Tag: devotional thought

By Your Endurance You Will Gain Your Lives.(LK 21:19)

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Be patient.  Sometimes patience is really hard to grasp.  I like the word “endurance” used here.  Endurance is the key to gaining your life.  Endurance or patience is the key because it holds on to the promise that Christ will do all that He said He would do.  Endurance is faith when the chips are down and the persecution is hot.  Endurance is holding on with the knowledge that Christ is returning and all will be as it should be.  Endurance is facing war, famine, persecution, and tragedy knowing that even in the face of grief… It is not finished.

Those who are not patient will lose their lives.  They will play their hand on the here and now looking for benefits, though they only be temporary.  They will spend their time, their talents, and their money on the immediate.  When something doesn’t pan out they will keep looking.  They give up easy on the right way and pursue dead ends because initially they look like they will pay off with big returns.

“Hold on,” He says. “Hold on, it will be a bumpy ride. Many things will happen, but they won’t be the end.  It will take a while.  My timing is not your timing.”

I guess that is really the key.  His timing is perfect, mine is comfortable.  I like knowing how things will work out.  I would like to know how the next ten years of my life will go.  The truth is I may not have 10 years to spend.  I should trust Christ now.  Even when it looks like the world is against me, I should trust Him and know that His timing is perfect.  You see patience is the ultimate statement that life isn’t all about me.

Father,

Thank you for your Word that is truth.  I continue to be amazed at how you speak to me through your Word.  Today I am waiting on you.  I am working in your Timing.

because “They Supposed That The Kingdom of God Was to Appear Immediately” (Lk. 19:11)

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He had just proclaimed in Zacchaeus’ house that he had come to “seek and save that which was lost.”  To their minds they couldn’t fathom what would be more lost than the city of Jerusalem under Roman rule.  Some had already sought to make Him the king by force.  But they didn’t understand the full magnitude of what Jesus had come to do.  They were looking to be saved from Rome, never did they imagine that He had come to save them from an even greater enemy.

I wonder if sometimes we might ever underestimate what Jesus is really up to in our lives? We have plans and ideas about how things should play out.  We have taken the liberty and written out all the plays that God should make.  We even take the time to find the verses that support our theories.  Yet in the midst of it we forget one thing: He is God and we are not. We don’t see the big picture.  We don’t have full knowledge of how things will play out. We don’t understand the full ramification of our own actions, how then could we fully fathom the mind of God.

They would have stopped Easter from ever happening in order to have a temporal king. They would have been free from Rome, but dead in their sins.  They would have national hero, but the world would be lost forever.

How many times along the road to the cross would he have been stopped if he listened to those around Him?  Have you ever Praised God that He didn’t listen to our foolish plans or ideas? His are always better, even if their is a bit of pain in the mix.  Have you ever thought that God provides for us exactly what we need in Jesus Christ, and this is often more than we have the foresight to want?

Father,

I thank you today for your patience with me.  Like those around Jesus at this time, I often try to fit you into my understanding of things.  I have ideas on how things should play out, but I am reminded today that your ways are greater and your plans are better.  I am following you today.

 

“One Who is Faithful in Very Little is Also Faithful in Much (Lk. 16:10)

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Sometimes it is the small things that matter.  It’s the habit of returning small change that makes you credible to handle large amounts of money.  It’s the habit of trying to cheat the vending machine that makes you untrustworthy over larger matters.  Sometimes it is a matter of small things.

To follow Jesus and be in charge of big things is to be trustworthy in the small matters.  Do you read your Bible?  Do you pray?  Do you look for opportunities to tell others about Him?  These are small things.

Maybe it’s not the size of the task that’s the issue, but the character of the one carrying out the task?

Father,

Thank you for the simple, but profound truth that faithfulness doesn’t wait for big things to happen before it kicks in.  Those who are faithful even in the little things can be trusted with greater things.  I ask God that you would make me aware of any “small” area’s of my life that have gone unchecked.  I want to be faithful even in the small things.

 

“Teaching and Journeying toward Jerusalem” (Lk. 13:22)

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He was on a mission.  He was headed to Jerusalem. Yet all along the way he healed, he taught, he told about His kingdom.  Eventually he had to reveal the meaning. Eventually even the healing had to make sense in a larger picture, a larger portrait.

He was headed to the cross.  The one place where it would all come together.  The one place where it would all finally make sense.  He said he was going there, but they thought He spoke in a metaphor and they did not understand.  They thought He would ride in like a king and take over, the did not know how deep their problem was and they did not know how far He would go to deliver them.

Like a disease or a disfigurement mars the body of an otherwise healthy person, sin has disfigured the entire human race.  Like a blind man who has eyes but he cannot see, we are made in the image of God, yet we have profaned Him. So he came healing and proclaiming that His kingdom was at hand.  In Heaven there will be no more disease.  In Heaven their will be no more sin.  Christ has born it all on his own body on the cross! He stood in our place so we could stand in His!

You see, that was the mission.  The mission was not to heal a few thousand people (if that many) in Palestine a few thousand years ago.  His mission was not to come and make our lives comfortable again.  His mission was to reconcile us to God by taking on our sin debt! His mission was to save and he couldn’t do that without going to Jerusalem first.  Jerusalem was the appointed place and his appointed hour was quickly approaching

Father,

So often I am eager to glean a principle for practical living as if this whole Christian walk has to do with the exercise of my will.  While I know that my will is important, I also know that you have already completed everything I need to be reconciled to you.  Today I rest in that.  Today I rest in the fact that you are God and you know what you are doing.   Thank you for all you have done to bring me to faith in you.

“Blessed Rather are Those Who Hear the Word of God and Keep It (Lk. 11:28)

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Have you ever wondered that hearing might not be enough?  Hearing doesn’t really do anyone any good.  To hear the Word of God is only part of the matter.  To keep the Word of God… now that is something other than hearing.

What does it mean to keep the word of God? Do we hold on to a Bible somewhere for safe “keeping” or do we keep it like we “keep” our wedding vows?  The one who hears and keeps is blessed, more blessed than Mary, the mother of Jesus.

Does all this Word of God “keeping” sound like good works to you?  Maybe it’s just a good relationship.  Those who know God will relate to Him like He is God. It’s a far greater blessing to know Jesus as the Messiah than to know Him like a mother knows her son.  Isn’t that the point.

Keep the Word of God, not because it’s a work by which one merits eternal life… no rather, keep the word of God because one has stood in your place and kept the law for you.  One has made you holy.  One has made you perfect.  One has made you acceptable before God.

Isn’t that the “word of God” we are supposed to hear… the gospel?  And doesn’t the gospel require faith from us? And in that faith we respond to what Christ has done by trusting him to do what He said He would do.  Keeping the Word of God then is to keep Christ as our righteousness.  To keep trusting Him, to keep a hold of Him, to allow him to transform us… change us… make us into his image.  It’s better to know Jesus as a Savior than a son indeed.

Father,

Thank you for working our my salvation.  Thank you that I come to you, not in my own merit and strength, but through the power of the Holy Spirit by faith in Christ.  I pray that I will not just hear your word today, but that I will keep it.  I pray that I will be the blessed man in Proverbs 1.

“I Have Given You Authority (Lk.10:19)

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“I have given you authority” those were the words.  Authority to tread on serpents, to suffer no harm.  This is a phrase that cuts both ways for those who follow Christ.

The first way it cuts is that it reminds us that we have no authority over evil other than that which has been given us by Jesus Christ.  It’s His authority, we just represent Him.  Our Church growth strategies, our evangelism programs and our best efforts to win our neighbors to Christ are just that… ours. Sometimes we forget that we are aliens in this world.  The power to save, the power to go and make disciples, the power to shine light into darkness doesn’t come from us… it comes from Him.  We go under His authority, “All authority has been given unto me” (Mt. 28:18).

second.  We have authority from Him!  Don’t let anyone tell you that you have no right to speak the truth, comfort the afflicted, and bring healing to those who are hurting. We are doing only what Jesus has told us to do.  It’s His authority.  Who trumps His authority?  No one!

Father,

Today I am both humbled and encouraged.  One the one hand I am humbled to remember that I can do nothing on my own.  I can only do what I see you doing.  I can only act out of the authority that you give.  I am also encouraged.  I am encouraged because I am your man.  You have called me.  You have set me apart and you have commissioned me to share your gospel.  Father, I ask that I would go boldly today in the authority that you have provided.  I ask that I would not act out of insecurity or self-preservation, but that I would be jealous for your glory today.

“You Give Them Something To Eat” (Lk. 9:13)

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There they were on the side of the mountain and late into the day.  The people were listening to Jesus preach, but it became apparent that they needed a break to get something to eat.  Eating is necessary after all.  Eating is what sustains us, it keeps up alive. Necessities of life were encroaching upon meeting.  They could go on meeting, but they could not go on without food.

The plan was to dismiss the crowd.  The disciples had determined that.  We don’t have enough, let them go into the villages and purchase food.  Who knows perhaps this would have been an economic stimulus for the area they were in.  But Jesus had other plans.  He looks at his disciples and says, “You give them something to eat.”

I’m sure they looked around at each other at this point.  They thought, “We don’t have anything, well not much anyway… maybe one man’s lunch, but not enough for the crowd.”  But he takes it, he takes those small rations.  He holds them out and blesses them and begins to pass out food to feed the multitude.

But, wait, there is more to this story that just plain old white bread.  Jesus was meeting a physical need.  He was feeding the hungry.  Just like Moses called on God and God provided the manna.  Jesus was saying here that he would provide for all that we needed.  Not just physically, but spiritually as well.  He is the Bread of Life!

So then I remember, this is how ministry works.  I truly have nothing to offer, nothing much anyhow. Nothing apart from His blessing.  Nothing apart from His hands. He is the one that takes my weakness and exploits it for kingdom gain.  He is the one ultimately opens his word before me to feed me and a whole multitude beside.

Father,

I remember today how little I have to offer you and how gracious you are to multiply your grace to me and many more besides.  Use me today to open your word before your people.  I am nothing if I am not in your hands.

Twelve Years (Lk. 8:42-43)

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Twelve years.  Twelve years before, the events of this day were put into motion. Twelve years ago a woman began to have an issue with bleeding that would eventually drain her life savings and leave her feeling broken and without hope.  Without hope, that is until Jesus came on the scene.  She saw Him passing by and reached out to touch His garment… she hoped beyond all hope and she was healed!  For twelve years she had walked with this disease.  For twelve years she had prayed that she would find healing and on this day she was healed!

Twelve years.  Twelve years before the events of this day a little girl was born. She was the pride and joy of her family.  The years passed quickly and she grew by leaps and bounds.  Then on this day, this day, she was sick.  It wasn’t a passing sickness.  It wasn’t one that she could shake.  Her mother was worried.  Her father heard that Jesus was in town healing people.  So he went to fetch the one who could save his little girl.  On the way there he couldn’t help but remember the joy he had seen in his daughter’s face for the last twelve years.  Joy that was being taken away with sickness.  Would Jesus come heal his girl?  He didn’t know, but he had to try…

Then it happened, she was dead.  Dead before Jesus could even come and see her.  Was Jesus too late? Or perhaps he was right on time.  He didn’t heal her, he raised her from the dead!

Twelve years.  Twelve years before, the events of this day were being put into motion.  What is taking place today that was set in motion a long time ago?

Father,

There is nothing that escapes your notice and your timing is perfect.  Guide me today.  I want to walk according to the path that you have laid out for me.

 

 

For She is a Sinner (Lk. 7:39)

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Sinner.  The word sounds so distant when I use it to refer to someone else. Yet, when I turn my gaze inward and let the word be applied to me, it no longer seems so harmless.   Now it reminds me of my condition before a Holy and Righteous God.  Then and only then do I realize that I have come up short.

You see it’s easy to compare my sin to the sins of others.  But the life of a follower isn’t tied up in coming in ahead of someone else, it’s tied up in following. Yet how often do we default to comparing ourselves to others?  And in the process we judge them thinking that if we can prove their darkness, somehow we will look like we are in the light.

How foolish we are to defame others in the presence of Christ. How foolish is the pastor or layman who thinks that His church is in competition with the other churches in the area.  Should we wish the demise of others for our own benefit?  Should we want to see others fail?  When they do fail, is that something to rejoice about or mourn over?

The job of a follower isn’t to be so insecure that you have to build a case for your righteousness on the wickedness of others, but rather to follow. Followers follow.  Followers obey.  Followers trust. Followers are faithful. Followers seek to hear their master say, “well done, my good and faithful servant.” Somehow the sins of others never factor into that evaluation.

Father,

I am often guilty of looking to others to prove my righteousness rather than turning to follow you.  I ask for your forgiveness for not looking to you for my righteousness in those moment and trying to build a righteousness of my own.  Today my eyes are on you.  No one has the right to judge sinners but you.

They Left Everything and Followed Him (Lk. 5:11)

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Peter, James and John had just caught what was most likely the biggest catch of fish in their life and they left it behind.  Not just that, they left off the fishing business all together to follow Jesus.  The call to follow Him was that important!  Forget the boats, the long and tired nights of fishing, put away the nets, forget the fish market…. “come and follow Me,” He said, “I will make you fishers of men.”

Catch the language…they left off the fishing business… “to follow.”  Before they became fishers of men, they were followers of Jesus.  Sometimes in our hype to share the gospel, we forget that following Jesus is the most important part of fishing for men.  You can’t fish, if you don’t follow. It’s really that simple.

The transformation takes place along the way as we follow. We are made into His image.  We are made into fishers of men, but it doesn’t happen until we submit our lives to the Lord Jesus Christ.  Yet, following is costly.  Following Jesus challenges every idol that you are tempted to hold in your heart instead of Him. Do you love money?  Follow Jesus and you will be forced to let go of money.  Do you love security? Follow Jesus and he will bid you to follow him into the deep to depend on Him alone.  Do you picture yourself as better than others?  Follow Jesus and He will lead you to a place where the standard becomes the holiness of God.

The disciples followed Jesus all the way to Jerusalem where He was crucified. After the resurrection, many of the disciples would meet persecution as they went about sharing the message.  There came a point where the disciples had to intentionally choose to follow Jesus no matter what the cost.

Father,

Thank you for calling me to follow you.  I confirm in my heart again that I am completely yours.  I give up every claim I ever had on anything else.  I give you my family.  They are yours.  I give you my job.  It is yours.  I am following you today.  Please see fit to transform me to be more like you… whatever the cost.