Exodus 13:17-18 - "When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea.The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle."
The shortest route to our destination or goal is not always the best.
The people of Israel were not ready for the fight, even though they were armed for battle. God knows what we can handle, and protects us from ourselves. He sometimes takes us the long way and seemingly more difficult way to prepare us for more difficult times and ready us for what he has in store for us. God has his perfect timing and plan for our lives. We need to seek the road he would have us travel to avoid the pitfalls of life.
Israel was clothed had the weapons of this world as they left Egypt, but God wanted to equip them with spiritual weapons such as obedience, righteousness and faith.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Monday, February 6, 2012
Love in Action
I John 3:11-20 talks about love in action. We are not to love in word only, but show our love by our actions. Love is much talked about, but little seen. The action God requires of us as believers is to lay down our lives for others. Ouch! Most of us are ready to lay down our lives for our family, but not those outside of the family.
The Bible clearly shows us that we have greater family which is the family of Christ. We are not to put any less value on them than we do our own flesh and blood family. Christ valued us so much that he died for us. Everyone is precious in God's sight. John goes even farther to say that those who don't love as Christ loved are not His children. We are still dead in our sin. Wow! Of course, don't forget, if you hate a member of Christ family, you are murderer. These are hard statements.
Examine your heart and actions today. How do you measure on a scale 1 to 10? How would others measure you on a scale 1 to 10?
Lord fill us with your love this day. We can not do it on our own.
The Bible clearly shows us that we have greater family which is the family of Christ. We are not to put any less value on them than we do our own flesh and blood family. Christ valued us so much that he died for us. Everyone is precious in God's sight. John goes even farther to say that those who don't love as Christ loved are not His children. We are still dead in our sin. Wow! Of course, don't forget, if you hate a member of Christ family, you are murderer. These are hard statements.
Examine your heart and actions today. How do you measure on a scale 1 to 10? How would others measure you on a scale 1 to 10?
Lord fill us with your love this day. We can not do it on our own.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Faithfulness
Proverbs 20:6 - "Many a man claims to have unfailing love, but a faithful man who can find?"
Faithfulness is truly a rarity these days. God is seeking those who are faithful. I believe that faithfulness is one of the highest qualities of Christian character. Yet, it is not talked about much.
It is interesting to see that this verse talks about unfailing love before it goes into faithfulness. This is because faithfulness come out of love for God and others. Our steadfast commitment to God comes out of our love, therefore, our lack of faithfulness towards him and others show our lack of love for Him. In the same way our lack of faithfulness in relation to others shows our lack of love for that person or persons.
Now there is a faithfulness that does not come from love. This faithfulness comes from a sense of duty or obligation. This kind of faithfulness can be strong, but never as strong as the faithfulness that comes out of love.
God call us to love him and others;therefore, he calls us to faithfulness in all that we do. Are we faithful to our family? Are we faithful to the church? Are we faithful in the work place?
We need to say the prayer of David in Psalms 86:11 - "Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name."
Faithfulness is truly a rarity these days. God is seeking those who are faithful. I believe that faithfulness is one of the highest qualities of Christian character. Yet, it is not talked about much.
It is interesting to see that this verse talks about unfailing love before it goes into faithfulness. This is because faithfulness come out of love for God and others. Our steadfast commitment to God comes out of our love, therefore, our lack of faithfulness towards him and others show our lack of love for Him. In the same way our lack of faithfulness in relation to others shows our lack of love for that person or persons.
Now there is a faithfulness that does not come from love. This faithfulness comes from a sense of duty or obligation. This kind of faithfulness can be strong, but never as strong as the faithfulness that comes out of love.
God call us to love him and others;therefore, he calls us to faithfulness in all that we do. Are we faithful to our family? Are we faithful to the church? Are we faithful in the work place?
We need to say the prayer of David in Psalms 86:11 - "Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name."
Friday, February 3, 2012
God Chaser
What are you seeking from the Lord today? The Bible says God loves to give us the desires of our heart, but sometimes God is waiting to see how much we desire it and if we trust Him to meet our desires. Do you really and truly believe God can meet your need, then show it by your actions. Sometimes it is only through perseverance and persistence we obtain our goal.
Let us look at some examples in God's word.
The first would be the woman who was subject to bleeding for twelve years in Mark 5:24-34. Jesus was passing by with a crowd of people around him, pressed up against him. The woman thought if only I could touch his cloak I will be healed. She pressed through the crowd until she was able to reach out and touch his cloak. She was them immediately healed. When Jesus discovered who had done this, he said your faith has healed you. What if the woman had not been determined to touch Jesus? She would have never been healed.
Another example is the paralytic man in Mark 2:1-12. Here Jesus is doing a teaching session in someones home and the room where he was teaching was full and running out of the door. Full to the extent that a person couldn't even squeeze by someone to get to Jesus. Note this was not a healing service. Of course this didn't bother the paralytic man and his four helpers. They were determined to see Jesus and be healed by him. No one or nothing was going to stand in their way. Jesus was in their home town and they weren't going to pass up this opportunity.Therefore, they went onto the roof of the room, dug a hole through the roof and let down the paralytic man on his stretcher to be healed. As we know he was healed. Not only healed, but his sins were forgiven. The man was healed physically and spiritually.
Whatever your need may be today don't let doubt, the crowd or lack of persistence hinder you from receiving what God desires to give you.
Let us look at some examples in God's word.
The first would be the woman who was subject to bleeding for twelve years in Mark 5:24-34. Jesus was passing by with a crowd of people around him, pressed up against him. The woman thought if only I could touch his cloak I will be healed. She pressed through the crowd until she was able to reach out and touch his cloak. She was them immediately healed. When Jesus discovered who had done this, he said your faith has healed you. What if the woman had not been determined to touch Jesus? She would have never been healed.
Another example is the paralytic man in Mark 2:1-12. Here Jesus is doing a teaching session in someones home and the room where he was teaching was full and running out of the door. Full to the extent that a person couldn't even squeeze by someone to get to Jesus. Note this was not a healing service. Of course this didn't bother the paralytic man and his four helpers. They were determined to see Jesus and be healed by him. No one or nothing was going to stand in their way. Jesus was in their home town and they weren't going to pass up this opportunity.Therefore, they went onto the roof of the room, dug a hole through the roof and let down the paralytic man on his stretcher to be healed. As we know he was healed. Not only healed, but his sins were forgiven. The man was healed physically and spiritually.
Whatever your need may be today don't let doubt, the crowd or lack of persistence hinder you from receiving what God desires to give you.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Outrageous Grace
I once again reflect on a message I heard, "Outrageous Grace". It was based on Philemon. The story of a slave, Onesimus, who ran away from his master Philemon, and his reconciliation to him. If justice was served in this story, Philemon had the right to kill Onesimus. Justice is getting what you deserve, and Onesimus deserved death according to the law. Paul did not ask Philemon to forgive him which would have been the merciful thing for him to do. Mercy is when you don't get what you deserve. Paul asked Philemon to receive him back, no longer as a slave, but as a dear brother. He was asking Philemon to give him the grace Philemon and Onesimus had already received in Christ. Grace is getting what you don't deserve.
We don't know how the story went, but Paul was confident that Philemon would do what he was asked to do and supposed to do as a believer. If I or you were Philemon, what would have we done in the same situation? Would we have served up justice? Would we give out mercy and pat ourselves on the back for that grand gesture? or Would we have extended outrageous grace? I probably would have given mercy. I doubt I would have gone the extra mile. God went the extra miel for us and gave us grace - that which we didn't deserve.
We don't know how the story went, but Paul was confident that Philemon would do what he was asked to do and supposed to do as a believer. If I or you were Philemon, what would have we done in the same situation? Would we have served up justice? Would we give out mercy and pat ourselves on the back for that grand gesture? or Would we have extended outrageous grace? I probably would have given mercy. I doubt I would have gone the extra mile. God went the extra miel for us and gave us grace - that which we didn't deserve.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
His Presence
There is nothing like the presence of the Lord. We need to spend time in His presence and go with His presence. When Moses came down from Mt. Sinai, after being with God for 40 days and nights. His face was radiant and the people saw this radiance. (Ex. 34:29-32). Also, we see that every time Moses met with the Lord, his face became radiant, and the people saw this. They knew he had been with the Lord.
It is important that we spend time in God's presence. When we do this for long periods of time and on a regular basis, people will see a difference in us. We will radiate Christ and be a light to others. Scripture reveals that Moses face did not remain radiant continually, but would shine again and again as He met with God. In the same way, we must meet with God often. We must not be satisfied with past experiences with God, but we must experience Him daily.
It is important to see as well that Moses came before the Lord with unveiled face. He didn't want anything between him and receiving from God. (Exodus 34:33-35) In this same way we must come before the Lord with and open mind and heart, and setting everything aside that might hinder us in receiving His fullness and glory. Its not enough to have a daily devotions. We must spend our time with Him in such a way that brings transformation. This can only be done by our availability and through the Holy Spirit's working. (2 Corinthians 3:17-18)
If we back up a little, we see that Moses desired God's presence and would not move forward without His presence going with him. (33:14-16) As believers God's Holy Spirit is in us and ever present. Yet, this does not automatically translate into His manifest presence. It is God's manifest presence that will distinguish you from other people. Its not looks, clothes, things, work, or our accomplishments that will separate us from the crowd, it is God's manifest presence in our lives. This can only be accomplished through continual communion with Christ and the working of the Holy Spirit as we spend time in His presence.
It is important that we spend time in God's presence. When we do this for long periods of time and on a regular basis, people will see a difference in us. We will radiate Christ and be a light to others. Scripture reveals that Moses face did not remain radiant continually, but would shine again and again as He met with God. In the same way, we must meet with God often. We must not be satisfied with past experiences with God, but we must experience Him daily.
It is important to see as well that Moses came before the Lord with unveiled face. He didn't want anything between him and receiving from God. (Exodus 34:33-35) In this same way we must come before the Lord with and open mind and heart, and setting everything aside that might hinder us in receiving His fullness and glory. Its not enough to have a daily devotions. We must spend our time with Him in such a way that brings transformation. This can only be done by our availability and through the Holy Spirit's working. (2 Corinthians 3:17-18)
If we back up a little, we see that Moses desired God's presence and would not move forward without His presence going with him. (33:14-16) As believers God's Holy Spirit is in us and ever present. Yet, this does not automatically translate into His manifest presence. It is God's manifest presence that will distinguish you from other people. Its not looks, clothes, things, work, or our accomplishments that will separate us from the crowd, it is God's manifest presence in our lives. This can only be accomplished through continual communion with Christ and the working of the Holy Spirit as we spend time in His presence.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Truth
Seventy three times Jesus said, "I tell you the truth". Truth is important to Jesus and should be important to us as well. What is truth? Truth is an indisputable fact. Jesus is truth and He speaks and walks in truth.
The world needs a church that stands on the truth that it is only through Christ one can be saved.
The church needs to be convinced:
- God's Word is true.
- Of the purpose and power of God's Word. I Timothy 7:4-
Not only must we convinced of truth, we need to be clear and creative in presenting it, and careful not to compromise it.
Psalms 24:4-5 - "4 Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths. 5 Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long"
God is the source of truth and the one who is able to instruct and guide us in all truth.
The world needs a church that stands on the truth that it is only through Christ one can be saved.
The church needs to be convinced:
- God's Word is true.
- Of the purpose and power of God's Word. I Timothy 7:4-
Not only must we convinced of truth, we need to be clear and creative in presenting it, and careful not to compromise it.
Psalms 24:4-5 - "4 Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths. 5 Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long"
God is the source of truth and the one who is able to instruct and guide us in all truth.
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