In both Mark 10:17-22 and Luke 18:18-23 we see an account of a young man who comes to Jesus to ask Jesus a question. The question, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" After a little bit of back and forth which causes the young man to look beyond the question in a general sense but to pursue an answer in a personal way, Jesus says, "You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." But he was sad at this word, and went away grieved, for he had great possessions.
I was reading in 2 Corinthians and as I read 6:12 it reminded me of this young man and his encounter with Jesus. It said, "You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections." He went from this statement to his explanation about not being unequally yoked to unbelievers and the things of the world. He says, " And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God." To often those things have the ability to hold onto our affections. A few verses before making this statement about being restricted by their affections he was explaining to them about being new creations in Christ 5:17 and in 6:1 he said, "We then, as workers with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain."
This young man was restricted by his own affection for his riches. It says that he walked away sad because in that moment when he was put on the spot to make a choice about his things and his money verses treasure in heaven and following Jesus he made his choice and while it grieved him to do it, he became completely aware of what mattered most to him. We too should take a look at the things we spend our time thinking on. Do we spend it on the things above and as Paul said to the Corinthians next in 7:1, do we do what needs doing to 'perfect holiness' or do our affections restrict us from walking in such a way that we are pursuing Him in all our ways? Do we have areas of our walk with Him that are still restricted by affections?
In Colossians 3:2 it says to 'Set your affections on things above, not on the things on the earth." Affection means to exercise the mind, entertain or have sentiment or opinion; by implication to be mentally disposed (more or less earnestly in a certain direction) to interest oneself in and comes from a root word that has to do with ones feelings or sympathies for.
We as His people need to be like minded with Christ. We need to put His will and purposes ahead of the things that we have set our affections upon in the past. This young man came face to face with his affection and it prevented him from following Jesus. So the question remains. What has our affection. What do we spend our time thinking on. What were you thinking on before you started reading? What held your focus for the majority of the day? Was it God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Word, or related to the kingdom in any way or was it job, TV, a person, or money? Have we really set our affection on things above or are we restricted from walking in the fullness of God because something else has a place of affection in our hearts?
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
The Name of the Game
"I will follow you to death and to prison, Lord! They may fall away, Lord," he saw some dirty looks coming his way, "I will not." Peter declared this boldly, loudly. Jesus had started talking about scattered sheep, saying they would all fall away from him. In an attempt to reassure him of his love, Peter spoke up.
Jesus smiled. It wasn't condescending, or even happy. Just knowing and loving. "Peter, this very night, you will deny me three times before the rooster crows even twice."
Peter felt his blood boil. He would never, ever do such a thing! Let the others, but he was confident in himself. Emphatically, Peter spoke, "If I must die with you, I will not deny you!"
Based on Mark 14:26-31
Peter followed close enough to see Jesus, but far enough away that the high priest wouldn't notice him as more then just an observer. Hopefully none of the mob who had arrested Jesus would recognize him. He had ditched the sword and his robe just outside of the garden. He was basically dressed for summer in his tunic, even though the temperature told him it was far from it. He took a deep breath, and chill ran down his spine. However, Peter knew it was from more then just the cold, night air.
Jesus had been arrested.
Ever since he'd awoken in the garden, the night had moved at a rapid pace. The Passover super, the feet washing, and all Jesus had talked about felt like it had happened many days ago, instead of just hours.
The sound of wood popping in a fire caught his attention. He looked around and saw a faint glow coming from within the courtyard. It was a bit closer to the high priest then he would like to be, but it beat freezing to death. He shuffled into the courtyard, eyes averted, head down. The smell of burning wood flirted with his nose, taunting him with the idea of warmth.
He circled around the men and women already there, and stopped just a couple feet from the steady fire, holding out his hands in an attempt to summon the warmth into his body. Jesus was straight in his line of sight.
The others were whispering about him. He tried to ignore them, but the servant girl on his left reached out her hand to get his attention. "You were with him, weren't you?" She recognizes me! Her eyes lit up with knowing.
Peter knew he must not get caught. He'd be of no help to anyone if he was put on trial, too. "I don't know him."
She frowned at him, but he ignore her, hoping she'd take the hint.
But they didn't. Later, another man declared the same thing, to which he vehemently replied, "Man, I am not!" Then a hour after that, another man said, "He is definitely one of them. Look at him. He's Galilean!"
Peter was furious! He just wanted them to leave him alone. He need to figure out what to do, and he couldn't risk being associated with Jesus right now. Curses spilled out of his mouth, startling the small group around him, for he had barely spoken at all. "Man, I do not know what you are talking about! I do not know him!"
Before he even finished speaking, the rooster crowed.
It all flooded over Peter. Like a crashing wave, drowning him in guilt.
Then Peter wished it would drown him. For Jesus was looking right at him! He knew!
And the worst part was the look on Jesus' face.
The love that he had denied.
Based on Luke 22:54-62
When Jesus predicts Peter's denial, Peter's whole attitude is, "I will never deny you! They may, but I never will." He was utterly confident. Peter was arrogant. If he had just stopped, and listened to what Jesus was saying, he could have been prepared for that battle. Then that fateful moment came. He did exactly what he swore he would never do! He denied Jesus three times.
How must that have felt like? We don't have to look any further then our own hearts for the answer. There have been times where we all have done what Peter's done. We looked at other "sinners" with carefully cultivated righteousness and said, "I will never do that!" Then we do. We've all fallen! There have even been seasons were we purposefully walk away from Him and His love. Those traps will take anyone down, especially those who are unprepared for the battle, temptations, and trials.
How do you feel when you know you've sinned? Awful! Do you remember when you were little, and your parents busted you on something. I always felt like the scum of the earth! If I was in Peter's shoes, that's how I would have felt then, too. He was unworthy, a sinner, a liar. He had denied Jesus! And Jesus knew, and still loved him, and that would have made his heart ache even more.
Peter learned from his mistake. I don't believe it was a coincidence that the ministry for the Gentiles was first opened up through Peter, or that he had a vision of unclean food with God's words THREE times (Acts 10)! I believe it was because of his heart. He was able to accept and love the Gentiles almost immediately. He had been in the position of unworthy sinner, and he knew if God could forgive and love him despite what he'd done, then who was he to argue against the Gentiles. Truly, God's words, "What God has made clean, do not call common," sunk into his heart!
God has called us clean. We shouldn't be. Oh, we know we shouldn't be! His heart is for us to love like He has loved. To forgive as He has forgiven. To look at everyone around us with His eyes. We see a girl who screwed up, and has three kids and no husband. He sees His daughter, Whom He misses. We see a drunk and substance abuser. He sees His son, Whom He loves. He sees you and me, and yeah, we screw up, but He sees our hearts. He wants us to love, not judge.
"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing." 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
Love is the name of the game. We can't be righteous without love. We can't be perfect without love. We can't be real followers of Jesus without love. We will be cold, cruel, crass, haughty, judgmental people.
"Love is patient and kind; Love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful." 1 Corinthians 13:4-5
"So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13
Check out http://snackpackdevotionsforkidz.blogspot.co
Jesus smiled. It wasn't condescending, or even happy. Just knowing and loving. "Peter, this very night, you will deny me three times before the rooster crows even twice."
Peter felt his blood boil. He would never, ever do such a thing! Let the others, but he was confident in himself. Emphatically, Peter spoke, "If I must die with you, I will not deny you!"
Based on Mark 14:26-31
Peter followed close enough to see Jesus, but far enough away that the high priest wouldn't notice him as more then just an observer. Hopefully none of the mob who had arrested Jesus would recognize him. He had ditched the sword and his robe just outside of the garden. He was basically dressed for summer in his tunic, even though the temperature told him it was far from it. He took a deep breath, and chill ran down his spine. However, Peter knew it was from more then just the cold, night air.
Jesus had been arrested.
Ever since he'd awoken in the garden, the night had moved at a rapid pace. The Passover super, the feet washing, and all Jesus had talked about felt like it had happened many days ago, instead of just hours.
The sound of wood popping in a fire caught his attention. He looked around and saw a faint glow coming from within the courtyard. It was a bit closer to the high priest then he would like to be, but it beat freezing to death. He shuffled into the courtyard, eyes averted, head down. The smell of burning wood flirted with his nose, taunting him with the idea of warmth.
He circled around the men and women already there, and stopped just a couple feet from the steady fire, holding out his hands in an attempt to summon the warmth into his body. Jesus was straight in his line of sight.
The others were whispering about him. He tried to ignore them, but the servant girl on his left reached out her hand to get his attention. "You were with him, weren't you?" She recognizes me! Her eyes lit up with knowing.
Peter knew he must not get caught. He'd be of no help to anyone if he was put on trial, too. "I don't know him."
She frowned at him, but he ignore her, hoping she'd take the hint.
But they didn't. Later, another man declared the same thing, to which he vehemently replied, "Man, I am not!" Then a hour after that, another man said, "He is definitely one of them. Look at him. He's Galilean!"
Peter was furious! He just wanted them to leave him alone. He need to figure out what to do, and he couldn't risk being associated with Jesus right now. Curses spilled out of his mouth, startling the small group around him, for he had barely spoken at all. "Man, I do not know what you are talking about! I do not know him!"
Before he even finished speaking, the rooster crowed.
It all flooded over Peter. Like a crashing wave, drowning him in guilt.
Then Peter wished it would drown him. For Jesus was looking right at him! He knew!
And the worst part was the look on Jesus' face.
The love that he had denied.
Based on Luke 22:54-62
When Jesus predicts Peter's denial, Peter's whole attitude is, "I will never deny you! They may, but I never will." He was utterly confident. Peter was arrogant. If he had just stopped, and listened to what Jesus was saying, he could have been prepared for that battle. Then that fateful moment came. He did exactly what he swore he would never do! He denied Jesus three times.
How must that have felt like? We don't have to look any further then our own hearts for the answer. There have been times where we all have done what Peter's done. We looked at other "sinners" with carefully cultivated righteousness and said, "I will never do that!" Then we do. We've all fallen! There have even been seasons were we purposefully walk away from Him and His love. Those traps will take anyone down, especially those who are unprepared for the battle, temptations, and trials.
How do you feel when you know you've sinned? Awful! Do you remember when you were little, and your parents busted you on something. I always felt like the scum of the earth! If I was in Peter's shoes, that's how I would have felt then, too. He was unworthy, a sinner, a liar. He had denied Jesus! And Jesus knew, and still loved him, and that would have made his heart ache even more.
Peter learned from his mistake. I don't believe it was a coincidence that the ministry for the Gentiles was first opened up through Peter, or that he had a vision of unclean food with God's words THREE times (Acts 10)! I believe it was because of his heart. He was able to accept and love the Gentiles almost immediately. He had been in the position of unworthy sinner, and he knew if God could forgive and love him despite what he'd done, then who was he to argue against the Gentiles. Truly, God's words, "What God has made clean, do not call common," sunk into his heart!
God has called us clean. We shouldn't be. Oh, we know we shouldn't be! His heart is for us to love like He has loved. To forgive as He has forgiven. To look at everyone around us with His eyes. We see a girl who screwed up, and has three kids and no husband. He sees His daughter, Whom He misses. We see a drunk and substance abuser. He sees His son, Whom He loves. He sees you and me, and yeah, we screw up, but He sees our hearts. He wants us to love, not judge.
"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing." 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
Love is the name of the game. We can't be righteous without love. We can't be perfect without love. We can't be real followers of Jesus without love. We will be cold, cruel, crass, haughty, judgmental people.
"Love is patient and kind; Love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful." 1 Corinthians 13:4-5
"So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13
Check out http://snackpackdevotionsforkidz.blogspot.co
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Monday, May 5, 2014
"We Don't Know Yet, But We Can!"
I happened across this cartoon and fell in love with it! It reminded me of one of my all time favorite verses ...Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from Your law. Psalm 119:18 His smile. The look of joy. Doesn't he look extremely happy? How about you? Is this 'happy' look, the look on your face as you approach your daily time in the Word?Too often people approach their time of reading the Word as a job, with an 'I have too.' attitude and make it more like a chore than a blessing!
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful, But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither, and whatever he does shall prosper. Psalm 1:1-3
This little guy's delight in the law of the Lord is apparent for all to see and I know that as he grows he will grow strong in the Lord! He will bear fruit and prosper in all his ways! Well, he would if he was a real boy and not a cartoon. I know this because the Word says it!
In Psalm 119:9-11 it says ...How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. The word heed means; to hedge about (as with thorns) to guard, to protect, attend to. How do you stay clean and grow strong in God? You take heed according to His word! You guard your ways with it. You protect and attend to them by applying it to them. What do you do when it says to repent? Repent! What about when it says to believe? Believe! And when it says to have faith in God? You have faith in God!
What about this verse? It says ...Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart! Psalm 119:2 Then you, what??? You - Be happy! Keep His testimonies. Seek Him with your whole heart! According to the Strong's, blessed in both Psalm 1 and this verse means: happiness, and it comes from a root word that means to be straight, to be level, right, happy, (fig.) to go forward, to be honest, and prosper. So what that tells me, is that those who keep His testimonies find happiness! Those who delight in His law shall be blessed!
You want to be happy and know the joy of the Lord as your strength? Love the word!
I don't know about you but I don't think we even begin to know yet about all the ways that the Word can and will bring the blessings and provision of God in our lives.We don't know yet but we can if we do what it says in Psalm 119:97 - Love His law!
Psalm 68:19 says ...Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, The God of our salvation!
What if we approached God's word with this heart attitude every day? What if we approached every day with an expectancy about what benefit He would load us with from His word? What new truth or revelation about Himself will He unfold? If we did that we would never have an 'I have to' or 'this is a chore mentality.' We would always have the look of our young man. We would BE and LOOK just as "Blessed" as the young man above!
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Sunday, May 4, 2014
The Heartbreaking Moment Where Nobody Realized It
Peter hung on every word Jesus was saying. They had stuffed themselves with a feast, and then his beloved Lord had washed everyone's feet. He talked about being a servant for awhile, opening Peter's eyes in a way that only God could.
Jesus had stopped talking for a moment, and closed his eyes and breathed deeply. Then He looked at them. His expression was intense. "Truly, truly, I say to you," His voice gravely with emotion, like He wished He could change this part of story. "One of you will betray me."
There were a couple gasps among the group that had become so close knit around Jesus, followed by "Who?", and "What do you mean?" At His announcement, old rivalries were born anew. Everyone looked suspiciously at his neighbor, and whispered about the guy across the room from him.
Peter studied Jesus. He's waiting. Waiting to tell us! John was sitting beside Jesus. Peter lifted his chin and raised his eyebrows. John raised his right eyebrow in question. Peter motioned towards Jesus while mouthing, "Ask Him who!"
John nodded, and leaned close to whisper to Jesus. Peter couldn't hear them, but Jesus had picked up a piece of bread, and was holding it like it was the answer to their questions.
I can't take this any longer! Peter stood up fast, knocking his seat down behind him. "Is it I, Lord?" Jesus smiled slightly at him. Immediately, everyone started asking the question at once, even Judas, who had been acting angry and distant all night, said, "Is it I, Lord?"
"So you have said." Peter's heart stopped at Jesus' words. Who was He talking to now?
Quietly, Jesus said, "He has dipped bread into the dish with me, and I will give him this morsel of dipped bread." Everyone looked confused, but Peter watched as Jesus dipped that piece of bread, and gave it to Judas. John caught his eye, having seen the exchange, also.
However, Jesus was focused on Judas. "What you are going to do, do quickly." Judas stared at Him, his dark eyes blazing. Then with a nod, he stood up and walked out the door.
James, who was sitting on Peter's left, leaned close to him. "Why is Judas leaving?" Peter shook his head. Could Judas be...? Ridiculous! "I'm sure Jesus asked him to pick up some supplies, or maybe there's someone in need. A poor, starving man, maybe." James' face didn't look convinced, but he started to nod. "Yeah, he's in charge of the money, so that makes sense."
But as Peter stared at the empty doorway, he wondered if it did...
Based on Matthew 26:20-25 and John 13:21-30
This is the heartbreaking moment where Judas Iscariot leaves to betray Jesus...and nobody realizes it.
When Jesus said, "One of you will betray me," their immediate and understandable response was, "Who?" Jesus told them it was whoever he gave the morsel of bread that he had dipped. Then Jesus gives it right to Judas, and tells him to go do it quickly. No one at the table knew why Jesus said this. John 13:29, says that because Judas had the money bag, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy supplies for the feast or give something to the poor.
They totally missed it! Jesus said it plain and simple: whoever I give the morsel of bread that I dipped. He gave it. Judas took it. They missed it.
Ultimately, this was part of God's all-knowing plan to usher in salvation for us through Jesus' death on the cross.
However, the point is that they missed it! How many times do we see that in the Bible. Jesus told them about dying and being resurrected in three days, and they didn't understand. He told them about Judas. He told a whole congregation that He was the Savior by saying all these prophesies are fulfilled in me.
"Therefore we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it." Hebrews 2:1
How many times do we say, "God loves you," but we say it so flippantly, so causally. How many times to we hear that we are forgiven, but not really believe it? How many times do we ask God a question, and ignore the answer? How many people know of Jesus, but still don't believe He is the Savior? How many people believe God is an angry ogre Who is waiting to take us out with lightning bolt darts?
How much do we miss of God in the day to day? Think of your Bibles. Most of us have 2 or even three. Between my husband and I, we have accumulated 17 Bibles in the coarse of our lives. In 1455, that used to be just a dream. We have access to the Bible. God's Word! He breathed that out for us, so that we could hear Him. Learn from Him. Know Him. Unfortunately, it's all to easy to glaze over, and not even remember what we read after we are done.
This is that heartbreaking moment in history, were we have access to God any time, any place, and we don't even realize it.
"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with a bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you." Psalm 32:8-9
God is saying, "I have given you it all. My Word. My love. My forgiveness and grace. The ability to talk with me directly! I will lead you throughout life. Don't you understand? Why are you so stubborn? Why do you stray away from Me? Why do you ignore Me?"
"Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints; but let them not turn back to folly." Psalm 85:8
Is your heart's cry to hear what God speaks? To not miss anything? To remember what He says, and understand it? Is that your heart? Don't continue to miss it. Hear the things He says to you. Be the person who is so sold out on God that you don't miss out on Him.
Check out http://snackpackdevotionsforkidz.blogspot.co
Jesus had stopped talking for a moment, and closed his eyes and breathed deeply. Then He looked at them. His expression was intense. "Truly, truly, I say to you," His voice gravely with emotion, like He wished He could change this part of story. "One of you will betray me."
There were a couple gasps among the group that had become so close knit around Jesus, followed by "Who?", and "What do you mean?" At His announcement, old rivalries were born anew. Everyone looked suspiciously at his neighbor, and whispered about the guy across the room from him.
Peter studied Jesus. He's waiting. Waiting to tell us! John was sitting beside Jesus. Peter lifted his chin and raised his eyebrows. John raised his right eyebrow in question. Peter motioned towards Jesus while mouthing, "Ask Him who!"
John nodded, and leaned close to whisper to Jesus. Peter couldn't hear them, but Jesus had picked up a piece of bread, and was holding it like it was the answer to their questions.
I can't take this any longer! Peter stood up fast, knocking his seat down behind him. "Is it I, Lord?" Jesus smiled slightly at him. Immediately, everyone started asking the question at once, even Judas, who had been acting angry and distant all night, said, "Is it I, Lord?"
"So you have said." Peter's heart stopped at Jesus' words. Who was He talking to now?
Quietly, Jesus said, "He has dipped bread into the dish with me, and I will give him this morsel of dipped bread." Everyone looked confused, but Peter watched as Jesus dipped that piece of bread, and gave it to Judas. John caught his eye, having seen the exchange, also.
However, Jesus was focused on Judas. "What you are going to do, do quickly." Judas stared at Him, his dark eyes blazing. Then with a nod, he stood up and walked out the door.
James, who was sitting on Peter's left, leaned close to him. "Why is Judas leaving?" Peter shook his head. Could Judas be...? Ridiculous! "I'm sure Jesus asked him to pick up some supplies, or maybe there's someone in need. A poor, starving man, maybe." James' face didn't look convinced, but he started to nod. "Yeah, he's in charge of the money, so that makes sense."
But as Peter stared at the empty doorway, he wondered if it did...
Based on Matthew 26:20-25 and John 13:21-30
This is the heartbreaking moment where Judas Iscariot leaves to betray Jesus...and nobody realizes it.
When Jesus said, "One of you will betray me," their immediate and understandable response was, "Who?" Jesus told them it was whoever he gave the morsel of bread that he had dipped. Then Jesus gives it right to Judas, and tells him to go do it quickly. No one at the table knew why Jesus said this. John 13:29, says that because Judas had the money bag, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy supplies for the feast or give something to the poor.
They totally missed it! Jesus said it plain and simple: whoever I give the morsel of bread that I dipped. He gave it. Judas took it. They missed it.
Ultimately, this was part of God's all-knowing plan to usher in salvation for us through Jesus' death on the cross.
However, the point is that they missed it! How many times do we see that in the Bible. Jesus told them about dying and being resurrected in three days, and they didn't understand. He told them about Judas. He told a whole congregation that He was the Savior by saying all these prophesies are fulfilled in me.
"Therefore we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it." Hebrews 2:1
How many times do we say, "God loves you," but we say it so flippantly, so causally. How many times to we hear that we are forgiven, but not really believe it? How many times do we ask God a question, and ignore the answer? How many people know of Jesus, but still don't believe He is the Savior? How many people believe God is an angry ogre Who is waiting to take us out with lightning bolt darts?
How much do we miss of God in the day to day? Think of your Bibles. Most of us have 2 or even three. Between my husband and I, we have accumulated 17 Bibles in the coarse of our lives. In 1455, that used to be just a dream. We have access to the Bible. God's Word! He breathed that out for us, so that we could hear Him. Learn from Him. Know Him. Unfortunately, it's all to easy to glaze over, and not even remember what we read after we are done.
This is that heartbreaking moment in history, were we have access to God any time, any place, and we don't even realize it.
"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with a bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you." Psalm 32:8-9
God is saying, "I have given you it all. My Word. My love. My forgiveness and grace. The ability to talk with me directly! I will lead you throughout life. Don't you understand? Why are you so stubborn? Why do you stray away from Me? Why do you ignore Me?"
"Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints; but let them not turn back to folly." Psalm 85:8
Is your heart's cry to hear what God speaks? To not miss anything? To remember what He says, and understand it? Is that your heart? Don't continue to miss it. Hear the things He says to you. Be the person who is so sold out on God that you don't miss out on Him.
Check out http://snackpackdevotionsforkidz.blogspot.co
Following us on Facebook or Twitter options are now available!
Saturday, May 3, 2014
"Low On Faith Or Not?"
So He asked his father, "How long has this been happening?" And he said, "From childhood."
"And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us."
Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."
Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" Mark 9:21-24
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At this point in this conversation Jesus has come down from the mount of transfiguration to find His disciples in a dispute with the scribes. When He asks them about it the boys father steps out of the crowd surrounding the disciples and explains to Jesus that he had brought his son to Him. When He wasn't there he asked His disciples to cast it out and 'They could not.'
I say this to make note of the fact that as he starts this conversation with Jesus he is in a place of disappointment. The disciples had already tried and failed. He is not in a place of faith like the woman with the issue of blood who knew in her heart and spoke with her mouth that if, "I just touch the hem of His garment I will be healed." He wasn't in a place of knowing that if He could get him in front of Jesus, even if it meant putting him through a roof like the paralytics friends. That is why I think it is important to understand that as the man says to Jesus, "But if You can do anything, Have compassion on us and help us." If is a pretty important word here. The father, like the leper who dropped at Jesus' feet imploring Him, "If you are willing?" is asking Jesus, If He can and is He willing to help?" He isn't sure. He doesn't know if Jesus can or will help because at this point his question is coming from the place of disappointment and despairing.
Jesus responds with, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." Both the father and Jesus started their question and response with an important word in this exchange. IF. "If you can, will you?" The father's if is because he didn't know. Jesus' if is a little less obvious but still very important. Jesus could have said, "All things are possible to him who believes." and taken care of things just that quick, but He didn't, He said, "If you can believe," before He added the all things are possible, (the I can) part of His response. Why? Why would He make this condition, this IF. The Strong's says this word if; is a particle of conditionality. Jesus puts a condition to the father on his helping, not His ability; the all things possible part of His response.
Why? I don't know about you but I can picture this scene in my mind. I can see Jesus looking intently at the father, pointing to him and saying, "If you can believe," and as He finishes with the, "all things are possible to him who believes." He directs his gaze to the son on the ground and the father has a choice to make. Can he believe? Again, Why? Other places throughout the word He doesn't require it. Look at the time He raised the son in the funeral procession. Nobody asked. Nobody else's faith was at work. He did it because He had compassion for the mother. Why this man? Why this condition? You know the verse that says, "He'll do far above all we ask or think..." Look at the man's question again. What did he ask? he said, "But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us." He didn't say, "Help my son." He said, "...have compassion on us and help us."
Jesus was responding in a way that took care of the 'us' part of the man's statement. He may have thought he was just asking for help for his son but the word that came out of the abundance of his heart through his mouth was the word 'us.' Jesus met the boys need for deliverance and the father's need for salvation. The word believe means - to have faith in or upon or with respect to a person or thing; to entrust ones spiritual well-being to Christ. Jesus is saying, "I can and I will. Will you believe in me?" Will you entrust yourself to me? The man's response is, "Yes!"
"Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" He immediately declares Him, "Lord." His confession now is "Lord, I believe." For years I thought that the 'help my unbelief' part was about the fact that there was still a little doubt but the Lord showed me that, You don't go from "If you can?" to "Lord, I believe!" unless there has been a transformation in your heart. I looked up the word unbelief and it means faithlessness, unfaithfulness (disobedience), disbelieving, without Christian faith (spec. a heathen) untrustworthy (person). The thing that the Lord showed me is that the man wasn't being double-minded. He wasn't low on faith. He wasn't declaring belief and unbelief in the same thought. He was doing the same thing you and I did when we got saved.
Today when we confess Jesus as our Lord and Savior we say, "Yes" to Him. We declare Him LORD and confess that we BELIEVE that He died to pay for our sins and we ask Him to take care of the sins of our past (our time of UNBELIEF) "Lord, I believe, help my unbelief!" Was his declaration and his confession. It was him putting his lack of faithlessness; His unfaithfulness, his heathen nature, his untrustworthiness in Jesus' care. The word help here means; to aid or relieve. It was his declaration that his 'unbelief' was being submitted to the Lordship of Jesus!"
As Christians we often quote this verse, well, at least I know that I do. "All things are possible to him who believes." Why? Because I believe it. I believe that any and all things are possible. I believe that the world came to be as God spoke the words, "Let there be." I believe that you and I can speak to storms, walk on water, and raise the dead. I believe that Joshua spoke and the sun stood still. I believe that the lions mouths will be shut up, and even in the midst of a fiery furnace He is well able. I believe that the waters heaped to provide a way out for the people of God as His presence kept their enemy at bay. I believe manna fell from heaven and that angels minister to and for God's people. I believe! I believe in every miracle, every divine appointment, every miraculous provision! I believe that every word of God is true and that all things are possible!
I believe because Jesus is my LORD and He said, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."
Check out http://snackpackdevotionsforkidz.blogspot.co
"And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us."
Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."
Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" Mark 9:21-24
------------------------------------------------
At this point in this conversation Jesus has come down from the mount of transfiguration to find His disciples in a dispute with the scribes. When He asks them about it the boys father steps out of the crowd surrounding the disciples and explains to Jesus that he had brought his son to Him. When He wasn't there he asked His disciples to cast it out and 'They could not.'
I say this to make note of the fact that as he starts this conversation with Jesus he is in a place of disappointment. The disciples had already tried and failed. He is not in a place of faith like the woman with the issue of blood who knew in her heart and spoke with her mouth that if, "I just touch the hem of His garment I will be healed." He wasn't in a place of knowing that if He could get him in front of Jesus, even if it meant putting him through a roof like the paralytics friends. That is why I think it is important to understand that as the man says to Jesus, "But if You can do anything, Have compassion on us and help us." If is a pretty important word here. The father, like the leper who dropped at Jesus' feet imploring Him, "If you are willing?" is asking Jesus, If He can and is He willing to help?" He isn't sure. He doesn't know if Jesus can or will help because at this point his question is coming from the place of disappointment and despairing.
Jesus responds with, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." Both the father and Jesus started their question and response with an important word in this exchange. IF. "If you can, will you?" The father's if is because he didn't know. Jesus' if is a little less obvious but still very important. Jesus could have said, "All things are possible to him who believes." and taken care of things just that quick, but He didn't, He said, "If you can believe," before He added the all things are possible, (the I can) part of His response. Why? Why would He make this condition, this IF. The Strong's says this word if; is a particle of conditionality. Jesus puts a condition to the father on his helping, not His ability; the all things possible part of His response.
Why? I don't know about you but I can picture this scene in my mind. I can see Jesus looking intently at the father, pointing to him and saying, "If you can believe," and as He finishes with the, "all things are possible to him who believes." He directs his gaze to the son on the ground and the father has a choice to make. Can he believe? Again, Why? Other places throughout the word He doesn't require it. Look at the time He raised the son in the funeral procession. Nobody asked. Nobody else's faith was at work. He did it because He had compassion for the mother. Why this man? Why this condition? You know the verse that says, "He'll do far above all we ask or think..." Look at the man's question again. What did he ask? he said, "But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us." He didn't say, "Help my son." He said, "...have compassion on us and help us."
Jesus was responding in a way that took care of the 'us' part of the man's statement. He may have thought he was just asking for help for his son but the word that came out of the abundance of his heart through his mouth was the word 'us.' Jesus met the boys need for deliverance and the father's need for salvation. The word believe means - to have faith in or upon or with respect to a person or thing; to entrust ones spiritual well-being to Christ. Jesus is saying, "I can and I will. Will you believe in me?" Will you entrust yourself to me? The man's response is, "Yes!"
"Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" He immediately declares Him, "Lord." His confession now is "Lord, I believe." For years I thought that the 'help my unbelief' part was about the fact that there was still a little doubt but the Lord showed me that, You don't go from "If you can?" to "Lord, I believe!" unless there has been a transformation in your heart. I looked up the word unbelief and it means faithlessness, unfaithfulness (disobedience), disbelieving, without Christian faith (spec. a heathen) untrustworthy (person). The thing that the Lord showed me is that the man wasn't being double-minded. He wasn't low on faith. He wasn't declaring belief and unbelief in the same thought. He was doing the same thing you and I did when we got saved.
Today when we confess Jesus as our Lord and Savior we say, "Yes" to Him. We declare Him LORD and confess that we BELIEVE that He died to pay for our sins and we ask Him to take care of the sins of our past (our time of UNBELIEF) "Lord, I believe, help my unbelief!" Was his declaration and his confession. It was him putting his lack of faithlessness; His unfaithfulness, his heathen nature, his untrustworthiness in Jesus' care. The word help here means; to aid or relieve. It was his declaration that his 'unbelief' was being submitted to the Lordship of Jesus!"
As Christians we often quote this verse, well, at least I know that I do. "All things are possible to him who believes." Why? Because I believe it. I believe that any and all things are possible. I believe that the world came to be as God spoke the words, "Let there be." I believe that you and I can speak to storms, walk on water, and raise the dead. I believe that Joshua spoke and the sun stood still. I believe that the lions mouths will be shut up, and even in the midst of a fiery furnace He is well able. I believe that the waters heaped to provide a way out for the people of God as His presence kept their enemy at bay. I believe manna fell from heaven and that angels minister to and for God's people. I believe! I believe in every miracle, every divine appointment, every miraculous provision! I believe that every word of God is true and that all things are possible!
I believe because Jesus is my LORD and He said, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."
Check out http://snackpackdevotionsforkidz.blogspot.co
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Friday, May 2, 2014
Ready? Get Set! Go Serve! Go Wash!
Peter leaned back. Most of the men looked content. They patted their extended stomach, and wiped at their beards in an attempt to remove any crumbs. Jesus was sitting in the middle on one side of the long table, and everyone else was seated around the table. Judas sat at the corner, fidgeting every so often. What's that about? He's been acting weird all night.
There was a lull in the conversation, and Jesus stood up from his seat. He looked each of them in the eye, studying them, like he was trying to memorize each singular feature on each man's face. He turned away, and whipped off his outer robe. Peter looked at the others, and they seemed just as confused and curious at what their radical teacher was going to do next as he was! Jesus then grabbed a clean, white towel that had been resting next to him throughout the meal, and tied it around his waste.
At least I'll know why he asked me to get that towel now.
Jesus continued to ignore their stares. He walked to the back of the room where there were some pitchers of water and a water basin.
At lease we will know why he sent James after those.
Jesus poured some water into the basin, and walked back to the group. He stopped in front of John, and set the water basin down. Then he got down onto the floor. Peter realized what he was about to do in one horrifying instant.
Jesus, the Son of God, was going to wash this mere man's feet!
Sure enough, Jesus picked up John's right foot, and dunked it into the clear water. He gently, deliberately washed John's foot. Then Jesus used the towel that was tied around his waste, and dried John's foot. Jesus repeated the process for the left foot. Then Jesus got up and changed the water.
Jesus washed each man's feet, working his way counterclockwise around the table. Peter was seventh in line.
When it was his turn, he held out a hand to stop Jesus, "Lord, what are you doing?"
His eyes flashed their usual message of love with a Heavenly intensity. Peter saw the corner of his mouth quirk up in a smile. "What I am doing, you will not understand now." Great. "But afterwards you will understand."
Peter started shaking his head violently. "You will never wash my feet!" He couldn't sit there in an uncomfortable shock as Jesus washed his feet. He was the Son of God, the Savior, for crying out loud!
Jesus disregarded Peter, and got back down onto the floor, in position. Prepared to wash. Well, they would just see about that! He opened his mouth to say more, but Jesus interrupted him. "If I do not wash you, you have no share with me."
Peter let the words sink into his spirit. No part with Jesus? How could he live like that? "Well, then don't just wash my feet, Lord. Wash my hands and my head, too!" With that, he dropped both feet into the water basin. He cupped some of the water, and rubbed it up and down his arms.
Jesus chuckled like a father does when his son says something ridiculous, but something so cute that it pulls on the love strings of your heart. He grabbed Peter's hands, and moved them to his lap. He scrubbed at Peter's feet while he talked. "No, the one who is bathed doesn't need to wash again." He looked pointedly at Peter's dirt-caked feet. "Except for his feet!" Everyone laughed in agreement before Jesus went back to his topic. "That bathed man is completely clean. You are clean." He dried off Peter's feet as proof. "But not every one of you."
Jesus stood up, and Peter looked at the dirty water. It sloshed in the basin as Jesus picked it up off the floor. His Lord just washed his feet. His Lord?! Could today get any weirder?
Based on John 13:1-10
What makes a leader? Is it because they are called to it? No, because anyone can spit on their calling. Is it a because of a top notch education? No, Jesus was a carpenter, Jeremiah and Timothy were young, and David was a shepherd boy. What about looks, money, or an engaging personality? Ultimately, none of those things matter.
A servant makes a leader.
Look at this gem in 2 Chronicles 19:4, "Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem. And he went out again among the people, from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim, and brought them back to the Lord, the God of their fathers."
Jehoshaphat went out among the people, and brought them back to the Lord. That's what a leader does! God had placed him over those people. God had made them his responsibility. His duty was the people.
A leader's duty is the people. In His own special way for us, God has called all of us to be leaders. However, you need to understand that being a leader isn't about the title, the status, or the perks. It's about the people you are leading. You have been given charge over them, and you are required to do your absolute best to always steer them towards God. One cannot do that if they are puffed up with the pride of being a leader.
"The greatest among you shall be your servant." Matthew 23:11
Too often we confuse leadership with status. A leader is a servant who willingly gives. Jesus is the ultimate leader because He was the ultimate servant. He was a servant unto death so that we, the undeserving, may have life.
Jesus washed smelly, dirty, man feet so that we can go and do the same. "When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, 'Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have give you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them." John 13:12-17
Jesus is saying, "I am the Messenger, the Master, the Lord, and I got down on the ground and washed all your dirty feet. I humbled myself. This is an example. If the Savior can serve by washing smelly feet, then any of His appointed leaders need to be able to go and do likewise."
Being a leader for Christ isn't about yourself. It's about pouring yourself out in service. Just like Jesus.
Check out http://snackpackdevotionsforkidz.blogspot.co
There was a lull in the conversation, and Jesus stood up from his seat. He looked each of them in the eye, studying them, like he was trying to memorize each singular feature on each man's face. He turned away, and whipped off his outer robe. Peter looked at the others, and they seemed just as confused and curious at what their radical teacher was going to do next as he was! Jesus then grabbed a clean, white towel that had been resting next to him throughout the meal, and tied it around his waste.
At least I'll know why he asked me to get that towel now.
Jesus continued to ignore their stares. He walked to the back of the room where there were some pitchers of water and a water basin.
At lease we will know why he sent James after those.
Jesus poured some water into the basin, and walked back to the group. He stopped in front of John, and set the water basin down. Then he got down onto the floor. Peter realized what he was about to do in one horrifying instant.
Jesus, the Son of God, was going to wash this mere man's feet!
Sure enough, Jesus picked up John's right foot, and dunked it into the clear water. He gently, deliberately washed John's foot. Then Jesus used the towel that was tied around his waste, and dried John's foot. Jesus repeated the process for the left foot. Then Jesus got up and changed the water.
Jesus washed each man's feet, working his way counterclockwise around the table. Peter was seventh in line.
When it was his turn, he held out a hand to stop Jesus, "Lord, what are you doing?"
His eyes flashed their usual message of love with a Heavenly intensity. Peter saw the corner of his mouth quirk up in a smile. "What I am doing, you will not understand now." Great. "But afterwards you will understand."
Peter started shaking his head violently. "You will never wash my feet!" He couldn't sit there in an uncomfortable shock as Jesus washed his feet. He was the Son of God, the Savior, for crying out loud!
Jesus disregarded Peter, and got back down onto the floor, in position. Prepared to wash. Well, they would just see about that! He opened his mouth to say more, but Jesus interrupted him. "If I do not wash you, you have no share with me."
Peter let the words sink into his spirit. No part with Jesus? How could he live like that? "Well, then don't just wash my feet, Lord. Wash my hands and my head, too!" With that, he dropped both feet into the water basin. He cupped some of the water, and rubbed it up and down his arms.
Jesus chuckled like a father does when his son says something ridiculous, but something so cute that it pulls on the love strings of your heart. He grabbed Peter's hands, and moved them to his lap. He scrubbed at Peter's feet while he talked. "No, the one who is bathed doesn't need to wash again." He looked pointedly at Peter's dirt-caked feet. "Except for his feet!" Everyone laughed in agreement before Jesus went back to his topic. "That bathed man is completely clean. You are clean." He dried off Peter's feet as proof. "But not every one of you."
Jesus stood up, and Peter looked at the dirty water. It sloshed in the basin as Jesus picked it up off the floor. His Lord just washed his feet. His Lord?! Could today get any weirder?
Based on John 13:1-10
What makes a leader? Is it because they are called to it? No, because anyone can spit on their calling. Is it a because of a top notch education? No, Jesus was a carpenter, Jeremiah and Timothy were young, and David was a shepherd boy. What about looks, money, or an engaging personality? Ultimately, none of those things matter.
A servant makes a leader.
Look at this gem in 2 Chronicles 19:4, "Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem. And he went out again among the people, from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim, and brought them back to the Lord, the God of their fathers."
Jehoshaphat went out among the people, and brought them back to the Lord. That's what a leader does! God had placed him over those people. God had made them his responsibility. His duty was the people.
A leader's duty is the people. In His own special way for us, God has called all of us to be leaders. However, you need to understand that being a leader isn't about the title, the status, or the perks. It's about the people you are leading. You have been given charge over them, and you are required to do your absolute best to always steer them towards God. One cannot do that if they are puffed up with the pride of being a leader.
"The greatest among you shall be your servant." Matthew 23:11
Too often we confuse leadership with status. A leader is a servant who willingly gives. Jesus is the ultimate leader because He was the ultimate servant. He was a servant unto death so that we, the undeserving, may have life.
Jesus washed smelly, dirty, man feet so that we can go and do the same. "When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, 'Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have give you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them." John 13:12-17
Jesus is saying, "I am the Messenger, the Master, the Lord, and I got down on the ground and washed all your dirty feet. I humbled myself. This is an example. If the Savior can serve by washing smelly feet, then any of His appointed leaders need to be able to go and do likewise."
Being a leader for Christ isn't about yourself. It's about pouring yourself out in service. Just like Jesus.
Check out http://snackpackdevotionsforkidz.blogspot.co
Following us on Facebook or Twitter options are now available!
Thursday, May 1, 2014
"Early, Late, And All Day Long"
O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. So have I looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory.
Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. Thus will I bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.
When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I rejoice. My soul follows close behind You, Your right hand upholds me. Psalm 63:1-8
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Today's message is simple. Morning, noon, and night - Seek Him!
I love the declarations that the Psalmist, David is making in this Psalm. His Mission statement as it were."Early will I seek Him." Why? Why be hungry and thirsty for God? He tells us. "To see His power and His glory" at work! Some people think that this is all about the fact that David was in the wilderness separated from the temple, and while there might be some of that, don't forget, this is David, the Shepherd boy who showed up on the battlefield, and the cry of his heart was, "Is there not a cause!" and "Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God." David knew how to seek God in the wilderness. He knew how to hear His voice and He knew that God could be found in the seeking! ...Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:12-13
Seek Him early! Be hungry! Be thirsty! Not for food and drink but for Him first! So many times over the years I have heard people say something like. "Coffee, I need coffee, you don't even want to talk to me till I've had my coffee!" I wonder does that go for God as well? One other question or rather just another quick thought... The sanctuary is no longer a place but a people wholly devoted, a royal priesthood even.. If You and I are the temple...If His power and glory are going to be revealed through us throughout our day, than how? If we want the power and glory God revealed in our life then we must follow the Psalmist's best advice and let the cry of our hearts, each and every morning be ..."O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. So have I looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory."
The next three verses David is talking about seeking Him, praising Him, acknowledging Him throughout His day. He said that at the forefront of his thoughts are God's lovingkindesses so that out of the abundance of his heart his lips will speak praise! He said in verse 4, "Thus will I bless You while I live." I don't know what that tells you but it tells me that He will praise Him while he is going about the business of living his life. He is going to give Him praise as the blessings come. He is going to be satisfied and content in Him, and declare His praise with His mouth, his hands, and the contentment of His soul as he rests in the joy of Lord throughout the day!
Next comes the night. It is the end of the day, and still God is the focus of the declarations of his mouth and the thoughts of his heart. "When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches because You have been my help," That means he isn't able to sleep till he spends time thinking and thanking God for his help, His blessings, His presence throughout the day. I don't know about you but when I go to bed I go to sleep. If I am awake for the 'night watches' it is because something is on my heart strongly enough to keep me focused on it. God isn't an afterthought here; He is the thought! He is awake in the night watches because his focus is on God and declaring to Him, "therefore in the shadow of Your wings I rejoice. My soul follows close behind You, Your right hand upholds me."
His first thoughts - are of God. His thoughts throughout the day - God. His thoughts at the end of the day - also God.
There is one last thing to take note of... this wasn't a message that David was trying to teach us. He wasn't about setting a good example so that we would learn from it and follow it. The focus was God and only God. This whole Psalm was spoken to God. It was the cry of His heart and the declaration of his mouth to the amazing God that he loved and served.
"O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. So have I looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory.
Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. Thus will I bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.
When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I rejoice. My soul follows close behind You, Your right hand upholds me."
Today's message is simple - Morning, noon, and night, Seek Him! or maybe "Seek Him early and His blessings throughout the day will keep you up at night!"
"Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you." Matthew 6:33
Check out http://snackpackdevotionsforkidz.blogspot.co
Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. Thus will I bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.
When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I rejoice. My soul follows close behind You, Your right hand upholds me. Psalm 63:1-8
---------------------------------------------
Today's message is simple. Morning, noon, and night - Seek Him!
I love the declarations that the Psalmist, David is making in this Psalm. His Mission statement as it were."Early will I seek Him." Why? Why be hungry and thirsty for God? He tells us. "To see His power and His glory" at work! Some people think that this is all about the fact that David was in the wilderness separated from the temple, and while there might be some of that, don't forget, this is David, the Shepherd boy who showed up on the battlefield, and the cry of his heart was, "Is there not a cause!" and "Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God." David knew how to seek God in the wilderness. He knew how to hear His voice and He knew that God could be found in the seeking! ...Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:12-13
Seek Him early! Be hungry! Be thirsty! Not for food and drink but for Him first! So many times over the years I have heard people say something like. "Coffee, I need coffee, you don't even want to talk to me till I've had my coffee!" I wonder does that go for God as well? One other question or rather just another quick thought... The sanctuary is no longer a place but a people wholly devoted, a royal priesthood even.. If You and I are the temple...If His power and glory are going to be revealed through us throughout our day, than how? If we want the power and glory God revealed in our life then we must follow the Psalmist's best advice and let the cry of our hearts, each and every morning be ..."O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. So have I looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory."
The next three verses David is talking about seeking Him, praising Him, acknowledging Him throughout His day. He said that at the forefront of his thoughts are God's lovingkindesses so that out of the abundance of his heart his lips will speak praise! He said in verse 4, "Thus will I bless You while I live." I don't know what that tells you but it tells me that He will praise Him while he is going about the business of living his life. He is going to give Him praise as the blessings come. He is going to be satisfied and content in Him, and declare His praise with His mouth, his hands, and the contentment of His soul as he rests in the joy of Lord throughout the day!
Next comes the night. It is the end of the day, and still God is the focus of the declarations of his mouth and the thoughts of his heart. "When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches because You have been my help," That means he isn't able to sleep till he spends time thinking and thanking God for his help, His blessings, His presence throughout the day. I don't know about you but when I go to bed I go to sleep. If I am awake for the 'night watches' it is because something is on my heart strongly enough to keep me focused on it. God isn't an afterthought here; He is the thought! He is awake in the night watches because his focus is on God and declaring to Him, "therefore in the shadow of Your wings I rejoice. My soul follows close behind You, Your right hand upholds me."
His first thoughts - are of God. His thoughts throughout the day - God. His thoughts at the end of the day - also God.
There is one last thing to take note of... this wasn't a message that David was trying to teach us. He wasn't about setting a good example so that we would learn from it and follow it. The focus was God and only God. This whole Psalm was spoken to God. It was the cry of His heart and the declaration of his mouth to the amazing God that he loved and served.
"O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. So have I looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory.
Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. Thus will I bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.
When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I rejoice. My soul follows close behind You, Your right hand upholds me."
Today's message is simple - Morning, noon, and night, Seek Him! or maybe "Seek Him early and His blessings throughout the day will keep you up at night!"
"Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you." Matthew 6:33
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