Relationship | Kristi's Morning Devotional

June 18, 2018June 18, 2018

Good, Better, Best

The last few days we have been watching a number of YouTube videos.

First ones were on auto repair because we (Dave) needed to replace an alternator. But then we started watching some just for fun. Looking at RV’s, 5th wheel trailers in general, toy haulers in particular.

We’ve always wanted to have a 5th wheel that we take trips with. We spent several summers living in an RV while we were in Iowa working so we have a pretty good idea of what we want and don’t want as far as design, build and options go.

All seem good, some are better and then there are those we consider the best.

But we do that with everything don’t we? Compare, I mean.

Making choices; which is right, who is better, what is best… The only real comparison that is necessary is the one that puts our decisions and choices in line with the word of God.

If we compare ourselves to others the Bible says we are unwise. And if we compare others to ourselves we generally end up judging. We’re told that as man we can only look on the outward appearance but the Lord sees the heart. So that really isn’t an accurate comparison either.

But when we compare ourselves to God’s word it will bring light and life to our situation. It will guide us in truth and that is a solid foundation.

“Our Lord, let the heavens now praise your miracles, and let all of your angels praise your faithfulness. 6 None who live in the heavens
can compare with you. 7 You are the most fearsome of all who live in heaven; all the others fear and greatly honor you. 8 You are Lord God All-Powerful! No one is as loving and faithful as you are. 9 You rule the roaring sea and calm its waves. 10 You crushed the monster Rahab, and with your powerful arm you scattered your enemies. 11The heavens and the earth belong to you. And so does the world
with all its people because you created them 12 and everything else.
Mount Tabor and Mount Hermon gladly praise you. 13 You are strong and mighty! 14 Your kingdom is ruled by justice and fairness
with love and faithfulness leading the way. 15 Our Lord, you bless those who join in the festival and walk in the brightness of your presence. 16 We are happy all day because of you, and your saving power brings honor to us. 17 Your own glorious power makes us strong, and because of your kindness, our strength increases. 18 Our Lord and our King, the Holy One of Israel, you are truly our shield.” Psalm 89:5-18 CEV

We don’t want to settle for anything less than the best.

Lord, nothing I desire compares with You!

June 16, 2018June 16, 2018

Jumping to Conclusions

Have you ever done that? Come to a conclusion without knowing the facts? Me neither!

I wish I could say that were true but it’s not. Too many times I have looked at a situation and drawn a wrong conclusion. And then I repent.

The Bible is filled with stories of people who drew the wrong conclusion. Young Joseph was a servant in Potiphar’s house. Potiphar’s wife wanted to make Joseph her newest conquest. I guess we would call her a Mrs. Robinson. When Joseph refused her advances, she framed him and he was thrown in prison.

“Joseph’s master listened to what his wife said, and he became very angry. ²⁰So Potiphar put Joseph into the prison where the king’s enemies were held, and that is where Joseph remained. ²¹The Lord was with Joseph and continued to show his kindness to him, so the commander of the prison guards began to like Joseph.” Genesis 39:19-21 ERV

But notice, even when he was judged wrongly the Lord continued to bless Joseph with His kindness.

A young David was also the object of wrong conclusions. His brothers thought he was being a braggadocious teenager when he said he would go out and face Goliath.

“David’s oldest brother Eliab heard him talking with the soldiers. Eliab was angry at him and said, “What are you doing here, anyway? Who’s taking care of that little flock of sheep out in the desert? You spoiled brat! You came here just to watch the fighting, didn’t you?” I Samuel 17:28 CEV

We all know how that turned out. The Lord used David to kill Goliath and defeat the Philistine army. Even Samuel the priest, a man of God, jumped to the wrong conclusion when he first met David.

The Lord had sent him to David’s father’s house to anoint a new king. Samuel looked over all of David’s older brothers thinking that one of them was God’s chosen. Jesse, David’s father, also came to the wrong conclusion. He didn’t even invite David to the dinner. But the Lord corrected Samuel.

“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Eliab is tall and handsome, but don’t judge by things like that. God doesn’t look at what people see. People judge by what is on the outside, but the Lord looks at the heart. Eliab is not the right man.” I Samuel 16:7 ERV

There will be times when people jump to the wrong conclusion and make assumptions about who we are or how they think we should act. Our lives won’t be any different than those of Joseph and David.

It is incumbent upon us to follow the leading that the Lord has put in our hearts. Jesus gave this message to his followers early in His ministry.

“Great blessings belong to those who suffer persecution for doing what is right.

God’s kingdom belongs to them.

¹¹“People will insult you and hurt you. They will lie and say all kinds of evil things about you because you follow me. But when they do that, know that great blessings belong to you. ¹²Be happy about it. Be very glad because you have a great reward waiting for you in heaven. People did these same bad things to the prophets who lived before you.” Matthew 5:10-12 ERV

It’s so hard not to try and explain our actions or motives when we are misjudged much less to be happy about it. Our ultimate goal needs to be one of pleasing God and not man.

“We didn’t have any hidden motives when we won you over, and we didn’t try to fool or trick anyone. ⁴God was pleased to trust us with his message. We didn’t speak to please people, but to please God who knows our motives.” I Thessalonians 2:3-4 CEV

I go to the Psalms time and again because I find so much instruction and comfort there, especially when I am misunderstood. King David’s life was filled with people who maligned him. Remember just a few weeks back when we talked about David and his relationship with the Lord. God said that David was a man whose heart was toward God.

That may be the reason we see these words repeated over and over in David’s writings.

“Some people trust the power of chariots or horses,
but we trust you, Lord God.
⁸Others will stumble and fall, but we will be strong
and stand firm.” Psalm 20:6-8 CEV

One closing thought – as much as we hate to have people jump to the wrong conclusions about us, we must be on guard that we don’t fall into the same trap where others are concerned.

Father, my prayer is this. Let my words and my thoughts bring honor and glory to You. I trust You to give me the strength to stand on Your word even when no one seems to understand. Thank you for being trustworthy. Amen!

June 13, 2018June 13, 2018

A Father’s Day

Folks are thinking about Father’s Day. For over a decade I haven’t had my Dad to call but there are so many memories I hold dear in my heart.

And it makes my heart swell when I hear my kids and my husband say I wish Grandpa was here so he could do this or that. That honors his name and it brings a tear to my eye.

“Grandchildren are the pride and joy of old age, and children take great pride in their parents.” Proverbs 17:6 ERV

It also fills me with joy when our kids, adults now, want to spend time with us doing the things they know really mean something and bring us joy. Just being with our kids is a joy-filled moment. I love when they call and want to talk to Dad, “I need to ask his advice or have him help me with something.”

“Good people live right, and God blesses the children who follow their example.” Proverbs 20:7 CEV

I think it’s every loving father’s desire to see his children grow up to act and look like him.

He teaches them things when they are young and spends time with them as they grow and develop. It’s great when his kids like the things he likes and mirror him in their life decisions. No, he doesn’t want puppets – he wants kids that make good quality decisions and that mature into respectable young people and adults.

You know, our heavenly Father wants the same. So many times we read in the Bible that we are to follow our Father’s example and be like him. This is what Jesus was saying at the Sermon on the Mount.

“You have heard people say, “Love your neighbors and hate your enemies.” 44 But I tell you to love your enemies and pray for anyone who mistreats you. 45 Then you will be acting like your Father in heaven. He makes the sun rise on both good and bad people. And he sends rain for the ones who do right and for the ones who do wrong. 46 If you love only those people who love you, will God reward you for that? Even tax collectors love their friends. 47 If you greet only your friends, what’s so great about that? Don’t even unbelievers do that? 48 But you must always act like your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:43-48 CEV

God, the Father, brings good to all – rain and sunshine. He has offered freely to all new life and desires relationship with everyone.

Let’s model His character today and reach out to all, even those who aren’t as nice to us as we would like. In doing so we are letting the love of the Father shine through us.

“Do as God would do. Much-loved children want to do as their fathers do. ²Live with love as Christ loved you. He gave Himself for us, a gift on the altar to God which was as a sweet smell to God.” Ephesians 5:1-2 NLV

Make today and every day Father’s Day by honoring our heavenly Father.

June 11, 2018June 11, 2018

A Good Cleaning

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.

Yesterday I was having a particularly hard time sitting and relaxing because I could see the dust on the floors and the furniture. Dave said it looked ok and wasn’t that bad but it was certainly annoying to me.

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 compulsion 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 umbrage 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. We must not be careless and allow His home to fall into disarray.

“Now follow the example of the correct teaching I gave you, and let the faith and love of Christ Jesus be your model. ¹⁴You have been trusted with a wonderful treasure. Guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit, who lives within you.” II Timothy 1:13-14 CEV

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 and 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

June 9, 2018June 9, 2018

Resting?

I once read a poster which said “My life is like a duck. Calm on the surface but paddling like crazy where no one can see.”

Have you ever felt like that? I’ve thought more than once, I’d rest if I didn’t have so much to do!

A few days ago we learned how to stand in battle, fight victoriously, and then praise God for the victory. Now it’s time to enter into the rest!

Jesus told his disciples that he would teach them about the Father. Knowing the Father means we are intimately acquainted with His power, love, mercy and grace. Knowing the Word, the basis for our weapons, brings us to a place where we know the Father. Jesus also told the disciples that if they would come to him they would find rest.

“My Father has given me everything, and he is the only one who knows the Son. The only one who truly knows the Father is the Son. But the Son wants to tell others about the Father, so that they can know him too.
28 If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest. 29 Take the yoke I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me. I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest.” Matthew 11:27-29

The writer of Hebrews tells us to “labor to enter into the rest”. Work at resting? Yes! The work comes from knowing the Father and building our relationship with Him.

We have to fight unbelief and that my friend is work! The Israelites in the wilderness were too busy looking at their circumstances to believe God and so they died in the wilderness and didn’t enter the rest of the Promised Land. We are instructed not to be like them. We are instructed to listen to and obey God’s word. If we do this, we will enter the rest.

“We should do our best to enter that place of rest, so that none of us will disobey and miss going there, as they did. 12 What God has said isn’t only alive and active! It is sharper than any double-edged sword. His word can cut through our spirits and souls and through our joints and marrow, until it discovers the desires and thoughts of our hearts. 13 Nothing is hidden from God! He sees through everything, and we will have to tell him the truth.” Hebrews 4:11-13

Do these verses sound familiar? They should. These are the same verses we quote over and again about the power of God’s word – sharper than a two edged sword. Put in there context, they tell us that these words will cause us to rest and receive the wonderful inheritance that God has provided for us.

So today – stop the worry, stop the anxiety, stop paddling.

Come to a place of rest!

May 31, 2018

The Bridegroom is Coming

Tomorrow is our daughter and son-in-law’s anniversary. I remember their wedding like it was yesterday.

(this isn’t a picture of them, by the way)

I’ve often heard it said that “this life is just a dress rehearsal for what will come”. That phrase takes on new meaning when looked at through the eyes of a bride.

The wedding rehearsal is a time to make sure that everyone knows what they are doing on the day of the wedding. Where to stand, who sits where, cue the music, walk the aisle, so many things to remember. So much preparation for one day and yet a lifetime.

We as Christians should be preparing too; preparing for a lifetime of eternity in the presence of our loving Bridegroom, Jesus. Our new life in Christ is eternal life and eternal life started when we accepted Him as our Savior. It doesn’t start when we die but it is a life of living in the power and character of Almighty God. We are to be living this out each day with the same excitement and anticipation of a bride waiting for her groom.

“Jesus has the power of God. And his power has given us everything we need to live a life devoted to God. We have these things because we know him. Jesus chose us by his glory and goodness, 4 through which he also gave us the very great and rich gifts that he promised us. With these gifts you can share in being like God. And so you will escape the ruin that comes to people in the world because of the evil things they want. 5 Because you have these blessings, do all you can to add to your life these things: to your faith add goodness; to your goodness add knowledge; 6 to your knowledge add self-control; to your self-control add patience; to your patience add devotion to God; 7 to your devotion add kindness toward your brothers and sisters in Christ, and to this kindness add love. 8 If all these things are in you and growing, you will never fail to be useful to God. You will produce the kind of fruit that should come from your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” II Peter 1:3-7

God has provided us with everything we need to be a bride without spot or wrinkle – great and precious promises. As I see it, He has bought us the dress, prepared the venue and hired the caterers. The cake is being decorated and the flowers arranged. It’s time to give Him glory and praise for all He has done.

“ You also know we did everything for you that parents would do for their own children. 12 We begged, encouraged, and urged each of you to live in a way that would honor God. He is the one who chose you to share in his own kingdom and glory. 13 We always thank God that you believed the message we preached. It came from him, and it isn’t something made up by humans. You accepted it as God’s message, and now he is working in you.” I Thessalonians 2:11-13

We have been chosen by Christ to have a new life, to enjoy the gifts and promises that the Father has provided. When I use the word chosen that doesn’t mean that some have been left out. No, God is all inclusive in His love. He has no favorites, He displays no prejudice.

“God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die.” John 3:16 CEV

It is by our own freewill that we either accept or reject the precious gift of eternal life that He has provided. I want to live each day in anticipation of what a life with God means. This truly is our dress rehearsal for the great and marvelous things that God has in store for us.

The bridegroom is coming!

May 29, 2018

You Are My Friends

I woke up this morning, once again, knowing that Almighty God, Creator of heaven and earth, my Father, the I AM, wants to be my friend.

For the last week we have been looking at people in the Bible who talked with God.

There were many more people who heard God speak to them in the Old Testament times but I just wanted to give you an overview of some of the circumstances.

When we come to the New Testament we are immediately greeted with God sending an angel to speak with both Mary and Joseph.

“Then the angel told Mary, “Don’t be afraid! God is pleased with you, ³¹and you will have a son. His name will be Jesus. ³²He will be great and will be called the Son of God Most High. The Lord God will make him king, as his ancestor David was. ³³He will rule the people of Israel forever, and his kingdom will never end.” Luke 1:30-33 CEV

“While Joseph was thinking about this, an angel from the Lord came to him in a dream. The angel said, “Joseph, the baby that Mary will have is from the Holy Spirit. Go ahead and marry her. ²¹Then after her baby is born, name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21-22 CEV

Later God told John the Baptist that Jesus would soon begin to minister in public. He was the Messiah that the Jews had been waiting for, for so long.

Jesus spent a great deal of time in prayer, talking to and hearing from his heavenly Father. When the religious rulers of the day would ask Jesus where he got His teachings and His authority He would answer them like this.

“Jesus went on to say, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, you will know who I am. You will also know that I don’t do anything on my own. I say only what my Father taught me. ²⁹The one who sent me is with me. I always do what pleases him, and he will never leave me.” John 8:28-29 CEV

Jesus came to show the world the love His Father had for them. He wanted them to know that God was desiring a relationship with them.

²⁸If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28-29 CEV

Jesus taught multitudes and He also ministered to hurting people one on one. He broke the conventional laws of religion. Jewish people were forbidden to do any kind of work on the Sabbath so when Jesus healed the crippled man on that day the Temple rulers were furious.

“They started making a lot of trouble for Jesus because he did things like this on the Sabbath.

¹⁷But Jesus said, “My Father has never stopped working, and that is why I keep on working.” ¹⁸Now the leaders wanted to kill Jesus for two reasons. First, he had broken the law of the Sabbath. But even worse, he had said that God was his Father, which made him equal with God.

¹⁹Jesus told the people: I tell you for certain that the Son cannot do anything on his own. He can do only what he sees the Father doing, and he does exactly what he sees the Father do. ²⁰The Father loves the Son and has shown him everything he does. The Father will show him even greater things, and you will be amazed. ” John 5:16-20 CEV

Jesus was walking, living proof that God the Father desired to have relationship with these men. In fact, Jesus commanded his disciples to go out and do the same kind of miracles that they had seen him do.

“Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with these instructions:

Stay away from the Gentiles and don’t go to any Samaritan town. ⁶Go only to the people of Israel, because they are like a flock of lost sheep. ⁷As you go, announce that the kingdom of heaven will soon be here. ⁸Heal the sick, raise the dead to life, heal people who have leprosy, and force out demons.” Matthew 10:5-8 CEV

Remember how God called Abraham His friend. Jesus called these men His friends. He was seeing the same desire in them that the Father had seen in Abraham. They weren’t perfect, far from it but they had a desire to know and obey God.

“Now I tell you to love each other, as I have loved you. ¹³The greatest way to show love for friends is to die for them. ¹⁴And you are my friends, if you obey me. ¹⁵Servants don’t know what their master is doing, and so I don’t speak to you as my servants. I speak to you as my friends, and I have told you everything that my Father has told me.

¹⁶You did not choose me. I chose you and sent you out to produce fruit, the kind of fruit that will last. Then my Father will give you whatever you ask for in my name. ¹⁷So I command you to love each other.” John 15:12-17 CEV

I could go on with one example after another on the teaching that Jesus gave his disciples. In fact, that’s really what the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are. They are the eye witness accounts of God’s will being done on earth through Jesus and the disciples.

But God didn’t want it to die there. He wanted to continue to reach out to all mankind. He wanted everyone to know His voice and to follow Him. That’s why one of Jesus’ final instructions was this:

“Jesus came to them and said: I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth! ¹⁹Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, ²⁰and teach them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world.” Matthew 28:18-20 CEV

Because of the authority Jesus received from the Father and gave to His followers, we can become His disciples as well. We can hear His voice and follow.

“Jesus said to him, “You (Thomas) believe because you see me. Great blessings belong to the people who believe without seeing me!”

³⁰Jesus did many other miraculous signs that his followers saw, which are not written in this book. ³¹But these are written so that you can believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. Then, by believing, you can have life through his name.” John 20:29-31 ERV

We are the ones who believe on Jesus without seeing Him. We are blessed and have life, eternal life, because of Jesus.

Amen and Amen!

May 26, 2018

The Friend of God

In order to build a strong friendship men have to talk to one another; share ideas, understand one another and love each other.

Based on these qualifications it’s interesting to see that God called Abraham his friend.

“Now you see how Abraham’s faith and deeds worked together. He proved that his faith was real by what he did. ²³This is what the Scriptures mean by saying, “Abraham had faith in God, and God was pleased with him.” That’s how Abraham became God’s friend.” James 2:22-23 NLV

Abraham and God developed a bond of trust. It would have been logical to say that Abraham called God his friend. The weaker one making friendship with someone greater but that’s not what Scripture says. It says that Abraham became God’s friend. God picked Abraham and started the relationship.

“Now the Lord said to Abram, “Leave your country, your family and your father’s house, and go to the land that I will show you. ²And I will make you a great nation. I will bring good to you. I will make your name great, so you will be honored. ³I will bring good to those who are good to you. And I will curse those who curse you. Good will come to all the families of the earth because of you.” Genesis 12:1-3 NLV

Abram was 75 years old when God promised to bless him with land and children. Abram had neither. Just one chapter later we read that God has made Abram very rich.

“So Abram left Egypt and went to the Negev, with his wife and all that belonged to him. And Lot went with him. ²Now Abram was very rich in cattle, silver and gold. ” Genesis 13:1-2 NLV

God always came to seek out Abram. No where in the relationship do we find Abram begging God to bless him. No, instead he was just obedient when God asked him to do something.

Abram was not a perfect man. No, much to the contrary. On two different occasions he lied to foreign kings about his wife. He said she was his sister. He was afraid that he would be killed because her beauty was so great that these kings wanted her as part of their harems.

God promised to give Abram and Sarai a son, an heir, but as time passed and Sarai didn’t become pregnant they came up with a way to help God out. (We would never do something like that, would we?) Sarai gave her maid to Abram so that they could have sex and get an heir that way. Big NO NO!

Have you heard the term blood brothers? It was very prominent with the Native Americans and also with the tribes in Africa. A weaker person or nation would make a pact with a stronger one. Then each one would commit all that had to the other.

God came to Abraham and made a blood covenant with him.

“When Abram was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to him. He said, “I am God All-Powerful. Obey me and live the right way. ²If you do this, I will prepare an agreement between us. I will promise to make your people a great nation.”

³Then Abram bowed down before God. God said to him, ⁴“This is my part of our agreement: I will make you the father of many nations. ⁵I will change your name from Abram to Abraham, because I am making you the father of many nations. ⁶I will give you many descendants. New nations and kings will come from you. ⁷And I will prepare an agreement between me and you. This agreement will also be for all your descendants. It will continue forever. I will be your God and the God of all your descendants. ⁸And I will give this land to you and to all your descendants. I will give you the land you are traveling through—the land of Canaan. I will give you this land forever, and I will be your God.”

⁹Then God said to Abraham, “Now, this is your part of the agreement: You and all your descendants will obey my agreement. ¹⁰This is my agreement that all of you must obey. This is the agreement between me and you and all your descendants. Every male must be circumcised. ¹¹You will cut the skin to show that you follow the agreement between me and you. ¹²When the baby boy is eight days old, you will circumcise him. Every boy born among your people and every boy who is a slave of your people must be circumcised.” Genesis 17:1-12 ERV

So Abraham and all that were with him entered into covenant that day with the Lord. All that God had He was giving to Abraham. He only asked that Abraham live to obey Him. What a wonderful relationship.

The covenant that the Lord made with Abraham also applies to us also. How you ask? We’re not Jewish.

“The Scriptures say that God accepted Abraham because Abraham had faith. ⁷And so, you should understand that everyone who has faith is a child of Abraham. ⁸Long ago the Scriptures said that God would accept the Gentiles because of their faith. That’s why God told Abraham the good news that all nations would be blessed because of him. ⁹This means that everyone who has faith will share in the blessings that were given to Abraham because of his faith… ¹⁴And because of what Jesus Christ has done, the blessing that was promised to Abraham was taken to the Gentiles. This happened so that by faith we would be given the promised Holy Spirit.” Galatians 3:6-14 CEV

When we place our faith in Jesus we inherit the same blessings that God promised His Friend, Abraham!

God All Powerful has invited us into a relationship with Him.

May 25, 2018

Walking with God

We saw yesterday that God came to walk with Adam in the garden.

Even though Adam and Eve sinned and had to leave the garden, God didn’t sever relationship with them.

Today we will meet Adam’s great (5X) grandson. His name is Enoch.

“When Enoch had lived sixty-five years, he became the father of Methuselah. ²²Enoch walked with God 300 years after the birth of Methuselah. He had other sons and daughters. ²³So Enoch lived 365 years. ²⁴Enoch walked with God, and he was seen no more, for God took him.” Genesis 5:21-24 NLV

How’s that for an afternoon walk? Enoch walked with God and God was pleased with Him. God was so pleased with Him that during their walk one day he just kept walking straight into heaven with God.

“Because Enoch had faith, he was taken up from the earth without dying. He could not be found because God had taken him. The Holy Writings tell how he pleased God before he was taken up. ⁶A man cannot please God unless he has faith. Anyone who comes to God must believe that He is. That one must also know that God gives what is promised to the one who keeps on looking for Him.” Hebrews 11:5-6 NLV

I can just imagine the conversation. Enoch and God out for a walk and Enoch seeing an elephant or a giraffe for the first time. Enoch says to God “that is the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen”. God says to Enoch “you think that’s great, come on over to my place and I’ll show you some real spectacular sites”. And Enoch said “I’m outta here”!

Like I said – that’s how I imagine it happened. Scripture doesn’t give us details. It just says that he was taken. Amazing!

Now you may not have been very familiar with Enoch but everyone knows the name of Enoch’s great grandson. It’s Noah!

“When Lamech was one hundred eighty-two, he had a son. ²⁹Lamech said, “I’ll name him Noah because he will give us comfort, as we struggle hard to make a living on this land that the Lord has put under a curse.” Genesis 5:28-29 CEV

Noah’s father not only gave him a name but he gave him a destiny.

“The Lord saw how bad the people on earth were and that everything they thought and planned was evil. ⁶He was very sorry that he had made them, ⁷and he said, “I’ll destroy every living creature on earth! I’ll wipe out people, animals, birds, and reptiles. I’m sorry I ever made them.”

⁸But the Lord was pleased with Noah, ⁹and this is the story about him. Noah was the only person who lived right and obeyed God. ¹⁰He had three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.” Genesis 6:5-10

Such a startling statement – Noah was the only person who lived right and obeyed God! By now the earth was quite populated and Noah was the only one who was obeying God.

The Bible tells us God was going to destroy man but Noah, a just or righteous man, found favor in God’s sight. God spoke to Noah told him the plan of salvation; an ark for Noah, his family and the animals. The Bible doesn’t say that Noah was calling on God, no, God was looking at mankind and Noah found favor with Him.

“Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence. ¹²God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. ¹³So God said to Noah, “I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth. ¹⁴So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out. ¹⁵This is how you are to build it:” Genesis 6:10-15 NIV

God then went on to give Noah the dimensions for the ark. God also told him to bring in the animals and how many of each kind. I don’t know Noah’s occupation before this but he was now a full time contractor.

“I’m going to send a flood that will destroy everything that breathes! Nothing will be left alive. ¹⁸But I solemnly promise that you, your wife, your sons, and your daughters-in-law will be kept safe in the boat” Vs 17-18

Noah received God’s word and went to work fulfilling what he had been told. He didn’t laugh at God or express the impossibility of the task. As Noah was building he was also preaching to his neighbors. Telling them to repent so they could be saved from the flood. No one listened. Can you imagine how discouraging that might have been? But Noah never faltered at his task.

“Noah was six hundred years old when he went into the boat to escape the flood, and he did everything the Lord had told him to do. His wife, his sons, and his daughters-in-law all went inside with him. ^8-9He obeyed God and took a male and a female of each kind of animal and bird into the boat with him. ¹⁰Seven days later a flood began to cover the earth.” Genesis 7:7-10 CEV

Noah and his family were saved because he had a heart to obey God. They talked together as a man talks with his friend.

“Because Noah had faith, he was warned about something that had not yet happened. He obeyed and built a boat that saved him and his family. In this way the people of the world were judged, and Noah was given the blessings that come to everyone who pleases God.” Hebrews 11:7 CEV

What a wonderful reputation these two men had. No one filed a missing person report on Enoch, everyone knew he walked with God. Noah and his family were saved from a catastrophic flood because he had an obedient heart.

Thank you Lord for the example of these men! My desire is for an obedient heart each day.

May 23, 2018

Shameless

Some years back Billy Joel wrote a great song that Garth Brooks recorded, Shameless.

When I read the lyrics I make it the prayer of my heart, an expression of love to the Father and believe it or not, I can hear the Father singing those lyrics back to me. His love for me is Shameless.

“ Well I’m shameless When it comes to loving you, I’ll do anything you want me to, I’ll do anything at all…You see in all my life I’ve never found What I couldn’t resist, what I couldn’t turn down. I could walk away from anyone I ever knew, But I can’t walk away from you. And I’m shameless…”

God is always there; when we succeed and when we fail. He doesn’t abandon or desert us in the rough times! He is always there to hold us close, pick us up when we fall and lift our burdens. His love for us is Shameless.

When we’re embarrassed or have lost our way the Lord is the “lifter of my head”. Someone who is embarrassed finds themselves looking down, not making eye contact but God takes His loving hand, cups it under our chin and lifts our head.

“³But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.” Psalm 3:3

With head lifted up, the first thing we do is look into the loving eyes of our Father. He, more than likely, has a smile on His face; accepting, inviting, understanding and forgiving. He is there to be a shield for us.

“I come to you, Lord, for protection. Don’t let me be ashamed. Do as you have promised and rescue me. ²Listen to my prayer and hurry to save me. Be my mighty rock and the fortress where I am safe. ³You, Lord God, are my mighty rock and my fortress. Lead me and guide me, so that your name will be honored.” Psalm 31:1-3

When we put our hope and trust in the Lord, depending upon Him for His direction and His protection we will have no need to be ashamed. We are secure in His love and it really won’t matter what anyone else says about us or thinks about us. We are the apple of His eye.

“I went to the Lord for help, and he listened. He saved me from all that I fear. ⁵If you look to him for help, he will put a smile on your face. You will have no need to be ashamed. ⁶As a poor, helpless man I prayed to the Lord, and he heard me. He saved me from all my troubles.” Psalm 34:4-6 ERV

Take a look at the times that Jesus showed “shameless” love to folks in the Bible. The first one that comes to mind is the woman who was caught committing adultery. She was dragged by her accusers through the streets to Jesus. She was shamed publicly.

“The Pharisees and the teachers of the Law of Moses brought in a woman who had been caught in bed with a man who wasn’t her husband. They made her stand in the middle of the crowd. ⁴Then they said, “Teacher, this woman was caught sleeping with a man who isn’t her husband. ⁵The Law of Moses teaches that a woman like this should be stoned to death! What do you say?…

Jesus stood up and asked her, “Where is everyone? Isn’t there anyone left to accuse you?” ¹¹“No sir,” the woman answered. Then Jesus told her, “I am not going to accuse you either. You may go now, but don’t sin anymore.” John 8:3-5, 10-11 CEV

Then there was the time when an leper encountered Jesus and asked to be healed. This man’s life was void of human touch because the laws of the day prohibited him from having contact with anyone. He was unclean. It was shameful!

“As Jesus came down the mountain, he was followed by large crowds. ²Suddenly a man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus. He said, “Lord, you have the power to make me well, if only you wanted to.” ³Jesus put his hand on the man and said, “I want to! Now you are well.” At once the man’s leprosy disappeared.” Matthew 8:1-3 CEV

Jesus was not ashamed to associate with this man, to touch him, to heal him. Jesus was shameless!

Just one more example – there are so many. But this is the story of a man who was a crooked “IRS” agent, a tax collector. He wanted to see Jesus but he was too short to see over the crowd so he climbed a tree to get a better look. He was hated by society. His action of climbing the tree opened him to even greater ridicule. It was shameful.

“Jesus was going through Jericho, ²where a man named Zacchaeus lived. He was in charge of collecting taxes and was very rich. ^3-4Jesus was heading his way, and Zacchaeus wanted to see what he was like. But Zacchaeus was a short man and could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree. When Jesus got there, he looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, hurry down! I want to stay with you today.” ⁶Zacchaeus hurried down and gladly welcomed Jesus.

⁷Everyone who saw this started grumbling, “This man Zacchaeus is a sinner! And Jesus is going home to eat with him.”

⁸Later that day Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “I will give half of my property to the poor. And I will now pay back four times as much to everyone I have ever cheated.” ⁹Jesus said to Zacchaeus, “Today you and your family have been saved, because you are a true son of Abraham. ¹⁰The Son of Man came to look for and to save people who are lost.” Luke 19:1-10 CEV

The shameful actions of a tax collector were changed that day because of the SHAMELESS love of God’s Son!

Let’s take a close look at our lives. What things have we done that are shameful? What is it that has us looking down? Jesus came to lift our head – to provide forgiveness and restoration.

I’m going to close with one more verse.

“Everything belongs to God, and all things were created by his power. So God did the right thing when he made Jesus perfect by suffering, as Jesus led many of God’s children to be saved and to share in his glory. ¹¹Jesus and the people he makes holy all belong to the same family. That is why he isn’t ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters.” Hebrews 2:10-11 CEV

God’s love for us is absolutely SHAMELESS!