Weekly Devotional

Luke 23:34 – And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

Last weekend was the 10^th anniversary of the September 11th Terrorist Attacks on our Country. I can’t help but think about the lives that were altered due to this atrocious act. When lives are affected so drastically, where does forgiveness find its place? To me one of the best examples for us to live by is the story of Joseph and what his brothers did to him. Joseph speaking to his brothers, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today”, Genesis 50:20. Even though his brothers betrayed and sold him into slavery Joseph believed it was God’s Will. He took a situation that many would have seen as the worst thing that could have happened and found good in it. Actually through a good portion of the story Joseph had no idea what would happen to him but he trusted God through it all.

Psalms 37:7 – Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! When someone does something to us we want some sort of revenge. A couple of weeks ago I wrote about David and how he chose not to avenge. We could take that same lesson here but Joseph’s story is more about trusting God and His plan for our lives. Whatever may come, it is God’s plan, Good, Bad or indifferent. Romans 8:28 – And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

If we accept the gift of grace from God then we must fully trust in His plan for our lives. If we were as devoted to this as Joseph was I think forgiveness would be a very easy thing to do.

John 16:33 – I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Mark 4:27 – He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how

I’ve been planting a garden in our backyard now for the last 2 years. Although I’m in the landscape industry I know nothing of “farming” even on the urban level. However, we have been blessed with pretty good “harvests”, until this summer’s record heat that is. The gardening process is amazing. We buy a small plant or better yet, a packet of seeds. We prepare the soil, plant and begin watering. In a few days we see the little shoots emerge and with consistent care we have Produce in a matter of a few weeks. This is truly one of Gods miracles of life! The faith we put in that little plant or seed, while sub-conscious, is as big as faith gets. How exactly the seed grows is a mystery. Though it grows by a process we cannot see nor fully account for, we have faith in the growing process. So it is with the Kingdom of God: we work in partnership with God, yet the real work is left up
to Him – we trust in a process we cannot see nor fully account for.

The word of God works invisibly within us. God promised that His word would accomplish the purpose for which He sends it (Isaiah 55:11). So when you hear the word it works in you – even as you sleep! It works in you spiritually, in a way that is invisible to our eyes.

Jesus used the seed/soil scenario in a couple of different parables. In the verse above the seed is The Word. When it’s planted in us, and we nurture it, it has the ability to grow and we then have the ability to sow more seed by sharing God’s Word with others. This gardening thing is pretty cool!

2 Peter 3:18 – But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

Excerpts from Mark 4 Commentry by David Guzik

1 Sam 24:12 – May the LORD judge between me and you, may the LORD avenge me against you, but my hand shall not be against you.

I’m still making my way through the old Testament. This morning my reading brought forth the above verse. The Living Bible translates, “Perhaps the Lord will kill you for what you are trying to do to me, but I will never harm you.” What a great message!

Our human nature takes us to places where we know we shouldn’t go and I would put revenge right at the top. Here, it could be argued that David had the right to kill Saul in self-defense but David acquiesced to the Lord and His judgment alone.

This comes down to a question of faith. Have you given your life to Christ and fully trust Him? If so, then such matters wouldn’t occupy our minds. Something as simple as an absentminded driver cutting you off may cause you to go into revenge mode, OK, that one might be easy to let go. How about someone stealing from you or harming a family member? Not so easy. God has promised to take care of the righteous and punish the wicked, but He will do it in His time.

As Christians, how can we bring forth a message of Love when we have revenge on our minds? If the Lord forgives us of our sins, then we must do the same with our transgressors. It’s our selfish nature that makes this one of the hardest edicts of the Bible to follow, but if we do, we truly exhibit full surrender and trust in the Lord. I’d say that’s a pretty good deal!

1 Sam 26:23 – The LORD rewards every man for hisrighteousness and his faithfulness, for the LORD gave you into my hand today, and I would not put out my hand against the LORD’s anointed.

Originally Published 3/22/09

Rev 4:11 – “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

My wife and I took a trip down to the Texas Hill Country this past weekend. In my modest travels, I think this area is some of God’s best “work”. The rolling hills, regal oak trees and winding creeks seem to be around every corner. The wildlife that occupies this country is equally beautiful and amazing. It’s so easy for us to get caught up in our lives that we rarely take time to appreciate God’s Creations. When you do though, it’s evident that all that we see and hear is not by happenstance. Take for example the Owl Butterfly or a simple Leaf insect, for their protection, God created these defenseless creatures with an inherent ability to blend in with their surroundings or in the case of the Owl Butterfly, even scare their predators away. If we were to think like evolutionists do, it would be a logical conclusion that the Leaf Insect used to be a “leaf” and over time it just grew legs and a thorax, etc, etc. We know these to be the perfect creations of God our Father.

God gives all his creations special abilities. This means YOU! We all have something we do well. It could be an artistic skill or the ability to run a corporation. The point is that God wants you to use the abilities he gave you. So think about what you do well and/or enjoy doing and go do it, knowing that it is a gift from God and while you’re at it, give him the Glory and Praise that such a gift warrants.   

God Does not lead me year by year,

nor even day by day;

But step by step my path unfolds;

and if choose to follow,

He will direct my way.

Anonymous, paraphrased by Jim Hampton

Ephesians 4:25 – Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.

Think of your favorite book, movie or song. Something you know like the back of your hand. Something you know every little detail about, something you care for deeply and invoke fond memories. Now let’s say you met someone and started talking and this book, movie or song came up. This person you met has the same passion for it as you do. What a great thing to have in common! Well the more you discuss it the more things don’t seem right to you. Their version seems to be from the same source material but the meaning has completely changed. How can this be?

This happens every day in the form of RELIGION. Men and women have taken the Word of God and manipulated it to fit their needs. Now, more than ever, our society chooses not to confront these people or religions. There is an attitude that “their God is really our God” and in the end “we’ll all be in the same place”.  A few years ago Oprah took on this view and stated publicly that there “can’t be just one way to get to heaven”, that God is more a state of feeling than Belief. Wow!

So why confront religions when most people who worship a God tend to be “good people”. 1 John 4:1 -  Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. I mentioned Oprah’s statement earlier and to cut to the chase, that is the most important reason to confront false religions. John 14:6 – Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Many false religions claim Jesus but not in the way the Bible does. Many false religions speak of the same God but not in the way the Bible does. Many false religions speak of your salvation, but not in the way the Bible does.

Your Salvation is not earned, it is not conditional and it can’t be lost. It is a gift from God, but only through acceptance of His Son, Jesus Christ as your Savior. Just as it was written in the Bible. Not edited by another, not through some other form of consciousness and it certainly cannot be found in a hat. The Bible and its teachings, in its original form, is all you really need to get to know Jesus.

I read something a few years ago that I feel sums this up pretty well: RELIGION is humans trying to work their way to God. CHRISTIANITY is GOD coming to men and women through Jesus Christ. Are you letting Religion get in the way of the relationship you should have with Jesus Christ?

Micah 7:19 – He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.

With all the talk about debt lately, in monetary terms, it’s hard to feel real good about where we are as a country. The word Trillion is now the vernacular used to describe our situation. Debt is something we have all been through at one time or another. Some choose to deal with it, ala Dave Ramsey style, and others choose to immerse themselves further into their problems until their problems come to them.

What if you were one of those who continually lived beyond your means? amassing huge debt from credit cards, mortgage and cars. You knew that regardless of how much you tried there would be no possible way to repay the debt incurred. Then, when all seemed hopeless, someone you don’t know volunteered to pay every penny you owed? What a gift! What Freedom!

Well this has already been done for you . . . . but instead of paying your monetary debt, which is temporary, God paid your sin debt, which is eternal, by offering His one and only son, Jesus Christ to die for your sins. I know some have a hard time coming to terms with this sacrifice. Think of it as one of your parents jumping in front of a car to spare your life. That puts it into perspective, doesn’t it?

If you haven’t accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior then you really don’t know God yet. By accepting Him into your life you will begin a new life without the debt of your sins. What Freedom!

1 John 2:1-3 – My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.

Psalms 33:3 – Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.

I have a friend (Lee) who leads our Jr. High worship band (Road to Damascus rocks!). Lee’s story is not too different than many, to a point. He began attending our church about 3 years ago. He and his wife moved to south Arlington and found Crossroads Christian Church. He was drawn to the worship music and the fact that our Pastor spoke directly from the Bible. However, like many people Lee came to church when he felt like it and when he did, it was in for an hour and back out to live his life as he saw fit.

So many of us go through the motion of “going to church”, much like going to the grocery store or even a movie. For that period of time, we are focused on the task at hand but when we leave it’s on to “other stuff”. Is this you? Well for Lee, he went through a season where all kinds of things weren’t going right. He realized that instead of just “going to church” he needed to center his life around God.

Lee dedicated his life to Christ and started serving in the media ministry. A short time later he began helping out with the Jr. High worship program. In the year or so since he began it has been very apparent that God is using him to reach others through his musical abilities. He recently composed a song and sang it during worship. Lee will be the first one to tell you that he didn’t do this on his own. Only through Christ Jesus can we all reach our full potential and accomplish things we never thought possible. There is no doubt that Lee has been a very talented musician for quite some time. However, it wasn’t until he stopped just “going to church” and started truly seeking God that he was able to fully realize the gift that he was blessed with.

If you attend church that’s great! But are you just putting in your time once a week? or even less . . . I wonder how God would bless you if you did as Lee?

Psalms 37:5 – Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.

John 3:18 – . . . but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

Here in Texas we have experienced over two weeks straight of 100 degree weather. It has been utterly brutal. Just walk outside and you feel it instantly. The heat offers nothing but anguish and suffering, especially to those who have prolonged exposure to it. For the most part we all have a choice as to whether or not we are going to subject our selves to this “punishment”. I can choose to stay inside and enjoy the comfort of the A/C or we are lucky enough to have a few neighbors with swimming pools that offer instant relief from this oppressive heat.

 The same holds true with your salvation. Each one of us has the choice as to whether we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. By accepting this gift of grace we are assured of eternal life through Jesus’ Sacrifice. John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. Though many believe such, we can not attain eternity through just being a “good person”. Ephesians 2:8-9 – For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 

For some it’s hard to see Hell as a real place. It’s a place reserved for weird cartoons, Halloween or a mythical place akin to Atlantis. In a way I wish that were true but God formed a perfect world and Hell is a very real part of it. Mathew 25:31 – Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. I know many good people. I also know many good people who have not accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior. Psalms 73:27 – For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.  

Are you one of these people? Are you not sure what will happen to you when you die? Are you at a place in your life where you’re not fulfilled? If you believe in God and His Word then you must believe Hell is a very real place. Just like we have the choice to stay inside to avoid the heat you have the choice to accept Christ as your savior and avoid an eternity in Hell. It’s the best decision you’ll ever make!  . . . feel free to contact me to discuss this in your life

Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Luke 12:46-47 – the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating.

The American Way of Life, which is based on Judeo-Christian values, thrived for 200 years. Deuteronomy 4:7 – For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is to us, whenever we call upon him? As a Nation, we are now turning away from those values and becoming a shell of our former self. Isaiah 60:12 – For the nation and kingdom that will not serve you shall perish; those nations shall be utterly laid waste.

On this 235^th Birthday of our great nation we stop to reflect on the founding of our country. We think of men like Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, George Washington and many more.  Their vision set into motion the American Way of Life and a country that has grown into the symbol of freedom and democracy for the entire world.

The word Patriot is used to describe such men. Patriot – a person who vigorously supports his country and its way of life. While this definition certainly describes our founding fathers and the many men and women who serve in our Armed Forces, there was a time when it could also be used to describe the vast amount of our common population. Regrettably, the word Patriot is now looked upon by those who wish to turn away from the American Way of Life as a punch line or some political kook.

Of all the Judeo-Christian values that we are taught, Jesus held Servitude in the highest regard. Mark 10:45 – For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” The Patriots who fought and granted our country its literal independence did so without compensation. They served for the idea of a republic that saw all men as equal. They served for those who could not fight for themselves. They fought for a value system based on the Bible and the American way of life! Galatians 5:13 – For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

When we serve, we take the focus off of ourselves and direct it toward others. When we direct our actions toward the good of others and the general welfare, we are demonstrating our Patriotism. In his illustrious inauguration speech John F Kennedy uttered the historic phrase, “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country“. It still stands today as an encouragement to give instead of take, to serve in lieu of being served, a testament to the American Way of Life. On that same day, Kennedy also spoke these words, “…let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God’s work must truly be our own”. In retrospect I’ll take the latter over the former any day. If we simply live our lives as Kennedy expressed The American Way of Life will be preserved forever!

Psalms 28:9 – Oh, save your people and bless your heritage! Be their shepherd and carry them forever.