Proverbs 15: 28
The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out wicked things.
I know that every time I just blurt out something to someone, it's been the wrong thing to say at the time. Even when the words themselves were true, they were spoken in the wrong way at the wrong time, which makes them wrong. If only I had paused to think about what to say, then I could have avoided the humiliation of apologizing, and the sticky mess of making things right between us again.
I need rather to be able to listen to what the other person is saying, to hear the passion of their heart, instead of just letting them go on while I'm formulating my answer. Even when they say something that triggers a reaction in me, especially then I need to pause and listen to what else they say. Then I will be able to let Christ speak to them through me, while I express His compassion and tenderness to them.
O my Father, I pray that You would put Your arm around my shoulders and Your hand over my mouth whenever I am in conversation with those who don't know You yet, so that I may be Christ to them. For I may be the only Jesus they have encountered in their life.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Sunday, July 23, 2017
Saturday, July 22, 2017
God's Unseen Provision
Habakkuk 3: 17-19
Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vine; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will be joyful in the God of my Salvation. The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He will make me as surefooted as a deer and bring me safely over the mountains.
All this world's goods are as nothing compared to what our God is preparing for us! And even when we have none of this world's provisions, still our Lord will not neglect to meet our every need.
Knowing this, trusting God as our Provider even when we don't see any provisions, will enable us to rejoice in the Lord and give us the strength to go on.
It has been said that, "When all you have is God, you find that God is all you need." May our Father teach us this truth, as we know Him better each day. And knowing Him better, we will love Him even more. And our faith will be strengthened and deepened to really believe He is Who He says He is, and that He does exactly what He did for others before us, and will also do for us, too.
He has always kept to the letter every promise He has ever made, and will never change; He will always be God over us all, and will never love us any less than He does right now.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vine; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will be joyful in the God of my Salvation. The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He will make me as surefooted as a deer and bring me safely over the mountains.
All this world's goods are as nothing compared to what our God is preparing for us! And even when we have none of this world's provisions, still our Lord will not neglect to meet our every need.
Knowing this, trusting God as our Provider even when we don't see any provisions, will enable us to rejoice in the Lord and give us the strength to go on.
It has been said that, "When all you have is God, you find that God is all you need." May our Father teach us this truth, as we know Him better each day. And knowing Him better, we will love Him even more. And our faith will be strengthened and deepened to really believe He is Who He says He is, and that He does exactly what He did for others before us, and will also do for us, too.
He has always kept to the letter every promise He has ever made, and will never change; He will always be God over us all, and will never love us any less than He does right now.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Friday, July 21, 2017
Faith To Believe
Matthew 15: 26-28
And He answered and said, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." But she said, "Yes, Lord, but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their master's table."
Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, your faith is great; be it done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed at once.
I'm amazed that Jesus seems to be calling this woman a dog! I think He was testing her. And she passed the test, humbling herself before Him, admitting her unworthiness to receive the "bread" intended for the children, yet still asked for the mere "crumbs that fell from the table," as the family pet would.
And Jesus commended her for her faith! And her humbleness allowed her to trust the Lord to do for her what she knew she could not do for herself--heal her daughter.
O my Father, please strengthen my faith to really believe that You will do what I know I can't. Help me to begin to do those things I cannot accomplish, believing that You will do them through me. Keep me close to Yourself, that I will hear Your still, small voice behind me, saying, "This is the path, walk here," not wandering to the left or to the right.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
And He answered and said, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." But she said, "Yes, Lord, but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their master's table."
Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, your faith is great; be it done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed at once.
I'm amazed that Jesus seems to be calling this woman a dog! I think He was testing her. And she passed the test, humbling herself before Him, admitting her unworthiness to receive the "bread" intended for the children, yet still asked for the mere "crumbs that fell from the table," as the family pet would.
And Jesus commended her for her faith! And her humbleness allowed her to trust the Lord to do for her what she knew she could not do for herself--heal her daughter.
O my Father, please strengthen my faith to really believe that You will do what I know I can't. Help me to begin to do those things I cannot accomplish, believing that You will do them through me. Keep me close to Yourself, that I will hear Your still, small voice behind me, saying, "This is the path, walk here," not wandering to the left or to the right.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Thursday, July 20, 2017
Nailed To The Cross
Galatians 5: 24
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to His Cross and crucified them there.
I actually wrote "My Retirement" on a card and physically nailed it to a life-size wooden cross, thinking about the funds I realized I had been hoarding at the time. But I didn't write, "My Retirement Funds," and God took me at my word, and has now taken to Himself this retirement portion of my life.
I am amazed that the Almighty God would want my puny, insignificant life and make it an integral and important part of His great, grand Plan of the Ages. And He also thinks that your life is also that significant.
O my Father, thank You so much for Your enormous love for me! For Your knowledge of me, and Your tender care for me.
Please remind me of whatever else I have "nailed to the Cross" so I will recognize when You are working in those areas, too, and not resist You. All I am belongs to You, and is under Your total control. Lead me and direct me, take my hand to guide me surely and confidently in Your path, Your ways; not stumbling or wandering off to the right or to the left.
And You will receive all the glory, Lord, for everything You are doing in my life, in my family, in my country and in my world.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to His Cross and crucified them there.
I actually wrote "My Retirement" on a card and physically nailed it to a life-size wooden cross, thinking about the funds I realized I had been hoarding at the time. But I didn't write, "My Retirement Funds," and God took me at my word, and has now taken to Himself this retirement portion of my life.
I am amazed that the Almighty God would want my puny, insignificant life and make it an integral and important part of His great, grand Plan of the Ages. And He also thinks that your life is also that significant.
O my Father, thank You so much for Your enormous love for me! For Your knowledge of me, and Your tender care for me.
Please remind me of whatever else I have "nailed to the Cross" so I will recognize when You are working in those areas, too, and not resist You. All I am belongs to You, and is under Your total control. Lead me and direct me, take my hand to guide me surely and confidently in Your path, Your ways; not stumbling or wandering off to the right or to the left.
And You will receive all the glory, Lord, for everything You are doing in my life, in my family, in my country and in my world.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Wednesday, July 19, 2017
The Manufacturer's Instructions
Matthew 7: 21b
... The decisive issue is whether they obey my Father in Heaven.
We need to know God.
We need to know His Word and His ways.
But just knowing is not enough.
What makes the difference is when we obey God. When we know to do good, but don't do it, it is sin (James 4:17). And when we go on our own understanding of what we think would be the best thing to do, we go astray (Proverbs 3:5); because His ways are not our ways, and our thoughts are not His thoughts (Isaiah 55:8).
He has told us in His Word everything we need to know to live in this world, and to live with Him forever (II Timothy 3:16-17). But we need to listen to what He says, and obey all the laws by which our World operates, just like we will follow the Owner's Manual that came with our new car.
So, "The decisive issue is whether they obey." If you don't obey your car's Owner's Manual, and put gas in a diesel engine, it won't operate properly. And when we don't take into account God's instructions, then our lives won't operate well, either.
And if we don't see ourselves as our Maker sees us, we would be deceiving ourselves (I Corinthians 3:18). So we need to see our need, and God's provision for us in pouring out His wrath on His own Son, Who not only covers, but washes away all of our sinfulness. All the wrath we deserve, Jesus took in our place on the Cross as the Lamb of God.
And when each of us lets Jesus take our place in that death as our personal sacrifice (Leviticus 1), then God places us into His own Kingdom, and replaces our filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6) with the purity of His own Righteousness (Revelation 19:8).
And He places His own Holy Spirit into our spirit, making our dead spirit alive, as His deposit on the Redemption Jesus bought for us (II Corinthians 1:22).
So if you, dear reader, have never considered yourself as deserving that death, then I suggest you ask God to gift you with the faith to believe what He says; and He will impress on you how much He loves you to do that.
He's coming soon.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
... The decisive issue is whether they obey my Father in Heaven.
We need to know God.
We need to know His Word and His ways.
But just knowing is not enough.
What makes the difference is when we obey God. When we know to do good, but don't do it, it is sin (James 4:17). And when we go on our own understanding of what we think would be the best thing to do, we go astray (Proverbs 3:5); because His ways are not our ways, and our thoughts are not His thoughts (Isaiah 55:8).
He has told us in His Word everything we need to know to live in this world, and to live with Him forever (II Timothy 3:16-17). But we need to listen to what He says, and obey all the laws by which our World operates, just like we will follow the Owner's Manual that came with our new car.
So, "The decisive issue is whether they obey." If you don't obey your car's Owner's Manual, and put gas in a diesel engine, it won't operate properly. And when we don't take into account God's instructions, then our lives won't operate well, either.
And if we don't see ourselves as our Maker sees us, we would be deceiving ourselves (I Corinthians 3:18). So we need to see our need, and God's provision for us in pouring out His wrath on His own Son, Who not only covers, but washes away all of our sinfulness. All the wrath we deserve, Jesus took in our place on the Cross as the Lamb of God.
And when each of us lets Jesus take our place in that death as our personal sacrifice (Leviticus 1), then God places us into His own Kingdom, and replaces our filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6) with the purity of His own Righteousness (Revelation 19:8).
And He places His own Holy Spirit into our spirit, making our dead spirit alive, as His deposit on the Redemption Jesus bought for us (II Corinthians 1:22).
So if you, dear reader, have never considered yourself as deserving that death, then I suggest you ask God to gift you with the faith to believe what He says; and He will impress on you how much He loves you to do that.
He's coming soon.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Tuesday, July 18, 2017
Rest For Our Souls
Matthew 11: 28-30
Come to Me all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light.
Why does Jesus say that His yoke is easy, and His load is light? Christians today in the world are facing more persecution than at any time in history. How can His yoke be easy when facing torture and imprisonment; or His load light when the family is left to starve, being cut off from any help?
This is what is happening in many parts of the World today.
But those who have faced these horrendous hardships for their faith have testified that God is faithful, and has met every need, comforting and holding them in His arms. Because He invites us into His yoke, to pull His load, with Him. He is taking the brunt of the weight, and He really does give them (us) rest for our souls.
As their brothers and sisters, we can pray for them to be strengthened, which is the only thing they ask of us. To know that they are connected to the greater Body of Christ is very encouraging to them.
And we can thank God for the freedoms we have to practice our Faith without fear of even arrest or harassment.
As we face the problems and troubles of each day, we can also turn to our Savior, taking on us His yoke with Him, to bear His load, instead of the weight of our own sorrows, as He has instructed us all. It doesn't matter if we're facing torture and death or a broken fingernail, He calls us all to lay on Him our load and take His.
And His rest of soul is available to each one of us, regardless of the circumstances we face today. He's bigger than them all.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Come to Me all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light.
Why does Jesus say that His yoke is easy, and His load is light? Christians today in the world are facing more persecution than at any time in history. How can His yoke be easy when facing torture and imprisonment; or His load light when the family is left to starve, being cut off from any help?
This is what is happening in many parts of the World today.
But those who have faced these horrendous hardships for their faith have testified that God is faithful, and has met every need, comforting and holding them in His arms. Because He invites us into His yoke, to pull His load, with Him. He is taking the brunt of the weight, and He really does give them (us) rest for our souls.
As their brothers and sisters, we can pray for them to be strengthened, which is the only thing they ask of us. To know that they are connected to the greater Body of Christ is very encouraging to them.
And we can thank God for the freedoms we have to practice our Faith without fear of even arrest or harassment.
As we face the problems and troubles of each day, we can also turn to our Savior, taking on us His yoke with Him, to bear His load, instead of the weight of our own sorrows, as He has instructed us all. It doesn't matter if we're facing torture and death or a broken fingernail, He calls us all to lay on Him our load and take His.
And His rest of soul is available to each one of us, regardless of the circumstances we face today. He's bigger than them all.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Monday, July 17, 2017
Peace Or A Sword
Matthew 10: 34
Do not think that I came to bring peace on the Earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
God is so good to us all. He made this Earth for us and put in it everything we need for every contingency. He's given us one another to help each other and uphold each other. He taught us His ways, which are the right and righteous and practical ways that work.
Yet we refuse to thank Him or honor Him for all the good gifts He showers upon us. We rebel against God and His ways, we destroy this Earth as we ravish it for our own selfish, short-term needs with no thought to caring for it for future generations; we desire only to satisfy our own lusts for power, pleasure and self.
No wonder Jesus came to bring a sword, to set the wicked against the righteous and against each other.
O Father, continue to wake up Your church! Empower us to become one, even as Father, Jesus and Spirit are One! Then the World will see and finally give You the glory.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Do not think that I came to bring peace on the Earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
God is so good to us all. He made this Earth for us and put in it everything we need for every contingency. He's given us one another to help each other and uphold each other. He taught us His ways, which are the right and righteous and practical ways that work.
Yet we refuse to thank Him or honor Him for all the good gifts He showers upon us. We rebel against God and His ways, we destroy this Earth as we ravish it for our own selfish, short-term needs with no thought to caring for it for future generations; we desire only to satisfy our own lusts for power, pleasure and self.
No wonder Jesus came to bring a sword, to set the wicked against the righteous and against each other.
O Father, continue to wake up Your church! Empower us to become one, even as Father, Jesus and Spirit are One! Then the World will see and finally give You the glory.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
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