The Self-sufficiency of Babylon May 8, 2016

Isaiah 17:10New International Version (NIV)

10 You have forgotten God your Savior;  you have not remembered the Rock, your fortress.
Therefore, though you set out the finest plants and plant imported vines,

The nations in the time of Isaiah were filled with turmoil. The city of Babylon is seen throughout both the Old and New Testaments as a city plagued with pride and self-sufficiency. Babylon symbolizes the world powers arrayed against God’s kingdom. Throughout the ages, we see other cities and nations plagued by self-sufficiency, finding no need for God. And as individuals, we also fall prey to self-sufficiency. We tend to forget God, our Savior; we forget our Rock, our Fortress. 

(Isaiah 17:10) Yet, when we catch but a glimpse of God’s glory, His holiness, and His majesty, we are forever changed. Thank God for His transforming Presence in our lives! Pride is the besetting sin of humanity. Adam and Eve fell prey to pride when they ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. They wanted to know as much as God. The nations fell into confusion when their pride caused them to build the tower of Babel to be like God. Often I do a “pride” check. I forget that it is the Lord who calls me, the Lord who enables me to do His will. Like the Israelites, I forget to give God the glory for my accomplishments: My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water. (Jeremiah 2:13) God’s people had forgotten Him and had become self-sufficient. They no longer asked where their God was who brought them out of Egypt, and they worshipped idols.

It is easy for us to forget it is the Lord who works in and through us – that we can do nothing apart from Him. (John 15:5) Always do a “pride” check when you are accomplishing great things. Remember that it is the Lord who causes all of us to prosper and who grants us success.

Thought for today:  What areas of my life are stunted by pride?

Jehovah, Holy One May 7, 2016

Leviticus 19:1-2 (NIV)

19 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.

Jehovah is a holy God, and He expects us to be a holy people. When Adam and Eve sinned and disobeyed God, the consequences of their sin caused mankind to be separated from God forever. Jesus Christ came as our holy sacrifice, making grace available to us, because we fall short of keeping the law and the requirements of holiness. Where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more, but that does not give us permission to live an unholy life. We are called to be holy as He is holy. When we fall short and turn back to the Lord, He forgives, cleanses, and restores us. Holiness is not something we achieve; holiness is something that we must yearn for. Only God is holy, but as His people, set apart, He calls us to strive for holiness.

How do we do this? It is not by our “works,” not by our formulas for holiness (to fast and pray more often), but by our willingness to gaze at the beauty of our Lord. As we gaze at HIS holiness, we become aware of our sinfulness. Like Isaiah, we say: Woe to me! I cried. I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips and I live among a people of unclean lips and my eyes have seen the King.

(Isaiah 6:5)

May the cry of your heart be like King David: One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple. (Psalm 27:4)

Thought for today: What prevents me from engaging in right thinking, right actions, right speech?

God’s Kindness Leads Us To Change May 6, 2016

Romans 2:4 (NIV)

4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?

It is God’s kindness that leads us to repentance. He is patient, desiring that none should perish. As I meditate on this Scripture, I am reminded of how often I am miserable in my sin and how the Lord does not always offer me relief from my misery. He offers me, instead, the gift of forgiveness.

He longs for to us to come back to Him in repentance and restoration of fellowship. Paul writes that an unrepentant heart stores up wrath for the day of God’s judgment. Consider a loving parent who patiently leads a child towards repentance. When my children were young, I tried to give them every opportunity to tell me the truth when I knew they had disobeyed me.

I often would tell them that the consequences would be far greater if they failed to be truthful. Our loving Father is infinitely more patient with us, desiring that we turn back to Him. Paul, a zealous Jew, understood the self- righteousness of the Jews. He knew of their temptation to judge the Gentiles and yet to not live up to the standard of God’s Word themselves. Although the Gentiles did not live by the law, they were judged by God according to the light that had been revealed to them, the truth of God’s Word, and their deeds. God, the impartial judge, waited for them to repent. He waits for us as well. His kindness leads us to repentance. How irresistible His love is!

Thought for today? Have I reflected on the things that are causing distress, worry and pain?

Presenting The Problem May 5, 2016

Nehemiah 2:4-5 (NIV)

4 The king said to me, “What is it you want?”

Then I prayed to the God of heaven, 5 and I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it.”

Nehemiah approached the king with the fear of the Lord and with submission to the God-given authorities. He humbly asked the king for the resources he needed to complete his mission in Jerusalem. It is obvious that through his time of prayer and fasting, the Lord gave him a strategy to go forward in order to help restore Jerusalem’s broken-down walls. We also have “broken-down” walls in our lives. The Lord longs to restore those broken-down places where the world and the evil one continually weaken our defenses and make us ashamed, angry, hurt, disappointed, fearful, or even hopeless. Nehemiah models for us how a Godly man approached the devastation in Jerusalem. His first step was to fast and pray. Then he waited for God to open the door of opportunity so he could begin the process of stepping out in faith and putting his God-given plan into action. As believers, we have the Holy Spirit to lead, guide and direct our paths. In the places of devastation in our lives – those broken-down places – the Lord will direct us through His Holy Spirit when we turn to Him in prayer. He will give us the mind of Christ to show us what to do and when to do it. Even more importantly, it is GOD who will provide the resources we need to restore our lives. The Lord is gracious and compassionate, and, like Nehemiah, we are able to say: the gracious hand of my God was upon me and the king granted my requests. (Nehemiah 2:8b)

Has the Lord laid something on your heart that needs to be done?

Does it seem like an impossible task? Nehemiah was faced with rebuilding a city that had been burned down – a formidable task! He did not dwell on the negative possibilities but sought the Lord in prayer, and the God of the impossible told him what to do. If you are faced with a problem, seek the Lord. He will give you the wisdom you need.

Thought for the day: What is my conviction?  What am I doing to rectify the situation?

The Trip To Surrender May 4. 2016

1 Samuel 16:12-13 (NIV)

12 So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features.

Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”

13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.

Paul warns us: Be very careful, then, how you live. (Ephesians 5:15) The Scripture teaches that surrendering to God is an ongoing journey; it is not a destination. When David was anointed by Samuel, it was just the beginning of his journey from tending sheep to leading a nation. David walked step by step in his journey of surrender, following the path to which God had called him. His spiritual journey was ignited by his relationship with God, and courage was an outgrowth of that relationship. (I Samuel 17:48-49) The fuel for the journey of surrender was provided by the ongoing guidance of the Holy Spirit. (I Samuel 16:13) Some of the experiences David had were easier than others. Yet David was described as having a heart after the Lord’s heart. (I Samuel 13:14) The most difficult thing for me to do is to be patient and wait on the Lord once I sense that He is calling me to do something.

Time and time again, the Lord reminds me that His timing is perfect and I must wait on Him to give me the “green light.” The problem is I forget that I am on a journey with God, and I get impatient to arrive at my destination.

David was anointed king, but he had to endure years of working for King Saul and years of torment at the hand of Saul before he became king.

Has the Lord anointed you to do something? Are you certain of His call, but every time you step out in faith, you fail or doors do not open? The Lord is more concerned with the journey than the destination. He may be growing trust and patience in you. He may be waiting for the perfect timing that will enable you to fulfill the call. Place your trust in Him and wait. He has a plan, a perfect plan.

Thought for today: Has God called you to do something? Have you obeyed?

The Bread Of Life May 3, 2016

John 6:35 (NIV)

35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

Jesus demonstrated that He was the Bread of Life by feeding five thousand people by multiplying five loaves of bread and two fish. He demonstrated that He was the Bread of Life that could feed their spiritual hunger. One day the disciples were crossing over the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. The disciples had forgotten to bring a loaf of bread along to eat, and Jesus heard them discussing this among themselves. The disciples had just witnessed a miracle when Jesus multiplied the fishes and loaves of bread, and yet they still did not understand that He WAS the Bread of Life – the One who could provide them with both physical and spiritual bread. Jesus said: Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up? (Mark 8:17-19)

In what way do you need to meet Jesus as the Bread of Life? Do you need provision financially, or do you have concerns for the future? Do you struggle knowing that He can multiply your resources and provide you with “bread”? Do you know Him as the Bread of Life who is able to quench your spiritual hunger? The disciples did not understand. They had just seen a miracle of multiplication and yet they still worried about their “lack.” The Lord is calling you today to meet Him as the Bread of Life. Trust Him to fill where you have lack and to satisfy you where you are thirsty and hungry.

Thought for today: Do I seek God for provision?

The Word of God May 2, 2016

1 Peter 1:23 (NIV)

23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

The Word of God is living and enduring. I love the Word of God!

As I read, meditate, and study God’s Word, I am learning more about the love of Christ, His transforming power, and the Holy Spirit’s conviction. I pray, “Lord, change me through Your Word. Bring correction, healing, and truth to my life.” Peter describes our experience as born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring Word of God. (I Peter 1:23)

Did you know that the Word of God goes out and never returns empty?

When God’s Word is spoken, read and received, it will always accomplish a purpose in your life: …so is my word that goes out from my mouth; it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11) We are often careless with our words – perhaps offering to call or pray for someone but not following through. Our words may not always find fulfillment of purpose, but God’s Word will always be fulfilled.

Paul understood the significance of God’s Word and admonished the early Christian believers to allow the Word of God to dwell richly within them.

(Colossians 3:16) Try taking a scripture passage each day and meditate on it all day long. God’s Word, when planted in the fertile soil of our hearts, will always bear fruit.

Thought for today: How much emphasis to I put on the word, words I speak/read?