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.
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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. |
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January 2019
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