Glorify God! {Read John 12:20-36}

The radiance of the divine beauty is wholly inexpressible: words cannot describe it, nor the ear grasp it.

~ Philimon ~

"Father, bring glory to Your name" (John 12:28).

     The human race is forever chasing after glory, and most people have a fervent wish to be famous. Sportsmen do their utmost to win championships because it will mean both money and glory for them. Those in the entertainment business strive for the limelight - they want their share of glory. It is the same with politicians who want to see their names in the newspaper and their faces on TV. The same thing happens in religious circles.

     Those who crowded around Jesus after He had raised Lazarus from the dead were glorifying Jesus. But Jesus wanted God to be glorified. He knew that something much bigger than the raising of Lazarus was just around the corner - His crucifixion and resurrection. This was God's tremendous act of salvation and it had to draw people to Him. It had to point to the great Almighty God as the Great Savior of the world. It was also Christ's final act of obedience.

     You are at your very greatest when you glorify God. Glorify Him for His goodness, His grace, His majesty and His love. Honor Him for His constant presence and His help. Love Him for His gentleness and grace, and thank Him for His abundant provision. There is absolutely nothing better that you can do than glorify God!

Holy Father God, help me to glorify You at all times. Amen. 

Jesus Calling 1-31-17

I AM YOUR STRENGTH AND SHIELD. I plan out each day and have it ready for you long  before you arise from bed. I also provide the strength you need each step of the way. Instead of assessing your energy level and wondering about what's on the road ahead, concentrate on staying in touch with Me. My Power flows freely into you through our open communication. Refuse to waste energy worrying, and you will have strength to spare.

 Whenever you start to feel afraid, remember that I am your Shield. But unlike inanimate armor, I am always alert and active. My Presence watches over you continually, protecting you from both known and unknown dangers. Entrust yourself to My watchcare, which is the best security system available. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go.

PSALM 28:7; MATTHEW 6:34; PSALM 56:3-4; GENESIS 28:15

 

You learn so much from mistakes. So why are you afraid to make one?

Ecclesiastes 12:13

The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

Learning to Walk by Falling

When our youngest was learning how to walk, she was very persistent. She would fall time and again, yet she’d get back up and start trying to walk all over again. How did she learn how to walk? It was by falling so often. She learned from her mistakes, and that learning allowed her to eventually know how to walk. Proverbs 24:16 says that even if “the righteous fall seven times, they rise again,” and by falling so much, we learn how to stay on our feet better. I have learned more from my mistakes than almost anything else in my life. Experience is the best teacher, and, yes, it’s a hard lesson at times, but those are the ones we don’t easily forget. Since we learn from our mistakes, why are we still so afraid to make them? Everything that happens to us always works out for our best anyway (Romans 8:28).

Learning to Run by Walking

No one learns how to run before they can walk, and no one learns how to walk before they can crawl even though I’ve heard there are a few exceptions to this. When babies start to crawl, they are apparently learning how to coordinate their arms and legs and have them in sync with one another. This helps prepare them for their first attempts at walking. Track stars don’t just jump out of the crib. They must first learn to crawl and then walk, and only then can they ever hope to run. Imagine if a child was afraid of making mistakes when they were learning how to walk. If their fear of making mistakes was greater than their desire to walk, then nobody would be walking today. I am not denying that they have fear and that it’s not legitimate, but we learn so much from our mistakes. So why are we afraid of making them? The bottom line is to obey God and then leave all the consequences up to Him (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

Learning to Soar by Running

There is an urban legend that says eaglets in an eagle’s nest have their mother push them out of the nest when they‘re nearly ready to fly, and then she takes them back up by her magnificent wings. According to Jessica Griffiths, coordinator of the Big Sur Ornithology Lab, ornithologists have observed eagles coaxing, even taunting their young from the nest rather than just giving them a shove. When the fledgling eagle is almost ready to fly, parents have been observed to swoop by the nest with a fresh kill. Instead of landing in the nest as usual to share the meal, the parent lands near the nest and eats in plain view of it’s squawking, hungry teenager. This behavior continues until the fledgling is hungry enough to venture out of the nest, at which point the parent will share. My point is that the parent has an all-important role in encouraging, not pushing, their children to be willing to make mistakes and not be afraid of making them because that’s exactly how they learn.

A Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, I too am sometimes afraid to make mistakes, but I know I lose a valuable learning opportunity by avoiding doing anything at all for fear of making a mistake. Please help me to be willing to make mistakes so that I can learn from them, not intentionally seeking to make mistakes but to not be afraid of them when I make them.  In Jesus’ name I pray.

Amen

Being Afraid of Being Afraid {Read John 12:20-36}

Fear knocked at the door. Faith answered and no one was there.

~ Anonymous ~

"Now My soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray. 'Father, save Me from this hour'?" (John 12:27).

     Most of us are overcome with fear at some time or another. Some people's fear gets completely out of hand in certain situations. There is a long list of phobias, the technical name for ordinary fear, like agoraphobia (a fear of crowds) and claustrophobia ( a fear of confined spaces).

     Jesus was aware that He was facing death and He had to deal with the natural human fear of death. He didn't try to put on a brave face and pretend that He was not afraid. He was a real human being and no other occasion demonstrates His human dignity more than this one. Part of Him feared the cross, but He faced that fear, wrestled with the dilemma of going through with it or not, and then surrendered Himself obediently and courageously to His Father's will.

     Don't be afraid of fear. The fact that Jesus knew what it was to be afraid shows that it is not a disgrace to feel afraid sometimes. Face up to your fear bravely and see it for what it really is. Then quietly and humbly ask God for extra courage. Ask Him to go through this fear with you, to hold you and let His strength work through you.

     Think about how Jesus walked to the cross, quietly and bravely. Surrender yourself unconditionally to God, put yourself in His mighty care and trust Him completely. He will carry you through this.

Lord Jesus, help me to face up to fear and overcome it in Your name. Amen. 

Love of Life and Love for God {Read John 12:20-36}

No one ever lost out by excessive devotion to Christ. 

~ H. A. Ironside ~

"Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity (John 12:25).

     Sometimes it is said of a deceased person, "He/she lived life to the full." This simply means that they had lots of energy and did many things. We also say, "He/she loved life," which means that they had many sources of joy and pleasure.

     Jesus said that the road to true life, eternal life, is to let go of everything and hand it over to God. By that He meant that if you give yourself over in a selfish way to your personal health, riches and enjoyment, you will actually lose the life you seek. You end up absorbed in yourself, while your love for others steadily diminishes, distancing you from God. But if you give your life to God, you will get to know a new dimension, both here and in eternity.

     William Barclay tells the story of the life of Cosmo Lang. He had a strong personality with an overpowering ambition for worldly success. A friend, who was a devout Christian, convinced him to give his life to Christ and he became an Anglican minister. While he was studying, he went to the prayer chapel of the college one day to pray. While he was there, he heard an unmistakable voice saying, "You are needed." He finally rejected all his earthly ambitions in obedience to God. He later became the Archbishop of Canterbury.

     God also needs you, whether you hear a voice or not. He wants you to give up all your selfish desires in obedience to Him and live for Him.

My spirit, my soul, and my body I dedicate to You, O Lord. I offer myself as sacrifice to You forever. Amen. 

Through Thick and Thin {Read John 12:20-36}

There is no other method of living piously and 

justly, than that of depending upon God. 

~ John Calvin ~

"My servants must be where I am" (John 12:26).

     People who have battled through tough times together develop a special bond of friendship, like soldiers who fight side by side in a war, or miners who survive a mining disaster.

     During His three-year ministry Jesus and His disciples experienced many things: they witnessed miracles; stood firm through opposition and scorn; wrestled to get to know the truth of God; survived a storm on the Sea of Galilee, and started a movement that would have a tremendous influence on humankind. His suffering and consequent resurrection bound them to Him more than anything else. When the Holy Spirit came, they understood these things better.

     To this day, people live and die for Him. A female physician once told Bryan Green, the Anglican evangelist, of a painful experience she had. She accidentally cut and poisoned her finger during surgery, which led to intense pain and suffering. On more than one occasion it seemed that her life was in danger, but eventually she recovered. She said, "I would trade this experience of pain and suffering for nothing else, because during it the presence of Christ was more real to me than ever before."

     Whatever your trial or suffering, find Christ in it and journey with Him. Beyond the problem, anxiety and exhaustion, you will find that Christ surrendered Himself for you and that He will never let you down. Whether you sense His presence or not doesn't matter - He is holding you tight! Don't ever forget this.

Lord Jesus,let me always walk with You and trust You under all circumstances. Amen.

       

Followers of Jesus {Read John 12:20-36}

The strength and happiness of a man consists in finding out the way in which God is going, and going that way too. 

~ Henry Ward Beecher ~

"Anyone who wants to be My disciple must follow Me" (John 12:26.

     When we were young, our parents warned us about keeping bad company. It seemed that "bad company" was found all over and was ready and waiting to pounce on unwary and innocent young people. The company you keep will affect you and eventually cast you in a certain mold.

     On the night before the crucifixion, Jesus made it very clear to His disciples: To be Jesus' follower was not a walk in the park. Following Him was not a career leading to riches, fame, and power. It meant going where He went; serving as He served. It meant being ready to die at any moment. Some of those listening to Him did die for Him. For most of His disciples, it meant lifelong service to others; to help them and to care for them - to glorify Christ. Following Jesus means obediently accepting any path He shows you. For many it meant an untimely death. For others, a long and tiring period of hard work. For many it might mean performing your daily tasks with humility, selfless loyalty and love.

     For every Christian disciple, being a "follower of Jesus" means battling side by side with Him through toil and hardship; suffering and sacrifice; drudgery and effort. At times it will be exciting, but more often than not it will be a matter of patiently tolerating repetitiveness, but it will be done in love and with Jesus Christ. Discipleship has its own rewards and the greatest of these is simply being a Christ follower.

My greatest joy in life, Lord Jesus, is being Your humble disciple. Amen.  

Jesus Calling 1-30-17

WORSHIP ME ONLY. Whatever occupies your mind the most becomes your god. Worries, if indulged, develop into idols. Anxiety gains a life of its own, parasitically infesting your mind. Break free from this bondage by affirming your trust in Me and refreshing yourself in My Presence. What goes on in your mind is invisible, undetectable to other people. But I read your thoughts continually, searching for evidence of trust in Me. I rejoice when your mind turns toward Me. Guard your thoughts diligently; good thought-choices will keep you close to Me.

PSALM 112:7; 1 CORINTHIANS 13:11

Is your life so comfortable on Earth that if I returned today you might ask if I could come back later?

1 John 2:17

And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

What Is Passing Away

A few years ago I heard a man who claimed to be a believer almost loathe the idea that Christ could come at any moment. It was because he had just retired and wanted to enjoy his retirement for a time. That really puzzled me. What would be better: heaven or retirement on Earth? I think it’s no contest. Heaven must be off the charts compared to this world. Solomon pursued everything his eyes lusted after and kept nothing back (Ecclesiastes 2:10), and he had the wealth to have anything he wanted–all, that is, except joy. Those who are engrossed in the things of the world may not realize it, but this world is passing away (1 Corinthians 7:31), and someday this will all burn up (1 Peter 3:10-12). Are we so comfortable with our life that, if given a choice, we might want Christ to delay His coming?

Getting Attached to the World

I do a lot of writing on the Internet, but I don’t always make the best use of my time. Surfing the Internet is okay, but there’s always the riptide. It can be a dangerous place for the eyes. When Paul wrote 1 Corinthians, he talked like we should live as if time is short and the Lord’s return could be soon (1 Corinthians 7:29-30). If Paul thought it was soon, what about our day? We’re 2,000 years closer to Christ’s coming than Paul was. But think about this: Everyone has an appointment with death and after that the judgment (Hebrews 9:27). The judgment is not for the believers’ sins but for those who refused to repent and trust in Christ. They will face Christ at the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:12-15), but we will still have to give an account for how we lived in this life (Romans 14:12, 1 Corinthians 5:10).

Shame at His Coming

The Apostle John once wrote that we should remain in fellowship with Christ so that on the day of His return, we can face Him courageously and not shrink back in shame (1 John 2:28). John would never have written that if he wasn’t concerned it could happen. Jesus said that He’s going to come when nobody’s expecting Him, which is why He said we must always be ready (Matthew 24:44). We don’t know the day or the hour, so we must keep watch (Matthew 24:42) because it’ll be as swift as when the lightning becomes visible in the east and appears in the west. The question of this devotional is something I must ask myself, too. Is my life so comfortable on Earth that if Jesus returned today I might ask if He could come back later?

A Closing Prayer

Father, I know I get attached to the things of this world, but only Your kingdom is eternal. Help me to live in eager expectation of Your swift and sure arrival, which could be at any moment. In the name of this coming King of kings and Lord of lords I pray.

Amen

What if you were the only Christian someone knew? Would your actions make them want to know more about Jesus?

1 Kings 19:10

He said, ‘I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.’

Are You the Only Believer in Your Family?

Have you ever felt alone in your faith? Are you perhaps the only one in your family who is a Christian? Maybe you’re married to an unbeliever. These are very hard places to be, but you’re not alone in this. Elijah once felt as if he were the only prophet left in all of Israel (1 Kings 19:10) and that He was the last true believer against all the other false prophets (1 Kings 18:22), but he really wasn’t. He felt forsaken and that he was the last one left who worshiped God, believing he was the only one left in all of Israel (I Kings 19:14). Yet God told Elijah there were still 7,000 left who hadn’t bowed the knee to Baal (1 Kings 19:18). Maybe you are the only one in your family who’s a believer, but you’re truly not alone. Maybe your life will draw them to Christ. Maybe that’s exactly why God has placed you there.

Are You the Only Believer at Work?

If you are the only believer at your workplace, you might be the only light they will ever see that can shine in the darkness amidst all those lost souls. We are commanded to be a beacon of light and of hope and to let our light shine before others so that they can see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven. These works don’t save you, of course, but they might attract others to the light that is found in Christ, as He is the light of the world (John 1:4-5, 7-9). If they see His light in you, they might want a closer look at this Christ Whom you worship. Maybe they’ll see your honorable behavior (1 Peter 2:12). Maybe that’s exactly why God’s placed you where you are: to point people to Christ and to see their need for the Savior.

Are You the Only Believer in Your Neighborhood?

Maybe you’re alone in your neighborhood as far as being a Christ-follower is concerned. If so, God wants to use you to go into all the world to make disciples for Christ. And because we’re commanded to go into all the world (Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1:8), we can’t forget about right next door. Paul knew what this was like as the apostle to the Gentiles, and he wrote to the Corinthians that he wanted to do what was right, not only before the eyes of the Lord but in the eyes of man (2 Corinthians 8:21). If you live a life that’s above reproach, they won’t have anything bad to say about you unless they lie about it (Titus 2:8). So let me ask you again and ask myself the same questions. What if we were the only Christian someone knew? Would our actions make them want to know more about Jesus? That is my prayer for us.

A Closing Prayer

Father, please help me to know that people are watching and seeing what is the hope that is found within me. I need Your Spirit so that I can live a life that’s transformed and draw men, women, and children to Christ so that they might be saved. In the Savior’s holy name I pray.

Amen

Are you comparing your life to others? Don’t you know God loves you equally and wants great things for you as well?

2 Corinthians 10:12

Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.

Compared to Whom?

If we are comparing ourselves to others, which I have surely done, we quickly find out that we often fall short. But the thing is, the God that I worship is the same God that my brothers and sisters in Christ worship. Why wouldn’t He want to do great things for you and me as well as for them? In our fallen human nature, it is so easy to be jealous of the success of others, but we only see the success and not the many failures or heartaches and all the hard work that likely preceded their success. No great success comes without great suffering. Besides, the Bible commands us to rejoice with those who rejoice and to weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15). We can’t pick and choose what we’ll do in the things that our brothers and sisters in Christ go through because there’s a time to weep and mourn and a time to laugh and rejoice (Ecclesiastes 3:4). Job wept with those who mourned, and his soul grieved with those who were poor (Job 30:25). We must be glad for their successes and their victories but also their defeats and heartaches.

Not a Fair Comparison

It’s really not a fair comparison to compare ourselves with one another. Besides, it’s an unwise thing to do (2 Corinthians 10:12). God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34, Romans 2:11), so neither should we. Think about this: God loves them just as much as He loves you. He doesn’t love them any more than you, nor does He love them any less than you. We all need to realize that God loves us all equally. He might not like what we do equally, but as far as His love is concerned, it is truly unconditional. You can’t do anything that would make Him love you less, nor could you do anything that would make Him love you more. He might love or might not like what we do, but His love remains the same–it is constant, even when we aren’t.

Let God Be God

Like ancient Israel, it is so easy to grumble in the estate of life that we lead. Many others have more possessions and wealth than we do. Some have greater jobs and homes. Some have bigger families and more children. Some have a believing spouse while we might not. All you can do is thank God for whatever you have right now. By the way, the opposite is always true. There are always some who are much less blessed than we are. Just be thankful for what God has already given you. There is no greater gift than to have eternal life, right? Everything else on this earth will burn up (2 Peter 3:10-12), but all those things we do for Christ will remain. So if you’re tempted to compare your life to others, just remember that the same God they worship is the same God that you and I do. He loves them equally. What prevents Him from doing great things for you, too? The answer, of course, is nothing.

A Closing Prayer

Father, please help me to have an attitude of gratitude, to be thankful for what I have been given and for what others have been blessed with, and to know that Your love is the same for all of Your children. For that I am thankful and pray in the King’s name, Jesus Christ.

Amen

Do you struggle to give more because you feel someone else does not deserve it? What if I did the same thing when I was on Earth?

Romans 5:8

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

God’s Grace

Grace has been described as something God gives to us that we don’t deserve and certainly could never earn by even our best works (Ephesians 2:8-9). It is a totally free gift that is unmerited and unearned. The only thing we brought to the cross were our sins. Yet God loved us while we were still His enemies (Romans 5:10). Nothing we did and nothing we could ever do would earn God’s forgiveness. How could anyone put a price on the blood that Jesus shed on the cross and for the suffering that He endured during His crucifixion? It is beyond human comprehension to even fathom how great a price this was. Why then do we struggle with giving or being generous to others, who like us don’t deserve it. What if Jesus reacted that way before going to Calvary?

No More Condemnation

How do you react when you hear someone got off from a crime that you know they committed but had to be released because of a technicality in the law? If you’re like me, it makes you really mad. Well, we received the forgiveness of our sins when we didn’t deserve it either. I know it’s not the same thing, but we were pardoned when we deserved God’s judgment, and we didn’t get off on a technicality either because God knew our hearts and we had no good excuse and no good cause to be forgiven, except for God’s mercy. Mercy has been described as something where we don’t get what we really deserve: God’s punishment. Jesus took the punishment we deserved when He deserved none of it. If we have trusted in Him, there is no more condemnation for us (Romans 8:1). So why do we struggle to give more because we feel someone else does not deserve it? I am glad Jesus didn’t feel that way.

Forgiving as Forgiven

We are told to forgive others just as we have been forgiven (Ephesians 4:32). Since the Lord has forgiven us, we are obligated to forgive others and to bear with one another and live with a forgiving attitude (Colossians 3:13). Jesus said that if we will forgive others who sin against us, God will forgive us because we’ve sinned against Him (Matthew 6:14). It is a glorious thing to overlook the offenses of others (Proverbs 19:11). We have been forgiven so much more than we could ever forgive others in a million lifetimes. So my question to you and me is this: Do we struggle to give more because we feel someone else does not deserve it? Now think about this: What if Jesus had done the same thing when He was here on Earth?

A Closing Prayer

Father in heaven, forgive me for the times I’ve not been forgiving of others. There is no way I should not be willing to forgive others so much less for all the greater sins that I have committed against You, a Holy God. In Jesus’ precious name, I pray for Your forgiveness.

Amen

The International Faith {Read John 12:20-30}

The gospel of Jesus Christ can make bad men good and good men better, can alter human nature, can change human lives.

~ David O. McKay ~

Some Greeks had come to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration (John 12:20).

     We associate certain traits with certain nationalities. Exquisite cuisine belongs to the French; engineering to the Germans; watches to the Swiss and business to the Israelites.

     We also associate religion with the Israelites. The Jewish faith traveled far and people of various nationalities found firm ground on which to build their faith in the Ten Commandments. For a long time the Greeks were the leading nation in the ancient world. The Greek army conquered and occupied large parts of the world, their philosophy was among the very best and their architecture breathtaking. Some Greeks took up the faith of Israel and came to celebrate the Passover in Jerusalem. Little did they think that they would experience the birth of a new faith - a faith that would spread across all of Greece. God would not be limited to Israel. All over the world people would meet Him, not by means of the Law and the Commandments of Israel, but through the Prophet of Nazareth, Jesus the Christ.

     Christianity burst its banks, like a river in flood. When the Holy Spirit and the persecution from Rome drove the apostles far and wide, the news of Jesus Christ spread rapidly. The same would happen in Asia Minor, in Syria, North Africa and even in Italy. Tradition has it that Thomas took the gospel to India. Wherever you might go and whatever you do, be sure to pass on the message of Jesus' love.

Holy Father, through the Holy Spirit, make me a faithful witness of the gospel. Amen.

 

Jesus Calling 1-29-17

KEEP YOUR FOCUS ON ME. I have gifted you with amazing freedom, including the ability to choose the focal point of your mind. Only the crown of My creation has such remarkable capability; this is a sign of being made in My image.

Let the goal of this day be to bring every thought captive to Me. Whenever your mind wanders, lasso those thoughts and bring them into My Presence. In My radiant Light, anxious thoughts shrink and shrivel away. Judgmental thoughts are unmasked as you bask in My unconditional Love. Confused ideas are untangled while you rest in the simplicity of My Peace. I will guard you and keep you in constant Peace, as you focus your mind on Me.

PSALM 8:5; GENESIS 1:26-27; 2 CORINTHIANS 10:5; ISAIAH 26:3 AMP

So Many Blessings

I may not have everything that I want in my life, but I have everything that I need. There are days that I get so sad and depressed when I look around and see what "I don't have." I want a big beautiful house, a new car, a killer wardrobe, I want to travel across the world, and live a life of leisure. But instead, I wake up Monday-Saturday at 5AM to get ready for work. I work 8 hours and then I have to come home and cook, clean, do laundry, take care of my grandson, take care of the dogs... It feels like I'm a maid sometimes instead of a person. I'm always tired and it's not easy dealing with constant set backs. I get so depressed that I question the existence of God. I have to admit that Satan gets a hold of me sometimes and he really works me.
     But I know that He is there. He is ALWAYS there. I am alive. I have clothes on my back. I have food in my belly. I have a roof over my head. I have a car to drive. I have a job to drive to. I have a healthy grandson. I am walking, talking, and breathing. I have no reason to complain about anything. There are so many blessings that we take for granted everyday. The biggest one is being alive. When I start to get that demon of sadness and depression on me, I just pray and say, "God has blessed me with another day of life. I am here another day because He loves me and He is showing me favor." 
     There are so many blessings in this world that He gives us everyday. I am learning to look at life by looking at how much I have instead of what I don't. Satan will try to get in your mind and make you look at things in a doubtful way. He knows that we are blessed, but if you have any doubts or weaknesses, he will take those thoughts and run with them. He will play on them and magnify them until your faith is shaken. It has happened to me more times than I can count. 
     We need to be strong and keep our faith strong. Read the Bible everyday. Pray everyday for strength. Ask God to keep your mind, body, and soul. Satan is out here roaming around like a wolf waiting for his next victim. Don't let it be you. 

Jesus Calling 1-28-17

I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS. These were the last words I spoke before ascending into heaven. I continue to proclaim this promise to all who will listen. People respond to My continual Presence in various ways. Most Christians accept this teaching as truth but ignore it in their daily living. Some ill-taught or wounded believers fear (and may even resent) My awareness of all they do, say, and think. A few people center their lives around this glorious promise and find themselves blessed beyond all expectations.

When My Presence is the focal point of your consciousness, all the pieces of your life fall into place. As you gaze at Me through the eyes of your heart, you can see the world around you from My perspective. The fact that I am with you makes every moment of your life meaningful.

MATTHEW 28:20; PSALM 139:1-4

Jesus Calling 1-27-17

TRUST IS A GOLDEN PATHWAY TO HEAVEN. When you walk on this path, you live above your circumstances. My glorious Light shines more brightly on those who follow this path of Life. Dare to walk on the high road with Me, for it is the most direct route to heaven. The low road is circuitous: twisting and turning in agonizing knots. There the air hangs heavy--and dark, ominous clouds predominate. Relying on your own understanding will weigh you down.  Trust in Me absolutely, and I will make your path straight.

JOHN 14:1-2; PROVERBS 3:5-6

Good Night Prayer

Lord

You bless us as we rest
Restore us as we sleep
You care for us as we drift off
And make our dreaming sweet

You are the safest place
You are the God of Grace
Forgiven, loved and held by you
Is each small seed of faith

You know our thoughts and feelings
You see our deep desires
You understand our weariness
And catch each tear we cry

You walk beside us every day
You are a constant friend
You stay with us all through the night
On you we can depend

Jesus Calling 1-26-17

GIVE UP THE ILLUSION that you deserve a problem-free life. Part of you is still hungering for the resolution of all difficulties. This is a false hope! As I told My disciples, in the world you will have trouble. Link your hope not to problem solving in this life but to the promise of an eternity of problem-free life in heaven. Instead of seeking perfection in this fallen world, pour your energy into seeking Me: the Perfect One.

It is possible to enjoy Me and glorify Me in the midst of adverse circumstances. In fact, My Light shines most brightly through believers who trust Me in the dark. That kind of trust is supernatural: a production of My indwelling Spirit. When things seem all wrong, trust Me anyway. I am much less interested in right circumstances than in right responses to whatever comes your way.

JOHN 16:33; PSALM 112:4, 7

Working Things Out {Read John 12:12-19}

Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you may not understand at the time. 

~ Oswald Chambers ~

His disciples didn't understand at the time that this was a fulfillment of prophecy. But after Jesus entered into His glory, they remembered what had happened and realized that these things had been written about Him (John 12:6).

     It often happens that after we have listened to an expert discussing a series of events that took place that we say, "So this is what it was all about. I always wondered." We don't always understand everything when it happens, but later on we do.

     Jesus' disciples didn't understand much of what He did or said. They found it difficult to grasp who He really was. He died, rose from the dead, ascended to heaven and sent them the Holy Spirit.

     One way in which the Holy Spirit works is to explain the truth about Jesus Christ to us. He was still helping Jesus' disciples to work everything out long after Jesus had already left them.

     Don't worry if you don't understand everything about God and Jesus at the moment. Accept that the Holy Spirit will explain it all to you one day, and then you will understand the truth. You build up your knowledge of Christ step by step, just like the first disciples. Just keep on reading your Bible regularly - focus on the New Testament. Learn everything you can and trust in the Holy Spirit to lead you to greater depths of understanding and insight. You must accept that God will keep some truths from you until you see Him face to face one day. On earth you must walk in faith and not by sight.

I praise and thank You, Father God, that You will interpret everything for me and explain everything in Your own time. Amen.  

Do you remember the last time you were inspired at church? Did it change the way you live?

Romans 10:17

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Inspired by Inspiration

When I say we should be inspired by inspiration, I mean that we should be inspired by the Word of God, which is inspired by the Spirit of God (2 Timothy 3:16). Faith comes by the hearing of the Word of Christ, and since we know that Jesus is the Word (John 1:1, 14), the inspiration comes from the hearing of the Bible. When the Bible takes second or third place at services, you can almost guarantee that no one’s going to be inspired at church. If you’re not hearing the inspired Word of God at church, you’re probably not going to be inspired. And if you’re not being inspired by the Word of God at church, it’s likely not going to change the way you live.

Is Church Changing You?

If church is not changing you, then maybe you should be changing your church (but don’t do it yet–read the last paragraph to see why I say that). I understand that true, lasting change comes by the Spirit of God, but a church that is not centrally focused on the true passion of Christ (Isaiah 53:5) is not really focused on Christ. The reason Jesus came to earth was to redeem sinners who are unworthy and to purchase for Himself, by His own blood, a people of God to be called the children of God. At a recent Resurrection Sunday service, we had a segment of the song “Blessed Redeemer” interwoven with parts of the movie “The Passion of the Christ,” and people wept. They left church much differently than when they came in. That’s what church should do. When the Word of God gets into the people of God, the change by God makes the children of God live differently.

You as the Agent of Change

A lot of people might not like their church and things about it. So how about this: Change it yourself! You can be an agent of change in your church by giving people encouragement, thanking them for what they do, inviting them out for lunch after church, joining an evangelism team, starting a ministry, or whatever else you can think of. We need one another, and no part of the body of Christ is dishonorable. We need one another. If you are not inspired by your church, be part of the solution instead of doing nothing about it. Your being there might be why God has placed you there. God has “arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose” (1 Corinthians 12:18); that includes you, of course. If you can inspire others, you can make the church more inspiring, and if the church is more inspiring, it can change the way people live.

A Closing Prayer

God, my Father, please help me to be an agent of positive change and inspiration for others. Use me by Your Spirit to elevate others and glorify God. Thank You for Your church and for Your Son, in whose awesome name I pray.

Amen

What if you treated everyone as if they were me?

Luke 19:5-6

And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully.

Entertaining Angels?

The Bible says that we should be careful how we treat strangers because we might be entertaining angels without even knowing it (Hebrews 13:2). Jesus said that if we make strangers feel welcome (Matthew 25:38), it’s the same as doing it to Him (Matthew 25:40). Would you treat someone differently if you were treating them like Jesus? Surely the answer to this would be yes! We are all made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27). In fact, God repeats the phrase “in the image” three times in Genesis 1, so we should treat everyone with the same respect that they too were made in the image of God. It shouldn’t matter if they’re a believer or not.

Receiving Jesus With Joy

When the tax collector Zacchaeus received Jesus into his home, he “received him joyfully.” I like that phrase. The Greek word used for “joyfully” is “chairō,” which means “to rejoice exceedingly” and “to be glad.” That should be how we welcome others into our homes or treat others. If we never welcome anyone or invite guests into our home, are we not being very welcoming to Jesus either? Zacchaeus was so overjoyed at having Jesus in his home that he said he’d give half of his goods to the poor and restore to anyone he’d defrauded four times the amount (Luke 19:8), which was twice the amount the Old Testament law required. At this, Jesus proclaimed that “salvation has come to this house” (Luke 19:9), giving Zacchaeus even more joy.

Given to Hospitality

Peter commanded the church to offer hospitality to one another but to do it without grumbling (1 Peter 4:9). Paul tells us to practice hospitality and to share with the Lord’s people, particularly those who are in need (Romans 12:13). If we share our food with the poor and provide the wanderer with shelter (Isaiah 58:7), we are doing it for Jesus, too (Matthew 25:40). Think about this: What if we treated everyone as if they were Jesus? If they are a child of God, then they are someone who Jesus purchased with His own blood (Acts 20:28).

A Closing Prayer

Righteous God in heaven, You have been so generous to me. How can I not treat others in the same way that I would treat Your Great Son, Jesus Christ? Forgive me for not showing more hospitality to others, even if I don’t know them well or know them at all, and in Jesus’ precious name I pray.

Amen

Jesus Calling 1-25-17

LET MY LOVE ENFOLD YOU in the radiance of My Glory. Sit still in the Light of My Presence, and receive My Peace. These quiet moments with Me transcend time, accomplishing far more than you can imagine. Bring Me the sacrifice of your time, and watch to see how abundantly I bless you and your loved ones.

Through the intimacy of our relationship, you are being transformed from the inside out. As you keep your focus on Me, I form you into the one I desire you to be. Your part is to yield to My creative work in you, neither resisting it nor trying to speed it up. Enjoy the tempo of a God-breathed life by letting Me set the pace. Hold My hand in childlike trust, and the way before you will open up step by step.

HEBREWS 13:15; 2 CORINTHIANS 3:18; PSALM 73:23-24

The World Belongs to the Lord! {Read John 12:12-19}

Anything that one imagines of God apart from Christ is only useless thinking and vain idolatry.

~ Martin Luther ~

Then the Pharisees said to each other, "There's nothing we can do. Look, everyone has gone after Him!" (John 12:19).

     Insight into human nature and the irony of history are the essential ingredients of a good story. We see it in movies, novels and plays. The Pharisees feared that if the great number of people who were ready to crown Jesus as King, succeeded in doing so, the priests would lose their authority and power, because the Romans would react with strict laws. They simply couldn't understand that this was the last thing on Jesus' mind. But the crowds that welcomed Him were just as wrong.

     He had not come to be their type of king either. John said, "He came to His own people, and even they rejected Him" (John 1:11). Even though the multitudes honored Him on Palm Sunday, they had still not put their trust in Him as Lord and Savior. And the Pharisees believed that the whole world (that He had come to save) was starting to follow Him.

     The world belongs to Him - there is no doubt about that! It is His because He died on the cross to bring about salvation. It is so because He refused to become the political figure created by the wishful thinking of the crowds. It is so because He reigns in glory at the right hand of the Father. The Word of truth is spreading slowly but surely all over the world. The seed that He sowed in the hearts and lives of people grows across the entire world.

     Pray faithfully that His cause will prosper and that more people will acknowledge Him and crown Him as their King.

 We acknowledge You, Lord Jesus, as King in the hearts of people all over the world. Amen. 

Jesus Calling 1-24-17

MY PEACE is the treasure of treasures: the pearl of great price. It is an exquisitely costly gift, both for the Giver and the receiver. I purchased this peace for you with My blood. You receive this gift by trusting Me in the midst of life's storms. If you have the world's peace--everything going your way--you don't seek My unfathomable Peace. Thank Me when things do not go your way, because spiritual blessings come wrapped in trials. Adverse circumstances are normal in a fallen world. Expect them each day. Rejoice in the face of hardship, for I have overcome the world.

MATTHEW 13:46 NKJV; JAMES 1:2; JOHN 16:33

What risk is God asking you to take? Is it really a risk if God is asking you to do it?

Matthew 14:29

He said, ‘Come.’ So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.

Great Rewards for Great Risks

No great rewards come unless one is willing to take great risks. Just ask those who have made tremendous discoveries, investments, or feats. They knew the risks but took them anyway. Those who were the first to land on the moon nearly died because they had only a few seconds of fuel left before they landed, and there were very serious problems on the return trip home, and all on board could have possibly died. But by them taking such a titanic risk, they had accomplished a feat that no one had ever done in all of human history. They were the first men to land, not only on the moon but on any celestial body outside the Earth. Their great risk became their great reward. This event has been recorded as one of the greatest feats of mankind, and their names will forever be in the history books.

The First Step’s the Hardest

When Peter took that first step toward Christ, he did something completely supernatural that defied the laws of nature. Peter said something very important. He said, “Lord command me to come to you on the water” (Matthew 14:28), and Jesus gave His permission by saying, “Come” (Matthew 14:29a). Peter took a great risk, a risk of being drowned and plunging to the bottom of the sea. I think we might take this account for granted since we’ve possibly read it so many times, but just think about that! Peter took the first step onto something that’s not solid at all. He also requested Jesus’ permission to do it, and Jesus said, “Come.” Those are two keys for taking a great risk for God: praying for God’s supernatural help and taking the very first step. Jesus couldn’t take the first step for Peter, and neither can He do that for us. But remember this: Jesus as Creator reigns supreme over His creation and can do whatsoever He pleases, no matter what the physical circumstances look like. Just ask Peter someday.

No Risk With God

God gives us His Word that everything that happens to us will always work out for our very best (Romans 8:28). This means that every failure can be used for our good and that every risk we take for God’s glory will result in our benefit. So when God is asking you to take a risk, is it really a risk if God is asking you to do it? Jesus commanded the disciples to go into all the world to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20), which seemed to be a gigantic goal at the time and a very big risk. However, Jesus wouldn’t send them out on their own; He promised them that the Spirit’s power would go with them (Acts 1:8). If God’s on your side, who could ever be against you (Romans 8:31)?

A Closing Prayer

Father, You are so good to me. I need Your help in taking steps of faith that look risky to my human eyes. You would never take me where You would not enable me, and I know You wouldn’t ask me to do something that You wouldn’t make possible. For that, I thank You in the name of Your Great Son, Jesus Christ.

Amen

Greet the King {Read John 12:12-19}

Many are willing that Christ should be something, but few will consent that Christ should be everything. ~ Alexander M. Stuart ~

The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A large crowd of Passover visitors took palm branches and went down the road to meet Him (John 12:12-13

     When royalty is visiting a place, detailed plans are made for the royal visit. Everything is cleaned and tidied up, things that need to be repaired are attended to, and nowadays security is regarded as the number one priority.

     When the Israelites celebrated Passover, huge crowds gathered - some from faraway countries - and it became a gala event. They commemorated the Israelites' escape from Egypt centuries before. But rumors that the Man who raised Lazarus from the dead was also present spread like wildfire, and they also came to greet Him. They waved branches to indicate the royal status of the honored guest. Caught up in the emotion of the moment, they paid homage to Jesus with a greeting fit for a king. Little did they know that within a few days' time, He would be crowned with a crown of thorns. And no one could think that in centuries to come, millions would crown Him in many more coronations.

     Some people prefer to think of Jesus mainly as their Friend, their Savior or their Good Shepherd. Whatever your preferred image of Jesus might be, remember that He is also the King of kings, a person with royal status. The book of Revelation declares: "The whole world has now become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever" (Rev. 11:15).

Savior and Redeemer, I praise You as the King of my life. Amen. 

Jesus Calling 1-23-17

IT'S ALRIGHT TO BE HUMAN. When your mind wanders while you are praying, don't be surprised or upset. Simply return your attention to Me. Share a secret smile with Me, knowing that I understand. Rejoice in My Love for you, which has no limits or conditions. Whisper My Name in loving contentment, assured that I will never leave you or forsake you. Intersperse these peaceful interludes abundantly throughout your day. This practice will enable you to attain a quiet and gentle spirit, which is pleasing to Me.

As you live in close contact with Me, the Light of My Presence filters through you to bless others. Your weakness and woundedness are the openings through which the Light of the knowledge of My glory shines forth. My strength and power show themselves most effective in your weakness.

 

DEUTERONOMY 31:6; 1 PETER 3:4; 2 CORINTHIANS 4:6-7; 2 CORINTHIANS 12:9 AMP

Are you living a life that God wants for you?

Colossians 1:10

So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.

Striving for Holiness

There is no way that a Christian can ever be perfect, only forgiven perfectly by God through Christ’s perfect sacrifice. But this doesn’t excuse the believer from striving to live a life of holiness. Even though we have Jesus’ own righteousness attributed to us, which is how God sees us now (2 Corinthians 5:21), we cannot lie back and just coast into the kingdom. We are to grow in holiness, grace, and the knowledge of our Lord, Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). How can we do this since we all fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23)? How about trying to present your bodies as living sacrifices that are holy and acceptable to God because that’s our spiritual duty (Romans 12:1)? We do this by being transformed in our minds by God’s Spirit and not by not being conformed or pressured or shaped into the image of this world (Romans 12:2).

Being Filled With the Spirit

God has given us everything we need to live a godly life through the knowledge of Him Who called us (2 Peter 1:3). We are commanded to make every effort to add to our faith the goodness that can only come from His Spirit (2 Peter 1:5), but we must participate in striving for obedience. This is the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, that we are to be obedient in Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:2). This means we should be careful in how we walk in this life (Ephesians 5:15), know what God’s will is for our life (Ephesians 5:16), and be constantly filled by His Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). If we are led by God’s Spirit, we’ll not yield the members of our body to sinful activities.

Living Like a Child of God

God has called us to be kings and priests in His coming kingdom (Revelation 1:6). But some of us–and that includes me–don’t live as if we are.  If there is scandal in our life and we claim to be a Christian, we can bring shame to the cause of Christ. John MacArthur said that we might be the only Bible some people will ever read, and if people see that we’re no different from the rest the world, they will have no desire to become a Christian. In fact, just the opposite might occur because they’ll see the hypocrisy in living a life of duplicity. Are we living the life that God wants for us? If most of us are honest, we must answer not so much–or for some, no, not at all. As Paul wrote, “We are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us” (2 Corinthians 5:20). If we are not representing the kingdom like good ambassadors should, we cannot attract new citizens to the kingdom.

A Closing Prayer

Father, I know that I fail You so many times. Please convict me when I am sinning and to be the best witness or ambassador for Your kingdom as I possibly can by Your Spirit’s power, and in the King of that kingdom’s name I pray.

Amen

Do you stand for what you believe in, or are you pleasing others?

Galatians 1:10

For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Fearing God Over Man

The Bible says that the fear of man is a stumbling block and ends up as a snare to us (Proverbs 29:25). This is what kept many of the Jews in Jesus’ day from publicly professing belief in Him. A lot of people believed in Jesus, but they were afraid to say anything. They were more worried about the Pharisees finding out, and they feared getting kicked out of the synagogue (John 12:42). I wonder how often I haven’t spoken up to tell others about Jesus or have seen an injustice and kept my mouth shut for the fear of what others would think of me. Too many times to count, I’m sure. What about you? Do you ever have that problem? If so, we’re trying to please others over pleasing God.

Obeying God Over Man

The Great Commission is an imperative command given to the church, just as Christ gave to the disciples, to go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1:8). An imperative command is a direct order, and when it comes from our Lord, we have no way out of it. There is no “plan B” in proclaiming the Gospel. The Greek tense is like a command that a parent would give to their child to “get out of the street, right now!” So we can’t wiggle our way out of this command. Are we going to obey God or man? I was told by the pastor of another church that I’m wasting my time witnessing to people. I couldn’t believe it! One man in the city park told me that it’s a matter of the separation of church and state, so you can’t share your faith in the city park. Neither of these is true. The city had no such ordinance. Even if it did, would we choose to obey God’s command over man’s law? Peter and the apostles were told to stop teaching about Jesus, but Peter and the disciples knew that they had to obey God over what man said (Acts 5:29).

Pleasing God Over Man

Paul never sought to please people over God (Galatians 1:10a). You can tell he was not a people-pleaser because then he would’ve watered down the Gospel to please the Jews and get them off his back. Paul was more concerned with being a servant of Christ and pleasing Him because if he were simply trying to please men, then he said that he’d not be a true servant of Christ (Galatians 1:10b). Do we stand for what we believe in, or are we trying to please others and not make any waves? I must admit I’ve caved into the peer pressures of society far too often. I need to do better in this area. How about you?

A Closing Prayer

Father God, I am so sorry that all too often I’ve tried to please men and women over pleasing You. I must determine to stand for what I believe in regardless of what others think. So help me do just that, and in the mighty name of Jesus I pray.

Amen

What if this “failure” is part of the plan God has for your life?

Romans 8:28

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Looked Like Failure

After Jesus’ crucifixion and death, the disciples thought that all of their hopes and dreams had come crashing down. They had lost all hope because the Lord of Glory was put to death. What appeared to them as a gigantic failure was actually the most incredible victory ever. Jesus conquered the grave because the grave couldn’t hold Him. Since Jesus had defeated Satan at the cross, we can have victory over death itself (Romans 7:24). The very last enemy that stood between us and eternity and the Eternal God was destroyed through Jesus’ work at Calvary; it was the death of death (1 Corinthians 15:26). What looked like failure to men and women was the greatest victory ever.

God’s Plan for Us

Jeremiah is quoted so much that it might seem to be taken out of context since he wrote that God had plans for the captives of Israel to prosper and not to fail (Jeremiah 29:11). It didn’t look like it at the time. Israel had just been taken captive, and they were now living as exiles in Babylon. All hope appeared to be gone, so Jeremiah sent an actual letter to the captives of Israel and told them that God had a plan for them–it wasn’t a plan for failure but a plan for them to succeed. God used their captivity, which certainly must have appeared as a huge failure, to bring about their repentance. That perceived failure was part of God’s plan for their life to restore them to a right relationship with Him, and it worked!

Failure as Part of the Plan

I remember being in a state of unemployment many years ago. A federal regional office that I worked for was relocating to the next state, and it wasn’t possible for our family to relocate. I thought of this as a huge failure. What was I going to do now? It ended up being a blessing in disguise. I worked for the federal government as a regional manager for Head Start, and I was a true road warrior. Sometimes I was gone for a week or more at a time, and it was very hard on all of us. I missed my wife and children so much. My heart broke every time I had to leave, and every night when I called home, I cried. God saw this and came up with another plan for me: The office would be closed and moved to another state. What at first looked like a big failure ended up being the best thing that could have ever happened to us. What if a recent failure of yours is part of God’s plan for your life? We know for sure that all things will work out for our very best, no matter what they look like at the time (Romans 8:28).

A Closing Prayer

Oh Creator God, sometimes I can’t see the future plans You have for me because I’m blinded by the failure before me. Help me to trust You no matter what things look like, and in the name of the King of kings and Lord of lords, Jesus Christ, I pray.

Amen

The Gospel Speaks for Itself {Read John 12:1-11}

There are two things to do about the gospel - believe it and behave it. ~ Susanna Wesley ~

When all the people heard of Jesus' arrival, they flocked to see Him and also to see Lazarus, the man Jesus had raised from the dead (John 12:9).

     It is easy to be led astray by some aspects of Christianity. Some church groups are little less than social clubs. Some Christians are so involved in social and political activities that they forget the simplicity and truth of the gospel in the process. Some evangelists become so obsessed with money, that they forget the work of righteousness and truth implied in the gospel.

     The truth is that the gospel speaks for itself when it comes to God's actions (and this is what the entire gospel is about), because that is where people see Him at work. And it has a mightier effect than many sermons. God acted through Christ's miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead. The truth and power of the gospel lie in the fact that God does act, and that is the central fact of Christianity. It was clear to the crowds that flocked to Bethany that God was busy with something very special. 

     Where Jesus is honored and glorified, God does special things. He changes people. He heals them. He transforms communities.

     Search for the place where Jesus is at work. Focus on God and His deeds, those of both 2,000 years ago as well as today. Stay true to the things that are at the core: "He [Christ] is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So He is first in everything" (Col. 1:18).

Heavenly Father, let me always keep in mind the mighty deeds You did through Jesus Christ. Amen.