The More Earnest Heed

Therefore, we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. (Hebrew 2:1)

The Bible is God's love letter to His children, and it is the revelation and counsel of the Lord given exclusively to His church, for we alone hear Him and believe Him at His Word. We are complete in Christ, and our identity is rooted in Him. We are His and He is ours.

 

When we allow the Word of God to shape our thoughts, we are no longer defenseless against the onslaught of the world's mindset, its aimlessness, confusion, or futility; but we put on the complete armor of God and no weapon formed against us will ever defeat us.

 

By His Word, we come to know His love, and we are perfected in that love. Even in our weakness, He is strong, and where we fall, He lifts us up. No one can successfully prosecute a charge against God's elect, for it is God who justifies us. This is the blessed assurance of believers — the Word of God. Jesus is that Word. Hear Him.

 

Let's Pray - Father, I will give more and more attention to Your Word and the voice of the Holy Spirit each day. Thank You for leading me in holiness and righteousness for Your name's sake. Amen. 

 

 

 

 

That Good Part

Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me. And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42)

Satan works to get our eyes off Jesus and on work, causes, creeds, religion, our communities, people and their needs, even good things — and we lose the focus the Bible demands we have on the Man, Jesus Christ. You see, the most prominent place we will ever come to is the feet of Jesus. So, we must learn to sit before Him and value the precious moments of intimate fellowship He offers us. That is where we come to know Him, to find our peace and rest in Him, to enjoy Him, and to truly experience His love as we should. 

 

"Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things." 

 

Are you troubled today? Are you busy, distracted, worried, burdened, broken? Perhaps now is the time to set your work and your worries aside, come sit at the Lord's feet, and wait patiently on Him, like Mary. Jesus sees into the dimensions of our being, and He knows the truth about each of us; that He is all we need. Remember, work is not bad or wrong, and perhaps we need to work harder than ever – that is, work to get to the feet of Jesus.

 

Let's Pray - Dear Father, help me to keep my eyes and my mind on Jesus Christ. I want to sit at His feet and enjoy "that good part" that Mary enjoyed. Thank You for drawing me near. Amen.

Learning to Serve

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. (John 13:3-5)

Servanthood is something entirely different in the Kingdom than in the world. The world sees servants as less-than or inferior to those they serve, therefore servants are often mistreated and lightly esteemed. Not so in the Kingdom of God. A servant's heart is highly valued by the Lord, especially in His sons and daughters. That is why Jesus is the perfect example of sonship and servanthood, and His example reflects the heart of His Father.

 

Everything Jesus did for others was rooted in His identity as God's Son. He fully understood the privilege and meaning of His relationship to the Father, so He was not ashamed or embarrassed to serve others, and He could do so with joy and abandon. That is the same understanding we are to receive, that sonship means service; and when we think that way, we will have the energy and attitude that pleases God and serves others well. Whose feet are you washing?

 

Let's Pray - Father, teach us to serve others according to Your Word and Your purpose for them. I lay down every agenda, and I look to You for instruction and opportunity to minister to others. Amen.

You Will Know

Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.” (John 13:6-7)

Jesus is the perfect example of servanthood, and it is His deepest desire to present us to the Father faultless, perfect, and holy. He, therefore, became our Savior through His sacrifice -- that is, the blood He shed for us that washed away our sins and the condemnation they brought. By washing His disciples' feet, He was giving them an example of the ministry they would receive. They, too, would lay down their lives to present every man faultless, perfected, and holy to the Father -- and so we might come into the family of God with joy.

 

The disciples would learn to lay down their lives and their rights for others, just as Jesus had done for them; and that is the unmistakable Spirit of all true ministry. No servant of God serves himself at the expense of the church, but he can be found washing feet, serving the poor, aiding widows, and orphans, and preaching the unadorned Gospel of Jesus Christ. We who are true servants desire to see God bring many sons and daughters to glory; and we are given the honor of washing their feet, just as Jesus did for us. Now, they too are clean, and they can sit at the Lord's table. This is what Jesus was teaching His disciples by washing their feet, and this is what He is teaching us -- ". . . you will know after this." Now you know.

 

Let's Pray - Dear Lord, thank You for teaching us the value of service. May we do the same for others that You have done for us. May You find us washing our brothers' and sisters' feet. In Jesus, Amen.

Power for Service

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

The gift the disciples received by waiting is the same gift we receive when we wait — that is, the power to be witnesses of Jesus Christ. We alone have that power, for we alone have His Spirit, and if we do not have His Spirit, we are not His witnesses. The indwelling Spirit is the only difference between us and all other religious people, for He is the only proof that we have an authentic relationship with the True and Living God. Any other claim to spiritual legitimacy is counterfeit, for only the Holy Spirit is God alive in us. And if He lives in us, we will be His witnesses, and He will show Himself strong through us.

 

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. (Romans 12:1)

 

God is not interested in excellent, efficient, philanthropic, or successful Christian service. All these things can be done with the sheer force of our will and efforts. The test of every ministry is whether it is Spirit-given, Spirit-led, and whether the minister serves in the spirit of humility and sacrifice. That is why we must wait before we go. We must receive God's power from on high before we go down into the valley of darkness and death, lest we be unprepared and overwhelmed by the needs and depravity of men, as well as our own.

 

We who minister must die daily to every independent inclination if we are to be God's witnesses. Only those who are fully dependent on Him can serve Him acceptably, and that is what Paul means by "your reasonable service." Is your service "reasonable" by God's standard?

 

Let's Pray - Dear Lord, may Your people be content to wait on You and receive Your power, so that we might be holy witnesses to Your greatness and holy messengers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Focus on Jesus

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

The disciples did not get it. Even after Jesus was crucified and rose from the dead, they were still clueless about the Kingdom of God. They did not understand the Kingdom they would inherit is not of this world, and it showed by the questions they asked. “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”

 

It is a snare for us to want wonderful things on this earth, even great "Christian" things. Jesus was not concerned or impressed with great people, places, or things, and He did not want His disciples to be either. They were to be fully focused on their relationship to the Father. What are you focusing on?

 

"The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you." (Luke 17:20-21)

 

The Christian life is a spiritual phenomenon, not an earthly one; and we are to walk by faith and not by sight. So, why is there still so much preaching and prophesying about material blessings, breakthroughs, politics, and prosperity — things we can see and handle? It is because many of us (like the disciples) are still carnal in our thinking, and we are looking for the Lord to do what we desire, not what He desires.

 

Once the disciples received the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, their hearts were changed, and their eyes were lifted to heaven; and they could finally see the Lord and come to understand what He said to them. They were no longer bound by their own affections, but they began to see the Kingdom of God in all its glory.

 

We, too, must receive the Spirit of God if we are to see the Lord and His Kingdom on earth. So, stop looking down and around, leave the world alone and look to Jesus. Look with the eyes of faith, see the Kingdom within, and see the glory of the Lord.

 

Let's Pray - Dear Lord, my eyes are fixed on You today. Lift me up where You dwell and give me heaven's perspective. I desire to walk in wisdom and assurance. Amen.

Your Own Affections

"But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished." (Matthew 17:12) 

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

 

Before we surrendered our lives to Christ, we used to go wherever we wanted and do whatever we pleased. We thought and acted according to our whims and desires, we came and went as we saw fit, and we believed we had every right to live that way.

 

Then, the Lord introduces us to someone who lives a holy life and walks more closely with Him than we do, someone with a powerful witness — and He holds us accountable for our response to that witness. If we are not careful, that believer's discipline and attention to spiritual details will appear stodgy and unreasonable, and we will resent the standard he or she sets — "Who do they think they are?” But the Lord has placed them in our lives as a sign that points toward heaven — and if we are offended, it is not with them, but with God.

 

Be careful how you heed God's signs.

 

The mature saint is not restricted by his own affections or smallness of heart, but open to the leading of the Spirit. So, we must be careful to heed God's voice and to recognize the divine opportunities and relationships He ordains. Do not miss your "Elijah" when he appears. He is easy to recognize. He is the one pointing you back to God.

 

Let's Pray - Father, I will be careful to take note of the people and signs You place before me. May I respond well to every challenge You present me to grow spiritually. Amen.

Forgiveness and Confrontation

“Moreover, if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between him and you alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.” (Matthew 18:15-17)

Forgiving others does not require that we continue to place ourselves in precarious positions or engage in unsafe relationships. Our willingness to forgive is not a blank check for others to sin against us with impunity. We must be wise enough to remove ourselves from injurious, damaging entanglements, and we hold those we deal with accountable to acceptable standards of behavior – biblical standards. This takes a tremendous amount of wisdom and grace. Help us, Lord!

 

"Go and tell him his fault" 

"Take with you one or two more . . ."

"Tell it to the church . . ." 

"Let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector."

 

Here, Jesus gives us a process to follow when a brother or sister offends us, and we must be sure to follow every step. When we do not follow the order He prescribes, confusion ensues. But Jesus provides a clean path for us, and He expects us to walk in it. Surely, there will be offenses, and those offenses are meant to divide us and defeat God's plan and purpose. But if we follow Jesus, He will lead us and show us the righteous way to deal with these difficulties. Jesus is the way — walk in it.

 

Let's Pray - Lord, give me the Spirit of love and wisdom, and help me to know how to conduct myself well in every situation. I need You more than ever to show me how to respond to offenses wisely. Amen.

We Must 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)

 

We are most like Christ when we respond to offenses like He did – by forgiving. Since the Lord’s willingness to forgive us is so great, and since we derive such wonderful benefits from that forgiveness, He will not let us get away with an unwillingness to forgive. In fact, the refusal to forgive may show a lack of understanding of our salvation! It is, at least, a sign that we do not yet understand how our Lord works and what He expects.

 

Forgiveness is not an isolated event; it is a cycle. The Lord intends that we forgive, because we have been forgiven, and that is how the Kingdom works. We must release those who sinned against us from the prison of our hurt and anger, because He has released us and remembers our sins no more. When we do not forgive, we stop the flow of the cleansing blood of Jesus, and we hold on to the bitterness that God would wash away — if we would just forgive.

 

It is terrifying to think we will one day find that our sins are not forgiven, because we held on to grudges and offenses we should have released! Let us take God at His word and be sure to forgive as we want to be forgiven. It is a matter of life and death.

 

Let's Pray - Lord, help me forgive the sinful actions of others that hurt me, just as You have forgiven my sinful actions that hurt others. This is an issue of immense importance, and I desperately need Your help. In Jesus, Amen.

Let it Shine

"You are the light of the world . . ." (Matthew 5:14)

No, this was not someone speaking to Jesus. This was Jesus speaking to us, the people of God. What a charge! We are called to light up the world with the testimony of Jesus Christ and illuminate the path to heaven for all men to see. Though we are not sufficient in ourselves for such a task, we have the pure light of the Holy Spirit to shine through us. God does not need us, but He chose us, and we should be eternally grateful for the unspeakable honor of being witnesses to our Lord.

 

With this light comes a sobering reality. We must live in a way that keeps us available to the Lord exclusively and allows Him to shine through us wherever we are. We must fight every thought or action that veils the light and make moment-by-moment decisions that glorify the Lord. When we do, the power of God beams from us into the mean circumstances around us, and men see the unmistakable hand of God at work. Then, even those who do not know Him will acknowledge His works and give Him glory. Here is how it works – we shine, people see the light, and God gets the glory!

 

It is safe to say that those who would never glorify the Lord will do so when we live and speak like the children of light. Those who do not believe will not be convinced by our intellect or our arguments, but by our love for them and one another! There is no phenomenon comparable to sacrificial love — the love of God in Christ. As we keep our lamp aflame, the demons must retreat, and the unbelievers will shout a praise they never knew was in them!

 

Now doesn’t that make you more determined than ever to shine your light?

 

Let's Pray - Dear Father, I will let my light shine, and men will see You clearly through my worship. Lead me by Your Spirit today. In Jesus, Amen.

God’s Pleasure and Favor

Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord . . . (Acts 3:19)

In this passage, Peter opens our eyes to the divine process the Lord employs to lead His children to a clean and free life. That process begins with conviction, which occurs when the Holy Spirit exposes us for the sinners we are. Conviction then leads us to confession, as the process moves to our speech, and we verbally agree with God about what He's shown us. Confession leads us to repentance, where we turn around and walk a new way, and we learn to work righteousness instead of mischief. Then comes restoration, where we redeem lost time and squandered resources, and we come into right standing with God and His people. Finally, we experience times of refreshing, and the Holy Spirit leads us into the sweetness of God’s pleasure and favor.

 

When Peter speaks of "conversion," it is more than the simple act of being saved. Salvation is a sovereign act of God, not a decision made by men. We are saved because of what Jesus did on Calvary, not because we "accepted Christ." He accepted us. Believing in Jesus is not the end of anything, but the beginning of everything! True conversion is the change we experience once we step fully into the life God offers us in Christ. When we are truly converted, He changes everything about us and everything within us. We become heavenly-minded, and worldly things lose their grip. This is the new life He promises; a life that is overflowing with the blessings, peace, and purpose of God. This is the life He gives to us and through us freely if we will simply believe in Him. This is your life. "Repent therefore and be converted . . ."

 

Let's Pray - Father God, I want all You have for me, so I turn to You for everything necessary to live a godly life. Change me, Lord. Thank You for Your Spirit. In Jesus alone, Amen.

A Made Up Mind

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. (Daniel 1:8)

Daniel was in no position to bargain. He was a captive of Israel’s dreaded conquerors, the Babylonians. They were a cruel, severe people and God’s hammer of correction sent to bring the nation of Israel to repentance. Yet, this teenage boy saw a much bigger picture. Though his circumstances were dire, Daniel believed firmly in the power of the God of Israel. He understood that the Lord was still his God, still faithful, still merciful, still present, and still willing to answer his prayers — even in Babylon.

 

Daniel’s world was filled with limits because he was a slave. He had no rights, no influence, no earthly possessions, no money, no power, and seemingly, no hope. He lived in a world of can’t. So, Daniel did the one thing he could do, and he exercised power over the one thing he could control. He made up his mind!

 

The remarkable life Daniel lived from that point forward was only possible because he made up his mind to honor God Almighty no matter the cost. The same is true in our day, that those with a steadfast devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ find the strength to stand and live boldly for Him, even in this difficult hour. Daniel proved that a made-up mind is a powerful thing! Have you purposed in your heart to follow Jesus? Is your mind made up?

 

Let's Pray - Father, as the old songs says, "I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back." Thank You for the gift of a made-up mind. Amen.

Love and Conditions

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ (Matthew 7:21-23)

God is love, and love is accurately defined by Him, and by Him alone. Love is not what we think or say it is, but what God says it is — and He says His love is conditional. That condition is Jesus Christ. Those who advance the concept of "unconditional” love are really saying, "It doesn't matter what I do, God will still love me, accept me, and receive me." But this is what Jesus says about those who practice sin and still claim to be Christians, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!"

 

If you say God's love has conditions, some will call you narrow, unloving, judgmental, and close-minded. But God is very particular about His children and His Kingdom. The Bible teaches the road to heaven is narrow and difficult, and few find it! That is because God has His conditions. He must have His conditions. If we are going to enter in, we must be His, we must be holy, and we must be faithful. If these things are not true of us, we do not know Him, and we are not known by Him.

 

Jesus is coming back for a church without spot or wrinkle, and the Holy Spirit is preparing her for His return. If you are His, you are clean, free, delivered from sin, and separate from those who practice sin. That is the condition Jesus sets.

 

Yes, God has His conditions. His love has never been unconditional, no matter what some preach and sing. Thank God for His very conditional love. Thank God for Jesus.

 

Let's Pray- Father, those who know You understand and accept Your conditions. Jesus is the only way, the only truth, and the only life. Thank You, in my Savior's sweet name, Amen.

The Righteousness of God

For He {God} made Him {Jesus} who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

The term “forgive” means to send away, dismiss, release, or cancel (as in a debt). Biblically, the concept of forgiveness rests on our need to be reconciled to God who created us for His own purpose. Without forgiveness, we are incapable of measuring up to God’s standard because of our sin. The righteous punishment due the sinner is death, or permanent estrangement from God.

 

Yet, because God loves us so, He designed a way back into a right relationship with Him. That “way” is Jesus Christ who gave His life and died in our place, thereby, paying our sin-debt by taking our punishment on Himself. This is the most important and wonderful truth we will ever learn — and learn it, we must, if we are ever to see God.

 

This is the simple and complete Gospel, and nothing else. The Lord never sent men to teach any other message, but to preach Christ, and Him crucified! That is the entry point and the assurance of eternal life, and it needs no embellishment.

 

Those of us who preach must never tire of repeating the only message that matters — "Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world!" (John 1:29)

 

Our fullness, joy, and righteousness are found in Him. May He be found alive and well in us.

 

Let's Pray - Father, I do not deserve the gift of everlasting life. Yet, Jesus gave His life for mine, and I humbly and gladly believe and receive the truth. That truth has set me free - free indeed! Amen