"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Rom 8:28
There are times when we all look to the heavens and cry "Why me Lord?" Whether medical malady, financial challenges, matters of the heart or just some perceived unfortunate happenstance, we wonder why bad things happen to good people...to us.
The reality is that both good and bad happen to both "good" and "bad". For some reason, we as Christians feel as though bad should not happen to us, particularly if we are doing the best we can to lead upright lives. Christ clearly told us to expect adversity, if nothing else, because of our Christianity. As long as we live on this earth, we will be subject to what we consider happenstance and perhaps more importantly, consequences for our actions (a topic for another devotional).
While we are thinking, have we ever take time to look back over our lives, particularly the difficult times and seen the good that has come of it? Did losing one job pave the way for a better one? Did being sick in the hospital allow you to share the gospel with someone that needed it? Did experiencing the lowest of lows teach you that God is all you need?
There is ample scriptural evidence to support that God is in control and that he knows what He is doing. Do we ever stop to think about why Jesus had to endure what he did even though he lived a perfect life? More importantly, when we look at our own lives, we can see that we should trust Him.
[Memory verse of the week: Prov 3:5-6]
In Revival,
Lee
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Friday, April 9, 2010
Your Personal Miracle-DD 4/9/2010
"Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee..." Jer 1:5
To my young daughter, the new mother:
My precious one, the parting of the Red Sea, a fish large enough to swallow Jonah, manna falling from heaven and Jesus walking on the waves and calling the dead forth from the grave are miracles to be sure. I know you struggle with such things. But the perfection which God has caused to be through the birth of your son is even more miraculous than His other feats.
Look at his perfect little hands. Look at his beautiful little eyes. Count every little hair on his little head and know that God put them there. Know that He knew the little one before you did and has entrusted him to your care. When you look at him, see God.
Though other miracles can be so far away, so difficult to grasp, so tough to believe, so challenging to your faith, He has given you your own personal miracle that you can see, hold and love. I know this because years ago, He gave me one too. He gave me you.
[Memory verse of the week: Phi 2:5-11]
In Revival,
Lee
To my young daughter, the new mother:
My precious one, the parting of the Red Sea, a fish large enough to swallow Jonah, manna falling from heaven and Jesus walking on the waves and calling the dead forth from the grave are miracles to be sure. I know you struggle with such things. But the perfection which God has caused to be through the birth of your son is even more miraculous than His other feats.
Look at his perfect little hands. Look at his beautiful little eyes. Count every little hair on his little head and know that God put them there. Know that He knew the little one before you did and has entrusted him to your care. When you look at him, see God.
Though other miracles can be so far away, so difficult to grasp, so tough to believe, so challenging to your faith, He has given you your own personal miracle that you can see, hold and love. I know this because years ago, He gave me one too. He gave me you.
[Memory verse of the week: Phi 2:5-11]
In Revival,
Lee
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Count Your Blessings-DD 4/8/10
"Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. " Matt 6:31-33
Anyone who even casually examines his or her life must acknowledge that they are blessed. Our Father is so benevolent, so kind, so long suffering, so gracious and so merciful, how could any deny it? How could anyone miss it?
In reality, we miss it all the time. We miss it because of God's over abundance, Eph 3:20-21. This gives us the very interesting trait of focusing on the things that are wrong, challenging, inconvenient, painful or wanting in our lives. It is as if we expect to lead lives where every whim is satisfied, and every desire is delivered. That is just not reality for anyone. The more we get the more we want and are thus never satisfied.
What is in fact reality is that all of us could lead lives that are far worse, regardless of our current circumstance. Fortunately we serve a God who not only knows our needs, but supplies them (and ever so many of our wants). Whom do you know that is without food, drink, clothing and shelter, even if it is supplied by others?
If we would take the time to count our blessings, we would see how vastly they outweigh the things we think are wanting. We serve a glorious Creator. How could we do anything less than seek His righteousness and His kingdom?
[Memory verse of the week: Phi 2:5-11]
In Revival,
Lee
Anyone who even casually examines his or her life must acknowledge that they are blessed. Our Father is so benevolent, so kind, so long suffering, so gracious and so merciful, how could any deny it? How could anyone miss it?
In reality, we miss it all the time. We miss it because of God's over abundance, Eph 3:20-21. This gives us the very interesting trait of focusing on the things that are wrong, challenging, inconvenient, painful or wanting in our lives. It is as if we expect to lead lives where every whim is satisfied, and every desire is delivered. That is just not reality for anyone. The more we get the more we want and are thus never satisfied.
What is in fact reality is that all of us could lead lives that are far worse, regardless of our current circumstance. Fortunately we serve a God who not only knows our needs, but supplies them (and ever so many of our wants). Whom do you know that is without food, drink, clothing and shelter, even if it is supplied by others?
If we would take the time to count our blessings, we would see how vastly they outweigh the things we think are wanting. We serve a glorious Creator. How could we do anything less than seek His righteousness and His kingdom?
[Memory verse of the week: Phi 2:5-11]
In Revival,
Lee
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
If Not Us, Who?-DD 4/7/10
"...contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints. For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ." Jude 3-4
It should be no secret to anyone that Christianity is under attack. In fact the tradition of attacking our beliefs and our Savior has existed since he walked the earth, John 15:18-19. We have been told numerous times in scripture to expect this.
Most of us lead comfortable lives that are free from what we consider persecution. We have come to enjoy and rely on God's blessings so much that we have become complacent as a body of believers.
Prayer has been taken away from our children in school and we did not prevent it. The concept of marriage being limited to a man and a woman as it is in scripture is being set on its ear, state by state, day by day and we hide behind political correctness. During a time of tragedy when a gospel preacher was killed by his wife, the church was vilified by Nancy Grace who referred to us as a cult. We grumbled but watched. There are even efforts to have "In God We Trust" taken off of the currency and "one nation under God" out of the Pledge of Allegiance though we are a nation built on a foundation of faith. If we are not careful, it will happen.
We must contend for the faith. We must stand up for what we believe in. Proof that the enemy is alive, well and active is all around us. We must remain vigilant. We must remain engaged. We must not allow ourselves to be pushed back into the catacombs where we would be forced to practice our beliefs in secret. We must protect the faith and advance the boundaries of the Kingdom.
If not us, who?
[Memory verse of the week: Phi 2:5-11]
In Revival,
Lee
It should be no secret to anyone that Christianity is under attack. In fact the tradition of attacking our beliefs and our Savior has existed since he walked the earth, John 15:18-19. We have been told numerous times in scripture to expect this.
Most of us lead comfortable lives that are free from what we consider persecution. We have come to enjoy and rely on God's blessings so much that we have become complacent as a body of believers.
Prayer has been taken away from our children in school and we did not prevent it. The concept of marriage being limited to a man and a woman as it is in scripture is being set on its ear, state by state, day by day and we hide behind political correctness. During a time of tragedy when a gospel preacher was killed by his wife, the church was vilified by Nancy Grace who referred to us as a cult. We grumbled but watched. There are even efforts to have "In God We Trust" taken off of the currency and "one nation under God" out of the Pledge of Allegiance though we are a nation built on a foundation of faith. If we are not careful, it will happen.
We must contend for the faith. We must stand up for what we believe in. Proof that the enemy is alive, well and active is all around us. We must remain vigilant. We must remain engaged. We must not allow ourselves to be pushed back into the catacombs where we would be forced to practice our beliefs in secret. We must protect the faith and advance the boundaries of the Kingdom.
If not us, who?
[Memory verse of the week: Phi 2:5-11]
In Revival,
Lee
Monday, April 5, 2010
Faith Works-DD 4/6/10
"Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come back, and tomorrow I will give it," when you have it with you." Prov 3:27-28
So often we tell our brothers and sisters in need that we will pray for them. We, in all of our faithful piety trust that God will work a miracle in their lives. We'll start prayer chains, mention them to the church secretary to put in the bulletin and share the request with all the faithful people that we know.
While prayer is a wonderful and necessary thing, there is nothing like action. We are called upon to put our faith to work. James captures this thought beautifully in 2:14-15 of his eponymous epistle: "Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."
Further, we may be completely magnanimous toward people we know or those who are members of our congregation, but what about he beggar on the street? What about the enclave of the homeless? What about those who are not friendly or loving toward us? What about our enemies? Matt 5:44-45 contains the very instructions of Jesus in these matters and reveals that God blesses all, regardless of station or status.
Beloved, when someone prays to God, it should be we, His earthen vessels, that show up, and that quickly.
[Memory verse of the week: Phi 2:5-11]
In Revival,
Lee
So often we tell our brothers and sisters in need that we will pray for them. We, in all of our faithful piety trust that God will work a miracle in their lives. We'll start prayer chains, mention them to the church secretary to put in the bulletin and share the request with all the faithful people that we know.
While prayer is a wonderful and necessary thing, there is nothing like action. We are called upon to put our faith to work. James captures this thought beautifully in 2:14-15 of his eponymous epistle: "Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."
Further, we may be completely magnanimous toward people we know or those who are members of our congregation, but what about he beggar on the street? What about the enclave of the homeless? What about those who are not friendly or loving toward us? What about our enemies? Matt 5:44-45 contains the very instructions of Jesus in these matters and reveals that God blesses all, regardless of station or status.
Beloved, when someone prays to God, it should be we, His earthen vessels, that show up, and that quickly.
[Memory verse of the week: Phi 2:5-11]
In Revival,
Lee
Pilate Lessons-DD 4/5/2010
Christians should always maintain a resurection mindset. Though there are a limitless number of biblical topics we can and should pursue, the fact that makes them all relevant is that he rose. Having just celebrated resurrection day, in worship we discussed lessons that can be gleaned from the activities of Christ's executioner, Pontius Pilate. These thoughts have been compiled and serve as today's Daily Devotion. I hope, trust and pray that we keep these and other biblical lessons uppermost in our hearts and Jesus' resurrection uppermost in our minds.
"When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it." Matt 27:24
1) If you want to be claimed, claim him.
"Therefore everyone who confesses me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.” Matt 10:32-33
2) There is no substitute for Jesus. Jesus substituted for you.
“… and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. “ 1 Pet 2:24
3) If advice is sound and wise, take it.
“Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called 'Today,' so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” Heb 3:12-13
4) You are washed by blood that can’t be washed. Stay clean.
“Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.” Rom 5:9
5) Always do the right thing.
“Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.” Jas 4:17
[Memory Verse(s) of the week: Phi 2:5-11]
In Revival,
Lee
Friday, April 2, 2010
Free Indeed-DD 4/2/2010
"Thus the LORD saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. When Israel saw the great power which the LORD had used against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and in His servant Moses." Exodus 14:30-31
This passage is easily recognized as the epilogue of the Red Sea experience. After 430 years of slavery to the Egyptians and an even longer time of residence in a foreign land, the people of God had been delivered in the most miraculous of ways. It is scarecely imaginable what it must have been like to move through a canyon of water while the ground underneath was dry. When the Hebrews came up out of the sea, they were free from that which held them captive for so long.
God has likewise delivered us from slavery, darkness, hopelessness and death. He did it by exercising His great love and power by sending His Son as a necessary and atoning sacrifice. He did it by sending us through the Red Sea of baptism, 1 Cor 10:1-2. He did it by causing us to come up out of that baptism free from the old man of sin, Rom 6:6-7. He did it that we might ever live with Him, clothed in His glory, mercy, grace and love.
We must therefore saints, live as a free people. We should not imitate our ancestors in the faith and dig up the old man desiring to live again in slavery. We must live in a manner befitting our new found blood bought status. We are free to worship. We are free to lead righteous lives. We are free to have hope. We are free from that which can cause the destruction of our souls.
"If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed." John 8:36
In Revival,
Lee
This passage is easily recognized as the epilogue of the Red Sea experience. After 430 years of slavery to the Egyptians and an even longer time of residence in a foreign land, the people of God had been delivered in the most miraculous of ways. It is scarecely imaginable what it must have been like to move through a canyon of water while the ground underneath was dry. When the Hebrews came up out of the sea, they were free from that which held them captive for so long.
God has likewise delivered us from slavery, darkness, hopelessness and death. He did it by exercising His great love and power by sending His Son as a necessary and atoning sacrifice. He did it by sending us through the Red Sea of baptism, 1 Cor 10:1-2. He did it by causing us to come up out of that baptism free from the old man of sin, Rom 6:6-7. He did it that we might ever live with Him, clothed in His glory, mercy, grace and love.
We must therefore saints, live as a free people. We should not imitate our ancestors in the faith and dig up the old man desiring to live again in slavery. We must live in a manner befitting our new found blood bought status. We are free to worship. We are free to lead righteous lives. We are free to have hope. We are free from that which can cause the destruction of our souls.
"If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed." John 8:36
In Revival,
Lee
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