Category: Obedience

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More Promises

A reminder from the Father this morning. We are to not only read His Word but believe it! When we do, it will change our lives completely. The Word, which is another name for Jesus, is alive and powerful and transforming.

And here I am with another song filling my heart!

 Standing on the promises of Christ, my King!
Through eternal ages let His praises ring.
“Glory in the highest!” I will shout and sing,
standing on the promises of God.

Refrain:
Standing, standing,
standing on the promises of God, my Savior;
standing, standing,
I’m standing on the promises of God.

2 Standing on the promises that cannot fail!
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
by the living Word of God I shall prevail,
standing on the promises of God. [Refrain]

This song, “Standing on the Promises of God” was written in 1886. But it is relevant for every generation. We are surrounded by a society of half-truths, innuendoes, distortion and bald-faced lies that we become skeptical to what we read and hear. However, there is one source we should never doubt and that is the word of God.

“I write this letter to you who believe in the Son of God. I write so that you will know that you have eternal life now. 14 We can come to God with no doubts. This means that when we ask God for things (and those things agree with what God wants for us), God cares about what we say. 15 He listens to us every time we ask him. So we know that he gives us whatever we ask from him.” I John 5:13-15 ERV

“God promised Abraham a lot of descendants. And when it all seemed hopeless, Abraham still had faith in God and became the ancestor of many nations. 19 Abraham’s faith never became weak, not even when he was nearly a hundred years old. He knew that he was almost dead and that his wife Sarah could not have children. 20 But Abraham never doubted or questioned God’s promise. His faith made him strong, and he gave all the credit to God. 21 Abraham was certain that God could do what he had promised. 22 So God accepted him, 23 just as we read in the Scriptures. But these words were not written only for Abraham. 24 They were written for us, since we will also be accepted because of our faith in God, who raised our Lord Jesus to life. 25 God gave Jesus to die for our sins, and he raised him to life, so that we would be made acceptable to God.” Romans 4:18-25 CEV

I’ve often said that I think God’s word can be summed up in two verses:

“God is not a man; he will not lie. God is not a human being; his decisions will not change.
If he says he will do something, then he will do it. If he makes a promise, then “he will do what he promised.” Numbers 23:19 ERV

“ The yes to all of God’s promises is in Christ. And that is why we say “Amen” through Christ to the glory of God.” II Corinthians 1:20 ERV

Believe God’s Word – Don’t Doubt – Don’t Give Up! God’s word WILL come to pass, He CAN’T lie. God’s word has more promises than we can count!

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All In

Many people followed Jesus when he was here on earth. He was a novelty with his healing power and his words of love. He claimed to be the Messiah and as such they expected him to overthrow the government and set up his reign as King.

No more Roman oppression; this man could multiply food; he could walk on water and even raise the dead. He called out hypocrisy and brought a sense of worthiness to the down trodden. Everyone, it seemed, wanted to be one of his followers.

But then came the call for accountability.

Jesus said that the path of following Him would require them to give up their way of life and commit to His. He even said that they would need to “eat of his flesh and drink of his blood” and this they thought was referring to a type of cannibalism and so many of them left and returned to their old way of life.

Jesus was simply saying that they needed to be all in – totally committed – in following Him. So as his followers were leaving, He turned to his disciples and asked this question.

“Because of what Jesus said, many of his disciples turned their backs on him and stopped following him. 67 Jesus then asked his twelve disciples if they were going to leave him. 68 Simon Peter answered, ‘Lord, there is no one else that we can go to! Your words give eternal life. 69 We have faith in you, and we are sure that you are God’s Holy One.'” John 6:66-69 CEV

Our resolve must be that of the disciples. “Where else can we go, you have the words of life?”.

Father, we gladly follow you today. We are not ashamed to be called Christians – Christ-like ones. You gave your life for us and we will live our lives for you!

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Convinced!

We live in a society where it is commonplace to question and even resent authority. Students bully their teachers; children disrespect their parents and employees trash talk their employers. Some commands have been replaced with “suggestions” and nearly everything is viewed as politically incorrect or offensive. We live in a world of “situational ethics”.

But some things should never change – one being our faith and trust in the unfailing, inerrant Word of God. The Word of God should and will be the final authority by which all is judged. It is the word of God that spoke this world into existence, and it is what is still holding it together.

Many struggle with issues in life – depression, recession, dis – ease, fear, hopelessness – anything but the abundant life that God has promised to us in His word and much of that comes back to our questioning the authority of God’s word and His promises.

If we live by the Bible we are considered old fashioned, uninformed, not academically in tuned or worse yet intolerant and politically incorrect.

But I know of no other Book that has stood the test of time and not had to be revised or rewritten – it is the living Word of God and it is sharper and more powerful than a two-edged sword. We either acknowledge it as absolute and live in victory or we disregard it as old fashioned and passe` and live defeated in those areas of our life.

“When Jesus had finished these talks to the people, he came to Capernaum, where it happened that there was a man very seriously ill and in fact at the point of death. He was the slave of a centurion who thought very highly of him. When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him with the request that he would come and save his servant’s life. When they came to Jesus, they urged him strongly to grant this request, saying that the centurion deserved to have this done for him. ‘He loves our nation and has built us a synagogue out of his own pocket,’ they said.

6-8 So Jesus went with them, but as he approached the house, the centurion sent some of his personal friends with the message, ‘Don’t trouble yourself, sir! I’m not important enough for you to come into my house—I didn’t think I was fit to come to you in person. Just give the order, please, and my servant will recover. I am used to working under orders, and I have soldiers under me. I can say to one, ‘Go’, and he goes, or I can say to another, ‘Come here’, and he comes; or I can say to my slave, ‘Do this job’, and he does it.”

9 These words amazed Jesus and he turned to the crowd who were following behind him, and said, “I have never found faith like this anywhere, even in Israel!”

10 Then those who had been sent by the centurion returned to the house and found the slave perfectly well.” Luke 7:1-10 ERV

I choose to put my faith in the authority of God’s Word – ” Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. 8 They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.” Psalm 20:7-8

I am convinced of this very thing: Heaven and earth will pass away but God’s word will stand forever!

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Then Jesus Came

Last night when I went to bed a song rose in my heart.

One sat alone beside the highway begging,
  His eyes were blind, the light he could not see;
He clutched his rags and shivered in the shadows,
  Then Jesus came and bade his darkness flee.

When Jesus comes the tempter’s pow’r is broken;
  When Jesus comes the tears are wiped away.
He takes the gloom and fills the life with glory,
    For all is changed when Jesus comes to stay.

So men today have found the Savior able,
  They could not conquer passion, lust and sin;
Their broken hearts had left them sad and lonely,
  Then Jesus came and dwelt, Himself, within. (Then Jesus Came)

I spent my next several moments wondering what it would be like to have a conversation with the blind man, the leper and a paralyzed man I had read about so many times in the Bible. Their lives had been filled with desperation and hopelessness.

But God! Each man had an encounter with Christ.

The blind man: “…a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road. 47 When he heard that Jesus from Nazareth ⌞was passing by⌟, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 The people told him to be quiet… 49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him!” They called the blind man and told him, “Cheer up! Get up! He’s calling you.” 50 The blind man threw off his coat, jumped up, and went to Jesus.

51 Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said, “Teacher, I want to see again.” 52 Jesus told him, “Go, your faith has made you well.” At once he could see again, and he followed Jesus on the road.” Mark 10:46-52 GW

The leper: “Jesus came down from the hill, and a large crowd followed him. 2 Then a man sick with leprosy came to him. The man bowed down before Jesus and said, “Lord, you have the power to heal me if you want.” 3 Jesus touched the man. He said, “I want to heal you. Be healed!” Immediately the man was healed from his leprosy.” Matthew 8:1-3 ERV

The paralyzed man: “ Four men came to him carrying a paralyzed man. 4 Since they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof over the place where Jesus was. Then they lowered the cot on which the paralyzed man was lying. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”… 10 I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then he said to the paralyzed man, 11 “I’m telling you to get up, pick up your cot, and go home!” Mark 2:1-11 GW

If you could talk with these men, what would you ask? How do you think they would respond?

John the Baptist, when he was in prison, sent his disciples “ to ask Jesus, ‘Are you the one who is coming, or should we look for someone else?’ 4 Jesus answered John’s disciples, ‘Go back, and tell John what you hear and see: 5 Blind people see again, lame people are walking, those with skin diseases are made clean, deaf people hear again, dead people are brought back to life, and poor people hear the Good News. 6 Whoever doesn’t lose his faith in me is indeed blessed.” Matthew 11:3-6 GW

The answer: Then Jesus Came and everything changed. Today, the answer is the same.

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No Brag – Just Fact

I am reading in Ephesians again. I find myself there quite frequently.

The letters that Paul wrote to the different Christian churches were for their instruction and correction. I find those letters do the same in my life. While I was reading this morning a phrase jumped out at me, “there is nothing you can brag about”.

Last weekend while we were in Williams there was a whole lot of bragging going on. We didn’t know it when we booked our trip, but the annual car show was also last weekend. We went into town on Thursday evening for dinner and had a hard time finding a place to park.

We quickly learned that 600 cars were entered and many others were on a waiting list. Oh my, there were some real beauties! Top quality paint jobs, gleaming wheels, tuck-n-roll upholstery and a few rust buckets. Each and every one was hoping to be named “the best”.

No brag, just fact.

People are a lot like that too. Wanting to be judged by their accomplishments, education, size of their home, the car they drive, the accolades they have received, their good looks and great personalities. They want to lay claim to their bragging rights.

I think the Apostle Paul might have been dealing with this very situation.

“In the past you were dead because you sinned and fought against God. 2 You followed the ways of this world and obeyed the devil. He rules the world, and his spirit has power over everyone who doesn’t obey God. 3 Once we were also ruled by the selfish desires of our bodies and minds. We had made God angry, and we were going to be punished like everyone else.

4-5 But God was merciful! We were dead because of our sins, but God loved us so much he made us alive with Christ, and God’s gift of undeserved grace is what saves you. 6 God raised us from death to life with Christ Jesus, and he has given us a place beside Christ in heaven. 7 God did this so in the future world he could show how truly good and kind he is to us because of what Christ Jesus has done. 8 You were saved by faith in God, who treats us much better than we deserve. This is God’s gift to you, and not anything you have done on your own. 9 It isn’t something you have earned, so there is nothing you can brag about.” Ephesians 2:1-9 CEV

We run into trouble when we begin to compare ourselves to others and brag on our “goodness”. Everything we have in this life that is good has been given to us by God.

“Don’t be fooled, my dear friends. 17 Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father who created all the lights in the heavens. He is always the same and never makes dark shadows by changing. 18 He wanted us to be his own special people, and so he sent the true message to give us new birth.” James 1:16-18 CEV

“But Christ has shown me that what I once thought was valuable is worthless. 8 Nothing is as wonderful as knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have given up everything else and count it all as garbage. All I want is Christ” Philippians 3:7-8 CEV

Paul had been in the inner circle of Jewish society but as he wrote Ephesians and Philippians he was in prison. He knew what was truly important – knowing Christ as Savior.

A lesson for all of us – No brag, just fact!

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Time to Clean

I like a clean and tidy house. It’s hard for me to sit and relax when I know that the bathrooms need to be cleaned or I can see dirty floors and dusty furniture. I’ve always been that way. It’s a part of who I am. My mom kept a tidy house and from what I’ve read, it’s a part of my heritage.

I once read a book on a Norwegian family and the woman, who was a bit older than I, told stories about her Mom and her complusion for cleanliness. At one point in the book she said they moved into a home, it was clean or so she thought but her mother had them scrub the floors just in case the family that had lived there before wasn’t Norwegian and didn’t understand the importance of cleanliness the way they did.

Now I’m not that bad but my husband and children may take umbridge with that last statement. However, cleaning for me isn’t a chore, it’s enjoyable. I am thankful for my home and the things I have in it and want to keep them looking nice and not let them deteriorate or come to disrepair.

And with that confession I’m sure you are wondering how all of this applies to this morning’s devotional. Let me draw the correlation.

I know that the dust seeps in and requires my attention. Then there’s the dog hair and dusty feet or food spills in the kitchen, dirty sinks and smudged windows. It all requires my attention. I would have a real problem if someone wanted to march through the house with muddy feet or walked through the rooms spilling garbage. More importantly I would stand up to anyone that wanted to vandalize my home or bring in a bag of snakes and scorpions.

So how do you think the Holy Spirit feels when we let our actions, our words and our activities “dirty up” His home.

“You should know that your body is a temple for the Holy Spirit that you received from God and that lives in you. You don’t own yourselves. 20 God paid a very high price to make you his. So honor God with your body.” I Corinthians 6:19-20 ERV

We are a valuable dwelling place – a temple as it were for the Holy Spirit to live in and there are times we carelessly vandalize His home.

As I grow older I realize more each year how important it is that I keep my house clean. There’s no room for dishonesty, no room for bitterness or petty jealousy. I don’t want the garbage of lying, gossip, and criticism spread about. I certainly don’t want my dwelling to be vandalized by immoral living.

So it’s time for a good cleaning! Make the earthly home a place of welcome and comfort for the Holy Spirit.

” And don’t make the Holy Spirit sad. God gave you his Spirit as proof that you belong to him and that he will keep you safe until the day he makes you free. 31 Never be bitter, angry, or mad. Never shout angrily or say things to hurt others. Never do anything evil. 32 Be kind and loving to each other. Forgive each other the same as God forgave you through Christ.” Ephesians 4:30-32 ERV

If necessary, get out the mop, broom and dust rag; confession, repentance and prayer. It’s time to clean the corners that sometimes get overlooked.

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Winds of Change

This will be short this morning because I am focused on what the Lord is teaching me from Gideon’s story.

A young man who felt he was the most insignificant person in his family and in his town. A man who was threshing wheat in the pit of a wine press. If you know anything about threshing, you know that in that day you needed a brisk wind to separate the wheat kernels from the chaff.

There is no wind in a wine press. Gideon’s fear kept him from being productive.

What changed?…God!

Jehovah Shalom. God is peace!

The first thing the Lord asked Gideon to do was this:

“Get your father’s second-best bull, the one that’s seven years old. Use it to pull down the altar where your father worships Baal and cut down the sacred pole next to the altar. 26 Then build an altar for worshiping me on the highest part of the hill where your town is built. Use layers of stones for my altar, not just a pile of rocks. Cut up the wood from the pole, make a fire, kill the bull, and burn it as a sacrifice to me.

27 Gideon chose ten of his servants to help him, and they did everything God had said. But since Gideon was afraid of his family and the other people in Ophrah, he did it all at night.” Judges 6:25-27 CEV

Pull down the altar of false gods. Then build God’s altar high on the hill for all to see. No longer was Gideon hiding in a wine press. He put God forefront for all to see. (Although he did it at night because he hadn’t completely conquered his fear.)

We all have false gods that need to be pulled down: fear, self-promotion, affluence, pride, independence.

“ But more than anything else, put God’s work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well.” Matthew 6:33 CEV

The Lord wants to be first place in our lives. He wants to take us out of the wine press. He wants us to be willing to worship Him where everyone can see.

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God Provides

Dave and I spend quite a bit of time reminiscing about our adventures, friends and family. And last night was no different. We spent time talking about where to go for dinner tonight.

You see, today is our 53rd anniversary and we are currently living about 20 miles from where we were married and the night before our wedding we ate at an amazing steakhouse that is no longer there. It was destroyed in a fire but we still remember the delicious dinners we had there. Wish there was a place like that to go tonight.

Kind of reminds me of a Scripture.

“O taste and see that the Lord is good. How happy is the man who trusts in Him! 9 O fear the Lord, all you who belong to Him. For those who fear Him never want for anything.” Psalm 34:8-9 NLV

Years ago when we were young in faith and learning to listen to the Lord’s voice we had a cowboy preacher, a dear friend, tell us this: If God says go South, He will provide; If you go North you’ll think you died!

Now that’s not scripture but it is scriptural. That’s what it means to “taste and see” or it could be put “trust and obey”. We learn about the goodness and provision of God by trusting, tasting, putting Him first.

Our walk with the Lord has been learning to trust Him in the small things and then remembering how “good” it was to be obedient when a large issue came up.

All through the Bible we see examples of the Lord doing just that. He provided for the Israelites in the desert. He gave them manna and quail and water gushed from a rock. Before that, Joseph used the Pharoah’s grain to feed his family during the famine.  Noah and his family were safe and dry in the ark.

When the wise men came to see the child Jesus they brought gifts of gold, myrrh and frankinscense. Soon after their departure the Lord instructed Joseph to take his family to Egypt. The Lord had provided what they needed for the trip.

It’s important that we follow with the Lord with a trusting heart.

“Trust the Lord completely, and don’t depend on your own knowledge. 6 With every step you take, think about what he wants, and he will help you go the right way. 7 Don’t trust in your own wisdom, but fear and respect the Lord and stay away from evil. 8 If you do this, it will be like a refreshing drink and medicine for your body.” Proverb 3:5-8 ERV

When we follow His plan for us there may be times of uncertainty but we don’t need to be afraid. When we listen, He speaks and when we follow His leading we are blessed!

“Today I am giving you a choice. You may choose the blessing or the curse. 27 You will get the blessing if you listen and obey the commands of the Lord your God that I have told you today.” Deuteronomy 11:26-27 ERV

 We have a choice – it would be silly to lean to our own understanding since following Him is the right way to go and His wisdom is perfect.

“ I say this because I know the plans that I have for you.” This message is from the Lord. “I have good plans for you. I don’t plan to hurt you. I plan to give you hope and a good future. 12 Then you will call my name. You will come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” Jeremiah 29:11-12 ERV

Go South today – He will provide!!!

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Get Up & Go!

This week has presented me with some real challenges and in fact, I was sidelined for a few days. Maybe you were too. Things just not the way you planned, and you faced set backs? Well, today it’s time to get up and go again!

Today is a day of victory!!

I went to Bible Gateway and looked up the words “arise go”. Definitely didn’t find the vernacular I’m accustomed too, “saddle up and ride” but it means the same.

The prodigal son said “I will arise and go to my father’s house”; Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “Arise take up your bed and walk and go to your house”; he also told the leper “Arise and go thy way, thy faith has made thee whole”; then there was the Apostle Paul on the road to Damascus when the Lord spoke from heaven and told him to “Arise and go into the city”. Of course, we have the angel telling Joseph to “Arise and go to Egypt” with Mary and baby Jesus to keep him from being killed by Herod.

However this morning I want us to look at a story of victory “Arise and Go” from the Old Testament. Let’s put the story in context, there is a famine in the land. The Syrian army is in full siege against the Israelites. The Israelites are hold up in the city and things are so bad they are eating animal dung and even their own children. There are 4 lepers outside the city wall, and they are starving to death.

“… Why sit we here until we die? 4 If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.

5 And they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the Syrians: and when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, there was no man there.

6 For the LORD had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, …7 Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life.

8 And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it.

9 Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king’s household.” II Kings 7:4-9 KJV

Notice the thought process of the lepers. If we sit here we will die so they “arose up to go” to the Syrian camp. And when they did, God not only provided for them but He provided deliverance for all the Israelites and destroyed their enemy.

When we arise and go forth, we are moving in the right direction. We can trust the Lord to direct our paths and to secure our outcome. Don’t become complacent and sit where you are until you die. Rise up – go forth – go forth in His name and He provides the victory.

Saddle up – victorys is ahead!

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I’m Staying Put

There’s a lady who used to live close to us and she had several dogs that she walked each day. There was one old dog that hated being on leash. I don’t know if he was just so old that he didn’t like to walk or if his feet and legs hurt or if he just didn’t like the leash, but his morning out was more dragging instead of walking. We felt badly for that dog each time we saw her pulling him along but it was a pretty good object lesson.

It reminded me of this conversation Moses had with the Lord.

“The Lord said, ‘I will go with you and give you peace.’ 15 Then Moses replied, ‘If you aren’t going with us, please don’t make us leave this place. 16 But if you do go with us, everyone will know that you are pleased with your people and with me. That way, we will be different from the rest of the people on earth.” Exodus 33:14-16 CEV

I see Moses saying “Lord if You don’t go with us, then they’ll have to take me, digging in my heels, and being dragged from here, cuz I’m not goin’ without You!”

Oh, for that kind of determination to be close to the Lord. Too many times, I have found myself running out ahead of the Lord and calling back for Him to hurry and catch up. Those are the times I find myself in situations that are not good for me. Those are the times I find myself asking the Father to rescue me once again.

How much better it would be it if I simply sat down and said I’m not going if You’re not. Period. End of conversation.

We get caught up in our own plans, defending our own reputation, making our way when we should be waiting on the Lord’s lead.

“…But now you will again see the Lord, your teacher, and he will guide you. 21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, you will hear a voice saying, ‘This is the road! Now follow it.’” Isaiah 30:20b-21

These last verses were a prophesy of John the Baptist and that he would proclaim the coming of Christ:

“Someone is shouting: ‘Clear a path in the desert! Make a straight road for the Lord our God. 4 Fill in the valleys; flatten every hill and mountain. Level the rough and rugged ground. 5 Then the glory of the Lord will appear for all to see. The Lord has promised this!” Isaiah 40:3-5 CEV

The Lord came to fill in our valleys and bring down the high places, to smooth out the rough and rugged ground. When we go where He goes we may have valleys and rough ground but He WILL make them straight and smooth. He will speak to our hearts telling us which way to go and how to get there.

We need to be determined that we won’t let our own ambitions, pride or desire for things lead us. We won’t let the enemy deceive us into following him.

Let’s dig in our heels and say, “Lord if You don’t go, I’m staying put!”

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