I completely forget to mention this, even though I see at least one person found it. At the end of each post is a few check boxes, so you can leave your opinion without having to comment. It only takes a second to click on a box or two. I am encouraged and blessed by hearing your feedback, so please take a moment, if your not already and check a box on every post to let me know whether you enjoyed the post or not. You won't hurt my feelings if you tell me I am completely off base, that will just tell me to go back and study that passage some more, which will make me better at what I am doing. But, if you mark on of the other boxes, it will let me know I am listening to what God is telling me. Thanks.
This morning I want to look at how ancient Israel resembles America today. Turn to Zech. 7 starting with verse 8, "And the word of the LORD came unto Zechariah, saying" First thing we see is the word of the LORD, what follows is a commandment of God. (vs9) "Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother" Who is your brother? Every person you have contact with is your brother. (vs10) "And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart". In other words treat everyone you meet with the love of God, what is so hard about that?
But look at verse 11, "But they refused to hearken and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears that they should not hear. Yea they made their hearts as an adamant stone lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets; therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts."
Those Israelites sound like most Christians today, not to mention the Atheist and such. Refusing to listen to the word of the LORD, preferring instead to be coddled and cuddled, by those preaching the goodness of God, but the the righteousness of God. There are those that go to church every Sunday and sit under the preaching of the word, and yet their minds are somewhere else, so they leave the church having not heard a word the preacher said. So they spend their week no better than they started it, and then repeat the whole thing the next week, and the next. Of course there or those that just flat out refuse to even acknowledge that God exist.
How many times have you seen a teenager pitching a fit, when mom, or dad is trying to talk to them, places their hand on the kids shoulder, possibly trying to hug them, and the child jerks away, and sticks their fingers in their ears, and starts saying lalalalalalala? That is the picture God painted of the Israelites, and it fits Christians today so well.
Now turn over to Mal. 2:17 "Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, wherein have we wearied Him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and He delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?"
This follows right along with our other text, how many preachers are preaching something other than the gospel, and yet they have one of these mega-churches? How many "Christians", that live like the devil all week, yet show up for church on Sunday, and talk about how wicked the other church members are?
Now I want to look at the last statement just a moment, "Where is the God of judgment?". This is not the cry of righteous people looking for God to avenge His chosen people. This is the sarcastic statement of evil people making fun of those that still believed in the LORD God Jehovah. They are asking, "If God exist why hasn't He done something to the enemies (without, and within) of Israel?". It is not for us to know when, or how God will work, we are to believe that He is going to, and wait patiently for Him to move among us.
Go back to the last statement in Zech., "therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts." If the church in America does not wake up, and sit up, and take notice, and start to obey the word of the LORD, there will be a serious price to pay. And I don't think that day if very far off.
We need to be praying daily for His mercy and grace to fall on America. We need to be praying for those true believers that have left His path to return, and for conviction and burden to fall on all Christians. That is the only hope this country has. I may be wrong but I believe that the current state of the church in America, and the country in general is Biblical. I believe that the country must go down this path in order to make way for the events that will signal His return. So this is a mixed feeling I have toward the current state. I want to pray for the church, and the country to return to it's previous glory, and yet I am so looking forward to His return, I want things to get worse even quicker, so that glorious day of His reappearing will get here. However, I know that we are to pray for the healing of the church, while looking forward to that day, even though the two are opposites.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Modern Christianity
Yesterday, I was involved in a discussion on facebook, that has prompted me to bring this devotion this morning. I do hope those other people involved will come and read my response to the thread. What started the discussion is someone trying to be humorous and sarcastic asked the question, "When did an ear ring, flip flops and a feaux (mo)hawk become the official uniform of youth pastors?" Even though I know this person well enough to know that they were not actually serious, the question hit home hard. As you know I have visited several churches lately that this type youth pastor would fit in a little too well, so my response was something to the effect of "I've seen a few "church" pastors almost that bad. It's that old "to save a drunk, you have to go drinking" school of thought." Unfortunately someone took offense at both the question and response, saying we were being judgmental, and that Jesus spent time with drunks, so there is nothing wrong with that.
I am going to start my response in Rom. 6:1-2, where Paul ask, now that we are saved, and under grace, should we continue to sin so that grace may be more abundant? Then answers himself saying, God forbid, how shall we being dead to sin, continue to live in it? (Robby paraphrase). Eph. 5:1-7, names several sins that we are not to allow to be among the church, ending in vs 7 saying "be ye not partakers with them". 2 Cor. 6:14&17 tells us not to be unequally yoked together with sinners, but to come out and "Be ye separate".
Phil. 4:8 says "Finally, brethren whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, just, pure, lovely, are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things". In other words if it does not fit one of these things, stay away from it. 1 Thess 5:22 "Abstain from all appearance of evil". A few years ago, my car broke down one Saturday afternoon, the only place close by that I could find a phone, (This was before cell phones), was a bar. So I went in used the phone, and called for help and went straight back to my car. The next day at church, a church member asked my why they saw me coming out of the bar, what they saw had the appearance of evil, even though it was totally innocent. All I could think about was what if I had been trying to witness to an alcoholic, and that person was the one to see me leaving the bar it would totally ruin any chance I had of being a witness. Now most of the people I have seen with mohawks, both those I knew personally and those I didn't, were drug addicts. Not all but most. Very few if any of them went to church, preferring to go to the worst kind of rock music concerts. So why would a Christian want to look like a drug addict, and a Satanic rock musician? Especially since we are commanded to avoid such behavior.
Don't forget how sin evolves, it starts out with Lott placing his tent so that it faced Sodom, and ends up with him living in the middle of town, offering his virgin daughters as whores to the men of the city.
Gal. 1:10 ask the question "do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ". Jesus said, we can not serve two masters, it is either Him, or Satan. 1 Cor. 6:19-20 says that our bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit, so we are to glorify God in our bodies. How can we glorify God with our bodies, when our bodies look like we are full of sin? Turn over to ch. 11 vs. 14 "Doth not even nature itself teach you, that if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?" If long hair is a shame to a man, what else could a mohawk be.
Now over in Eph 5 vs. 10 "Proving what is acceptable unto the LORD". vs. 11 "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them". Something does not have to be a "major" sin in order to be the works of darkness, most of the time Satan would rather work in subtle ways, that Christians won't notice until it's too late. Vs. 18 "Be not drunk with strong wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit", there is only room in your body for one or the other not both. In years past there were a couple of my friends, that would call me between midnight and 2am, when the bar closed, and they were too drunk to drive home. I would go pick them up, and then sit with them the rest of the night until they sobered up. I did not sin by spending time with them, just the opposite, I showed them compassion, and once they sobered up I had a chance to witness to them. However, if I had drank with them, that would have been a sin, and I would have lost my testimony with them.
Lastly, back over to 1 Cor. ch 5. In vs. 1-5 we see that in the Corinthian church was a man that was an adulterer, with his own mother no less. Paul was rebuking the church, not because the man was doing this, but because the church had not kicked him out of the church. Verses 6-7 repeat an analogy from the Old Testament, that "a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump". The leaven representing sin. Verse 11 tells us not to keep company with people that is a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer (troublemaker, loud mouth), or a drunkard, or an extortioner. In verses 12&13 we are told that God will judge the world, however we are to judge those within the church, and to put away from among ourselves any wicked person. We have already seen where just the appearance of wrong doing is evil. 2 Thess. 3:14-15 tells us that if any man will not obey the word of God, we are not to have any company with him. We are not to count him as an enemy, but to admonish him as a brother.
What we see here is that this concept of witnessing to people by dressing like the world, acting like the world, listening to music that sounds like the world, and just trying to be as close to the world as possible without being in it is evil. And eventually those people who are doing this will end up in the world. We are commanded to be separate from the world, we are to look different, sound different, talk different, act different, and just be different in general. We are to be a peculiar people, we are not to be accepted by the world. Our lives, and testimony's should make the world uncomfortable because they can see Jesus Christ in us, which will convict them of their sin.
I have no hard feelings toward anyone who follows this "modern Christianity", I have some good friends that believe this way. However, I still try to show them that they too are living in sin, I do this with love for them. Today I tried to just give verses that explain how we should live, and keep my words out of it. Because I do not want anyone to say that Robby said that is sin. Robby did not say it was sin, the Bible, written by God said it was sin, Robby just delivered the message. I do not believe in arguing about what the Bible says, I will give you the verse that tells you why I believe what I believe, then you can argue with God about it, if you wish. I have no problem listening to someone try to show me I am wrong, and if God tells me I am wrong, I will change quickly. But God has to be the one to tell me I am wrong.
I am going to start my response in Rom. 6:1-2, where Paul ask, now that we are saved, and under grace, should we continue to sin so that grace may be more abundant? Then answers himself saying, God forbid, how shall we being dead to sin, continue to live in it? (Robby paraphrase). Eph. 5:1-7, names several sins that we are not to allow to be among the church, ending in vs 7 saying "be ye not partakers with them". 2 Cor. 6:14&17 tells us not to be unequally yoked together with sinners, but to come out and "Be ye separate".
Phil. 4:8 says "Finally, brethren whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, just, pure, lovely, are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things". In other words if it does not fit one of these things, stay away from it. 1 Thess 5:22 "Abstain from all appearance of evil". A few years ago, my car broke down one Saturday afternoon, the only place close by that I could find a phone, (This was before cell phones), was a bar. So I went in used the phone, and called for help and went straight back to my car. The next day at church, a church member asked my why they saw me coming out of the bar, what they saw had the appearance of evil, even though it was totally innocent. All I could think about was what if I had been trying to witness to an alcoholic, and that person was the one to see me leaving the bar it would totally ruin any chance I had of being a witness. Now most of the people I have seen with mohawks, both those I knew personally and those I didn't, were drug addicts. Not all but most. Very few if any of them went to church, preferring to go to the worst kind of rock music concerts. So why would a Christian want to look like a drug addict, and a Satanic rock musician? Especially since we are commanded to avoid such behavior.
Don't forget how sin evolves, it starts out with Lott placing his tent so that it faced Sodom, and ends up with him living in the middle of town, offering his virgin daughters as whores to the men of the city.
Gal. 1:10 ask the question "do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ". Jesus said, we can not serve two masters, it is either Him, or Satan. 1 Cor. 6:19-20 says that our bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit, so we are to glorify God in our bodies. How can we glorify God with our bodies, when our bodies look like we are full of sin? Turn over to ch. 11 vs. 14 "Doth not even nature itself teach you, that if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?" If long hair is a shame to a man, what else could a mohawk be.
Now over in Eph 5 vs. 10 "Proving what is acceptable unto the LORD". vs. 11 "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them". Something does not have to be a "major" sin in order to be the works of darkness, most of the time Satan would rather work in subtle ways, that Christians won't notice until it's too late. Vs. 18 "Be not drunk with strong wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit", there is only room in your body for one or the other not both. In years past there were a couple of my friends, that would call me between midnight and 2am, when the bar closed, and they were too drunk to drive home. I would go pick them up, and then sit with them the rest of the night until they sobered up. I did not sin by spending time with them, just the opposite, I showed them compassion, and once they sobered up I had a chance to witness to them. However, if I had drank with them, that would have been a sin, and I would have lost my testimony with them.
Lastly, back over to 1 Cor. ch 5. In vs. 1-5 we see that in the Corinthian church was a man that was an adulterer, with his own mother no less. Paul was rebuking the church, not because the man was doing this, but because the church had not kicked him out of the church. Verses 6-7 repeat an analogy from the Old Testament, that "a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump". The leaven representing sin. Verse 11 tells us not to keep company with people that is a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer (troublemaker, loud mouth), or a drunkard, or an extortioner. In verses 12&13 we are told that God will judge the world, however we are to judge those within the church, and to put away from among ourselves any wicked person. We have already seen where just the appearance of wrong doing is evil. 2 Thess. 3:14-15 tells us that if any man will not obey the word of God, we are not to have any company with him. We are not to count him as an enemy, but to admonish him as a brother.
What we see here is that this concept of witnessing to people by dressing like the world, acting like the world, listening to music that sounds like the world, and just trying to be as close to the world as possible without being in it is evil. And eventually those people who are doing this will end up in the world. We are commanded to be separate from the world, we are to look different, sound different, talk different, act different, and just be different in general. We are to be a peculiar people, we are not to be accepted by the world. Our lives, and testimony's should make the world uncomfortable because they can see Jesus Christ in us, which will convict them of their sin.
I have no hard feelings toward anyone who follows this "modern Christianity", I have some good friends that believe this way. However, I still try to show them that they too are living in sin, I do this with love for them. Today I tried to just give verses that explain how we should live, and keep my words out of it. Because I do not want anyone to say that Robby said that is sin. Robby did not say it was sin, the Bible, written by God said it was sin, Robby just delivered the message. I do not believe in arguing about what the Bible says, I will give you the verse that tells you why I believe what I believe, then you can argue with God about it, if you wish. I have no problem listening to someone try to show me I am wrong, and if God tells me I am wrong, I will change quickly. But God has to be the one to tell me I am wrong.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Compassion
I recently read a news story about a homeless Jewish man in New York city, the poor man was attacked by a group of Arin Brotherhood teenagers. The beat the man almost to death, stole what few valuables he had, stripped most of his clothes off, leaving only his Yarmulke on his head, in order to disgrace the Jewish race.
A little while later, as the sun began to come up, there was a lot of people who walked by, some looking at him and pretending they did not see him, others, making sure to let others know they were not interested in helping, in case his attackers were watching. The passerby's soon included a Catholic Priest, who decided that he would call the cops when he arrived at the church, but first he had a few stops to make. Then there was a group of pastors from a protestant interdenominational work group. Then finally there was a Jewish Priest who stopped and looked, and apparently decided that it was none of his business.
About an hour later, after many, many people had walked by, a dark brown skinned man walked by and saw the Jewish man almost at death's door. Knowing there was no time to call an ambulance, the Muslim man carried the Jewish man in his arms, the five blocks to the nearest Emergency Room. Once he arrived, the hospital did not want to admit him, because they did not know if he had insurance or not. So the Muslim, agreed to sign papers saying he would be responsible for the mans bill.
The men became good friends over the next week, as the Muslim man, visited the Jewish man in the hospital every day.
As you have probably imagined, I have just told a modern version of the story of the Good Samaritan found in Lk 10:30-37. I hope telling it in this context helps to bring it to reality for you today. Look at vs 33 the Bible says the Samaritan "had compassion" on the other man. How often do we have compassion on those around us?
By nature I am a helper, by nature my first instinct is to offer my assistance to anyone around me, whether or not I know them. I have pulled over to change a flat for elderly people, and women by them self. I have given rides to hitch hikers, I have left the house in the middle of the night to pick up friends who had gotten into bad situations. However, there have been times that I have seen people I know that were in need of a friend's help, and yet I would look the other way, because that person had gotten on my bad side.
I failed to have compassion. In that moment I decided to look away, I sinned. What about you? Have you ever turned your back on someone you knew? What about someone you did not know? God will never turn His back on us, and commands us to show compassion to others, whether or not we know them. Are we obeying His command?
A little while later, as the sun began to come up, there was a lot of people who walked by, some looking at him and pretending they did not see him, others, making sure to let others know they were not interested in helping, in case his attackers were watching. The passerby's soon included a Catholic Priest, who decided that he would call the cops when he arrived at the church, but first he had a few stops to make. Then there was a group of pastors from a protestant interdenominational work group. Then finally there was a Jewish Priest who stopped and looked, and apparently decided that it was none of his business.
About an hour later, after many, many people had walked by, a dark brown skinned man walked by and saw the Jewish man almost at death's door. Knowing there was no time to call an ambulance, the Muslim man carried the Jewish man in his arms, the five blocks to the nearest Emergency Room. Once he arrived, the hospital did not want to admit him, because they did not know if he had insurance or not. So the Muslim, agreed to sign papers saying he would be responsible for the mans bill.
The men became good friends over the next week, as the Muslim man, visited the Jewish man in the hospital every day.
As you have probably imagined, I have just told a modern version of the story of the Good Samaritan found in Lk 10:30-37. I hope telling it in this context helps to bring it to reality for you today. Look at vs 33 the Bible says the Samaritan "had compassion" on the other man. How often do we have compassion on those around us?
By nature I am a helper, by nature my first instinct is to offer my assistance to anyone around me, whether or not I know them. I have pulled over to change a flat for elderly people, and women by them self. I have given rides to hitch hikers, I have left the house in the middle of the night to pick up friends who had gotten into bad situations. However, there have been times that I have seen people I know that were in need of a friend's help, and yet I would look the other way, because that person had gotten on my bad side.
I failed to have compassion. In that moment I decided to look away, I sinned. What about you? Have you ever turned your back on someone you knew? What about someone you did not know? God will never turn His back on us, and commands us to show compassion to others, whether or not we know them. Are we obeying His command?
Thursday, August 5, 2010
The Answer to Everything
First I need to say that if there are any places in today's devotion, that don't exactly sound right, or even make sense, I was up most of the night. As you know this last couple of weeks has been rough on me. Anytime you start doing something for God, Satan is going to attack, and I am ashamed to say that he has had some victories in my life during this time, especially the last few days. Please pray for me, that God and I will regain the victory, and that Satan will have to back off.
Having said that turn to Ex. 40, we will be looking at the setting up of the tabernacle. This is covered in verses 16-38, however I am just going to be discussing the items located inside the tabernacle, and will give you the verse I am looking at. The first thing we see in vs 18-19 is the building itself. The important thing to see is that Moses did as he was commanded. Then in vs 20-21 we see the tablets containing the Ten Commandments being placed inside the Ark of the Covenant, and the Mercy Seat being placed on top. The tablet represents the Law, which is engulfed by the promise, and giving of the blood of Christ. In vs. 22-23 Moses places a table inside the tabernacle, and places just some bread on it.
Next in vs 24-25 he places a candlestick next to the table, signifying the Light of the World. Verses 26-27, describe a golden alter which was used to burn sweet incense, showing how God is everywhere. Then he hangs a door across the opening to the Holy of Holies, in vs 28. Next is the alter of Burnt offering in vs. 29 also signifying the sacrifice Christ would make. And finally in vs 30 is the laver, that the priest used to wash their hands and feet, showing how our sins would be washed away.
I bet you think I forget to cover the table and bread, actually I just wanted to cover everything else first. What you need to notice is there was nothing on the table but the bread. Bread? The bread was not to be ate, so why was it there? The answer is in John 6:35 "And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life; he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst". Then if vs 51 "I am the living bread which came down from heaven;if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever; and the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world". There was nothing on the table except the bread, because it was a picture of Jesus, who is all we need. No matter what we will never need anything more than Jesus.
Some people would say, we need more than just Jesus, we need a job, food, shelter etc., what they don't realize is that if you have Jesus, He will give you all that other stuff. "Therefore I say unto you, take no thought for you life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on." Matt 6:25, vs 33 "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you". There was no need for anything else on the table. Jesus is the answer to everything.
Having said that turn to Ex. 40, we will be looking at the setting up of the tabernacle. This is covered in verses 16-38, however I am just going to be discussing the items located inside the tabernacle, and will give you the verse I am looking at. The first thing we see in vs 18-19 is the building itself. The important thing to see is that Moses did as he was commanded. Then in vs 20-21 we see the tablets containing the Ten Commandments being placed inside the Ark of the Covenant, and the Mercy Seat being placed on top. The tablet represents the Law, which is engulfed by the promise, and giving of the blood of Christ. In vs. 22-23 Moses places a table inside the tabernacle, and places just some bread on it.
Next in vs 24-25 he places a candlestick next to the table, signifying the Light of the World. Verses 26-27, describe a golden alter which was used to burn sweet incense, showing how God is everywhere. Then he hangs a door across the opening to the Holy of Holies, in vs 28. Next is the alter of Burnt offering in vs. 29 also signifying the sacrifice Christ would make. And finally in vs 30 is the laver, that the priest used to wash their hands and feet, showing how our sins would be washed away.
I bet you think I forget to cover the table and bread, actually I just wanted to cover everything else first. What you need to notice is there was nothing on the table but the bread. Bread? The bread was not to be ate, so why was it there? The answer is in John 6:35 "And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life; he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst". Then if vs 51 "I am the living bread which came down from heaven;if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever; and the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world". There was nothing on the table except the bread, because it was a picture of Jesus, who is all we need. No matter what we will never need anything more than Jesus.
Some people would say, we need more than just Jesus, we need a job, food, shelter etc., what they don't realize is that if you have Jesus, He will give you all that other stuff. "Therefore I say unto you, take no thought for you life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on." Matt 6:25, vs 33 "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you". There was no need for anything else on the table. Jesus is the answer to everything.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Getting your Feet Wet
This morning I want to look at Matthew's account of Jesus walking on the water, and since it is such a long passage, I ask that you read it for yourself, then I will paraphrase what I want you to see this morning. This passage is found in Mat. 14:22-33.
In vs 22, Jesus asked the disciples to get on a ship and set sail without Him, and immediately they obeyed. Isn't it always easy to obey God in the small things He ask us to do? Now look down at vs 24, they were in the midst of the sea, and just when it seemed that God was not there with them a storm arose. I imagine they were worried, they might not make it. But in vs 25 we see that Jesus went to them, they did not expect Him to be there, so they thought it was a ghost. Notice now that when Jesus called out to them, only Peter believed it was actually Jesus. Then Peter, and Peter alone stepped out on faith to go to Jesus. Peter had no way of knowing for a fact it was Jesus, he had no reason to believe that he would be safe, and yet over the side of the boat he went, walking on the water. Peter had a great moment of faith, and as a result he is the only human to ever walk on water.
But, just like most of us, right in the middle of his great victory, he took his eyes off of God, just for a moment, just because he was curious what was going on around him. And, of course he saw the trouble, and danger around him and he panicked. When he panicked, he forget that God was there, and he began to sink. Immediately Jesus reached out and saved him. I can't count how many times He has had to reach out and save me. Then Jesus rebukes Peter for not having enough faith. At first glance this may seem strange, after all Peter had enough faith to walk on water. Maybe so, but he did not have enough faith to trust God, once he noticed the trouble around him.
As soon as they reached the ship, immediately the storm ceased. There is always peace with Jesus in our life, it's just sometimes we have to have faith that it is there in order to access it. The thing to notice here is that the disciples believed after they had seen but not before, all but Peter. Who believed then took his eyes off Jesus.
I hear so many people talk bad about Peter because he took his eyes off of Jesus, however we have to remember he had more faith than any of us, because he actually stepped out on faith and walked on the water, for a moment at least. Don't misunderstand me, Peter sinned when he looked away, I just don't want his victory to get lost in his failure. In order to fail the way Peter did, we have to have enough faith to step out to start with.
How many times has God asked you to do something that would require you to step out on faith and enter the unknown? How many of those times did you obey? In my life I can point to several times when I failed to do what I was asked because I did not have enough faith. I was to afraid to trust that He would take care of me, that I would be able to walk on water.
The next time you are faced with staying in the boat, or getting your feet wet, remember Peter, as long as you keep your eyes on Jesus, your feet is all that get wet.
In vs 22, Jesus asked the disciples to get on a ship and set sail without Him, and immediately they obeyed. Isn't it always easy to obey God in the small things He ask us to do? Now look down at vs 24, they were in the midst of the sea, and just when it seemed that God was not there with them a storm arose. I imagine they were worried, they might not make it. But in vs 25 we see that Jesus went to them, they did not expect Him to be there, so they thought it was a ghost. Notice now that when Jesus called out to them, only Peter believed it was actually Jesus. Then Peter, and Peter alone stepped out on faith to go to Jesus. Peter had no way of knowing for a fact it was Jesus, he had no reason to believe that he would be safe, and yet over the side of the boat he went, walking on the water. Peter had a great moment of faith, and as a result he is the only human to ever walk on water.
But, just like most of us, right in the middle of his great victory, he took his eyes off of God, just for a moment, just because he was curious what was going on around him. And, of course he saw the trouble, and danger around him and he panicked. When he panicked, he forget that God was there, and he began to sink. Immediately Jesus reached out and saved him. I can't count how many times He has had to reach out and save me. Then Jesus rebukes Peter for not having enough faith. At first glance this may seem strange, after all Peter had enough faith to walk on water. Maybe so, but he did not have enough faith to trust God, once he noticed the trouble around him.
As soon as they reached the ship, immediately the storm ceased. There is always peace with Jesus in our life, it's just sometimes we have to have faith that it is there in order to access it. The thing to notice here is that the disciples believed after they had seen but not before, all but Peter. Who believed then took his eyes off Jesus.
I hear so many people talk bad about Peter because he took his eyes off of Jesus, however we have to remember he had more faith than any of us, because he actually stepped out on faith and walked on the water, for a moment at least. Don't misunderstand me, Peter sinned when he looked away, I just don't want his victory to get lost in his failure. In order to fail the way Peter did, we have to have enough faith to step out to start with.
How many times has God asked you to do something that would require you to step out on faith and enter the unknown? How many of those times did you obey? In my life I can point to several times when I failed to do what I was asked because I did not have enough faith. I was to afraid to trust that He would take care of me, that I would be able to walk on water.
The next time you are faced with staying in the boat, or getting your feet wet, remember Peter, as long as you keep your eyes on Jesus, your feet is all that get wet.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Humble Service
Good morning, this is the first post with the new computer, I look forward to many more. Today's, and yesterdays devotions both have came from a really old copy of the "Our Daily Bread" devotion book. I don't plan on borrowing devotions that often, but if God blesses my heart with something, I will share it with you.
Today's scripture reading comes from Lk 22:24-30, with vs 27 being the meat of the lesson "For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? Is not he that sitteth at meat? But I am among you as he that serveth".
I knew a young woman, that lived with her parents, her only income was a small government welfare check. She was always complaining about being bored, being broke, being depressed and just not liking her life. Since there was actually nothing wrong with her, I would tell her to go get a job, or do some volunteer work or something. That was not going to work, because she was too good to clean bathrooms, or flip burgers, or work with homeless people. However, Jesus did not think that He was too good to do those things.
Another example, during World War 1, a famous theologian, and counselor did some volunteer work at a hospital for injured soldiers. Even though the administrator knew who the man was, he was assigned the job of making hot chocolate in the mornings. Since the beverage's needed to be ready by 7am, he would get up before 5. He'd take chocolate bars, shave them into small pieces, then melt them, mixing them with condensed milk and water. Then from 7 until 9 he kept busy serving the soldiers, never getting his own breakfast until after 9. Now it seems that he would have been better utilized counseling the soldiers. Even so, he honored God by not only doing the menial job, but by doing it the best he could.
"And I thank Christ Jesus our LORD, who hath enabled me, for that He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry" 1 Tim. 1:12. Gal. 5:13 "but by love serve one another", Eph. 6:1-9, again tells us how we should serve one another in love, doing everything we do to the best of our abilities as if we were asked by God Himself to do it, and not as we are doing it for another man.
If you ever get discouraged with something you are doing because it seems beneath you, or because of some obstacle, or because you don't see any fruit from your service (ouch), look again. Remember today's text, just knowing that Christ counts you faithful makes any sacrifice for Him worthwhile.
I had no idea that I was going to step on my own toes, right there at the end. Not until I actually typed it, then it hit me. I can now see the fruit of my labor, even if I don't see any physical results, I see heavenly results. And that is all that matters in the long run, isn't it?
Today's scripture reading comes from Lk 22:24-30, with vs 27 being the meat of the lesson "For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? Is not he that sitteth at meat? But I am among you as he that serveth".
I knew a young woman, that lived with her parents, her only income was a small government welfare check. She was always complaining about being bored, being broke, being depressed and just not liking her life. Since there was actually nothing wrong with her, I would tell her to go get a job, or do some volunteer work or something. That was not going to work, because she was too good to clean bathrooms, or flip burgers, or work with homeless people. However, Jesus did not think that He was too good to do those things.
Another example, during World War 1, a famous theologian, and counselor did some volunteer work at a hospital for injured soldiers. Even though the administrator knew who the man was, he was assigned the job of making hot chocolate in the mornings. Since the beverage's needed to be ready by 7am, he would get up before 5. He'd take chocolate bars, shave them into small pieces, then melt them, mixing them with condensed milk and water. Then from 7 until 9 he kept busy serving the soldiers, never getting his own breakfast until after 9. Now it seems that he would have been better utilized counseling the soldiers. Even so, he honored God by not only doing the menial job, but by doing it the best he could.
"And I thank Christ Jesus our LORD, who hath enabled me, for that He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry" 1 Tim. 1:12. Gal. 5:13 "but by love serve one another", Eph. 6:1-9, again tells us how we should serve one another in love, doing everything we do to the best of our abilities as if we were asked by God Himself to do it, and not as we are doing it for another man.
If you ever get discouraged with something you are doing because it seems beneath you, or because of some obstacle, or because you don't see any fruit from your service (ouch), look again. Remember today's text, just knowing that Christ counts you faithful makes any sacrifice for Him worthwhile.
I had no idea that I was going to step on my own toes, right there at the end. Not until I actually typed it, then it hit me. I can now see the fruit of my labor, even if I don't see any physical results, I see heavenly results. And that is all that matters in the long run, isn't it?
Monday, August 2, 2010
Grass on the Path
A missionary told a story about going to S. Africa and preaching to a number of tribes in the jungle. He saw a lot of people saved, in several different villages that were within a few miles of each other. These new Christians were excited about learning more about Jesus, but none of them had a place to worship, and unfortunately none of the tribes had the resources to build a church. Besides, how was the missionary going to be in all the tribes at the same time.
So the new Christians all got together, from all the tribes, which in itself was amazing considering they had always been in conflict with each other. They all came together and cleared some land right in the middle of all the tribes, and erected a crude church to worship in.
I could stop right here and talk about the desire to worship once we are saved. But, the story goes on. You see the people all walked to the church every chance they could get, and so there was some well worn paths leading to and from the worship center. However like most of us, eventually the time came when the new Christians became lazy about their worship. Occasionally someone would start missing services, and after missing a few too many, that person would receive a visit from friends from the other tribes. They would tell how they were concerned about the person, and wanted to make sure they were not ill, or injured or anything. Then they would tell that person, "brother, there is grass growing on your path, there must be sin growing in your heart".
In Lk 18:1-5 we see a parable Jesus taught about a woman who had been wronged. She went to the judge, but he told her that he would not do anything. But, she would not take no for an answer she kept going back to him, asking him to avenge her. He refused for a while, but she finally got on his nerves, and so in order to make her shut up and leave him alone, he did what she was asking for. Verse 1 tells us "that men ought always to pray, and not to faint", even if it seems that your prayers are not, and will not be answered do no give up, keep on keeping on. There are times God will test our faith by waiting to answer our prayer, He wants us to keep praying in order to make our faith stronger. Not only that but with some of His children the only time He hears their voice is when they need something, so He makes them keep coming back so that He can hear from them.
If you look at Phil. 4:6 you will read "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God". Now we have seen when and what we are to pray for. We are to pray non-stop for everything.
Is there grass growing on your path? Or do you take all your needs, troubles, worries and your praises, and the things that you are thankful for to your Heavenly Father?
Now, this is what I had planned for Sunday, before my trip to the ER, this was planned even before I found out about the computer I was given. Isn't it funny how God works in our lives? We are told that He knows what we need, even before we ask Him. Then He gives us a devotion that is going to cover something that will happen to us in the future. I serve a good God, a wise God, and a loving God.
So the new Christians all got together, from all the tribes, which in itself was amazing considering they had always been in conflict with each other. They all came together and cleared some land right in the middle of all the tribes, and erected a crude church to worship in.
I could stop right here and talk about the desire to worship once we are saved. But, the story goes on. You see the people all walked to the church every chance they could get, and so there was some well worn paths leading to and from the worship center. However like most of us, eventually the time came when the new Christians became lazy about their worship. Occasionally someone would start missing services, and after missing a few too many, that person would receive a visit from friends from the other tribes. They would tell how they were concerned about the person, and wanted to make sure they were not ill, or injured or anything. Then they would tell that person, "brother, there is grass growing on your path, there must be sin growing in your heart".
In Lk 18:1-5 we see a parable Jesus taught about a woman who had been wronged. She went to the judge, but he told her that he would not do anything. But, she would not take no for an answer she kept going back to him, asking him to avenge her. He refused for a while, but she finally got on his nerves, and so in order to make her shut up and leave him alone, he did what she was asking for. Verse 1 tells us "that men ought always to pray, and not to faint", even if it seems that your prayers are not, and will not be answered do no give up, keep on keeping on. There are times God will test our faith by waiting to answer our prayer, He wants us to keep praying in order to make our faith stronger. Not only that but with some of His children the only time He hears their voice is when they need something, so He makes them keep coming back so that He can hear from them.
If you look at Phil. 4:6 you will read "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God". Now we have seen when and what we are to pray for. We are to pray non-stop for everything.
Is there grass growing on your path? Or do you take all your needs, troubles, worries and your praises, and the things that you are thankful for to your Heavenly Father?
Now, this is what I had planned for Sunday, before my trip to the ER, this was planned even before I found out about the computer I was given. Isn't it funny how God works in our lives? We are told that He knows what we need, even before we ask Him. Then He gives us a devotion that is going to cover something that will happen to us in the future. I serve a good God, a wise God, and a loving God.
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