And Without Faith

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Hebrews 11:6

By faith Abel brought God a better sacrifice than Cain did and was commended as righteous (Hebrews 11:4).  By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death (Hebrews 11:5).  By faith, Abraham when called to go to place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went (Hebrews 11:8).

Biblical faith is a firm conviction or firm persuasion in God and in his holy word.  Elsewhere someone has defined it as, “…the act whereby a person lays hold of God's resources, becomes obedient to what He has prescribed and putting aside all self-interest and self-reliance (emphasis mine), trusts Him completely. It is an unqualified surrender of the whole of one's being in dependence upon Him. It is wholly trusting and relying upon Him for all things. It is not just mental assent to the facts and realities of truth, it must come from a deep inner conviction, because dear friend, even the demons believe (James 2:19).  Our faith must transcend that of demons.

Are you walking by faith?  Have you truly put aside all self-interest and self-reliance?  Are you firmly persuaded that God is for you?  Are you convinced that Christ’s sacrifice has redeemed you from sin, once and for all?  Are you resting in the assurance that Christ, through his resurrection has conquered death on your behalf?  Are you obeying his call to walk in holiness as you journey to a place that you will later receive as your inheritance?  Have you taken ahold of all the resources of heaven as you walk in victory no matter what your circumstances?  Has your expression of faith transcended that of demons?

The Bible teaches that “…without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him (Hebrews 11:6).  You cannot please God merely by works of service, even though these are commendable.  If you want to please God, “walk by faith and do not shrink back (Hebrews 10:38).”  Remember these heroes of the faith, did not even receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth (Hebrews 11:13).  God the Father is ready and willing to lavish this kind of conquering faith upon you.  It comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17).  Are you studying the Bible daily?

Dear LORD, thank you for your Holy Word.  It is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.  Help me to grab ahold of it daily that it might nourish and strengthen my faith in you.  Remind me, lest I forget, that it is the sword that causes the enemy to retreat.  I want to please you Lord, with a faith that is completely surrendered to your will and to your way.  In Jesus’ name, I pray.  Amen.

The Power of Prayer

“…if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray….”

2 Chronicles 7:14a

Someone has said that if you don’t brush your teeth for one day, someone might have a sneaking feeling that you have bad breath.  If you don’t brush your teeth for a week, then friends will start putting some distance between you and them.  However, if you go for a month without brushing your teeth, then it’s plain and simple, no one will want to be around you.  You will have no friends.  The same can be said for a Christian who does not pray.

Without prayer, Satan (yes, he’s real, not always at fault, but real) gains a foothold in our lives and begins to wreak havoc.  The lack of prayer begins to affect our thoughts, our speech, our desires, our actions and even our judgments as we are left exposed to the machinations of the enemy.  Good begins to look bad, exclusive and old fashioned; while bad begins to look good, inclusive and politically correct.  Jesus not only teaches us how to pray in Matthew 6:5-15, but on many occasions in the New Testament, he took time to pray to model to believers that we always ought to pray.  And in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Paul reminds the Thessalonians to “pray without ceasing,” giving thanks in all circumstances.  Writing to the Ephesians in the letter to the Ephesians, chapter 6:12, Paul again reminds the Ephesian Church that their struggle is not against, flesh and blood but against the rulers, authorities and powers of this dark world. In other words, pray.  We cannot win spiritual battles with earthly weapons, we can only do so with spiritual weapons.

Dear believer, what do you see when you look around you.  Do you smell the sweet aroma of prayer that changes our world or do you smell something else, something akin to poor spiritual hygiene?  The drumbeat of hate, divisiveness and otherness seems to be increasing all around the world, even in our churches.  The culture of incivility is becoming the norm.  Even Christians seem to be falling prey to the divisive tactics of the enemy.  It’s us versus them.  It’s time to brush our tee…, ooops!  I mean, it’s time to pray.

In 2 Timothy 3:1-5a we have this warning: “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power.” Sounds familiar?

Yet here is hope, God also reminds us in 2 Chronicles 7:14, that “…if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. “Beloved, do not underestimate the power of prayer.  It is your most powerful spiritual weapon.  God has put it at your disposal 24/7.  Use it.  It is time to pray for our families, communities, nation and our world.  There’s only one posture that frightens the devil and his agents, a Christian kneeling in prayer.  We have seen how destructive he can be, now let’s make him quake.  Pray!

Father in Heaven, I need you, we need you, the world needs you.  Come in your mercy and intervene on our behalf.  Without you, we are destroyed.  Do not forsake us, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  Instill in us a desire to obey your command to pray without ceasing.  Thank you for the help of your Spirit who intercedes for us before your Holy throne.  As we pray, destroy every stronghold of the enemy wherever it may be found, so that the world might know you are God and you reign.  Amen!

God Uses Broken Things

And he went out and wept bitterly. 

Luke 22: 62

In this era of camera readiness and selfies, it is common to put our best foot (best face) forward.  The internet is riddled with “perfect poses” and “perfect noses.”  But is this who we really are?  Where is the rest of the story?

I was critical of the selfie culture until recently when a friend offered to help me declutter my home.  As generous and as rare as this offer was, my immediate thought was, “No way, it’s a complete mess.  I’m not letting anyone see that side of me.”  As soon as this thought crossed my mind, it became clear to me that at one level or another, we’re all projecting our selfies on others.  We’re all inclined to put our best foot (best face) forward, and because of this human tendency, this is how we approach God.

Peter was not immune to this behavior.  He had told Jesus that he was ready to go to prison or death (Luke 22: vs 33), but after putting his best foot forward, he stumbled.  After denying the Lord three times, Peter was ashamed and remorseful he wept bitterly.  He couldn’t even do so near the people who were still sitting in the courtyard, so he “went out.” He decided to separate himself from the rest of the crowd.  Peter was broken, and weighed down under the heavy burden of conviction.  What Peter forgot, was that the Lord who created him already knew that he was flawed.  The Lord had even warned him prior, that he would deny him three times before the rooster crowed.

Sin and the accompanying emotions of guilt and shame have a way of driving a wedge between us and those close to us, especially those of the family of faith.  The realization that we are “broken,” ‘flawed,” and “inadequate” can cause us to “go out (separate, shut out)” physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually. But God is in the business of using broken beings, messy beings, and imperfect beings.  Think Jacob, Moses, and David among many others.  God does not want our selfies; God wants us, just as we are.  Vance Havner (1901-1986) puts it this way: “God uses broken things.  It takes broken soil to produce a crop, broken clouds to give rain, broken grain to give bread, broken bread to give strength. It is the broken alabaster box that gives forth perfume.  It is Peter, weeping bitterly, who returns to greater power than ever.

Dear friend, are you broken?  Then open wide and let God see every chip and jagged edge.  That’s how his light gets in.  This week, I am opening my garage.  No more selfies, because what happens in the physical translates in the spiritual.  And if an earthly friend can handle your imperfections, how much more will your heavenly Father do so, when you come to him in full honesty?

Gracious Savior, here I am broken, flawed and imperfect, but you knew that already.  No more hiding, and no more dodging; melt me and mold me in accordance with your will, so that I might serve you without shame or pretense.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Dream Thieves

These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come.

1 Corinthians 10:11

Do you have a dream inside of you?  Then commit it to God, and trust him to bring it to fruition.  Joseph had a dream too, but before it could come to pass, he faced ridicule and sabotage and it’s quite likely you will too.  Dream thieves can descend like an army of worms or like a swarm of locusts and within a short while they are gone leaving you devastated.  But sometimes dream thieves are insidious, they creep in like a cancer, co-existing with the host while spreading quietly in your soul before metastasizing and delivering the fatal blow.  Other times they are sneaky, they appear harmless, even helpful, smiling to your face, but all the while working against you and hoping for your downfall.

I remember, when I became pregnant in 2006.  It was the most amazing and most thrilling time of my life.  I cherished every second of it and yet, the dream thieves came calling with unsolicited opinions.  My attending doctor, a wise old man, gave me one important piece of advice, that I continue to apply to other situations of my life.  He said, “Stuff your ears with cotton buds for the next nine months, don’t listen to them.”  I did as he advised, and went on to enjoy nine carefree, blessed months with no morning sickness, no cravings, no complications, just bliss and deep gratitude.  And even though I was no spring chicken at the time, I didn’t miss a single day of work.  Favor!  I trusted that the God who allowed this pregnancy, would protect the new life within me to the very end.  In this case, he did.  I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, who is now 10 years old.  God brought the dream to fruition.

Joseph had a dream too.  When the dream thieves came calling, Joseph declared what he believed God’s purpose for him was, despite the circumstances (Genesis 37: 5-11).  Naturally, his brothers hated him for it and tried to sabotage the dream.  Secondly, Joseph maintained his integrity.  Genesis 39:4b states, “Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned.”  Joseph conducted business with integrity, even resisting the advances of Potiphar’s wife.  Lastly, Joseph lived a God-dependent life even amid adversity, believing that his future rested in God’s hands.  In other words, he plugged his ears from all other distractions.  In due course, his dream came to fruition.

Dear friend, entrust your dream to God and it will come to fruition in his time and in his way.  Do not listen to the dream thieves; their purpose is to distract you, but God will use your circumstances to strengthen your faith if you look to him.  The Psalmist notes (Psalm 75:6-7), “For promotion comes neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he puts down one, and sets up another.”

Dear Lord, thank you for the example of Joseph. I give my dream to you knowing that you who has begun this good work in my life will bring it to completion in your time and in your way.  Amen.

The Groom is Coming

The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living.

Romans 13:12

No bride shows up to her wedding unprepared.  No bride puts on torn, wrinkled or soiled garments to meet her bridegroom.  Every bride wants to look her best for her groom.  Her appearance is the canvas that communicates the future she envisions; a beautiful life adorned with the fulfillment of every dream.  I remember preparing for my own wedding in 2000.  I left no detail to chance.  I fussed over the venue, the officiant, the bulletin, the dress, shoes and accessories, the bridesmaids, the food; you name it and I was all over it.  The day had to be “perfect.” 

I am divorced now.  After all the energy and attention, I put into that one event, the marriage didn’t last. It frayed and swayed before lumbering to an ugly end.  The wedding dress ended up in a heap at a Goodwill store; the marriage license has since been reduced to shredded paper and the promises made all lie shattered and forgotten; vague memories of some distant, unrecognizable past.

Jesus has lovingly chosen the church to be his bride.  We are getting ready for another wedding, a heavenly union that will last forever; no throwaways here. Jesus is coming for a bride that is pure and spotless.  He is coming for a bride that is ready for an eternal commitment.  Fortunately, we do not have to get ready for this event on our own.  The Holy Spirit is there to help ready the bride for the bridegroom.  It doesn’t matter how torn, wrinkled or soiled your garments are, there is cleansing through the blood of the lamb.

But Paul writing in Romans communicates an urgency.  The day of salvation is at hand; the groom is coming and the bride must ready herself for the marriage ceremony by removing the deeds of darkness and putting on the shining armor of right living.  The bride's focus must no longer be on the event alone, but on the eternal marriage to the bridegroom who has lovingly chosen her.

Beloved, are you ready for the groom?  Too many of us in the church today, have misinterpreted grace as a "license to sin" (Romans 6:1).  Too many of us are parading around in torn, wrinkled and soiled garments as we await the groom.  Paul makes it clear, because of God’s grace toward us, “Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.  Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh (Romans 13:13).”  Paul is not addressing non-believers but rather, believers like us.

The groom is coming and he has left no detail to chance.  He has purchased your freedom with his blood and is ready to wash your garments so you will be pure and spotless at the day of his appearing.  Will you let him?  Will you receive him?  Will you yield to him?  This is one marriage you can count on because his promises are as beautiful as they are perfect.

Dear Lord, I want to be a bride who is pure and spotless. Forgive me for taking your grace so lightly.  Cleanse me of every sin that hinders, known and unknown so that I will be ready for you.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Leave Everything and Follow Me

“Truly I tell you," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields-along with persecutions-and in the age to come eternal life.

Mark 10: 29-30

Abraham left everything to follow God’s call on his life.  Moses left everything to pursue the calling that God had placed on him.  Noah left everything to follow God’s purposes for him and his family.  The early disciples left their boats, their families and their trade to follow Jesus (Matthew 4:18-22).  In every circumstance in the Bible where someone made this daring decision, God’s presence and favor increased in their lives; but so also did persecutions, temptations and miscalculations.  Brethren, what is God asking you to leave behind today to follow him? 

When God asked the rich young ruler to sell everything and give to the poor and then “come follow me.” The rich young ruler went away sad and grieving because he had much property (Mark 10: 17-27).  Having money and property is a blessing if it is held in right perspective, but if it becomes and idol that stands between you and God, the idol needs to go.

When the Lord asked Abram to, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.  “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.  I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” The Bible states, “So Abram went, as the Lord had told him;” Abram did not make excuses he went believing by faith that God was leading and God was in control.

Which of these two stories describes your situation?  Only one response pleases God; but it’s a response that must be made with earnest prayer and guidance by the Holy Spirit.  Matthew 6:24 says, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”  Today God says, “Leave everything and follow me.”  What will you do?

Heavenly Father, I need your guidance today, to know what you want me to do.  Guide me by the power of your Holy Spirit, so that I will make a decision that brings glory and honor to your Holy and Precious name.  Amen.

God Still Speaks!

He who has ears, let him hear.

Matthew 11:15

One of the most common questions I hear Christians asking is this, “How will I know when God is speaking to me?”  This is a logical question.  We live in a very noisy world and it can be difficult to identify God’s voice in the midst of the cacophony of noises.  Turn on the radio or television and you will hear about and see some of the strange practices that are taking place among Christians.  There are those who chase after modern day prophets hoping that they will receive revelation from these shepherds about what God is saying to them; other teachers promote manmade rituals and formulas that they claim will guarantee clear communication from God.  I’ll share a word of caution here, poetically taught by my pastor, “Those who follow sheep, get poo-poo on their feet.”  Instead follow the Shepherd, he talks to his sheep all the time concerning his redemptive purpose; and his sheep know his voice.

 The Bible is filled with examples of God speaking to ordinary people at different times, revealing his will to them.  We know he spoke to Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden; He spoke to Abraham, Moses and Joshua among others on a number of occasions in the Old Testament.  Hebrews 1:1 indicates that after the fall, God spoke to his people through the prophets in the Old Testament, and has now spoken to New Testament believers through his Son, Jesus Christ. God is a God who still speaks to his people through the Holy Spirit and he is capable of doing so in any way he chooses.  If we listen diligently to his Word, we too will soon discover that God’s voice is entwined all through scripture.

 In Matthew 11:15, Jesus strongly urges a generation, where many had lost the art of listening to God and lacked spiritual understanding, to pay attention to what God was saying.  There is urgency in the admonition, “He who has ears, let him hear.” This same urgent admonition is relevant to our generation.  Sadly, many are distracted by all the sheep noises surrounding them, others have lost the art of listening and all the while, God is urging us to listen to his Word.  He is urging us to seek his wisdom in dealing with the indigestible chaos of our world.

Today, we have the privilege of seeking him afresh and hearing him speak even through this devotional.  How can we hear God speak?   We can hear God speak when we spend time reading his Word.  It becomes a lamp unto our feet and a light to our path (Psalm 119:105).  When we pray under the guidance of his Spirit, he helps us distinguish his promptings (Ephesians 6:18).  When we worship him, we are ushered into his glorious presence (Exodus 25:22) and when we deliberately rest quietly before him, God’s will for our lives slowly comes to the surface as we live out the Christian faith.  Without God’s voice, we are left confused and disempowered.  But the more we learn to detect God’s voice, we are emboldened and courageous no matter what we face.

 Where are you today, are you listening? Can you hear him now?

 Loving God, thank you for your Word through which you speak to me, and to all believers.  Remind us of the urgency of the present time in our lives, and give us wisdom to redeem this time through the work you have entrusted to us.  Remind us again, that we are in the world but not of the world.  Continue to guide us through the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Whatever it Takes!

When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.

Luke 5:19

Four men were carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus.  The four men noticed the paralyzed man’s need, and they knew that out of all the people present, only Jesus would do.  They were committed to doing whatever was necessary to get him the healing he needed. 

Friends, do you know of anyone who lives in a constant state of paralysis?  Do you know of anyone who is paralyzed by addictions, by anger, by greed, selfishness, by fear, by sexual immorality, by helplessness, by self-righteousness, by political correctness, or by any of the hundreds of things that run contrary to a life of faith in Jesus Christ?   Have you done anything about it? 

Notice also that the man was outside the house; not inside where Jesus was.  He was close to; in proximity to; but not in the presence of the Great Physician.  In verse 19, Luke says, “they could not find a way to do this (bring him to Jesus) because of the crowd.”  What kept him outside?  The crowd.  How many people do you know who call themselves Christians but seem to dwell “outside the house?”  How many of them stay outside “the house” because of “the crowd?”  Because they are afraid of what people will think and say about them? Because they are afraid to run contrary to popular opinion on an issue?  Because they want to fit in and not cause waves?  Because they are afraid to lose friends, privileges or any of the many temporal benefits the world has to offer?  At any point any of us could be just as guilty and equally paralyzed.

The four friends did not just stand by; they got together to do something about the paralyzed man’s situation.  When they could not find their way into the house because of the crowd, they went up onto the roof of the house, and lowered the man down to Jesus.  They took all measures necessary, (including removing shingles from the host’s roof), to get the paralyzed man into the presence of the Lord.  In turn, Jesus honored their faith.  He not only healed the man, but he also forgave his sins, freeing him from all that had held him back and sending him home.

Beloved, this is what Jesus wants us all to do.  He stands ready to heal and he wants us to do whatever it takes, to bring people "into the house” where his presence dwells.  Jude 1:22-23 says, “Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear--hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.”

Jesus, himself, showed you what he was willing to do to get you into the house.  John 3:16 reminds you, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  Jesus offered up his very life so that you might be set free from bondage to sin and death.

Today, the Holy Spirit says to you, what are you willing to do to get those living in paralysis into the house of God?  What are you willing to do to ensure that others receive the heavenly healing that sets people free and puts them on a path towards home with the Savior? 

Eternal Father, thank you for your healing power which is availed for all who call out for your mercy.  Fill me with your Holy Spirit and lead me to those who are paralyzed by the darkness and deception of this world.  Give me a heart that is relentless in bringing them to you.  Even today, transform me into someone who is willing to do “whatever it takes,” then lead me to someone who needs your healing and help me point them to you.  May your Kingdom come.  Amen!

The Promise Keeper

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so, through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God.

2 Corinthians 1:20

Anyone can make a promise, but keeping the promise is the hard part.  Spouses break promises they have made to one another, parents break promises they have made to their children and vice versa, even best friends break promises.  But God in heaven is steadfast, and his promises are “yea and Amen.” 

I was reminded of this aspect of God’s character a few days ago as I sat gazing at the sunset.  I was mulling over some detail concerning my life when I lifted my eyes to the sky and saw a beautiful rainbow brilliantly displayed against the clear blue.  The scene excited my physical senses but also ignited my spiritual senses.  Nature reminded me that the God of the Israelites is my God.  The rainbow reminded me that what God says he will do, he absolutely will do.  In Genesis 9: 11 he says to Israel, “I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth."  God is not a man that he should lie; we can count on him to keep this promise.

Depending on your source, there are more than 3500 promises in the Bible.  God has a promise for every situation you have faced, are facing or will ever face.  And no matter how you feel on any given day, Paul reminds us, that God’s promises are “Yes” in Christ, and the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. Today, God says in Isaiah 43: 1b-3a: 

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;

Fear is the enemy’s weapon; the prayer of faith is your shield and God’s Word is your sword.  No matter how many times the devil comes against you, he is a defeated foe and he knows it.  God has promised you victory, but you must take up your weapon and fight.  Let this day, be your day of triumph over every principality and power that has come up against your family, your finances, our friendships or even your faith.

Immeasurable God, I believe that you have already fulfilled every promise you have made to me through Jesus Christ, my LORD and my Savior.   Teach me to walk by faith and not by sight.  I confess my unbelief and declare victory in every area of my life, in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Call Him, Father

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.

Matthew 6:9b

As Americans celebrate Father’s Day today, there will be those who will wake up with holes in their hearts.  There are fathers who died, fathers who left and fathers who stayed but are emotionally absent.  But there is One who is the Father of all; the Heavenly Father who loves all his children equally, and without whom there would be no human father worth celebrating.

He is:  Almighty, having power beyond compare; He Believes in you; Is Compassionate towards you and is Jealously Devoted to you; He is Eternal, existing beyond the physical realm; Forgiving every sin; Gracious, extending unmerited favor to you; He is Humble, not considering equality with God as something to be grasped; Immortal, unconstrained by natural laws; He is the God of Justice who promises to avenge any offenses impugned on his loved ones.

He is:  The All-Knowing God, who responds to his children before they speak; He is Love made perfect at Calvary; Miraculous in his interventions into the affairs of man; Never-changing, from age to age, the same; He is the Overcomer, who conquered sin and death and will soon return in his glory accompanied by the saints.  He is our Peace in times of storm; the One who leads us by Quiet waters.  This Father provides Rest for every weary soul.

He is: The Savior of the whole world; Truth personified; United with God the Father and the Holy Spirit; Victorious in every situation; Wisdom is his name; He is worthy to be eXalted today and every day; He Yearns for you and is Zealous for you.  Call him, Father, and celebrate him because today he calls you his child.

Let that hole in your soul be filled by the Good Shepherd who knows you by name (John 10:3).  Yield to him as he opens his loving arms to the child in you, and as he extends his love to your children and their children, to the third and fourth generation.

Father, on this special day, I yield to you.  Take my heart, my life, my soul.  Let me be totally devoted to you.  Thank you for loving me.  In your precious name, I pray.  Amen.

Just Go!

Now the Lord said to Abraham, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.  And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing."

Genesis 1:1-2

There are times when you just have to go!  There are occasions when you know beyond a shadow of doubt that the time is right and the time is now.  The world will not get it, your loved ones will not get it, but if you know God is speaking to you, step out in faith; just go!

When a comfortable retirement seemed a more sensible thing to do, God instructed Abraham to leave what was familiar, comfortable, and routine and go to a new place, a new culture, and a new people.  God instructed Abraham to sacrifice everything he had acquired in life for a greater blessing from God.  Obeying God’s command meant that Abraham would become a source of blessing to others.  Abraham, was obedient.  He got up and he went as God instructed.  The Bible records that Abraham had no idea where he was going to. The future was not clearly outlined for him.  The t’s were not crossed and the i’s were not dotted.  The only thing Abraham knew was the character of the One who sent him.  Abraham knew that God was good and God was faithful and that this same God who called him out from his people, would be with him every step of the way in this new adventure.

Someone asked me recently, how can I be sure that it is God speaking?  John 10:27 says, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”  Pursuing an intimate relationship with God: reading his word, waiting in his presence and seeking godly counsel are some specific ways we can know the master’s voice.  Abraham’s faith and trust were based on his relationship with God.  Abraham knew he could trust God to lead him and show him the way.  He did not need the complete plan in advance.  Abraham may have wrestled with basic human emotions such as doubt and fear; but faith in God, won the day.  Abraham trusted in God’s character and so he took his family and his belongings, and he moved to the new land just as God had instructed him.  Ultimately, God rewarded Abraham for his obedience.

God reserves this same blessing for those who trust in him today.  God reserves this blessing for you too, dear friend.  Perhaps you have been wrestling with embracing change in your life but have been afraid to leave your old life behind because no one “does that!”  Perhaps, God has been saying to you, “Go…from your routine, comfortable and predictable life to new horizons I will show you so that you might be a source of greater blessing to others” and you’ve been responding, “Not yet, I’ve got to figure this out.”  John H. Sammis (1887) seems to suggest that happiness in Jesus is achieved when we simply: "Trust and obey, for there’s no other way; To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey."

Scripture says, “The just shall live by faith (Romans 1;17); It is time for believers to “Go!’’ Is God speaking to you today?  Do you hear his voice?  Do you trust him?  Then, all you have to do is obey him.  The experience will probably be challenging, for the testing of your faith, but the journey will draw you closer to him, and as he was with Abraham so he will be with all who trust in him.  Just go!

 Almighty God, forgive us for times we have worried needlessly about a future we cannot control, instead of seeking your direction.  Grant us courage to trust and obey you even when we do not understand. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Invincible God!

And it is I who have created the destroyer to wreak havoc; no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.

Isaiah 54: 16b-17a

Joshua faced the enemy with courage at the Walls of Jericho because the Lord, prior to the onset of battle, had delivered Jericho into his hands, along with its king and its fighting men (Joshua 6:2).  No hurdle or roadblock is too great for God.  Elijah faced down the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah with unshakeable confidence, because the God of his ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel was still the same God he believed in.  And just as he had rendered victory in the past, he would render victory now (I Kings 18: 36-38).  No opposition, great or small, can deter God’s purposes for you.  Nehemiah took on the formidable task of rebuilding Jerusalem’s Walls (walls that had been broken down for 100 years) because he trusted in this same God (Nehemiah 1: 4-11).  Nehemiah had no leadership ability to lean on, neither did he have wall building expertise, but with God on his side, supplying all the resources he needed, he rebuilt Jerusalem’s Walls in 52 days!  This same Lord will accomplish all his plans through you if you are willing.  And Daniel knelt quietly praying in the lion’s den, because he knew that the God he served would protect him; and he did by shutting the mouths of the lions (Daniel 6:13-22).  No threat, can stop God from accomplishing his will for you.  And lastly, when the crowds and the Pharisees accused him, and hurled insults at him, Jesus did not utter a mumbling word because he knew God would have the final say.  He knew vengeance belonged to God and he would repay every offence in his time (Romans 12:19).

Rejoice and be glad believer, for the Lord is on your side.  Satan roams to and fro like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8); he roams across the earth wreaking havoc, but even he in under the Lord’s authority (1 Job 12).  Therefore, be courageous!  No matter what the challenge, task, test or situation you are facing may look like or feel like, the writer of the first letter of John 4:4 declares this about you, “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”  The Spirit of the one who is in you is greater than the spirit of the devourer because the Spirit of the one who is in you has overcome sin and death, and any kind of test you might face today, tomorrow or in the distant future.

So, stand!  And after you have stood the test, stand yet again in him.

Loving God, raise up your hedge of protection around me today.  Keep me safe in the shelter of your wings.  By faith, I believe, this battle is not mine, it is yours.  Have your way in my life and give me unshakeable confidence in you, because your ways are not my ways, your thoughts not my thoughts.  I commit the outcome of my situation entirely to you, in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

It's Decision Time!

So, because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold-I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

Revelations 3:16

I love tea (In Kiswahili “chai” = water+ milk + tea leaves+ spices+ sugar) with the same passion that many Americans love coffee.  Growing up in Kenya, I got used to drinking steaming hot tea every day.  It was always hot, never cold.   And so, as I was walking around a local store in Grand Rapids recently, I saw a sign inviting guests to try some “chai.”  Curious to find out whether it tasted the same as the tea I was used to, I took a sample cup, brought it to my lips and then wished I hadn’t.  The tea was lukewarm, and lacked the rich aroma and texture I had anticipated, and remembered from my past.  In fact, the tea nauseated me.  Perhaps you’ve had a similar experience with some food or beverage.

Speaking to the Church in Laodicea, God offers a stern rebuke of their spiritual condition.  He calls them “lukewarm.”  They were neither here nor there.  At least cold would imply they were refreshing, and hot would signify some passion.  This church was neither; they were lukewarm and because of their “sit on the fence” brand of faith, God found them nauseating and was about to spit them out of his mouth.  This is a dire warning that they are about to lose their heavenly blessings.  Repentance (a complete about turn) is the only way back to intimacy with God.  Friend, how is your walk with God?  Are you hot?  Are you cold?  Are you lukewarm?  Do you please or nauseate God?  Do you need to repent?

My experience with a lukewarm cup of tea did not interfere with my love for tea.  I still love a hot cup of aromatic tea.  Likewise, God’s temporary nausea does not change his love for you.  His love for you is eternal.  Finding intimacy with him is a different story.  Intimacy is not achieved by routine religiosity but by a heart that is passionately seeking to be in relationship with him; a heart that desires to be in his will.  A lukewarm state can be eliminated by a simple decision, …repentance.  Repentance heats up humanity’s relationship with God.  Repentance takes you from lukewarm to hot!  Repentance assures intimacy with God and all the accompanying blessings of heaven.

Today, God stands at the door and knocks; do you hear him?  Will you open the door or will you continue to straddle the fence?  Are you living the life he sacrificed his life for?  So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts….”

Loving and merciful Savior, forgive me for honoring you with my lips and yet living a life that is far from you.  I know you sent the Holy Spirit to help me live a life that is bold; a life that brings you glory.  Take control over me today, and help me walk in your will.  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Tell it to Jesus

When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” And then she said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you to do.”

John 2:3&5

It was the third day of celebrations at the wedding in Cana of Galilee, when disaster loomed, the wine ran out.  This would have been a disaster and embarrassment for the couple, but Mary, the mother of Jesus, knew what to do.  She immediately told Jesus about the problem, “They have no more wine,” she said, and because she told the right person the problem was solved.  Jesus performed his first miracle by turning the water to wine, revealing his glory and causing the disciples to believe in him.

Friend, are you facing a problem today?  Do you know that Jesus wants to intervene in your situation too?  Just as he could change the water the water to wine, he is able to turn your circumstances around.  He can give you beauty for ashes (Isaiah 61:3).  Scripture instructs you to, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7).  God does care for you and his ear is inclined towards you (Ps. 31:2; 166:2). So, tell it all to Jesus.  Don’t tell it to your dog or cat, spouse or friend; go to Jesus first.  Avert embarrassment, disaster, unnecessary pain and isolation by going to the right person.  Name the problem plainly, tell him the wine has run out of your marriage, your job, your friendship or even your health.  Let the glory of God be revealed through your life so that others might believe.

And whatever he tells you to do, do it (John 2:5).  Naaman, the army commander of Aram, had to obey a seemingly ridiculous command, when the prophet Elisha asked him to go and dip himself in the Jordan seven times (2 Kings 5:14).  Despite his social stature, Naaman obeyed.  And again, in Genesis 12: 1, God says to Abraham, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.”  And Abraham left his kindred and his homeland to go to a land that he did not know.  In obedience, you will find favor.  In obedience, you will find your breakthrough.  In obedience, you will experience the transforming power of the Lord in your life.

Heavenly Father, I come to your throne today and lay my burdens at your feet.  I believe that you have the power to transform my troubles into joy.  Speak to me, your servant is listening.  Let me know what you want me to do.  In Jesus’ name I pray Amen.

Pray for Mothers

"Honor your father and mother"--which is the first commandment with a promise--"so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."

Ephesians 6:2-3

God created the family unit and gave mothers a unique role in it, starting with Eve.  But Eve showed us that for all the well-deserved accolades we give them, mothers are only human.  In the rough and tumble of an unforgiving world, Eve failed the test when she was tempted (Genesis 3:6) and she experienced heartbreak and sorrow when one of her sons murdered the other (Genesis 4:8).  Mothers, like everyone else, need God to help them and guide them as they raise their children and care for their families.

While millions celebrate Mother’s Day, there will be others weeping for the mothers who failed them, the mothers who didn’t come through, the mothers who put themselves first and the mothers who are absent.  The one thing constant in all these situations, whether of joy or of sorrow, is the presence of a loving God who will never leave nor forsake his children. 

So, on this Mother’s Day, pray for mothers, that they will keep Christ first in their lives, so they can be the women God intended them to be.  Pray that with Christ in the lead, they will be able to resist the temptations that come their way.  Pray also, that they will be able to endure the heartbreaks and the sorrow that come from being human.

God’s command says, “honor your …and mother, that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy a long life on earth.”  There are cases where this may come naturally, praise him for the gift of your mother.  But there may be cases where this is not easy to do.  Keep Christ first, then ask for his grace and guidance so you can handle this test as it should be handled.  Then rest in Him and rely on Him for comfort and consolation.

Loving God, as a mother gives life and nourishment to her children, so you watch over me.  Bless mothers everywhere and bless my mother, that she may be strengthened as a Christian woman. Let the example of her faith and love shine forth.  Grant me a heart that will honor her always with a spirit of profound respect because it is your will.  Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen!
 

Wait for the Helper

I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay (wait) in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."

Acts 1:4

Our world is teeming with information.  At the touch of a button, google and other search engines can spew out any information you want.  One has be very careful of course, because truth is often mixed in with myth.  But there is abundant information on the internet and in the libraries for those who seek it.  As we enter the Christian arena, the temptation to rely on our own research and understanding can be tempting.  The tendency to run ahead, plan and design our own “perfect” or “excellent” paths in ministry seems to come easily.  God’s plan was to have us wait.  He leads; we follow.  Without the Spirit’s leading and without his life- giving breath; all we have are dead sermons, dead works, dead worship, dead ministries and dead churches (Isaiah 64:6; Matthew 15:8).

As Jesus prepared to leave this earth, he made special arrangements for his disciples.  He said to them, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. (John 14: 16-17 ESV).  As children of God we have a helper (advocate).  We know him by faith through Jesus Christ.  He is there to aid in every area of our lives.  He is there to lead.  All we need to do is wait (actively desire and seek him), then follow. 

Jesus goes on to say, In John 16:13: “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.  How do we discern this truth?  By waiting.  And this is what the disciples were doing in the upper room.  They were waiting for the infilling of the Holy Spirit, they were anxiously desiring, expecting and waiting for power from on high.  Those disciples were not going to take one step, until they had received that promised power.

The promise of a Helper was not just for those original disciples, but for you too.  The Holy Spirit is still God’s assigned counselor who is ready to lead and guide God’s children into God’s truth.  We should not take one step without him.  Are you desiring; are you expecting; are you waiting or are you self-reliant?  The devil doesn’t want you to know this because he knows that when you are imbued with power from on high, you will never be the same.  You will know the truth and will be ready to follow and do exploits.  Don’t go another day without cultivating the discipline of waiting.  God’s chosen Helper is here and he is ready to guide you. Are you ready to welcome him?

Come, Holy Spirit, I need you; Come, sweet Spirit, I pray,

Come in your strength and your power, Come in your own gentle way.

Heritage Singers (Album: Restored)

The Touch of Jesus

When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.”

Mark 5:27-28

There was a large crowd that followed Jesus, pressing around him.  The crowds, you will notice, always get in the way.  But the woman in this story was desperate and nothing would stop her.  She needed the master’s touch and she was going to get it.  She had suffered greatly for 12 years with an issue of blood. A condition that back then would have ostracized her.  She had been subject to mistreatments by many physicians and had lost all the money she had while trying to seek treatment, only to get worse.

Jesus was her last resort and when she heard about him, she believed simply touching his clothes would heal her.  So, she came up behind him and touched his cloak.  When she did, immediately the fountain of blood dried up and she was healed.  At that point she probably thought that she could sneak off, but Jesus sensed that power had gone out of him intentionally and so he asked, “Who touched me? (Mark 5:31)”

 Because she was willing to touch Jesus, this woman was healed.  Jesus honored her faith and granted total healing. She could then return “in peace,” freed from her emotional, physical, and spiritual suffering.

Friend, Jesus heals.  Whatever it is that you are going through, he can transform that situation for your good and for his glory.  You do not need to suffer under the burden you are carrying anymore.  What are you willing to do to experience his touch?  What crowds stand in your way?  The same power that was available for this woman is available for you.  It is within your reach, but you must grab ahold of it.  However, there are two conditions that must be met for this healing to take place.  First, you must be convinced of your need; and secondly you must be convinced of his power.  Our Lord Jesus stands ready to touch you and heal you today but you must show up and reach out.

Father in Heaven, I need you today.  Touch those areas of my life that are broken and messed up with your healing touch.  I believe you have the power to transform my pain in joy, my anxiety into peace and my doubt into faith.  Today, I am grabbing the hem of your garment, heal me I pray, in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Give Him Thanks and Praise

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his mercies endure forever.

Psalm 107:1

When did you last dedicate time to simply give thanks to God?  When did you last challenge yourself, to disconnect from everyone and everything and to just be in his presence alone?  When did you last turn off the chatter and the noise, to keenly listen for his voice?

In this human life, that’s punctuated by failure and disappointment, it can be tempting to imagine that the road back to God’s grace is too far.  One can assume that God’s mercies are cut off.

In a world that’s filled with a million reasons to complain, it is easy to focus on minutiae, on what’s not working, on what’s missing and on what’s irritating us.  Yet in the middle of this same world is a God, who is good, and whose mercies endure forever.

The children of Israel discovered that even when they were hostile to God, and their decisions caused them to wander in the desert, God’s mercies never left them.  His superintending providence always brought them back home.  For this reason, they never ceased to give him praise and thanksgiving, and neither should we.

This week, deliberately cultivate an attitude of gratitude for everything you encounter.  Know that the Lord is good and his mercies towards you endure forever.  Believe that even when the decisions you make are hostile to him, his nature towards you does not change and his lovingkindness will constantly beckon you to come back home.

Don’t ask for things, and don’t complain just give him thanks and praise at every opportunity, for he is good and his mercies endure forever.

Loving God, thank you for loving me, and for constantly wooing me to yourself.  I praise you O LORD, for there is none like you.  Thank you for your tender mercies which endure forever.  Today, I honor you for who you are, God Almighty!  Amen.

Extravagant Love

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

John 11: 25-16

Jesus was speaking to Martha when he made this extravagant declaration, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die."  He assures Martha that Lazarus, her brother, will be raised to life.  He promises that those who die will be raised to life again in him, and then he adds, that whoever, lives by believing in him will never die.   This is a radical and extravagant promise, one that might be hard for many to believe, but it’s true.

Here’s the promise of Easter, Christ is the resurrection and the life.  He has done it all.  Believers are made righteous in him and through him.  It is a gift freely given.  There is nothing you can do to earn it and there is nothing you can do to lose it.  The cross has changed everything!

As Cody Carnes puts it in his song, “The Cross Has the Final Word”

The cross has the final word

Evil may put up its strongest fight

But the cross has the final word.

Rejoice and be glad this Easter that nothing can separate you from the love of Christ.  He who was without sin, became sin for us, becoming obedient even unto death on the cross.  God, sparing nothing, gave his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, as the ultimate sacrifice for our sin and we are now made righteous in and through him.

As you celebrate the resurrection, take time to meditate on him, and on his love.  Love that held fast through the agony of betrayal; through the loneliness of the garden of Gethsamane;  through the torture and humiliation of the long climb to Golgotha; and  through the excruciating agony of the crucifixion even unto death. 

But even death could not keep him down.  On the third day, he burst forth from the grave, conquering sin and death with one final blow.  Now he lives and he promises that those who live believing in him will never die—Hallelujah!

 Do you believe this?  The promise is for you too, no matter what others might say and no matter what the enemy might whisper, this promise is for all who live by believing in Him.  Take time to celebrate this rare extravagant gift that he has given you.

Almighty God, there is none like you.  Thank you for paying the ultimate price for my freedom.  Help me, by the power of your spirit, to live a life that honors and celebrates this gift of love.  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Rest in Him

By the seventh day God had finished his work.  On the seventh day, he rested from all his work.  God blessed the seventh day.  He made it a Holy Day, because on that day, he rested from his work, all the creating God had done.

Genesis 2:2

For six days, God labored creating this earth out of a formless void.  He called out the light from the dark, the sky from the water, he named the heavens and separated it from the earth, he created the stars, the plants, creatures of the land, sea and air, he created man and then woman.  And after all this creating activity, God Almighty relaxed.  It was the Sabbath day.  And would you know, the world did not miss a beat.  It kept humming along, because it was created by God.

In the Old Testament, we find the Israelites observing God’s Sabbath.  They rested because God had commanded them to keep the Sabbath Holy.  This was a test of their faith at a time when they felt that they ought to work harder, God required them to rest.  On the Sabbath, they had to rest and wholly rely on God’s activity, and by doing so, they learned a very important lesson.  They learned that even when they were not working, God was working on their behalf, God was getting things done.

Life in the 21st Century is a flurry of activity.  We have forgotten what it means to rest.  We work seven days a week, we burn the candle on both ends, we flit from job to job, and on the Sabbath Day, we mow our lawns, we clean our homes, we ferry our children to their sports tournaments and attend to a myriad of other things “which cannot wait.”  We have forgotten what it means to observe the Sabbath, we have forgotten to do what God did.  We have denied ourselves the experience of learning what it feels like to have the LORD God Almighty working on our behalf.

Harriet Crosby, a former teacher, preacher and missionary once observed, “Resting in God is what trusting in God feels like.”  It is hard to rest, when there is so much work to be done and yet this is the essence of trust.  It is the ability to fully rely on God, when all the human senses tell you otherwise.  It is the habit of resting, that ultimately helps us cultivate a deeper reliance on God.

Today, God has set you free from the tyranny of a seven-day work week.  He has personally shown you how to relax from your labor.  He has blessed the Sabbath and given it to you as a gift.  It is one of the most important gifts you’ll ever have.  It’s a gift that will nurture you physically, spiritually and mentally.  Trust him and know that even when you are not working, things are getting done.  And as you rest from your labor, meditate on him and on his word.

Father, remind me again that you are at the helm.  Remind me again, that without you, I would be nowhere; I would be nothing.  Teach me to trust in you; teach me to rest in you.  And as I rest, God I believe you will be working on my behalf.  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.