Today, my devotional covered the story of Daniel and the lions' den. We all know the children's story, right?
Well, today it was the grown up version The focus was on the sin of envy. The straps were jealous of Daniel. He was wise. The king had made him second in comman, power, because he trusted him and knew he was wise...even though he was a Jew and not of the Medes and Persians. All of this made the sattraps jealous, so they wanted to do something about it. It never occurred to them that Daniel was supposed to be in charge of them and that they should accept this and do their best for him.
So, they knew Daniel was ethical and did what was right; the only way they could attack him was by his faith. They talked the king into unwittingly proclaiming that everyone who prays to any god but the king would be thrown in the lions' den. They then went over to where Daniel lived and "caught" him praying to God...which they already knew he did three times a day. They then go back to the king and tell on Daniel. The king is upset because he trusts Daniel, so he puts off the decision. The satraps come back and remind him he made the law, so he must throw Daniel in the Iions' den. The king does it and hopes Daniel's God will protect him. God does, and the king throws the instigators into the lions' den with their families, and they are torn apart by the same lions that did not harm Daniel.
So, in the end, envy cost the satraps and their family their lives. The same is true of us. We can easily start down the slippery slope of sin by envying our co-worker's work, success, financial gain, appearance of easy promotion, etc. We can envy our friend's house, cars, vacations, appearance of a happy put together family, etc.
Once envy takes hold, we start to head ourselves towards the lions' den. We insist on things we don't really have a right to insist on. We stomp our feet and insist on more. We insist others be jealous with us, or dislike them if they don't. All so we can feel better about our envy, or jealousy. That is a very slippery slope. Unless we realize what we are doing and stop, we will end up in the lions' den ourselves!
So, do you still think Daniel in the Lions' Den is just a children's story?
Sunday, August 30, 2015
Stay the course...
I am always amazed at how the Bible can be read so many times, the same passage, and there is new insight every time! Amazing.
Today, I read about Daniel and King Belshazzar and how the king was rooted from his kingship because he failed to follow his father's command to believe in Daniel's God and worship Him. In fact, the king drank from the cups his father had taken from the Holy temple when the Jews were captured. This was the last straw for God!
Then it was pointed it that Adam and Eve gave in to the sin of the flesh (she wanted to eat the apple), the sin of the eye (she saw the apple and it looked good), and the sin if pride (it would give her more). Satan tried to tempt Jesus with all three of these when He was out in the desert for 40 days.
So, God warns us, over and over to"stay the course. " Don't let the sin of the flesh, the eye, or power/pride control our decisions and motives. Our motives should always be to please and glorify God...not ourselves.
If we focus on ourselves, we get into trouble...just look at Adam and Eve and King Belshazzar for two examples. If we focus on God (constantly praying and studying the Bible) and do what glorifies Him, not us, this crazy life starts to make sense and we see the blessings God has bestowed on us in the midst of the hard times as well as the good times.
Romans 8:5-8
then those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace;
the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so.
Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.
Father, please keep our hearts and minds focused on you. Amen
Today, I read about Daniel and King Belshazzar and how the king was rooted from his kingship because he failed to follow his father's command to believe in Daniel's God and worship Him. In fact, the king drank from the cups his father had taken from the Holy temple when the Jews were captured. This was the last straw for God!
Then it was pointed it that Adam and Eve gave in to the sin of the flesh (she wanted to eat the apple), the sin of the eye (she saw the apple and it looked good), and the sin if pride (it would give her more). Satan tried to tempt Jesus with all three of these when He was out in the desert for 40 days.
So, God warns us, over and over to"stay the course. " Don't let the sin of the flesh, the eye, or power/pride control our decisions and motives. Our motives should always be to please and glorify God...not ourselves.
If we focus on ourselves, we get into trouble...just look at Adam and Eve and King Belshazzar for two examples. If we focus on God (constantly praying and studying the Bible) and do what glorifies Him, not us, this crazy life starts to make sense and we see the blessings God has bestowed on us in the midst of the hard times as well as the good times.
Romans 8:5-8
then those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace;
the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so.
Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.
Father, please keep our hearts and minds focused on you. Amen
It is never too late. .for Good to work in you
24“This is the interpretation, Your Majesty, and this is the decree the Most High has issued against my lord the king: 25You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes. 26The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules. 27Therefore, Your Majesty, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue.” 28All this happened to KingNebuchadnezzar. 29Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?”
31Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. 32You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.”
33Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like the ox. His body was drenched with the dew ofheaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.
34At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.
His dominion is an eternal dominion;
his kingdom endures from generation to generation.
35All the peoples of the earth
are regarded as nothing.
He does as he pleases
with the powers of heaven
and the peoples of the earth.
No one can hold back his hand
or say to him: “What have you done?”
36At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor werereturned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. 37Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble. DANIEL 4
As the reading shows, God can take anyone and change them. The key to change was Nebuchadnezzar acknowledging God was in control, and then he was restored in order that he could give God the glory. Not so that he could have his former glory back and be proud of it and brag. Not so that others could envy him. Not so that others could admire him or be afraid of him. But so that others could see God and how merciful He is; He restores a ruler who glorified himself rather than God.
We have nothing that God hasn't given us. Whether we acknowledge that our not, it is the truth. So, when we lose things, or things don't go well, it could be God giving us a heads up that the glory is not going to Him. It could be a He is working something else out also, but He is working.
When things are going wrong, look to God. Keep your eyes on Him through prayer and scripture. No one else on this earth will be able to help you; this is a God thing. Don't glorify your friends or yourself or your family by thinking you can resolve this on your own. It is a God thing. Go to God and do it constantly. You will be amazed at what happens.
Now, unfortunately, I am speaking from multiple personal experiences (slow learner here). I am sorry to say I am in the middle of one of those times right now. Blogging daily keeps me more focused on God and on what He wants rather than what I want. It is amazing how much better I feel already even though nothing has changed in my situation other than I am focusing on God instead of the situating.
God, please help me to ask for your wisdom before doing our saying anything. I mess things up all the time when I do what I think is right. One simple prayer before acting or speaking, and I could stay on track for YOUR glory! In Jesus Christ's name I pray. Amen.
As the reading shows, God can take anyone and change them. The key to change was Nebuchadnezzar acknowledging God was in control, and then he was restored in order that he could give God the glory. Not so that he could have his former glory back and be proud of it and brag. Not so that others could envy him. Not so that others could admire him or be afraid of him. But so that others could see God and how merciful He is; He restores a ruler who glorified himself rather than God.
We have nothing that God hasn't given us. Whether we acknowledge that our not, it is the truth. So, when we lose things, or things don't go well, it could be God giving us a heads up that the glory is not going to Him. It could be a He is working something else out also, but He is working.
When things are going wrong, look to God. Keep your eyes on Him through prayer and scripture. No one else on this earth will be able to help you; this is a God thing. Don't glorify your friends or yourself or your family by thinking you can resolve this on your own. It is a God thing. Go to God and do it constantly. You will be amazed at what happens.
Now, unfortunately, I am speaking from multiple personal experiences (slow learner here). I am sorry to say I am in the middle of one of those times right now. Blogging daily keeps me more focused on God and on what He wants rather than what I want. It is amazing how much better I feel already even though nothing has changed in my situation other than I am focusing on God instead of the situating.
God, please help me to ask for your wisdom before doing our saying anything. I mess things up all the time when I do what I think is right. One simple prayer before acting or speaking, and I could stay on track for YOUR glory! In Jesus Christ's name I pray. Amen.
A fascinating, but true, story!
1 Now in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; and his spirit was troubled and his sleep left him. 2 Then the king gave orders to call in the magicians, the conjurers, the sorcerers and the Chaldeans to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king. 3 The king said to them, “I had a dream and my spirit is anxious to understand the dream.”
4 Then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in Aramaic: “O king, live forever! Tell the dream to your servants, and we will declare the interpretation.” 5 The king replied to the Chaldeans, “The command from me is firm: if you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you will be torn limb from limb and your houses will be made a rubbish heap. 6 “But if you declare the dream and its interpretation, you will receive from me gifts and a reward and great honor; therefore declare to me the dream and its interpretation.” 7 They answered a second time and said, “Let the king tell the dream to his servants, and we will declare the interpretation.” 8 The king replied, “I know for certain that you are bargaining for time, inasmuch as you have seen that the command from me is firm, 9 that if you do not make the dream known to me, there is only one decree for you. For you have agreed together to speak lying and corrupt words before me until the situation is changed; therefore tell me the dream, that I may know that you can declare to me its interpretation.” 10 The Chaldeans answered the king and said, “There is not a man on earth who could declare the matter for the king, inasmuch as no great king or ruler has ever asked anything like this of any magician, conjurer or Chaldean. 11 “Moreover, the thing which the king demands is difficult, and there is no one else who could declare it to the king except gods, whose dwelling place is not with mortal flesh.”
12 Because of this the king became indignant and very furious and gave orders to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. 13 So the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they looked for Daniel and his friends to kill them.
14 Then Daniel replied with discretion and discernment to Arioch, the captain of the king's bodyguard, who had gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon; 15 he said to Arioch, the king's commander, “For what reason is the decree from the king so urgent?” Then Arioch informed Daniel about the matter. 16 So Daniel went in and requested of the king that he would give him time, in order that he might declare the interpretation to the king.
17 Then Daniel went to his house and informed his friends, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, about the matter, 18 so that they might request compassion from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his friends would not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
The Secret Is Revealed to Daniel
19 Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven; 20 Daniel said,
“Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever,
For wisdom and power belong to Him.
21 “It is He who changes the times and the epochs;
He removes kings and establishes kings;
He gives wisdom to wise men
And knowledge to men of understanding.
22 “It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things;
He knows what is in the darkness,
And the light dwells with Him.
23 “To You, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise,
For You have given me wisdom and power;
Even now You have made known to me what we requested of You,
For You have made known to us the king's matter.”
24 Therefore, Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon; he went and spoke to him as follows: “Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon! Take me into the king's presence, and I will declare the interpretation to the king.”
25 Then Arioch hurriedly brought Daniel into the king's presence and spoke to him as follows: “I have found a man among the exiles from Judah who can make the interpretation known to the king!” 26 The king said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen and its interpretation?” 27 Daniel answered before the king and said, “As for the mystery about which the king has inquired, neither wise men, conjurers, magicians nor diviners are able to declare it to the king. 28 “However, there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will take place in the latter days. This was your dream and the visions in your mind while on your bed. 29 “As for you, O king, while on your bed your thoughts turned to what would take place in the future; and He who reveals mysteries has made known to you what will take place. 30 “But as for me, this mystery has not been revealed to me for any wisdom residing in me more than in any other living man, but for the purpose of making the interpretation known to the king, and that you may understand the thoughts of your mind.
The King's Dream
31 “You, O king, were looking and behold, there was a single great statue; that statue, which was large and of extraordinary splendor, was standing in front of you, and its appearance was awesome. 32 “The head of that statue was made of fine gold, its breast and its arms of silver, its belly and its thighs of bronze, 33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. 34 “You continued looking until a stone was cut out without hands, and it struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and crushed them. 35 “Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were crushed all at the same time and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away so that not a trace of them was found. But the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.
The Interpretation—Babylon the First Kingdom
36 “This was the dream; now we will tell its interpretation before the king. 37 “You, O king, are the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, the strength and the glory; 38 and wherever the sons of men dwell, or the beasts of the field, or the birds of the sky, He has given them into your hand and has caused you to rule over them all. You are the head of gold.
Medo-Persia and Greece
39 “After you there will arise another kingdom inferior to you, then another third kingdom of bronze, which will rule over all the earth.
Rome
40 “Then there will be a fourth kingdom as strong as iron; inasmuch as iron crushes and shatters all things, so, like iron that breaks in pieces, it will crush and break all these in pieces. 41 “In that you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, it will be a divided kingdom; but it will have in it the toughness of iron, inasmuch as you saw the iron mixed with common clay. 42 “As the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of pottery, so some of the kingdom will be strong and part of it will be brittle. 43 “And in that you saw the iron mixed with common clay, they will combine with one another in the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, even as iron does not combine with pottery.
The Divine Kingdom
44 “In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever. 45 “Inasmuch as you saw that a stone was cut out of the mountain without hands and that it crushed the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold, the great God has made known to the king what will take place in the future; so the dream is true and its interpretation is trustworthy.”
Daniel Promoted
46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face and did homage to Daniel, and gave orders to present to him an offering and fragrant incense. 47 The king answered Daniel and said, “Surely your God is a God of gods and a Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, since you have been able to reveal this mystery.” 48 Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts, and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. 49 And Daniel made request of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego over the administration of the province of Babylon, while Daniel was at the king's court.
- Daniel 2:1-49
Daniel trusted God. He didn't work ahead of God. He trusted God...before he knew an answer to the dream, he went to the king to ask for time. He then prayed with his friends to God for an answer. He trusted God would answer.
He then went before a king confidently, but not arrogantly, and told him what God had revealed to him. He took no credit, but gave it all to God.
He trusted. He obeyed. He humbled himself. He followed the rules. He prayed. He gave God the glory.
Father, please help me humble myself and give You all the glory! Amen!
4 Then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in Aramaic: “O king, live forever! Tell the dream to your servants, and we will declare the interpretation.” 5 The king replied to the Chaldeans, “The command from me is firm: if you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you will be torn limb from limb and your houses will be made a rubbish heap. 6 “But if you declare the dream and its interpretation, you will receive from me gifts and a reward and great honor; therefore declare to me the dream and its interpretation.” 7 They answered a second time and said, “Let the king tell the dream to his servants, and we will declare the interpretation.” 8 The king replied, “I know for certain that you are bargaining for time, inasmuch as you have seen that the command from me is firm, 9 that if you do not make the dream known to me, there is only one decree for you. For you have agreed together to speak lying and corrupt words before me until the situation is changed; therefore tell me the dream, that I may know that you can declare to me its interpretation.” 10 The Chaldeans answered the king and said, “There is not a man on earth who could declare the matter for the king, inasmuch as no great king or ruler has ever asked anything like this of any magician, conjurer or Chaldean. 11 “Moreover, the thing which the king demands is difficult, and there is no one else who could declare it to the king except gods, whose dwelling place is not with mortal flesh.”
12 Because of this the king became indignant and very furious and gave orders to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. 13 So the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they looked for Daniel and his friends to kill them.
14 Then Daniel replied with discretion and discernment to Arioch, the captain of the king's bodyguard, who had gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon; 15 he said to Arioch, the king's commander, “For what reason is the decree from the king so urgent?” Then Arioch informed Daniel about the matter. 16 So Daniel went in and requested of the king that he would give him time, in order that he might declare the interpretation to the king.
17 Then Daniel went to his house and informed his friends, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, about the matter, 18 so that they might request compassion from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his friends would not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
The Secret Is Revealed to Daniel
19 Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven; 20 Daniel said,
“Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever,
For wisdom and power belong to Him.
21 “It is He who changes the times and the epochs;
He removes kings and establishes kings;
He gives wisdom to wise men
And knowledge to men of understanding.
22 “It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things;
He knows what is in the darkness,
And the light dwells with Him.
23 “To You, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise,
For You have given me wisdom and power;
Even now You have made known to me what we requested of You,
For You have made known to us the king's matter.”
24 Therefore, Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon; he went and spoke to him as follows: “Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon! Take me into the king's presence, and I will declare the interpretation to the king.”
25 Then Arioch hurriedly brought Daniel into the king's presence and spoke to him as follows: “I have found a man among the exiles from Judah who can make the interpretation known to the king!” 26 The king said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen and its interpretation?” 27 Daniel answered before the king and said, “As for the mystery about which the king has inquired, neither wise men, conjurers, magicians nor diviners are able to declare it to the king. 28 “However, there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will take place in the latter days. This was your dream and the visions in your mind while on your bed. 29 “As for you, O king, while on your bed your thoughts turned to what would take place in the future; and He who reveals mysteries has made known to you what will take place. 30 “But as for me, this mystery has not been revealed to me for any wisdom residing in me more than in any other living man, but for the purpose of making the interpretation known to the king, and that you may understand the thoughts of your mind.
The King's Dream
31 “You, O king, were looking and behold, there was a single great statue; that statue, which was large and of extraordinary splendor, was standing in front of you, and its appearance was awesome. 32 “The head of that statue was made of fine gold, its breast and its arms of silver, its belly and its thighs of bronze, 33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. 34 “You continued looking until a stone was cut out without hands, and it struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and crushed them. 35 “Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were crushed all at the same time and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away so that not a trace of them was found. But the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.
The Interpretation—Babylon the First Kingdom
36 “This was the dream; now we will tell its interpretation before the king. 37 “You, O king, are the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, the strength and the glory; 38 and wherever the sons of men dwell, or the beasts of the field, or the birds of the sky, He has given them into your hand and has caused you to rule over them all. You are the head of gold.
Medo-Persia and Greece
39 “After you there will arise another kingdom inferior to you, then another third kingdom of bronze, which will rule over all the earth.
Rome
40 “Then there will be a fourth kingdom as strong as iron; inasmuch as iron crushes and shatters all things, so, like iron that breaks in pieces, it will crush and break all these in pieces. 41 “In that you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, it will be a divided kingdom; but it will have in it the toughness of iron, inasmuch as you saw the iron mixed with common clay. 42 “As the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of pottery, so some of the kingdom will be strong and part of it will be brittle. 43 “And in that you saw the iron mixed with common clay, they will combine with one another in the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, even as iron does not combine with pottery.
The Divine Kingdom
44 “In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever. 45 “Inasmuch as you saw that a stone was cut out of the mountain without hands and that it crushed the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold, the great God has made known to the king what will take place in the future; so the dream is true and its interpretation is trustworthy.”
Daniel Promoted
46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face and did homage to Daniel, and gave orders to present to him an offering and fragrant incense. 47 The king answered Daniel and said, “Surely your God is a God of gods and a Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, since you have been able to reveal this mystery.” 48 Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts, and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. 49 And Daniel made request of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego over the administration of the province of Babylon, while Daniel was at the king's court.
- Daniel 2:1-49
Daniel trusted God. He didn't work ahead of God. He trusted God...before he knew an answer to the dream, he went to the king to ask for time. He then prayed with his friends to God for an answer. He trusted God would answer.
He then went before a king confidently, but not arrogantly, and told him what God had revealed to him. He took no credit, but gave it all to God.
He trusted. He obeyed. He humbled himself. He followed the rules. He prayed. He gave God the glory.
Father, please help me humble myself and give You all the glory! Amen!
Stand firm...
Daniel 1:11-16
11Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, 12“Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” 14So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days. 15At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. 16So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.
Daniel did not want to defile himself with the rich foods and wine sacrificed to pagan idols. He was convicted by God through the Holy Spirit, that little voice you hear all time, to not eat those foods but to request vegetables and water.
God had a plan for Daniel and his friends. He used them to accomplish much for the Jewish people who were in captivity at that time. This was a special diet that we should all follow: following what God wanted us to do in order to bring about God's will.
So, when we hear that still small voice telling us to do something counter to our current culture, for His will-His plan, please know that He will also give you the strength to do it...just like He gave Daniel the strength to ask for a different meal plan which they all could have been beheaded for, but it was God's will!
Father, please help us to listen to the Holy Spirit and rest in the knowledge that you will give us the strength to do your will. In Jesus name we pray. Amen
11Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, 12“Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” 14So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days. 15At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. 16So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.
Daniel did not want to defile himself with the rich foods and wine sacrificed to pagan idols. He was convicted by God through the Holy Spirit, that little voice you hear all time, to not eat those foods but to request vegetables and water.
God had a plan for Daniel and his friends. He used them to accomplish much for the Jewish people who were in captivity at that time. This was a special diet that we should all follow: following what God wanted us to do in order to bring about God's will.
So, when we hear that still small voice telling us to do something counter to our current culture, for His will-His plan, please know that He will also give you the strength to do it...just like He gave Daniel the strength to ask for a different meal plan which they all could have been beheaded for, but it was God's will!
Father, please help us to listen to the Holy Spirit and rest in the knowledge that you will give us the strength to do your will. In Jesus name we pray. Amen
What's in a name?
What's in a name? Today in Daniel we read about how the Babylonians changed Daniel's name, and the names of three of his friends. Their captors had taken their Jewish names which showed their faith in God, and changed them to names that glorified the Babylonian gods. They were trying to inculcate their culture in Daniel and their friends. They wanted the Jewish people to become Babylonian and forget about their God. Our God.
Does your name mean something from the Bible? Do you think of that often? Does it help you stay on track with God? Look up your name and find out! I did. It was very interesting...and I fit my name!
The real question...no matter what people call us, do were stay true to God? No matter what your name does, or does not, mean, no matter if it matches you or not, do you try to continuously look to God and do His will? Daniel did. He nearly died doing it, but he stayed faithful.
Father, help me to have the resolve of Daniel to stay faithful and remain in you continually. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Does your name mean something from the Bible? Do you think of that often? Does it help you stay on track with God? Look up your name and find out! I did. It was very interesting...and I fit my name!
The real question...no matter what people call us, do were stay true to God? No matter what your name does, or does not, mean, no matter if it matches you or not, do you try to continuously look to God and do His will? Daniel did. He nearly died doing it, but he stayed faithful.
Father, help me to have the resolve of Daniel to stay faithful and remain in you continually. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Daniel
We are starting a devotion on Daniel this week. The introduction was about how Israel rebelled over and over again and God finally sent them into exile. That was their punishment. So, God, as loving as He is, did get tired of all the rebellion and punished Judah.
The good news is that after that exile, God sent His son. Through Jesus Christ, we are forgiven of all our rebellion. Jesus washes all of it away and we are pure and holy to God.
Now that is good news!
The good news is that after that exile, God sent His son. Through Jesus Christ, we are forgiven of all our rebellion. Jesus washes all of it away and we are pure and holy to God.
Now that is good news!
Whatever you do, pray.
Colossians 3:1
Whatever you do in word or deed, do it as for the glory of God...
Whenever I have a really good day, I reflect upon it, wonder at how things fell in to place, pat myself on the back for making right choices. I just feel good! Usually, I had spent some quick moments in prayer through out the day, or maybe I was too busy and forgot. Yet, the day turned out really good.
Then I have those bad days. Nothing went right. How could so many things get messed up? I was prepared; what happened?
Usually, when I look back on both those kinds of days there is only one difference between them. The days I "thought" went well were the days I stuck a little closer to God or days I had been praying about ahead of time. The days that didn't go so well, I forgot about God; I marched through my day without talking to Him and waiting for advice. Not that everything went prefectly on the good days; just that my thoughts and my heart were in the right place, and so I enjoyed them. Maybe there is no difference between good and bad except how close we tried to be to God that day?
Whatever you do in word or deed, do it as for the glory of God...
Whenever I have a really good day, I reflect upon it, wonder at how things fell in to place, pat myself on the back for making right choices. I just feel good! Usually, I had spent some quick moments in prayer through out the day, or maybe I was too busy and forgot. Yet, the day turned out really good.
Then I have those bad days. Nothing went right. How could so many things get messed up? I was prepared; what happened?
Usually, when I look back on both those kinds of days there is only one difference between them. The days I "thought" went well were the days I stuck a little closer to God or days I had been praying about ahead of time. The days that didn't go so well, I forgot about God; I marched through my day without talking to Him and waiting for advice. Not that everything went prefectly on the good days; just that my thoughts and my heart were in the right place, and so I enjoyed them. Maybe there is no difference between good and bad except how close we tried to be to God that day?
Saturday, August 29, 2015
The body
Today my devotion was about the body of Christ, the church. It is like the human body that has many parts. All these parts work together. If something is wrong with one part, it affects the rest of the body. This body is the church and because of that we are all interconnected. To do this, we should read scripture, meet together, and cling to God (pray unceasingly and focus on Him).
So, if I believe this is important, especially the Good News, why don't I say anything about it during the day? Why isn't my conversation sprinkled with gratefulness for the things I have, the family I have, the church I have?
You know people who are always saying they are "blessed" and you look at them and think, really? I see now that they are acknowledging to the world that they are blessed. They are praising God for the good things they have. They didn't say everything was perfect; they are focusing on God instead of the things of this earth.
I have recently become very aware that I leave God with my morning devotions and go through the rest of the day without Him. I have been trying to pray more during the day, just taking to God about the little, or big, things. I still notice, however, that there are larger chunks of the day that I don't even think about Him, because I am so busy doing things. Even more horrifying to me is the realization that I don't say anything publicly to acknowledge my belief in God and Jesus Christ during most if my day.
Father, forgive me for going through my day without thinking if you, without publicly thanking and acknowledging you. Please help me to focus on you and the bounties you have given me. In Jesus Christ's bm name I pray. Amen.
So, if I believe this is important, especially the Good News, why don't I say anything about it during the day? Why isn't my conversation sprinkled with gratefulness for the things I have, the family I have, the church I have?
You know people who are always saying they are "blessed" and you look at them and think, really? I see now that they are acknowledging to the world that they are blessed. They are praising God for the good things they have. They didn't say everything was perfect; they are focusing on God instead of the things of this earth.
I have recently become very aware that I leave God with my morning devotions and go through the rest of the day without Him. I have been trying to pray more during the day, just taking to God about the little, or big, things. I still notice, however, that there are larger chunks of the day that I don't even think about Him, because I am so busy doing things. Even more horrifying to me is the realization that I don't say anything publicly to acknowledge my belief in God and Jesus Christ during most if my day.
Father, forgive me for going through my day without thinking if you, without publicly thanking and acknowledging you. Please help me to focus on you and the bounties you have given me. In Jesus Christ's bm name I pray. Amen.
If you love Me
John 14:15-27
5 “If you love me, you will obey what I command.* 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor* to be with you forever— 17the Spirit of truth.* The world cannot accept him,* because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be* in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans;*I will come to you.* 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me.* Because I live, you also will live.* 20 On that day* you will realize that I am in my Father,* and you are in me, and I am in you.* 21Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me.* He who loves me will be loved by my Father,* and I too will love him and show myself to him.”
25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Counselor,* the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name,* will teach you all things* and will remind you of everything I have said to you.* 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.* I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled* and do not be afraid.
Enough said. There you have it. We have the Holy Spirit in us 24/7 ! How wonderful that Jesus Christ wanted us to have the Spirit in us to help us stay the course, to remind us God is for us and if God is for us who can be against us if we are doing His will. How do we know His will? The Holy Spirit is always telling us what we should do. It is that little voice that says, "maybe that was a little harsh" or "don't you think you should help? "
The Holy Spirit finishes the circle of the Trinity. We have everything we need. God is in charge and has a plan for all of us. Jesus died for our sins and sits at the right hand of God interceding for us, so that we become righteous in God's eyes. The Holy Spirit tells us what God wants us to do and not do. We have everything we need right there! Wow!
What to do when you feel lost
Today, I read about Jesus dying on the cross, God raising Him from the dead and appearing to others telling them to tell everyone about this.
Jesus now sits at the right hand of God and because He was sinless, He can tell God we are sinless too through Him. Even though we still make mistakes; Jesus Christ covers those mistakes.
I try to do right everyday, but I mess up every day. Over and over and over again. It is very frustrating. I keep trying, but I always do something wrong. What is a person supposed to do?
The Bible tells us what to do! We should pray, go to church to hear God's word and be around other people who know this stuff, and read the Bible. If I keep trying to do these things, I will not succeed...no, I will not, because I am a human being and I cannot stop messing up even when I try and do all the right things, but God, the one who can do anything and everything, He will help me succeed despite myself! We need to rely on His strength and His love. He will work with us to make us better and He will forgive all our mistakes.
Thank you, Father, for sending Jesus to cover all my sins, mistakes, every second of every minute of every day! Please forgive me for sinning. Please help me to do better from now on. Amen.
Jesus now sits at the right hand of God and because He was sinless, He can tell God we are sinless too through Him. Even though we still make mistakes; Jesus Christ covers those mistakes.
I try to do right everyday, but I mess up every day. Over and over and over again. It is very frustrating. I keep trying, but I always do something wrong. What is a person supposed to do?
The Bible tells us what to do! We should pray, go to church to hear God's word and be around other people who know this stuff, and read the Bible. If I keep trying to do these things, I will not succeed...no, I will not, because I am a human being and I cannot stop messing up even when I try and do all the right things, but God, the one who can do anything and everything, He will help me succeed despite myself! We need to rely on His strength and His love. He will work with us to make us better and He will forgive all our mistakes.
Thank you, Father, for sending Jesus to cover all my sins, mistakes, every second of every minute of every day! Please forgive me for sinning. Please help me to do better from now on. Amen.
The gift
I John 2:12
12I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.
Ephesians 2:8
8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
Psalm 103:12
12as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
Jesus died on the cross for our sins. He did this freely. It is a gift to us. We have done nothing to deserve it and need to do nothing to receive it except believe and ask for His forgiveness. We cannot DO anything to earn this...it is free!
My past several posts have been about us and our sins and forgiveness and what we need to do. Today, we have come fill circle. We do need to believe, but after that Jesus Christ takes care of everything: cleansing us of our sins, our wrongs; making us right with God; allowing us to start over again and again. We just have to believe in Him!
Praise God that Jesus is a gift I don't deserve and can't do anything to get. I just need to believe! Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief!
12I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.
Ephesians 2:8
8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
Psalm 103:12
12as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
Jesus died on the cross for our sins. He did this freely. It is a gift to us. We have done nothing to deserve it and need to do nothing to receive it except believe and ask for His forgiveness. We cannot DO anything to earn this...it is free!
My past several posts have been about us and our sins and forgiveness and what we need to do. Today, we have come fill circle. We do need to believe, but after that Jesus Christ takes care of everything: cleansing us of our sins, our wrongs; making us right with God; allowing us to start over again and again. We just have to believe in Him!
Praise God that Jesus is a gift I don't deserve and can't do anything to get. I just need to believe! Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief!
Are there little and big sins?
This is definitely just the beginning of this search for me. I have been burdened with the thought of little versus big sins. As I was doing a little research, and I do mean little), I came across a PDF of a sermon which I think very nicely sums up this issue.
Click here to download the text. Althoughthisseemslogical, I don't know who wrote it? What is their background? Beliefs?
Another issue it addresses...drinking. interesting viewpoint
If you have any inputs, please post a response with the Biblical references to support your position. Thanks! Lookinh forward to discussing this with everyone.
Click here to download the text. Althoughthisseemslogical, I don't know who wrote it? What is their background? Beliefs?
Another issue it addresses...drinking. interesting viewpoint
If you have any inputs, please post a response with the Biblical references to support your position. Thanks! Lookinh forward to discussing this with everyone.
Pride
Genesis 2:6-7
6When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
Pride. Eve thought she knew better than God what was good for her! So, she ate from the tree, and so did Adam. How crazy! Who actually thinks they know more, or better, than an all-knowing, all-powerful, omni-present, God! Right?
Eve had everything! She had a great place to live, apparently a painless childbirth, she and her husband worked but apparently he did not work by "toiling." I would like to have enjoyed painless childbirth, and I am sure my husband would enjoy not toiling when he fixes a fence or does repairs on the house.
So, basically, Adam and Eve lived like a king and a queen. All they had to do was follow one rule. Don't eat from the tree in the middle of the garden of Eden. One rule? Really? I wish all I had to do was follow one rule! I have to get up by an alarm, get to work on time, obey the traffic laws on my way, obey the rules at work...you get my point. Wouldn't ONE rule be nice?
What were Adam and Eve thinking? They ruined a really good thing! Not to mention the Almighty God, the creator and maker of heaven and earth, walked and talked with them in the coolness of the morning in the garden. Wow! Who would be crazy enough to give that up by eating one piece of fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden?!!!
But, they did! Their pride (enticed by the devil) caused them to sin. God warned them there would be consequences, but they still ate the fruit. So, here we are now, in a fallen world because they ate the fruit! Rules, toiling, pain! Seems unfair, but the choice was made long ago, and now we must live with it. Right?
Only one problem with that thought. We still make choices every minute of every day...we make choices to do what is right or wrong every single minute. Did we follow all the traffic laws or did we maybe roll on through that stop sign...just this once? Did we follow the rules at work or did we daydream or gossip a little? Did we snooze a little too much this morning and arrive somewhere just a minute or two late? Did we take some work time to do a few personal things at work (or work during personal time) that we should have waited to do on our own time (or at work)? If so, we have sinned just as Eve and Adam sinned. You don't think so? Read on...
To Him every sin is horrible and He warns that every transgression and disobedience will receive a just recompense of reward. (Heb. 2:2)
Pride causes us to think "just this once won't hurt anything" right? Wrong! Once is just that...once! Not never...but once...we did it. We can't deny it. Our pride, the devil's own machination, causes us to do things we KNOW we should not do, but we do them anyway. Our pride tells us we want this, so why not have it?
What is wrong with a little daydreaming or a little tardiness, or a little gossip? Our maker, God, says to be holy and follow the rules He has made for us. I Peter 1:6 says "Be holy for I am holy. " When we do little, or big, sins, we are not holy. When we believe we know better than God; that is called pride, and pride is sin!
God is holy. He cannot accept sin. Uh oh! Where does that leave us? That leaves us with Jesus Christ! If we believe in Christ, He will clear all our sin away, so God can walk with us and talk with us as if we are pure and sinless, and we can talk to Him, just as Adam and Eve once did.
We need to stop being so prideful as to think we know better than God, and we need to start doing only what is right. We can learn what is right by studying the Bible regularly to keep His thoughts in our mind. We can do this by praying without ceasing. Talk to God all day. Ask Him to help you through difficult or seemingly easy situations. You will be amazed at how much better your day will be as compared to following your pride and doing things in your own way without consulting God.
Even though we are sinners, we still get to walk with God. We can pray, talk, to Him any time day or night, anywhere. Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins and now sits at the right hand of God intervening for us as we pray. So, pray! Pray, so you won't sin!
6When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
Pride. Eve thought she knew better than God what was good for her! So, she ate from the tree, and so did Adam. How crazy! Who actually thinks they know more, or better, than an all-knowing, all-powerful, omni-present, God! Right?
Eve had everything! She had a great place to live, apparently a painless childbirth, she and her husband worked but apparently he did not work by "toiling." I would like to have enjoyed painless childbirth, and I am sure my husband would enjoy not toiling when he fixes a fence or does repairs on the house.
So, basically, Adam and Eve lived like a king and a queen. All they had to do was follow one rule. Don't eat from the tree in the middle of the garden of Eden. One rule? Really? I wish all I had to do was follow one rule! I have to get up by an alarm, get to work on time, obey the traffic laws on my way, obey the rules at work...you get my point. Wouldn't ONE rule be nice?
What were Adam and Eve thinking? They ruined a really good thing! Not to mention the Almighty God, the creator and maker of heaven and earth, walked and talked with them in the coolness of the morning in the garden. Wow! Who would be crazy enough to give that up by eating one piece of fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden?!!!
But, they did! Their pride (enticed by the devil) caused them to sin. God warned them there would be consequences, but they still ate the fruit. So, here we are now, in a fallen world because they ate the fruit! Rules, toiling, pain! Seems unfair, but the choice was made long ago, and now we must live with it. Right?
Only one problem with that thought. We still make choices every minute of every day...we make choices to do what is right or wrong every single minute. Did we follow all the traffic laws or did we maybe roll on through that stop sign...just this once? Did we follow the rules at work or did we daydream or gossip a little? Did we snooze a little too much this morning and arrive somewhere just a minute or two late? Did we take some work time to do a few personal things at work (or work during personal time) that we should have waited to do on our own time (or at work)? If so, we have sinned just as Eve and Adam sinned. You don't think so? Read on...
To Him every sin is horrible and He warns that every transgression and disobedience will receive a just recompense of reward. (Heb. 2:2)
Pride causes us to think "just this once won't hurt anything" right? Wrong! Once is just that...once! Not never...but once...we did it. We can't deny it. Our pride, the devil's own machination, causes us to do things we KNOW we should not do, but we do them anyway. Our pride tells us we want this, so why not have it?
What is wrong with a little daydreaming or a little tardiness, or a little gossip? Our maker, God, says to be holy and follow the rules He has made for us. I Peter 1:6 says "Be holy for I am holy. " When we do little, or big, sins, we are not holy. When we believe we know better than God; that is called pride, and pride is sin!
God is holy. He cannot accept sin. Uh oh! Where does that leave us? That leaves us with Jesus Christ! If we believe in Christ, He will clear all our sin away, so God can walk with us and talk with us as if we are pure and sinless, and we can talk to Him, just as Adam and Eve once did.
We need to stop being so prideful as to think we know better than God, and we need to start doing only what is right. We can learn what is right by studying the Bible regularly to keep His thoughts in our mind. We can do this by praying without ceasing. Talk to God all day. Ask Him to help you through difficult or seemingly easy situations. You will be amazed at how much better your day will be as compared to following your pride and doing things in your own way without consulting God.
Even though we are sinners, we still get to walk with God. We can pray, talk, to Him any time day or night, anywhere. Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins and now sits at the right hand of God intervening for us as we pray. So, pray! Pray, so you won't sin!
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
In God's time
We were in Jeremiah today noting how a false prophet told the exiled Isrealites they would be back in Jerusalem in two years. The real prophet, Jeremiah, told them it would be 70 years and that they should settle in and make their h home in Babylon with their captives for now. Two different views. One was easier and seemed more hopeful for the immediate future, but false. One was much harder (they had to wait 70 years), and true because that one was the real message sent from God.
Many times in life, we prefer to have the easier solution tickle our ears rather than listen to the harsh reality of truth. We just want the problem to go away and a good result to be there instead.
In fact, I have a friend who has cancer. The first option, two years ago, was surgery. Now, several surgeries and chemo treatments later, she is still attuned with her recovery. Besides cancer, she has lost her job, is now on disability and must consider giving up her house. Her children want to have her live with them, but that is a life changing choice for her and them. It has been a long, painful, depressing road. Yesterday, her mom said, "think of how many people have been led to Christ through this woman's testimony in the hospital, the doctors and nurses, friends, etc." Now there is the focus we all need for tough situations!
God did not promise things would be easy, or brief, but he did promise he would be with us.
Jeremiah 29:4
11For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
By prosper, hope, and future, God means He will bring us peace according to His plan. He knows what the end of the story should look like and He will get us there! Thank you, Father!
Many times in life, we prefer to have the easier solution tickle our ears rather than listen to the harsh reality of truth. We just want the problem to go away and a good result to be there instead.
In fact, I have a friend who has cancer. The first option, two years ago, was surgery. Now, several surgeries and chemo treatments later, she is still attuned with her recovery. Besides cancer, she has lost her job, is now on disability and must consider giving up her house. Her children want to have her live with them, but that is a life changing choice for her and them. It has been a long, painful, depressing road. Yesterday, her mom said, "think of how many people have been led to Christ through this woman's testimony in the hospital, the doctors and nurses, friends, etc." Now there is the focus we all need for tough situations!
God did not promise things would be easy, or brief, but he did promise he would be with us.
Jeremiah 29:4
11For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
By prosper, hope, and future, God means He will bring us peace according to His plan. He knows what the end of the story should look like and He will get us there! Thank you, Father!
Sunday, August 9, 2015
If you love Me...
John 14:15
If you love me, you will obey my commands.
If you love me. How can you help but love Jesus Christ? Whether we want to believe it or not, whether we like it or not, we live in a messed up world. It is messed up because of sin. ..not just the awful murder, maim, and rape sins, but the subtle sins of white lies such as no one will notice if you don't attend church, blaming someone else so you don't have to take responsibility, reflecting blame onto someone else and away from us so we look good, not doing something we know we should do, not saying something when we know we should have said something. All subtle sins, right? Not as bad as murdering someone, right?
Wrong! Unfortunately for that way of thinking, God doesn't differentiate between sins. He is so holy and perfect, that even subtle sins are too much to allow us in His presence (both by pray and at death). However, He still loves us so much that He gave us a way to be with Him for eternity and talk to Him all the time anyway. He sent His holy son, Jesus Christ. Jesus was crucified on the cross to take the punishment for all of our subtle and major sins. Each and every one of them each and every day! He now sits at the right hand of God as our mediator, so our sins are cleaned up by Him in order to allow us the opportunity to talk to God. To live with Good eternally!
So, no matter how much we mess up, if we just keep trying to do things the way God wants us to, Christ will make us righteous in God's eyes. We can spend eternity in the heavenly, holy, perfect, presence of God with no more pain, no more heart ache, no more sin!
His commands are to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, our soul, our mind. The second greatest commandment is to love our neighbors (everyone else) as we love ourselves. So, if we love Jesus Christ (God), we will continue to show our love for Him by then loving our imperfect friends, acquaintances, neighbors, strangers. Giving them the same mercy we have been given over and over again every single day through Jesus Christ!
If you love me, you will obey my commands.
If you love me. How can you help but love Jesus Christ? Whether we want to believe it or not, whether we like it or not, we live in a messed up world. It is messed up because of sin. ..not just the awful murder, maim, and rape sins, but the subtle sins of white lies such as no one will notice if you don't attend church, blaming someone else so you don't have to take responsibility, reflecting blame onto someone else and away from us so we look good, not doing something we know we should do, not saying something when we know we should have said something. All subtle sins, right? Not as bad as murdering someone, right?
Wrong! Unfortunately for that way of thinking, God doesn't differentiate between sins. He is so holy and perfect, that even subtle sins are too much to allow us in His presence (both by pray and at death). However, He still loves us so much that He gave us a way to be with Him for eternity and talk to Him all the time anyway. He sent His holy son, Jesus Christ. Jesus was crucified on the cross to take the punishment for all of our subtle and major sins. Each and every one of them each and every day! He now sits at the right hand of God as our mediator, so our sins are cleaned up by Him in order to allow us the opportunity to talk to God. To live with Good eternally!
So, no matter how much we mess up, if we just keep trying to do things the way God wants us to, Christ will make us righteous in God's eyes. We can spend eternity in the heavenly, holy, perfect, presence of God with no more pain, no more heart ache, no more sin!
His commands are to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, our soul, our mind. The second greatest commandment is to love our neighbors (everyone else) as we love ourselves. So, if we love Jesus Christ (God), we will continue to show our love for Him by then loving our imperfect friends, acquaintances, neighbors, strangers. Giving them the same mercy we have been given over and over again every single day through Jesus Christ!
In the beginning. ..
In the beginning God created heaven and earth. Genesis 1:1
We have all heard that a million times, but today it was different.
Today, I read the creation story carefully. It was amazing! I didn't realize the details. The vault that separated the rain from the oceans. The stars were not made because of some explosion, but so we could have light at night. The animals were given vegetation to eat. ..not meat? And lastly, but most importantly, man was created in God's image and was given dominion over everything God had created!
Amazing!
We are ALL created in God's image. Every single one of us. Even those we don't like or trust or who look and smell bad or who swindle other people without seemingly any remorse EVERYONE is made in God's image!
You know what. ..that includes me! Despite all the things I do wrong, God loves me, too! I was created in His image. On those days when I have really messed up; on those days that no matter how hard I try nothing goes right; on those days when everything goes right; on those days that others are disappointed in me; on those days when others are unkind to me...even those days...God loves me (and those people, also)!
Thank you, Father, for loving all of us so much! Please help me to love myself and others as you do. Help me to see everyone through your eyes.
We have all heard that a million times, but today it was different.
Today, I read the creation story carefully. It was amazing! I didn't realize the details. The vault that separated the rain from the oceans. The stars were not made because of some explosion, but so we could have light at night. The animals were given vegetation to eat. ..not meat? And lastly, but most importantly, man was created in God's image and was given dominion over everything God had created!
Amazing!
We are ALL created in God's image. Every single one of us. Even those we don't like or trust or who look and smell bad or who swindle other people without seemingly any remorse EVERYONE is made in God's image!
You know what. ..that includes me! Despite all the things I do wrong, God loves me, too! I was created in His image. On those days when I have really messed up; on those days that no matter how hard I try nothing goes right; on those days when everything goes right; on those days that others are disappointed in me; on those days when others are unkind to me...even those days...God loves me (and those people, also)!
Thank you, Father, for loving all of us so much! Please help me to love myself and others as you do. Help me to see everyone through your eyes.
Saturday, August 1, 2015
Oops-a-daisy...a little mistake!
Today's devotional was about Annanias and Saphira. As might already know, they had some land and sold it. They gave most of the money to the church and kept a small amount for themselves.
Now you are thinking, is it wrong to keep a little back? Does God want me to sell everything and give everything to the church? Well, if He has led you to do that, then yes; but if He hasn't, then, no.
But that is really not the issue. Here is what was wrong. When they gave the money to the church they led everyone to believe that they had given ALL the proceeds of the sale to the church. I guess they wanted to "appear" to be very generous and "holy." How many times do we want people to think of us a certain way, so we lead them to believe part of the truth and leave out the other part we don't want them to know about. Oops-a-daisy! Tiny little mislead or lie, right?
Well, the problem is, God doesn't like hidden agendas and partial truths...those are also known as "sins." God is holy. That means He does not like sin. Fortunately, He also sent His Son, so our sins can be forgiven. That is the Good News!
Here is the bad news. Annanias and Saphira lied to Peter's face about having kept back a little of the money. The problem is not that they should not have kept some of the money; the problem is that they lied about it! Oops-a-daisy!
Was it a little lie? Apparently, to God, a lie is a lie...no more, no less. So when we cover our little, tiny, lies with phrases like "oops-a-daisy" or "white lie" or "that didn't hurt anyone," we are sinning just as if we had committed murder.
God, please help me to see everything through your eyes. Please help me to tell the truth, the whole truth, in a God honoring way. Amen.
Now you are thinking, is it wrong to keep a little back? Does God want me to sell everything and give everything to the church? Well, if He has led you to do that, then yes; but if He hasn't, then, no.
But that is really not the issue. Here is what was wrong. When they gave the money to the church they led everyone to believe that they had given ALL the proceeds of the sale to the church. I guess they wanted to "appear" to be very generous and "holy." How many times do we want people to think of us a certain way, so we lead them to believe part of the truth and leave out the other part we don't want them to know about. Oops-a-daisy! Tiny little mislead or lie, right?
Well, the problem is, God doesn't like hidden agendas and partial truths...those are also known as "sins." God is holy. That means He does not like sin. Fortunately, He also sent His Son, so our sins can be forgiven. That is the Good News!
Here is the bad news. Annanias and Saphira lied to Peter's face about having kept back a little of the money. The problem is not that they should not have kept some of the money; the problem is that they lied about it! Oops-a-daisy!
Was it a little lie? Apparently, to God, a lie is a lie...no more, no less. So when we cover our little, tiny, lies with phrases like "oops-a-daisy" or "white lie" or "that didn't hurt anyone," we are sinning just as if we had committed murder.
God, please help me to see everything through your eyes. Please help me to tell the truth, the whole truth, in a God honoring way. Amen.
Life is unfair, but...
I awoke too early this morning with concerns over a situation. I felt people had gone around me and behind my back. I felt a very negative person had managed to drag a few more people down with her. I was mad. I was hurt. I felt like I was pushed out without any say. I was afraid. I felt my opinion did not count. I, honestly was contemplating ways to be vindictive...in a Christian way, of course (not possible!).
I finally stopped dwelling on the hurt and started praying. God led me to do my devotions at 3:00 a.m. instead of waiting. The devotion was Matthew 10:29-31 and Psalm 139.
29Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.[a] 30And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
1You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. 2You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 4Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. 5You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. 6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. 7Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. 11If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” 12even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. 13For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. 16Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. 17How precious to me are your thoughts,[a] God! 18Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand— when I awake, I am still with you. 19If only you, God, would slay the wicked! Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty! 20They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name. 21Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord, and abhor those who are in rebellion against you? 22I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies. 23Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
After reading these, who could feel left out or vindictive. God loves me! Praise God. GOD VALUES MY OPINION. God wants what is good for me. God knows everything I have done (good and bad) and everything I will do, and HE STILL LOVES ME! Now, I feel good! Life is good.
...but what about that"situation? " Well, not only does God love me and know me, but He loves the other people in this situation and He knows them too! He is a big God, and He is a loving and merciful God. He can love us all, and He can help all of us love each other.
God has a plan. God is in control! Thank you, God that you are in charge of everything, because we sure can make a mess of things all by ourselves!
I finally stopped dwelling on the hurt and started praying. God led me to do my devotions at 3:00 a.m. instead of waiting. The devotion was Matthew 10:29-31 and Psalm 139.
29Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.[a] 30And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
1You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. 2You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 4Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. 5You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. 6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. 7Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. 11If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” 12even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. 13For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. 16Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. 17How precious to me are your thoughts,[a] God! 18Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand— when I awake, I am still with you. 19If only you, God, would slay the wicked! Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty! 20They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name. 21Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord, and abhor those who are in rebellion against you? 22I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies. 23Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
After reading these, who could feel left out or vindictive. God loves me! Praise God. GOD VALUES MY OPINION. God wants what is good for me. God knows everything I have done (good and bad) and everything I will do, and HE STILL LOVES ME! Now, I feel good! Life is good.
...but what about that"situation? " Well, not only does God love me and know me, but He loves the other people in this situation and He knows them too! He is a big God, and He is a loving and merciful God. He can love us all, and He can help all of us love each other.
God has a plan. God is in control! Thank you, God that you are in charge of everything, because we sure can make a mess of things all by ourselves!
Lydia and hospitality
Today, I read about Lydia. She accepted Christ, then her whole family accepted Christ, and she convinced Paul to stay at her house if he believed she was a true believer. So, he did. She was a maker of purple cloth. Over the years I have heard several pastors indicate that purple cloth was sought after in those days. So, she may, or may not, have been fairly wealthy.
However, no matter her wealth, today's devotion is about her hospitality. She didn't wait to clean her house, or fix things up, or create a theme. She simply invited Paul and Silas to stay with her.
Today, we are all about "entertaining." Having a theme, making sure everything is perfect, ensuring everything is spotless, ensuring our house is what we think it should be for others to appreciate...maybe even envy?
The opposite always happens. Our house is not clean, not perfect, maybe we don't have a theme, it isn't the envy of our neighbors or friends. So, we avoid entertaining.
Well, two points here. One, it is not about entertaining. It is about hospitality. Look it up in the Bible. It says to be hospitable. It doesn't say there has to be a theme (although there can be), it doesn't have to be planned, your house doesn't have to be perfect. No, you just have to invite people over and be in the "here and now" with them.
Second point, forget about your pride about your house. God gave you what you have. He made you who you are. Use your house to be hospitable. If someone doesn't like it, it is their heart God has to deal with. You are supposed to be hospitable. A perfect house or decorations is not in the Bible!!!
Someone also pointed out that hospitality doesn't just happen in your home. You could meet people at a coffee shop, go to their house, etc. Hospitality is about relationships and sharing the Good News. It is not about houses, cleaning, themes, or keeping up with the Jones's.
Father, thank you for this devotion today. Please help us to keep our eyes open for opportunities to be hospitable. Please help us to share about saving grace in a clear way today! Amen
However, no matter her wealth, today's devotion is about her hospitality. She didn't wait to clean her house, or fix things up, or create a theme. She simply invited Paul and Silas to stay with her.
Today, we are all about "entertaining." Having a theme, making sure everything is perfect, ensuring everything is spotless, ensuring our house is what we think it should be for others to appreciate...maybe even envy?
The opposite always happens. Our house is not clean, not perfect, maybe we don't have a theme, it isn't the envy of our neighbors or friends. So, we avoid entertaining.
Well, two points here. One, it is not about entertaining. It is about hospitality. Look it up in the Bible. It says to be hospitable. It doesn't say there has to be a theme (although there can be), it doesn't have to be planned, your house doesn't have to be perfect. No, you just have to invite people over and be in the "here and now" with them.
Second point, forget about your pride about your house. God gave you what you have. He made you who you are. Use your house to be hospitable. If someone doesn't like it, it is their heart God has to deal with. You are supposed to be hospitable. A perfect house or decorations is not in the Bible!!!
Someone also pointed out that hospitality doesn't just happen in your home. You could meet people at a coffee shop, go to their house, etc. Hospitality is about relationships and sharing the Good News. It is not about houses, cleaning, themes, or keeping up with the Jones's.
Father, thank you for this devotion today. Please help us to keep our eyes open for opportunities to be hospitable. Please help us to share about saving grace in a clear way today! Amen
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