Are you listening?
1. Samuel 3:4-10 “4 Then the LORD called Samuel. Samuel answered, Here I am. 5 And he ran to Eli and said, Here I am; you called me. But Eli said, I did not call; go back and lie down. So he went and lay down. 6 Again the LORD called, Samuel! And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, Here I am; you called me. My son, Eli said, I did not call; go back and lie down. 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. 8 The LORD called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, Here I am; you called me. Then Eli realised that the LORD was calling the boy. 9 So Eli told Samuel, Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, 'Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.' So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, Samuel! Samuel! Then Samuel said, Speak, for your servant is listening." NIV
Have you ever noticed how difficult it is to listen to someone when there are other noises around? Often times we are not even good listeners without any other distractions on the side. Our own thoughts and personal matters just occupy us so much that we are unable to really focus and listen to what the other person has to say.
The passage in Samuel 3 serves as such a great example. “In those days, the word of the Lord was rare.” Samuel was young and had never heard the voice of the Lord before. However, he doesn't just turn around and fall back asleep, he reacts to the voice he hears. As he laid down to sleep, God called him. When Samuel finally recognizes that it is the Lord calling him, he makes himself completely available and says
“Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”
God called Samuel as he went to bed. This doesn't mean that the Lord only speaks at night, but we can definitely hear him best as we get quiet before him. We need to learn to still the voices around us and to make ourselves available to the Lord. This is a choice we have to make every day again.
What a privilege it is that God is speaking to us continually! In the days of Samuel, the word of the Lord was rare (1. Samuel 3:1). What would people have given for just one word of God! And here we are, knowing that the connection to God, which was made through Jesus Christ, is available to us 24/7 – And we simply don't make enough use of it. We often times take it for granted that the Lord is speaking. Or we just don't understand, what that reality really means! But we can't just roll over and keep sleeping. God is calling constantly, nudging us with impressions and thoughts, just waiting for us to still the other voices around us and to respond to his whispers.He wants to share his secrets with his friends. He desires to communicate with his children and to tell us what's on his heart. We simply have to react to his voice, when he calls us!
Just imagine what the Lord could accomplish through us, if we would all be on our guards at all times, just listenening and waiting for his instructions. I am certain that many negative things could be avoided and a lot more wonderful things could be accomplished for his glory.
Let this be your prayer today: “Speak, oh Lord, for your servant is listening. Help me to be still before you. Teach me to calm all the other voices, develop in me the discipline to take time and listen. Forgive me for the times I did not listen to you, for not making the time for your whispers. I want to expect you to speak to me – Any time, every day. Help me to react to your voice, to carry out your tasks and to make your name great, oh God. Thank you for speaking to me. Amen"
Saturday
Friday
October 23, 2009
Enjoy another devotional from one of our guest writer's today!
Living a Counter Cultural Life
Have you ever thought about how your group defines who you should be? Have you been in a situation where the group defines what "normal" or "acceptable" is? Everyone in the world is defined by the people around us. Whether you live in a tribal village in Africa, in the Western world of Europe or America or in the Far East of Asia, you are influenced by the culture around you. Television, the news media, your place of employment all have acceptable norms of what a person should look like, what they should act like, what is acceptable to say or how to speak. Everywhere we go we are influenced by our culture. We watch television shows and look at magazines to see what the new "norm" is. How should we decorate our house? What do the experts tell us what we should do? We look at the magazines and professional journals to see the leading trends of our work situation. Everywhere we go, we are influenced by our culture.
While I would never say that we should try to live irrelevant to our culture, the world is trying to form our image, our thinking and our way of life to their culture. The Bible says in Romans 12:1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.
The Old Testament figure, Daniel was the perfect example of a Godly man living a counter-cultural life. Daniel and his friends were taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. Then the King ordered Ashpanez, overseer of the young men taken from Judah, to train them in the ways of the Babylonian language, culture, literature & life. Daniel and his friends were to be given specific food from the King's table to strengthen their bodies. But this is where the problem came in. Daniel was an observant Jew who followed the food regimen that God established for the Jewish people. The Bible tells us that "Daniel's resolved to not defile himself with the royal food and wine and he asked the chief official if he could not defile himself this way." The chief official was scared that if he did not give Daniel and his friends the rich food from the King's table, that they would look sickly. Daniel asked that they be tested for 10 days. After 10 days, Daniel and his friends looked healthier than the other captives who ate the King's food. Daniel knew what it was to live a counter-cultural life.
Ron Luce in his book Recreate Your World says that "Most of what influences us in culture is not obvious. It's sly, it's sneaky, it's deceptive, it's addictive and it's attractive. It lures us into a bit of a trap by creating a desire inside of us that makes us want to go back to it like a dog returning to it's vomit. It's insidious." He further goes on to describe how lions stalk their prey before attacking. Lions often sneak up near their victim until they are about 98 feet away. Typically, several female lions work together and encircle the herd from different points. Once they have closed with a herd, they usually target the prey that is closest to them. Their attack is short and powerful-they attempt to catch the victim with a fast rush and final leap. Usually it is too late for the stalked to save itself, not realizing that the enemy has singled them out to be caught and killed.
Ron Luce continues to explain that "the plan of this world is to lure us into its trap by taking us to higher levels of entertainment and adventure than we've ever known. Then it wraps its jaws around our necks and chokes the life out of us." So how do we protect ourselves?
We should be actively placing boundaries around ourselves, asking God to form us and shape us. But this does come with a need to pull away from some of the worldly pleasures and entertainment of our culture to see what God says in His Word. How much time are we spending on God's Word and prayer versus how much time do we focus on newspapers, television shows, popular music? Everywhere we see these things, they are trying to influence us to their opinion, their point of view and their worldly system.
So the question today is, are you allowing the culture to define who you are or are you allowing God's Word and His principles to form you? Let's work to offer ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, not being formed by the principles or norms of this world, but by God's Word.
Living a Counter Cultural Life
Have you ever thought about how your group defines who you should be? Have you been in a situation where the group defines what "normal" or "acceptable" is? Everyone in the world is defined by the people around us. Whether you live in a tribal village in Africa, in the Western world of Europe or America or in the Far East of Asia, you are influenced by the culture around you. Television, the news media, your place of employment all have acceptable norms of what a person should look like, what they should act like, what is acceptable to say or how to speak. Everywhere we go we are influenced by our culture. We watch television shows and look at magazines to see what the new "norm" is. How should we decorate our house? What do the experts tell us what we should do? We look at the magazines and professional journals to see the leading trends of our work situation. Everywhere we go, we are influenced by our culture.
While I would never say that we should try to live irrelevant to our culture, the world is trying to form our image, our thinking and our way of life to their culture. The Bible says in Romans 12:1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.
The Old Testament figure, Daniel was the perfect example of a Godly man living a counter-cultural life. Daniel and his friends were taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. Then the King ordered Ashpanez, overseer of the young men taken from Judah, to train them in the ways of the Babylonian language, culture, literature & life. Daniel and his friends were to be given specific food from the King's table to strengthen their bodies. But this is where the problem came in. Daniel was an observant Jew who followed the food regimen that God established for the Jewish people. The Bible tells us that "Daniel's resolved to not defile himself with the royal food and wine and he asked the chief official if he could not defile himself this way." The chief official was scared that if he did not give Daniel and his friends the rich food from the King's table, that they would look sickly. Daniel asked that they be tested for 10 days. After 10 days, Daniel and his friends looked healthier than the other captives who ate the King's food. Daniel knew what it was to live a counter-cultural life.
Ron Luce in his book Recreate Your World says that "Most of what influences us in culture is not obvious. It's sly, it's sneaky, it's deceptive, it's addictive and it's attractive. It lures us into a bit of a trap by creating a desire inside of us that makes us want to go back to it like a dog returning to it's vomit. It's insidious." He further goes on to describe how lions stalk their prey before attacking. Lions often sneak up near their victim until they are about 98 feet away. Typically, several female lions work together and encircle the herd from different points. Once they have closed with a herd, they usually target the prey that is closest to them. Their attack is short and powerful-they attempt to catch the victim with a fast rush and final leap. Usually it is too late for the stalked to save itself, not realizing that the enemy has singled them out to be caught and killed.
Ron Luce continues to explain that "the plan of this world is to lure us into its trap by taking us to higher levels of entertainment and adventure than we've ever known. Then it wraps its jaws around our necks and chokes the life out of us." So how do we protect ourselves?
We should be actively placing boundaries around ourselves, asking God to form us and shape us. But this does come with a need to pull away from some of the worldly pleasures and entertainment of our culture to see what God says in His Word. How much time are we spending on God's Word and prayer versus how much time do we focus on newspapers, television shows, popular music? Everywhere we see these things, they are trying to influence us to their opinion, their point of view and their worldly system.
So the question today is, are you allowing the culture to define who you are or are you allowing God's Word and His principles to form you? Let's work to offer ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, not being formed by the principles or norms of this world, but by God's Word.
Thursday
October 22, 2009 - Matthew 4:4
Enjoy our guest writer's devotional today!
God’s Word to us: Be Healthy!
Matthew 4:4: Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
It certainly has been an unusual fall season, at least here in New England! It seems as if summer had barely arrived before the leaves starting changing color. And while we still have green leaves on some trees, the first snow has begun to fall! Given such shifting weather patterns, we considered yesterday that much like our bodily immune system, we have a spiritual immune system that needs to be in tact before such seasons come upon us unexpectedly. Much like if we keep our bodies healthy, with diet, good rest, and exercise, so too if we properly maintain and care for our spiritual man, we will be able to weather any storm! And looking at Eph 6:10-18 we saw that God has already provided us with all we need in order to be spiritually strong and with the "know how” to stay healthy.
Today, let us consider the most important aspect to our staying spiritually healthy: Living on every word that comes from God. When Jesus was in the wilderness, being tempted by the devil, he said, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’” (Mt 4:4). At this point it was already the “cold season!” Jesus was at his weakest point having fasted for 40 days, susceptible to great sickness! How did he get through it? Well – he had his spiritual immune system in tact, impenetrable to the devil’s relentless attempt to squeeze the life out of him. Saints, we too were created to be impenetrable to the devil’s schemes.
But how did Jesus get such a strong immune system? It began and continued daily because he was living on “every word that comes from the mouth of God.” This reality of hearing from God cannot be overestimated! We were all created to feed off of the living Word of God. Before Jesus entered into the cold season, he nourished himself upon the life-giving, personally tailored, word from the Father to him. “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased” (Lk 3:22) It was feeding off that word daily that enabled Jesus to withstand the cold season of the wilderness, and the blizzard of the Cross – and to break forth into a never ending season of summer. (Sorry for all you winter lovers :) - God still really loves us to enjoy skiing and the like!)
As much as we vitally need breath, food, and water to live – those things actually are not good enough! Instead, the source of life is every word that proceeds from the God of life – straight to the deep place of longing in our spiritual man! Bodily health is important as we know, and God doesn’t desire us to be out of shape, to be in pain, or to be sick. But how much more important is it that our spiritual man is healthy and strong! If we are strong there, truly, and I emphasize truly!, we can endure anything with great joy, with great victory. Oh saints, that this would truly apprehend us and re-define our perception of life and reality. Yes, yes, creation is good! But oh! How much better that we come into vital communion with the One that our innermost being truly longs for! It is only then that we can truly live, truly overcome, and enjoy life and steward all that God has given us. “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (Jn 17:3).
My prayer for each of us is that God would speak to us today and we would choose to live on that Word. He knows your needs, and he cares for them all. He knows right where you are at – at this very moment. But truly the greatest need is to hear personally from our Father - and to walk in accordance with that word. May he re-boost your immune system today by his personally tailored word to you, so that you may weather all of life’s storms and enter into the larger-than-life destiny that he has uniquely created you for. Amen.
God’s Word to us: Be Healthy!
Matthew 4:4: Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
It certainly has been an unusual fall season, at least here in New England! It seems as if summer had barely arrived before the leaves starting changing color. And while we still have green leaves on some trees, the first snow has begun to fall! Given such shifting weather patterns, we considered yesterday that much like our bodily immune system, we have a spiritual immune system that needs to be in tact before such seasons come upon us unexpectedly. Much like if we keep our bodies healthy, with diet, good rest, and exercise, so too if we properly maintain and care for our spiritual man, we will be able to weather any storm! And looking at Eph 6:10-18 we saw that God has already provided us with all we need in order to be spiritually strong and with the "know how” to stay healthy.
Today, let us consider the most important aspect to our staying spiritually healthy: Living on every word that comes from God. When Jesus was in the wilderness, being tempted by the devil, he said, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’” (Mt 4:4). At this point it was already the “cold season!” Jesus was at his weakest point having fasted for 40 days, susceptible to great sickness! How did he get through it? Well – he had his spiritual immune system in tact, impenetrable to the devil’s relentless attempt to squeeze the life out of him. Saints, we too were created to be impenetrable to the devil’s schemes.
But how did Jesus get such a strong immune system? It began and continued daily because he was living on “every word that comes from the mouth of God.” This reality of hearing from God cannot be overestimated! We were all created to feed off of the living Word of God. Before Jesus entered into the cold season, he nourished himself upon the life-giving, personally tailored, word from the Father to him. “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased” (Lk 3:22) It was feeding off that word daily that enabled Jesus to withstand the cold season of the wilderness, and the blizzard of the Cross – and to break forth into a never ending season of summer. (Sorry for all you winter lovers :) - God still really loves us to enjoy skiing and the like!)
As much as we vitally need breath, food, and water to live – those things actually are not good enough! Instead, the source of life is every word that proceeds from the God of life – straight to the deep place of longing in our spiritual man! Bodily health is important as we know, and God doesn’t desire us to be out of shape, to be in pain, or to be sick. But how much more important is it that our spiritual man is healthy and strong! If we are strong there, truly, and I emphasize truly!, we can endure anything with great joy, with great victory. Oh saints, that this would truly apprehend us and re-define our perception of life and reality. Yes, yes, creation is good! But oh! How much better that we come into vital communion with the One that our innermost being truly longs for! It is only then that we can truly live, truly overcome, and enjoy life and steward all that God has given us. “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (Jn 17:3).
My prayer for each of us is that God would speak to us today and we would choose to live on that Word. He knows your needs, and he cares for them all. He knows right where you are at – at this very moment. But truly the greatest need is to hear personally from our Father - and to walk in accordance with that word. May he re-boost your immune system today by his personally tailored word to you, so that you may weather all of life’s storms and enter into the larger-than-life destiny that he has uniquely created you for. Amen.
Wednesday
October 21, 2009
Enjoy our guest writer's devotional today!
Putting on the armor of God
Ephesians 6:10-13 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” NIV
Did you catch a cold in this season? When the seasons change so quick from summer to fall to winter, we often times don’t dress warm enough and are unaware of the cold temperature. And how easy do we underestimate the need of a good immune system in this time. The sun is still shining and it seems to be so nice outside, but as the nature is preparing for change into the winter season, we also have to prepare our bodies and make sure, that we develop a good immune system, which is ready to face this change from warm to cold.
Our spiritual man functions in the same way. We always have to make sure that we are fully armed with the armor of God to be able to “take a stand against the devil’s schemes.” If we neglect the continuous care and maintenance of our spiritual immune system, how then can we expect to win the battles in our daily life? In Ephesians, Paul calls us to be “strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” He also tells us how we can get to this place – even better - he gives us the instructions with it! God has indeed given us ALL the tools we need to not just survive day by day but to walk each day in victory! We just need to learn how to use and apply these tools. And we can’t just start to do that, when we are going through trials and difficult times already; like our mortal body we need to make sure that our spiritual immune system is intact before we enter those seasons. We’ll be able to go through them with more faith, confidence and in a shorter amount of time. If we are not armed, we just make it harder on ourselves. Instead of going from victory to victory, we drudgingly drag ourselves from one situation into another. But would you ever go out on the battlefield without any weapons???
“Put on the full armor of God…” I would like to add the word “daily”, since it is so important to be always, ongoing, at any time ready for battle, to be alert and to have maximum protection through our spiritual immune system. As you start your day, just pray that God would help you to put on the full armor that he has provided for you and simply speak Ephesians 6:14-17 over your day and your life. In addition to that, “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” Ephesians 6:18.
My prayer for you is that you would be strong in the Lord and learn to apply Ephesians 6:10-18 in your daily walk with him. You are meant to walk in victory and nothing else!
Putting on the armor of God
Ephesians 6:10-13 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” NIV
Did you catch a cold in this season? When the seasons change so quick from summer to fall to winter, we often times don’t dress warm enough and are unaware of the cold temperature. And how easy do we underestimate the need of a good immune system in this time. The sun is still shining and it seems to be so nice outside, but as the nature is preparing for change into the winter season, we also have to prepare our bodies and make sure, that we develop a good immune system, which is ready to face this change from warm to cold.
Our spiritual man functions in the same way. We always have to make sure that we are fully armed with the armor of God to be able to “take a stand against the devil’s schemes.” If we neglect the continuous care and maintenance of our spiritual immune system, how then can we expect to win the battles in our daily life? In Ephesians, Paul calls us to be “strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” He also tells us how we can get to this place – even better - he gives us the instructions with it! God has indeed given us ALL the tools we need to not just survive day by day but to walk each day in victory! We just need to learn how to use and apply these tools. And we can’t just start to do that, when we are going through trials and difficult times already; like our mortal body we need to make sure that our spiritual immune system is intact before we enter those seasons. We’ll be able to go through them with more faith, confidence and in a shorter amount of time. If we are not armed, we just make it harder on ourselves. Instead of going from victory to victory, we drudgingly drag ourselves from one situation into another. But would you ever go out on the battlefield without any weapons???
“Put on the full armor of God…” I would like to add the word “daily”, since it is so important to be always, ongoing, at any time ready for battle, to be alert and to have maximum protection through our spiritual immune system. As you start your day, just pray that God would help you to put on the full armor that he has provided for you and simply speak Ephesians 6:14-17 over your day and your life. In addition to that, “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” Ephesians 6:18.
My prayer for you is that you would be strong in the Lord and learn to apply Ephesians 6:10-18 in your daily walk with him. You are meant to walk in victory and nothing else!
Tuesday
Ps 107:23-31 “Others went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the mighty waters. 24 They saw the works of the LORD, his wonderful deeds in the deep. 25 For he spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves. 26 They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths; in their peril their courage melted away. 27 They reeled and staggered like drunken men; they were at their wits' end. 28 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. 29 He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. 30 They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven. 31 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men.” NIV
This passage in Psalm 107:23-31 is powerful for its prophetic significance. Throughout the earthly ministry of Christ He frequently placed Himself in various contexts that positioned Him as the fulfillment of a prophetic passage from the Old Testament. This is just such a passage. Imagine yourself with the disciples as they were in Mark 4:36-5:1 “Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" 39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 40 He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" 41 They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!" NIV
The disciples are caught in a boat at sea in a violent storm. Fearing for their lives they sit there in awe and wonder as their master speaks to the wind and waves and they obey His commands. Like every good Jewish boy and girl they would have been very familiar with each of the Psalms. What wonder they must have felt as the Lord fulfilled the miraculous description found in Psalm 107 of the men at sea who witness the creator speaking to the storm and bringing it to a place of calm. No wonder terror must have filled their hearts as they realized that they were sitting in the boat with the creator of the seas. This passage is such a powerful example of the many times that Jesus literally fulfilled prophetic words made centuries earlier that described the work of God. Only God could calm the seas. Jesus calmed the seas… therefore “Jesus is ….” What amazement must have come over their hearts as they began to grasp the implication of what they had just witnessed and they declared “Who is this?”
There is also a powerful symbolism present in this series of events. If the Lord has the power to calm a storm at seas, then He has the power to calm the storms in your heart and in your home! If the creator of the universe only needs to speak and the waves grow still, imagine what His words can do in you! Consider the miracle working power that is waiting for you as you let the Word of the Lord fill your heart with faith. Let Him speak into the midst of your storm today by spending time in His Word and you too will be filled with gladness and wonder at the power and strength of our God!
This passage in Psalm 107:23-31 is powerful for its prophetic significance. Throughout the earthly ministry of Christ He frequently placed Himself in various contexts that positioned Him as the fulfillment of a prophetic passage from the Old Testament. This is just such a passage. Imagine yourself with the disciples as they were in Mark 4:36-5:1 “Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" 39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 40 He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" 41 They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!" NIV
The disciples are caught in a boat at sea in a violent storm. Fearing for their lives they sit there in awe and wonder as their master speaks to the wind and waves and they obey His commands. Like every good Jewish boy and girl they would have been very familiar with each of the Psalms. What wonder they must have felt as the Lord fulfilled the miraculous description found in Psalm 107 of the men at sea who witness the creator speaking to the storm and bringing it to a place of calm. No wonder terror must have filled their hearts as they realized that they were sitting in the boat with the creator of the seas. This passage is such a powerful example of the many times that Jesus literally fulfilled prophetic words made centuries earlier that described the work of God. Only God could calm the seas. Jesus calmed the seas… therefore “Jesus is ….” What amazement must have come over their hearts as they began to grasp the implication of what they had just witnessed and they declared “Who is this?”
There is also a powerful symbolism present in this series of events. If the Lord has the power to calm a storm at seas, then He has the power to calm the storms in your heart and in your home! If the creator of the universe only needs to speak and the waves grow still, imagine what His words can do in you! Consider the miracle working power that is waiting for you as you let the Word of the Lord fill your heart with faith. Let Him speak into the midst of your storm today by spending time in His Word and you too will be filled with gladness and wonder at the power and strength of our God!
Monday
Psalm 107:19-22 - October 19, 2009
Ps 107:19-22 “Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. 20 He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave. 21 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men. 22 Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy.” NIV
Have you ever cried out to the Lord in times of trouble? You are not alone! Throughout all of human history the hearts of men have been turning to God for help and answers in time of need. Psalm 107:19-22 are once again a call to thanksgiving for the marvelous deeds of the Lord but there is a powerful truth contained within these simple verses. The people cried out to the Lord in time of need and the Lord heard their cry and answered but what must be embraced is the means of God’s answer. He didn’t send armies to deliver, the Psalmist is not celebrating the mighty angels that at times came to the aid of God’s people. Neither is the Psalmist rejoicing in the wealth that God entrusted to His people. The celebrated means of God’s deliverance in their time of need is that He sent His WORD!
In God’s Word there is power. In God’s Word there is healing. In God’s Word there is wisdom. In God’s Word there is FAITH! We are taught in Rom 1:17 that "The righteous will live by faith." NIV Paul continues on to instruct us again later in Romans in Rom 10:17 “…faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” NIV The wonderful revelation contained with Psalm 107:19-22 is that when we are in time of need and the world seems to be spinning out of control the first place to turn is to God through the pages of His scripture. He is well able to cause just the right portion of the scriptures to come alive within your spirit and speak to your need. The power to overcome is the power of FAITH! And as we hide our hearts in the Word of God as a shelter from every fear and all anxiety its comfort and peace will wash over us and bring our souls into a place of rest.
Turn to the Word and expect God to meet you in those times of need. His healing is ministered through the Word. Salvation comes through the Word. Transformation comes through the Word. As you experience the powerful victories that come through the Word of the Lord let your heart be glad. Let songs of praise arise as you sing with thanksgiving to the Lord and let others know of the mighty things that God has done for you!
Have you ever cried out to the Lord in times of trouble? You are not alone! Throughout all of human history the hearts of men have been turning to God for help and answers in time of need. Psalm 107:19-22 are once again a call to thanksgiving for the marvelous deeds of the Lord but there is a powerful truth contained within these simple verses. The people cried out to the Lord in time of need and the Lord heard their cry and answered but what must be embraced is the means of God’s answer. He didn’t send armies to deliver, the Psalmist is not celebrating the mighty angels that at times came to the aid of God’s people. Neither is the Psalmist rejoicing in the wealth that God entrusted to His people. The celebrated means of God’s deliverance in their time of need is that He sent His WORD!
In God’s Word there is power. In God’s Word there is healing. In God’s Word there is wisdom. In God’s Word there is FAITH! We are taught in Rom 1:17 that "The righteous will live by faith." NIV Paul continues on to instruct us again later in Romans in Rom 10:17 “…faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” NIV The wonderful revelation contained with Psalm 107:19-22 is that when we are in time of need and the world seems to be spinning out of control the first place to turn is to God through the pages of His scripture. He is well able to cause just the right portion of the scriptures to come alive within your spirit and speak to your need. The power to overcome is the power of FAITH! And as we hide our hearts in the Word of God as a shelter from every fear and all anxiety its comfort and peace will wash over us and bring our souls into a place of rest.
Turn to the Word and expect God to meet you in those times of need. His healing is ministered through the Word. Salvation comes through the Word. Transformation comes through the Word. As you experience the powerful victories that come through the Word of the Lord let your heart be glad. Let songs of praise arise as you sing with thanksgiving to the Lord and let others know of the mighty things that God has done for you!
Sunday
Psalm 107:15-16 - October 18, 2009
Ps 107:15-16 “Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men, 16 for he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron.” NIV
Can you imagine being loved with a love so strong that it cannot fail? Can you imagine being cared for so completely that nothing can separate you from that love? It can always reach you. It can always find you. It always knows your needs and how to meet you. We are loved with a love so deep that it cannot fail. We are valued by our creator so completely that nothing can keep us from that love. Paul sought to communicate this truth to us in Rom 8:35-39 where he wrote “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” NIV
Psalm 107:15-16 is written in the knowledge of this love. It celebrates the reality that true love is manifested in its actions. God has not only declared His love for us in overwhelming display of self-sacrifice. And it is this love that the Psalmist calls us to be thankful for. Jesus Himself spoke of love and stated that nature of the deepest kind of love. In John 15:12-13 he taught His disciples: “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” NIV He identified the ultimate love message and then He took up the cross and set the example for us by laying down His life. John 3:16 identifies the compelling force behind this act and removes any doubt as to God’s motive in sending Christ to die for us. John 3:16 states "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” NIV
The greatest expression of love possible was shown on our behalf and that is just the beginning of the statements of love directed to us by the Father. I John celebrates the love demonstrated by the fact that we are called the sons of God through the Adoption of His Spirit. The gospels declare that Christ demonstrated the measure of His love for the disciples when He put on a towel for garment and washed the disciple’s feet. His love was seen in how he protected the woman caught in adultery, gave the mourning mother back her son and wept with Mary and Martha at the grave of Lazarus. Psalm 107 sees into the love of God with eyes of faith and calls us to be thankful! How can we not lift up praise as we reflect on these and the endless number of other examples of God’s love that are available to us.
As this Psalm continues it draws our attention to one of the manifestations of God’s love that cannot be overlooked and must be celebrated with both joy and faith. The Psalmist declares in Psalm 107:16 “he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron.” NIV One of the most compelling statements of God’s love for us is His power and willingness to deliver us! God wants to set you free. God longs to see you walking in the liberty that was purchased for you through the cross. The word of God gives us such compelling insight into the measure of the love of God that with complete certainty we can know that IT IS GOD’S WILL for you to be set free. Paul exalts in this truth in his letter to the Galatians as he writes in Gal 5:1 “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” NIV GOD WANTS YOU TO LIVE IN FREEDOM! Now that is worth being thankful for! Lift your eyes and your heart confidently into God’s presence today and thank Him in faith for every area of your life coming in to the freedom that was purchased for you on the cross.
Can you imagine being loved with a love so strong that it cannot fail? Can you imagine being cared for so completely that nothing can separate you from that love? It can always reach you. It can always find you. It always knows your needs and how to meet you. We are loved with a love so deep that it cannot fail. We are valued by our creator so completely that nothing can keep us from that love. Paul sought to communicate this truth to us in Rom 8:35-39 where he wrote “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” NIV
Psalm 107:15-16 is written in the knowledge of this love. It celebrates the reality that true love is manifested in its actions. God has not only declared His love for us in overwhelming display of self-sacrifice. And it is this love that the Psalmist calls us to be thankful for. Jesus Himself spoke of love and stated that nature of the deepest kind of love. In John 15:12-13 he taught His disciples: “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” NIV He identified the ultimate love message and then He took up the cross and set the example for us by laying down His life. John 3:16 identifies the compelling force behind this act and removes any doubt as to God’s motive in sending Christ to die for us. John 3:16 states "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” NIV
The greatest expression of love possible was shown on our behalf and that is just the beginning of the statements of love directed to us by the Father. I John celebrates the love demonstrated by the fact that we are called the sons of God through the Adoption of His Spirit. The gospels declare that Christ demonstrated the measure of His love for the disciples when He put on a towel for garment and washed the disciple’s feet. His love was seen in how he protected the woman caught in adultery, gave the mourning mother back her son and wept with Mary and Martha at the grave of Lazarus. Psalm 107 sees into the love of God with eyes of faith and calls us to be thankful! How can we not lift up praise as we reflect on these and the endless number of other examples of God’s love that are available to us.
As this Psalm continues it draws our attention to one of the manifestations of God’s love that cannot be overlooked and must be celebrated with both joy and faith. The Psalmist declares in Psalm 107:16 “he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron.” NIV One of the most compelling statements of God’s love for us is His power and willingness to deliver us! God wants to set you free. God longs to see you walking in the liberty that was purchased for you through the cross. The word of God gives us such compelling insight into the measure of the love of God that with complete certainty we can know that IT IS GOD’S WILL for you to be set free. Paul exalts in this truth in his letter to the Galatians as he writes in Gal 5:1 “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” NIV GOD WANTS YOU TO LIVE IN FREEDOM! Now that is worth being thankful for! Lift your eyes and your heart confidently into God’s presence today and thank Him in faith for every area of your life coming in to the freedom that was purchased for you on the cross.
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