I wonder if we'd act differently
if we knew that we were
being watched?

As if this life that we are
living out here on planet earth
were some sort of show
which the angels gather about
clicking channels, picking which
reality show is streaming
the best acts of faith.

I mean...
it's not out of the realm
of possiblity.

We certainly read about our
great cloud of witnesses
in Hebrews 12:1

And Peter comes right out
and says...
It is all so wonderful that even
the angels are eagerly
watching these things happen.
as he describes their interest
in the fulfillment of prophecy.
1 Peter 1:12

So why not now.
Why wouldn't they also be
watching how God leads
our hearts to love Him more,
in a battle of free will and faith.

So prepare your minds
for action and
exercise self-control.
Put all your hope in
the gracious salvation
that will come to you
when Jesus Christ is
revealed to the world.

Don’t slip back into
your old ways of living
to satisfy your own desires.
You didn’t know any better then.

And remember,
when you call on God to pray...
live in reverent fear of Him
during your time here
as “temporary residents.”

For you know that
God paid a ransom to
save you from the empty life
you inherited from your ancestors.
And it was not paid
with mere gold or silver,
which lose their value.
It was the precious blood of Christ,
the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.
God chose Him as your ransom
long before the world began,
but now in these last days
He has been revealed for your sake.
1 Peter 1:13,15,17-20

So now is our opportunity
to be famous in heaven...
the chamions of faith,
those willing to put our own
interests aside for the
promotion of the gospel.

C'mon...
you just read Peter's words.
Action-minded,
self-controled, ready
for the battle when Jesus
returns... because afterall,
God paid a ransom for us
with His very own blood,
and not with mere cash,
nor earthly metals that
cannot compare.

Of all people, Peter!
This, the man who denied Him.
Three crows of the rooster...
and he stood in shame.

This should be a man
to whom we listen.
live in reverent fear of God
during your time here
as “temporary residents.”

Peter clearly knew how quickly
time could pass and how
short the seeming rise to power
could vanish before your eyes.

Let us get a proper perspective
of who and Whose we are.

Let us decide for whom
we will perform.

Maybe it's not a show
for the angels,
but certainly, it should be
for our eternal perspective.

For we are only
temporary residents here.

Word of God
train me today...
To set my goals as focused, sharp
and pointed heavenward.

To live in reverent fear of God,
action-minded, self-controled, and
​confident to spread Your gospel, today.

Crazy how some days
we feel like taking on the world.

And others...
well, just a glance
from anyone in our general
direction can cause the
walls of our castle to crumble.

That's how it is to live
by our feelings.

When in truth
God asks us to live
by faith.

Indeed.
Easier said than done.

But this gives me hope...
Therefore do not
cast away your confidence,
which has great reward.

For you have need of endurance,
so that after you have
done the will of God,
you may receive the promise:
“For yet a little while,
And He who is coming
will come and will not tarry.
Now the just shall live by faith;
Hebrews 10:35-38a NKJV

Feelings are fickle...
but the faith God gives,
Paul compares to a shield.

This shield of faith,
we are to hold up;
to carry with us always.

And here, not to toss it aside...
not to cast away our confidence,
our boldness, our freedom
which we have found in Christ.

Long ago, the Greeks saw
this casting aside a shield
as disgrace, punishable by death.

One would be seen
as a coward, for no longer
holding it upright, ready for battle...
for you have need of endurance,

How beautiful is that?

And this endurance is a patient
remaining behind, even under
challenging circumstances.
Certainly this not easy, nor
always accompanied.

But it comes with a promise...
so that after you have
done the will of God,
you may receive the promise:
“For yet a little while,
And He who is coming
will come and will not tarry.
Now the just shall live by faith...

For we have a Savior in whom
this confidence is held...
and it is worthy, it is strong.

Let us endure,
let us remain,
even under challenging times,
for His presence is always with us...
and He will guide us through,
helping us to LIVE by FAITH.

This faith is a gift from God...
never something which can be
produced by people.
Rather it is distinct from human belief,
yet essential to begin with it.

It guards us, shields us,
protects us and gives us
the best and fullest life.

This must be why our enemy,
seeing us weakened in battle,
may tempt us to cast it aside
giving in... giving up...
disgraced and discouraged.

Therefore do not
cast away your confidence,
which has great reward.

Word of God
train me today...
To hold my shield of faith steady,
standing firm, enduring in the battle,
not in feeling, but in faith.

To come boldly before Your throne,
asking for greater courage, wisdom
and strength... not giving up,
​nor giving in, but giving all.

Feeling alone?
Defeated?
Rug pulled out
right from under you?

As if whatever you put
your hand to, it never seems
to go your way...
and you're powerless
to accomplish that which
you desire most in life?

Have I got a WORD for you!
Literally.

asthenieia: want of strength,
weakness, illness, suffering calamity

But you don't want to be
weak or frail...
I get it, who does?

I feel this way often.
But this word is found not just
in people who are lacking something,
but one time in a person who
chose it.

Seeing then that we have
a great High Priest who has
passed through the heavens,
Jesus the Son of God,
let us hold fast our confession.

For we do not have a High Priest
who cannot sympathize
with our weaknesses,
but was in all points tempted
as we are, yet without sin.

Let us therefore come boldly
to the throne of grace,
that we may obtain mercy and
find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:14-16 NKJV

Weakness...
Jesus chose it over strength...
for a time, so that He could
better understand us,
better relate to us and
the choices we make, both
toward Him and away from Him.

This God-Man, who put on flesh,
disconnected Himself from
the trinity... never before separate
from the Father and Spirit...
and came to earth to live
as a human, die as a criminal...
chose to give up a great deal
of His heavenly power,
so that He could realte to us;
so that He could understand us
and this weakness
from which we suffer.

When we feel alone and
defeated, as if the rug
has been pulled out
right from under us,
we NEED to KNOW that
our God gave up His power
so that He could be for us
a High Priest like no other,
not just offering a sacrifice for our sins...
rather actually becoming that sacrifice.

Beause He lived out a life
that included all the temptations
all the frustrations,
all the pressures and distractions
this world throws at us.

All so that He could sympathize
with our weakness...
asthenieia, our want of strength.

We are overcome with this feeling,
this "illness," if you will, because
as it's definition proves...
we lack the necessary resources,
we are depleated and insufficient,
unable to achieve anything great,
destitute of power among men.

And this is the great ill for which
our Messiah came and suffered...
the illness for which He was beaten,
gave up His power temporarily
so that He could die to it.

But then after three days
in that dark tomb...
He rose again, defeating death
conquering all weakness...
defeating sin, fear and death.

For when we were
still without strength,
in due time,
Christ died for the ungodly.
Romans 5:6

This is my celebration today...
that I know my weakness,
that I can finally accept it
realizing how Jesus sympathizes
with it completely.

In fact, He subjected Himself
to it so He could better know me.

That's the loving God
which came for me...
who came for you as well.

Won't you open your heart
to Him this holiday season?
​
Weakness and all...
He longs to give you strength
because He truly understands.

Word of God
train me today...
To embrace my weakness, grateful
that You, Lord, know exactly how I feel.

To receive Your grace and mercy,
boldy coming before Your throne
asking for strength in my time of need...
knowing that You will empower me.

There are no words
which can express
my gratitude.

No words which can
ask for a greater gift
this Christmas season.

He offered by grace
a sacrifice I could not give.

I received a gift
I could never earn.

Because God’s children
are human beings...
made of flesh and blood,
the Son also became
flesh and blood.

For only as a human being
could He die, and only
by dying could He break
the power of the devil,
who had the power of death.

Only in this way could He
set free all who have lived
their lives as slaves
to the fear of dying.

We also know that the Son
did not come to help angels;
He came to help
the descendants of Abraham.
Therefore, it was necessary
for Him to be made in
every respect like us,
His brothers and sisters,
so that He could be
our merciful and faithful
High Priest before God.

Then He could offer a sacrifice
that would take away
the sins of the people.
Since He himself has gone
through suffering and testing,
He is able to help us
when we are being tested.
Hebrews 2:14-18 NLT

We are truly blessed
when we daily reflect
on all He has done for us.

And now we KNOW
we can call on Him
when we are afraid
and suffer, for He also
lived and died a life
far more intense
than we will ever know.

Word of God
train me today...
To not glide through this season
without knowing it's true purpose.

To spread the love You first gave
by gifting us with salvation.