil Queen Jezebel, he cowered, ran, and isolated himself from the people, work, and will of God. This episode in the life of Elijah is truly a warning to us. Even after our highest spiritual moments and victories, we can be more vulnerable than we know – and Satan will seek to deliver a death blow to our faith when we least expect it.

 

A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire;

He rages against all wise judgment. (Proverbs 18:1)

 

Where was the faith Elijah displayed on Mount Carmel where he triumphed over hundreds of pagan priest and prophets? How did he go from calling down fire from heaven to flying away like a frightened bird? How quickly we can fall if we take our eyes off the Lord, even for a moment — and how steep that fall can be! The voice of the Lord becomes strange and distant to us the moment we isolate ourselves from Him and fellow believers, so we must heed the lesson the scriptures illustrate in Elijah. Let us resist the temptation to look away from Jesus — and let us be found standing close to Him at all times, especially when we are afraid.

 

Let's Pray - Father God, may I be prepared to stand in faith in the difficult moments of my life. Teach me to run to those who will pray for me and encourage me, and may my testimony be a help to those around me. Amen.

The Freedom of “No”

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6)

 

And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.” (John 6:65)

 

This word, "No," is where the freedom of a saint is found. "No" is restrictive and limiting at first glance. Yet, it is the narrow road that leads to freedom, and a precious few find it, but bondage is found in the multitude of distractions and traps that await the Christian who wanders from the way God prescribes. Remember, Jesus said He is the only way. So, while there are many ways, there is no other Way. The saint who walks in the way Jesus speaks of is free from the fears and faults that accompany every other way. That freedom manifests in the boldness to come to the throne of God where we will receive love, grace, and understanding in our times of need. It is the freedom of one who is no longer held by the controlling power of sin, and one who is free to know and do the will of God. It is the freedom to be everything the Lord says we are and to walk in the fullness of the revelation of Jesus Christ, and no one else. It is the freedom to say, "No!" to the flesh, the world, and the devil. 

 

I bet the word "no" never sounded so good!

 

Let’s Pray – Dear Lord, I am free to say “no” to every other voice and “yes” to You. Therein lies my hope and joy, to be willing and able to say, “Yes, Lord!” Amen.

Be Found Faithful

Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. (1 Corinthians 4:2)

 

While the Lord never instructs us to trust in men, He does expect men to become trustworthy – and He has every right to expect such, because He’s given us His Holy Spirit to accomplish that work in us. Yes, God has entrusted us with much, and He expects much in return. The scriptures make it crystal clear that we will give an account for our lives, therefore the Lord expects us to live well and walk by faith. Are you being trustworthy and faithful in God’s mind? It’s a matter of great importance, so you need to be sure.

 

"Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8)

This is the essential question we must ask ourselves, "When Christ returns for me, will He find me being faithful to Him?" Some think that Jesus will be looking for great works, prosperity, successful ministries and ministers, revival, wealthy and victorious saints, and the like. Yet, Jesus is coming back for a church without spot or wrinkle, set apart to Himself, not one entangled in the web of worldly concerns and enterprise. We are called to be faithful — that is, faithful to Him and Him alone. That is an entirely different message than what is so often preached today. May we seek more and more to be found in Him, and may we be found faithful when He returns.

 

Let's Pray - Father God, thank You for Your Spirit who makes me faithful in all things. I will walk in a way that honors You, and I will give You glory in everything I do. In Jesus name, Amen. 

One Body in Christ

For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. (Romans 12:4-5)

 

The word “member” takes on its true meaning through Paul’s explanation. Our membership makes us a living and necessary part of the larger body of believers, and it is essential to the well-being of the body that we function properly. God has so formed us that we do not work very well alone, but there is an interdependence that follows the model set forth in the Trinity – distinct Persons, distinct roles, oneness, unity, and perfect love. Let the same be true of the local church and its members.

 

Satan is sure to oppose every effort to establish and maintain a healthy body of believers, and we do well to be aware of his wiles and works against our unity and purpose. The spiritual opposition is fierce, but the victory is ours if we stand our ground and refuse to be separated from each other and our calling in Christ. Our well-being is found in our devotion to the head, Jesus, and our love for one another. If we keep the unity of the Spirit, we are truly Christ's body and witness to a desperate world. May the church, individual and corporate, be true to her calling and to her head, Jesus Christ. 

 

Let's Pray - Dear Lord, I am grateful to be a member of the body of Jesus Christ. May I function according to the directions I receive from the Head and according to the leading of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus alone, Amen.

The Presence of God

But he (Samson) did not know that the Lord had departed from him. (Judges 16:20b)

 

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30)

 

We must always be careful to handle ourselves in a way that realizes the constant presence of God wherever we are and whatever we do. Respect and reverence for the Holy Spirit is the solemn and awesome privilege of every believer. Carelessness in our personal habits dulls our ability to hear and discern the still small voice of God. He will not shout over the din of the world or the busyness of our schedules. So, we must be careful not to grieve Him away -- some of us have done so and do not realize it.

 

Every Christian must come to realize what makes us the children of God -- the Spirit of God has been given to live in our hearts. That is the only difference between us and every other well-meaning religious person, and that difference is consequential and eternal. Paying the more earnest heed to the Spirit's voice is the most important decision we can make. It is the difference between blessed assurance and dangerous presumption. May we find ourselves more aware and appreciative of the Holy Spirit’s work on our behalf - - and may we give Him the thanks He deserves.

 

Let's Pray - Dear Father, forgive me for failing to recognize and respect Your holy presence. May the words I speak and the thoughts I entertain be acceptable to You always. In Jesus, Amen.

The Spirit of Promise

In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, Who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. (Ephesians 1:13-14)

 

The hope that Christians possess is much more than the emotional, feel-good phenomenon the world clings to. Our faith is not “blind,” but we seek the eternal over the temporal; and it is much more than, “Don’t worry, be happy.” Christians enjoy a powerful and effectual outlook that is assured by the presence of God Himself in the Holy Spirit. He is our “guarantee” that all we hope and wait for is real.

 

When we believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Redeemer, we enter into a relationship with the Father that gives us peace and eternal security, and we give Him glory in return. The apostle Paul calls it, “. . . this grace in which we stand . . .” – and this grace empowers us to stand victoriously through every trial and tribulation. We are empowered by the Spirit to prevail through every challenge and live praiseworthy lives for all to witness, and we expect the will and purposes of God to be accomplished on earth, as it is in heaven. The Spirit who lives in us is the guarantee that these things are true, so we say, "Yes and Amen!"

 

Let's Pray - Dear Father, nothing compares to the promise I enjoy in Jesus Christ. May I keep my eyes heavenward and bless Your name in all I say and do today. Amen.

 

The Spirit of Promise

In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, Who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. (Ephesians 1:13-14)

 

The hope that Christians possess is much more than the emotional, feel-good phenomenon the world clings to. Our faith is not “blind,” but we seek the eternal over the temporal; and it is much more than, “Don’t worry, be happy.” Christians enjoy a powerful and effectual outlook that is assured by the presence of God Himself in the Holy Spirit. He is our “guarantee” that all we hope and wait for is real.

 

When we believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Redeemer, we enter into a relationship with the Father that gives us peace and eternal security, and we give Him glory in return. The apostle Paul calls it, “. . . this grace in which we stand . . .” – and this grace empowers us to stand victoriously through every trial and tribulation. We are empowered by the Spirit to prevail through every challenge and live praiseworthy lives for all to witness — and we expect the will and purposes of God to be accomplished on earth, as it is in heaven. The Spirit who lives in us is the guarantee that these things are true, so we say, "Yes and Amen!"

 

Let's Pray - Dear Father, nothing compares to the promise I enjoy in Jesus Christ. May I keep my eyes heavenward and bless Your name in all I say and do today. Amen.

Are You Ready?

For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. (Matthew 16:27)

 

It has been taught that the Lord is preparing us for our breakthrough, our destiny, and some blessed or exalted place on this earth — but that is not true. The Lord is preparing you for His return, and He is preparing you for heaven! Heaven is the prize, not anything we can achieve in this world. The success we seek on earth may very well distract and deter us from the real prize; and that prize is the crown we will receive for our faithfulness to God in the midst of a sinful world.

 

The Bible consistently teaches us the necessity of spiritual preparedness; because we will not have time to get ourselves ready when Christ returns -- we must be ready. In other words, preparedness is a state of being for the Christian. Therefore, the Holy Spirit is not simply preparing us for that Day, He is that preparation, and Spirit-filled believers are prepared. Are you abiding in Him? In His house, in His Word, and in the secret place of prayer? Are you filled with the Holy Spirit? Are you prepared for Christ’s return? He may very well return today. Don't get ready — be ready.

 

Let's Pray - Heavenly Father, thank You for clothing me in Your righteousness and preparing me to spend eternity with You. May my life be a signpost pointing to heaven, and may I be a minister of the Gospel that saved my wretched soul. Humbly I pray, Amen.

The Time is Near

Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near. (Revelation 1:3)

 

Jesus Christ is clearly in control of all things in heaven and on earth, and the Book of Revelation is the most prominent presentation of this fact in the scriptures. The Revelation (or Apocalypse) given to John by the angelic messenger is a heavenly vision whose interpretation must be rooted in wisdom, maturity, and sober thinking, lest the reader be carried away by unwarranted speculation and endless argument. There is much in this book to disagree on, if we choose –- yet, Jesus Christ Himself is the central point being made, and that fact cannot be debated. Any interpretation or teaching on the Revelation that does not increase our joy and expectancy concerning Christ's return is unfruitful and unbiblical. We do well to heed the instructions and warnings in this book, for if He finds the elect unprepared when He returns, we are without excuse. So, take heed, my friend. The time is near. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door. (James 5:9)

 

Let's Pray - Dear Father, please help me to keep my mind stayed on Jesus in these perilous times. It is a blessed thing to be rooted and grounded in Him, for all other ground is sinking sand. In Jesus, Amen.

A Future and a Hope

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)

 

A primary key to living a life of fruitful maturity in Jesus Christ is allowing the Holy Spirit to give us the heart of the Father for everyone and everything around us. God desires to broaden our horizons, deepen our understanding, pour great wisdom into us, develop our personalities, and cleanse our paths. He always has our best interest at heart, and He orders our steps to insure the experiences that will complete and sanctify us. God wants to enlarge our hearts, to increase our appreciation of His goodness and purpose for our lives. He desires we see His sovereign hand in all things, and we believe that obeying His Word is the key to every blessing He has laid up for us.

 

Therefore, our circumstances must not deter our faith, because God is able to even use our hardships for His glory. Jeremiah the prophet spoke this encouragement to a desperate and hard-pressed people, and his words must have seemed like folly to them at the time. But he was able to hear the voice of the Lord above the din of the world, and he understood the truth of the words Paul would write centuries later . . . And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28) Those words are true today for everyone needing strength and deliverance. God sees us, He knows what we need, and He hears our prayers. So, let us hold fast to every word of direction and encouragement given to us in the scriptures. 

Then He (Jesus) spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart . . . (Luke 18:1)

 

Let's Pray - Dear Father, it is an unfathomable blessing to cast my cares upon You, because You care so much for me. I humbly thank You for considering me and revealing Jesus to me more and more as I follow You. Thank You for making me Your child. Amen.

Turning to God

So David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die.” (2 Samuel 12:13-14)

This sordid tale of lust, adultery, deception and murder seems out of place in the life of "a man after God's own heart" — but there is David — guilty and deserving of death, and there was not going to be an easy road back to right-standing with God. David had strayed far from the Lord. His success had drawn him into a moral malaise that he was completely unaware of, and his heart had become cold and craven — just like his predecessor, Saul. (If we are not careful, we can become what we despise.) He had ignored the word of God and everything he knew was right, and his conscience was the casualty. Since David covered his ears and refused God's correction, he would be confronted by the prophet, forced to own up to his sin, and he would have to suffer the consequences — and the consequences would be great.

 

Two innocent people would die for David's sin, Uriah and the child born to Bathsheba. There would never be peace in David's household again — there would be conspiracy, rebellion, rape, and more of his children would die as a result. All this because David refused God's correction, and his conscience died soon after, leaving him defenseless against the lust of his eyes, the lust of his flesh, and the pride of life. May each of us take heed.

 

Let's Pray - Dear Lord, please forgive me for being slow to respond to the Holy Spirit's correction. May I turn away from every impulse to sin against you today, and may I turn immediately when You speak. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Spirit and Life

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

 

It often astounds me how dense I am – how slow I am to recognize the hand of God and to believe what He says. Perhaps I’m not simple enough, and I complicate things more than I should. Sometimes the promises in the Word of God seem too good to be true, especially in the light of my difficult circumstances. Yet the Lord holds me accountable to what He says to me. When He speaks, His words are spirit and life — and like a child learns to heed his parents, so must I learn to believe God and expect everything He says to manifest in its time! Thus, the successful Christian life boils down to this one thing; “Do I hear what God is saying, and do I believe what I hear?” The Holy Spirit gives life to those who hear and believe.

“Lord, help me hear, believe, and obey Your every word!”

 

Let's Pray - Dear King, I set my heart to believe everything You say to me. I will follow Your instruction implicitly, and I will walk by faith as the sign that Your Word is everything to me. In Jesus' sweet name. Amen!

Health and Well-being

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,

Because He has anointed Me

To preach the gospel to the poor;

He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,

To proclaim liberty to the captives

And recovery of sight to the blind,

To set at liberty those who are oppressed . . ." (Luke 4:18)

 

Healing is a result of Christ’s love, compassion, and concern. It is His will, His good pleasure, and it is well within His authority to heal us from every malady. Jesus delivers life and liberty to all who will receive Him, and He alone has the power to evict evil spirits who have taken up residence in the human soul. Our Lord not only heals, but He establishes a culture of well-being in and around those who will receive His touch. Obedience and belief in His word draw us close to Him and provide a fruitful path of health, restoration, and abundance. 

In Your presence is fullness of joy! (Psalm 16:11)

 

The question has been asked many times, "If Jesus still heals people, why don't we see the miraculous healings today as in Bible days?" The Bible, though, is clear — Jesus Christ the same, yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8) His power to heal us, cleanse us, and make us whole has not diminished one bit; and God is still willing, able, and mighty to save! The question lies in us and our faith — Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24) The prayers of the faithful unlock the doors of heaven and move the hand of God today, just as in Bible days. As our faith increases, God moves on our behalf more and more, answering our prayers, working wonders, healing the sick, feeding the poor, and saving the lost, just like Jesus promised. Health and well-being are ours in Christ, if we believe and pray. Do you believe? Do you pray?

 

Let's Pray - Dear Father, I desire to live a clean and healthy life, and I know that life comes only from You. Lead me in the way of truth, and my testimony of your goodness will be loud and clear. Amen.

No Other Doctrine

As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. (1 Timothy 1:3-4)

 

There is no shortage of theories, philosophies, ideas, and alternatives to a simple, living faith in Jesus Christ — and there is no shortage of people who push them. It sad to see so many falling for the tricks of Satan, who would rather have you believe anything but the truth as it is given to us in Christ and Christ alone. The devil loves to appeal to our intellect, our sense of self-importance, and the desire we all possess to believe what seems right to us, instead of accepting the simple and unadorned truth of the Gospel and Person of Jesus Christ. 

Be sure to place your all on Jesus. He is the Word of God, and the only thing God is saying to us. He is the only way, the only truth, and the only life. There is no other issue or person that matters to the Father but the Son; every good thing is found in Jesus. Let that be your comfort today.

 

Let's Pray - Father, may I take the more earnest heed to the things You are speaking to me in the Scriptures. May I seek and except the truth as it is in Christ Jesus, and in Christ Jesus alone. In His name I pray, Amen. 

Be Found Faithful

Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. (1 Corinthians 4:2)

 

While the Lord never instructs us to trust in men, He does expect men to become trustworthy – and He has every right to expect such, because He’s given us His Holy Spirit to accomplish that work in us. Yes, God has entrusted us with much, and He expects much in return. The scriptures make it crystal clear that we will give an account for our lives, therefore the Lord expects us to live well and walk by faith. Are you being trustworthy and faithful in God’s mind? It’s a matter of great importance, so you need to be sure.

 

"Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8)

This is the essential question we must ask ourselves — "When Christ returns for me, will He find me being faithful to Him?" Some think that Jesus will be looking for great works, prosperity, successful ministries and ministers, revival, wealthy and victorious saints, and the like. Yet, Jesus is coming back for a church without spot or wrinkle, set apart to Himself, not one entangled in the web of worldly concerns and enterprise. We are called to be faithful — that is, faithful to Him and Him alone. That is an entirely different message than what is so often preached today. May we seek more and more to be found in Him, and may we be found faithful when He returns.

 

Let's Pray - Father God, thank You for Your Spirit who makes me faithful in all things. I will walk in a way that honors You, and I will give You glory in everything I do. In Jesus name, Amen. 

Pray Without Ceasing

Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart . . . (Luke 18:1)

 

Pray without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

 

Prayer is the ultimate expression of faith in a God we cannot see or touch, yet we believe He can see and touch us! It is the glue of the spiritual and experiential in the Christian life, binding together the impossible and the possible, the hoped for and the achieved, the task and the reward. Prayer stills our hands and moves the hand of God; it drops us to our knees and lifts the burdens of life. It is the ever available, infinite, inexhaustible resource of heaven, the key to the doors of eternity, and the flame that lights the fuse of powers, authorities, thrones, and dominions, visible and invisible things. Therefore, let us resolve to pray more and more as the Day approaches, for God hears and answers prayer.

 

Prayer is the sure sign that a man has ceased striving and began trusting. Prayer is the first option of the mature believer, and it is the “Thank You” uttered even before the answer is received. Prayer is the surest sign that the Spirit is at work, and it is the assurance that He is not finished working.  Prayer opens and closes doors. It prevails over calamity and prevents catastrophes. Prayer calms our storms and clears our sky, so the Son of God might shine through and bring light to our dark and difficult world. Therefore, we must never stop praying, because God never stops hearing and answering us when we pray.

 

Let's Pray - Dear Lord, I set myself to pray more and more as the days go by. I believe You will hear me, see me, and free me if I pray. Thank You for inclining Your ear to my mouth! Amen.

According to Custom

Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days. (Daniel 6:10-11)

 

The children of the King are known by their fierce dedication to God’s house, God’s Word, and prayer; accordingly, Daniel set his face toward Jerusalem three times a day to worship and pray to the Father. It did not matter what was going on around him, because he had made up his mind as a very young man that it was more important to be right before God than to be accepted by men. He meant no disrespect toward any earthly authority, thus he served the kings of Babylon and the Medes and Persians honorably for more than 70 years. Yet, Daniel’s custom of seeking the Lord’s face was one that he was not willing to forsake in the moment of testing — He knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days. What is the evidence that you are fully a fully committed son or daughter of the King? What are your customs? 

 

Let's Pray - Dear Lord, please help me to walk in the disciplines of faith daily, regardless of circumstance or temptations. Thank You for the consistency and faithfulness that is mine in the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Forgiven People Forgive

"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." (Matthew 6:14-15)

 

Jesus quickly forgave and forgot when men offended Him, and He found no need to be right or defend Himself when He was accused or attacked. He reconciled all things good in the light of His Father’s sovereign will. Therefore, He encourages us to do what He modeled for us – forgetting, letting go, and pressing forward toward the vision of glory the Father places in our hearts.

 

When we don't forgive, we keep those who sinned against us in the prison of our resentment; and someone has to guard that prison -- us. So, we are chained to bitterness and misery, unless we do as Jesus commands -- forgive. There is no time in our fleeting lives for fretting over offenses, slights, and old hurts from days gone by. While we all experience hurtful things, the Lord offers us freedom from the power they would have over us through forgiveness. We must never forget the price Jesus paid so that we might be forgiven. That way we will be sure to forgive others quickly and completely, just as He did for us. This is the clean and free life He offers us through forgiveness. Forgiven people forgive. Amen.

 

Let's Pray - Father, may I quickly and completely forgive others their trespasses, just as You have forgiven mine. Amen.

One Thing I Do

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

(Philippians 3:13-14)

 

The Christian life is one of constantly moving forward, and Jesus demonstrated this by His fierce determination to glorify His Father and finish the work He was given. He knew His earthly life would end tragically on the Cross of Calvary; yet, nothing could deter Him, even for a moment. His was a life of moving on in the will of God. The same must be true of us.

 

Jesus refused to be weighed down or distracted by things going on around Him. Every encounter, every conversation, every activity, and every moment of rest in our Lord's earthly life was ordained by God, that all righteousness might be fulfilled, and nothing left undone — "It is finished!" People would come and go, love Him or hate Him, bless Him or slander Him, fall at His feet or spit in His face, praise Him or plot against Him, follow Him or abandon Him, and it mattered not one bit. Not because He did not care, but because He cared so greatly; and that deep concern for man’s state caused Him to focus on the Atonement, and nothing else. The same must be true of all who draw near to Jesus today. Let us forget everything behind us, joyfully focus on Jesus, and follow closely wherever He leads.

 

Let's Pray - Dear Lord, help me to move forward in my walk with You. I am willing to let every relationship and activity fall to the wayside, so that I might pursue You with all my heart and mind. In Jesus, Amen.