In Service

"Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

--Matthew 20:28  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on January 29, 2013 of Psalm 22:22-31; Matthew 20:17-34; Exodus 3-4.

Jesus constantly tried to impress upon His disciples, and on us as well, the importance of serving others. We often refer to Him as the Gentle Servant, and He certainly was just that. He said He came to serve, not to be served. The Son of God, the Creator of everything, the One who could heal with a word, calm the wind, still the seas, lowered Himself to earth and placed Himself beneath others in status. This Man could have demanded anything He wanted, could have made a personal servant of every man, woman, and child on earth, of every king and peasant, of every priest and follower, of every master and slave. But He didn't. Instead, this all-powerful Son of God came to serve all, and serve He did. He fed the hungry, cured the sick, healed the lame and the blind and the deaf, and raised the dead. But His greatest service by far was in giving His very life on earth as a ransom for us all, so that we might be spared the final and lasting death. The price is paid. All we have to do is believe in Jesus the Son of God, Jesus the servant.  May we be more like Him. Amen.

Lord Jesus, we acknowledge You as the Son of the one true God and welcome You into our life as our Lord and Master, our Savior. Help us understand how we may serve others, Lord, and in doing so serve You. In Your holy name, dear Jesus we pray.  Amen.

Trouble is Near

Be not far from Me, for trouble is near; for there is none to help.

--Psalm 22:11  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on January 28, 2013 of Psalm 22:11-21; Matthew 19:16-20:16; Exodus 1-2.

The New King James Version of the Bible has "Me" capitalized, and indeed David could be speaking for his descendant Jesus in the 22nd Psalm.  Verses 11-18 clearly describe Christ's time on the cross, even though crucifixion was not known in David's time.  Jesus quoted verse 1 on the cross, further fulfilling prophecy.  This Psalm and this verse 11 in particular could equally be spoken by David or by Jesus, or by any of us for that matter.  Sometimes in life we feel all alone, facing insurmountable odds or inescapable traps, with none to help.  At times it seems like even God has abandoned us, has turned His back on us and left us to suffer our fate.  But just as both David and Jesus realized, God is always with us, always working His plan to our ultimate good.  Nothing is ever completely hopeless because God is with us and He is our ever-present hope.  For David, for Jesus, for all of us if we only believe, if we only have faith.  Amen.

Father, please stay near to us, for trouble is always close at hand.  Satan rules this world and his temptations tug at us, drag us down, threaten to pull us into the swamp of popular culture.  Without  You, our Lord, there would be no one or no thing to help us.  You are our one true hope.  You are our one true God.  Thank You, Father, for always being there.  In the dearest name of Jesus we pray.  Amen.

From Evil to Good

"But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive."

--Genesis 50:20  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on January 27, 2013 of Psalm 22:1-10; Matthew 19:1-15; Genesis 49-50.

After Jacob passed, Joseph's brothers feared he would finally retaliate for what they had done to him.  But he didn't.  Instead, again, he assured them he had forgiven them because he had discerned God's plan throughout this drama.  Joseph had to go into Egypt much sooner than the rest so he could prepare the way for their ultimate preservation.  And then Joseph uttered a phrase repeated in a form by Paul in Romans 8:28.  We know that God can work all things for good for those who love Him, who are the called for His purpose.  Joseph was one such called.  God can take the vilest evil concocted by Satan and turn it to good.    Joseph loved God and the Lord had a purpose for him.  He took the brothers' evil act and ended up saving the entire house of Israel.  He does the same for us, if we would just pause for a moment like Joseph and take notice.  Amen.

Thank You, Jesus, for going to heaven much sooner than us so You can prepare the way for our lasting salvation.  Thank You, Father, for taking all the wicked and evil acts men might do and working them to our ultimate good, just as You did when we sacrificed Your Son on that cross.  Forgive us, please holy Lord, when we fail to see the goodness You are and the blessings You provide in our daily lives.  In the holy name of Jesus we pray.  Amen.

"I Am There"

"For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."

--Matthew 18:20  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on January 26, 2013 of Psalm 21; Matthew 18:15-35; Genesis 47-48.

After Jesus was resurrected and ascended into heaven, He sent down the Holy Spirit to be our Companion, to guide us and direct our prayers, to always be with us.  But before that, Jesus promises that any time two or more of us gather together in His name, He will be there with us.  Not only will the Holy Spirit be present in each of us individually, but Jesus Himself will be present too!  How glorious that God's own Son, the Lord of all Creation, would take the time to join us when we meet in His name!  We could never merit such a generous reward.  It is just another example of our Lord's grace in action, His graciousness on display.  Amen.

Thank You, Jesus, for blessing us with Your holy presence.  Thank You for Your ever faithful grace.  May we never take for granted the Holy Spirit dwelling within us or Your willingness to come join us just because we invoke Your name when we gather together.  For all You do for us, Lord Jesus, we thank You and it is in Your wonderful name we pray.  Amen.

God Prepares

"But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life." 

--Genesis 45:5  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on January 25, 2013 of Psalm 20; Matthew 17:14-18:14; Genesis 45-46.

Joseph's brothers hated him, mostly because of the preferential treatment he received from their father, Jacob.  When the opportunity presented itself, they almost killed him, but instead sold him into slavery and lied to their father saying he had been killed by an animal.  Joseph suffered greatly during these years, including being falsely accused and imprisoned.  But God was with Joseph the whole time and smiled on him so that everything he did or had to do with prospered by God's hand.  Eventually he was made second  only to Pharaoh himself over all Egypt.  In this way he was able to save many lives, and most importantly to preserve the house of Jacob.  God turned evil into good.  Jacob completely forgave his brothers for he saw how God had worked.  Amen.

Heavenly Father, You have promised and we have seen that You will turn any evil into good for those who love You and obey Your voice.  Forgive us, Lord, when sometimes we forget this, when it seems to be taking too long in our time frame, when we feel like we have been suffering without ceasing and without any signs of Your aid.  Help us, please Lord, to understand that You will make all things good in Your time.  In the beautiful name of Jesus we pray.  Amen.

Be Mindful of God

But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan!  You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men." 

--Matthew 16:23  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on January 24, 2013 of Psalm 19; Matthew 16:13-17:13; Genesis 43:15-44.

I'm sure Peter felt these to be harsh words, directed to him personally by his beloved Master.  Hadn't Jesus just complimented him, praised him, calling him the rock upon whom His church would be built?  Now He was scolding him, calling him Satan?!?  But I feel Jesus was only indirectly speaking to Peter, but rather was rebuking Satan who was truly behind Peter's words that resulted in Jesus' stern response).  Satan filled Peter's mind only with thoughts of the world, replacing any thoughts Jesus had been trying to get across of heaven and God the Father.  Jesus kept trying to impress His disciple that all their actions should be intended for advancing the kingdom of God.  Satan tried to convince Peter that only the world mattered.  Jesus was shouting at Satan more than at Peter.  May we never hear Him scold us in that manner.  Amen.

Jesus Lord and Savior, please help us to always remember what is truly important in our walk through this life, and that being to worship God our Father and do all we can to advance His kingdom.  Thank You for making an example of Peter for our sake, even though it must have hurt him deeply.  We need Your help and guidance in all things.  In Your name, Lord Jesus, we pray.  Amen.

The Lord Lives!

The Lord lives!  Blessed by my Rock!  Let the God of my salvation be exalted.

--Psalm 18:46  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on January 23, 2013 of Psalm 18:41-50; Matthew 15:29-16:12; Genesis 42-43:14.

David frequently praised God, exalted Him, lifted Him on high with music and song, and not just in his psalms.  David is often depicted in the Old Testament as singing and dancing in the streets, playing musical instruments, and leading celebrations to God among his people.  He readily acknowledged God as his rock and the source of his salvation.  But notice the pointer to Jesus the Christ:  "The Lord lives!"  Jesus was crucified, died, and was laid in the grave.  He went to hell and preached to the souls there.  Then He rose from the dead, walked out of that grave, and appeared living and breathing and alive to hundreds of people before bodily rising to heaven, STILL ALIVE!  Jesus lives!  Praise God, our Savior lives!  Amen.

Wonderful Savior, You knew just how much it would mean to us to know that You still live even today.  That You conquered even death so that we would not have to die forever.  Thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your great sacrifice.  Thank You, God, that our Lord lives!  In Jesus' beautiful name we pray.  Amen.

Great Is Your Faith

Then the Lord answered and said to her, "O woman, great is your faith!  Let it be to you as you desire."  And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

--Matthew 15:28  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on January 22, 2013 of Psalm 18:31-40; Matthew 15:1-28; Genesis 41.

The mother persisted, even answered a parable of sorts, and for her efforts Jesus healed her daughter.  Sometimes we ask God for something once and He gives it (or not, if it is in our best interest to not give it).  But sometimes He wants to ensure that our faith is strong and that we are certain of what we ask.  If our hearts are right with God and our faith in His everlasting faithfulness secure, then He will provide according to His will.  God will reward our faith, if not in this life then the next.  Faith, even when we don't see an immediate answer or get the answer we want, shows God we trust fully in Him and His goodness.  Amen.

Heavenly Father, sometimes we give up when it seems You are not answering our prayers.  Sometimes we turn our back on You, thinking You've forgotten us.  May we never forget that You are eternally faithful to us and will not forsake us as long as we believe in Your Son Jesus as our Savior.  May we be persistent in our prayers, seeking always that Your will be done.  In Jesus' name we pray.  Amen.

Perfect!

As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.

--Psalm 18:30  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on January 21, 2013 of Psalm 18:21-30; Matthew 14:13-36; Genesis 39-40.

God's way is perfect and so is the path we should strive to follow.  Man's way is imperfect, for we are sinners.  Everything God does is righteous and holy.  Everything man does is tinged with his sin.  While man may not follow through and do all that he says, God has always been true to His word.  Every promise He has made, every covenant He has forged, He has kept.  His word is proven time after time after time.

God is ever faithful, even through man's unfaithfulness.  God has never broken a promise so we have no reason to believe He will start now.  We have every reason to trust in God, and no reason to doubt Him.  If we do but trust in Him, have faith in Him, He will shield us from the evil one, protect us from the second death, forgive us all our confessed sins, and hold and comfort us in His loving arms.  Amen.

Lord God, please forgive us when we have doubts, when we think You might have forgotten all about us.  We are too used to dealing with man and his imperfections, his unfaithfulness to others and even to You.  We are flawed, dear Father, for we chose pleasures of our senses over trusting in You and Your word.  Help us live more faithful lives, loving Father, that we might live with You forever.  In the beautiful name of Jesus we pray.  Amen.

A Treasure Field

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field."

--Matthew 13:44  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on January 20, 2013 of Psalm 18:11-20; Matthew 13:44-14:12; Genesis 37-38.

We spend a lot of money on things: new electronics, fancy cars, big houses.  The rarer something is or the greater the demand for it, the more we are willing to pay to acquire it.  If we came across the very best of some precious item that we think will satisfy all our desires, we'll pay any price for it.

Jesus is trying to tell us that the kingdom of heaven is something just like that, of so great a value we should be willing to give up everything and anything to possess it.  We should desire it above all others, be willing to sell all we own just to get it.  Jesus also told the young rich man to sell all he owned, give it to the poor, and follow Him, but he didn't; he couldn't force himself to.  Too often we still place too great a value on our possessions and not enough on heaven and Jesus.  Fortunately for us, Jesus already paid the price for this greatest of treasures.  All we have to do is accept it by our belief.  Amen.

Gracious Father, please help is to see the wonderful treasure You have laid at our feet.  Thank You, Lord Jesus, for paying the price that we might have that treasure all for our own.  It once was hidden, but now has been exposed to our eyes and our hearts by Your word, O God.  Thank You for this great gift!  In Jesus' glorious name we pray.  Amen.

My God, My Strength

I will love You, O Lord, my strength.  The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

--Psalm 18:1-2  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on January 19, 2013 of Psalm 18:1-10; Matthew 13:24-43; Genesis 35-36.

My God, my strength, in whom I will trust.  When I feel weak, confused, frustrated, I need only turn to God and suddenly or sometimes subtly I am strengthened and made to feel peace.  When I tire and grow weary of all this uncaring world throws my way, I simply need retreat to my stronghold that is Jesus.  In my Father's arms I can find rest to rebuild my reserves, and strength to face another day.  I put my trust in God because He has done all He has ever promised, and because everything He does is for our betterment.  God can take the most evil acts, and men, and make good come from them to those who love Him and follow His voice.  I trust in God, my Strength and my Redeemer.  Amen.

Almighty God, You are our strength, our one true hope.  In a world that seems intent on beating us down, You provide a place of rest and shelter.  The greatest giants pale in Your shadow.  In You we have all we need.  Thank You, our God, our Strength.    In Jesus' name we pray.  Amen.

Seed by the Wayside

"When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.  This is he who received seed by the wayside."

--Matthew 13:19  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on January 18, 2013 of Psalm 17; Matthew 13:1-23; Genesis 32:22-34.

In Jesus' parable of the sower, He describes how different people may react to the word of God.  It follows Isaiah's prophesy that some will hear but will not understand, some will see but will not perceive (please reference Isaiah 6:9-10).  In this case, if someone hears the word but does not understand what they heard, does not "get it", then the seed of God and the Holy Spirit is not planted in their heart and the devil will come along and make them forget what they heard.  The wickedness of the world and all its temptations easily draw them away.  We can counter this by witnessing to them our personal experiences with God, explaining His word and how it impacts us.  Help their ground become fertile, their hearts and minds, and the seed can take root and flourish.  Amen.

Merciful Lord, Please allow our ground to stay fertile that Your word may continue to grow within us.  Please help us till the soil of others, enriching it to receive Your word and Your glory, so that all of us may benefit from Your great grace.  In Jesus' name we pray.  Amen.

A Nation Divided

But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand."

--Matthew 12:25  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on January 17, 2013 of Psalm 16; Matthew 12:22-50; Genesis 31:22-32:21.

For many years now, the more liberal in our country have been driving wedges between different groups of people in the United States, dividing them, pitting one against the other.  In this they are doing Satan's work: destroying the greatest protector of the Jewish people, God's chosen.  Jesus warns us our nation cannot long escape desolation if it continues to be divided against itself, that this house of people cannot stand if we continue to strive against each other.  Our national leaders should be working to unite us, not drive us further apart.  Godly men and women must work against these efforts that are being led by Lucifer.  The ones doing this, regardless of political stripe, are no more inherently evil than any other.  It's just that they have fallen sway to the evil one, they have yielded to the temptations of this world rather than follow the path Jesus laid for us.  Jesus knows how Satan will try to drive a wedge between people, trying to draw off as many as possible from our risen Savior.  We need to heed our Lord's warning while there is still time.  Amen.

O Father, I pray we are not too late, that there are still enough righteous people in America that You will stay Your hand from our destruction.  Please forgive those who would divide Your house, who seek after their own gain at the expense of others, who care only for self.  Soften their hearts, please Father, that they might turn from service to the evil one and serve only You.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray.  Amen.

"I Desire Mercy"

"But if you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice', you would not have condemned the guiltless."

--Matthew 12:7  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on January 16, 2013 of Psalm 15; Matthew 12:1-21; Genesis 30-31:21.

Jesus knew scripture and quoted from it often, sometimes explaining what it meant, other times giving examples.  Here He quoted from Hosea 6:6 to say that if you are merciful, you will not blame, harm, or condemn those who are without guilt just for the sake of expediency or convenience, just to serve your own agenda.  It is interesting that Jesus used the past tense in His accusation, stressing how the Pharisees had indeed condemned the guiltless, in their courts and in their hearts, in the past and even recently, such as accusing Him and His disciples of breaking the Sabbath by plucking some grain to eat as they walked.  But He also knew they would soon condemn Him and nail Him to a cross, the ultimate guiltless One.  Jesus knew what was to come, and tried to tell them all.  But none could understand.  Do we?  Amen.

Lord Jesus, You were the only One ever without sin, the true guiltless One.  You warn us that God desires us to show mercy to one another more than He wants to see sacrifice from us.  You instruct us to love one another as we love ourselves, and mercy is a direct result of love.  If we truly love one another, we will be merciful to one another.  Please help us honor You by showing mercy, especially to those who are without guilt.  In Your dear name, our Jesus we pray.  Amen.

Who Understands?

The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God.

--Psalm 14:2  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on January 15, 2013 of Psalm 14; Matthew 11; Genesis 28:10-29.

In this Psalm, David lamented the evilness in man and that if God looked down, all He would see is evil.  Indeed, our Lord does look down, on all of us.  He looks for the righteous, for those who at least try to do right in the eyes of God.  He looks to see if any of us really understand, if we really "get it" that Jesus is Lord and is our only means to salvation.  He looks to see if any of us are seeking Him, looking for Him, growing closer to Him.  He looks for those seeking Him in heart and soul and mind.  He searches for any seeking Him as the Magi did, to praise and glorify Him.  God looks down on us just as He did on Sodom and Gomorrah (please reference the book of Genesis, especially chapters eighteen and nineteen).  How much longer will He be able to find enough righteous people here that we might be spared His wrath?  Amen.

Merciful Father, God of all creation, we pray that You continue to bestow Your grace upon Your children.  Please, Lord, do not turn Your back on us, nor hide us from Your face.  Many still seek You, Lord God.  Many do truly know and understand Jesus as Lord.  Many continue to praise and glorify You and witness to You and to Jesus with all their being.  Please, Father, hold Your mighty wrath in check for a little longer.  In the blessed name of Jesus we pray.  Amen.

Confession

"Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him will I also confess before My Father who is in heaven."

--Matthew 10:32  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on January 14, 2013 of Psalm 13; Matthew 10:26-42; Genesis 27-28:9.

To confess the Lord before men is to witness to Jesus to others we encounter.  Jesus wants us to be witnesses, not only to have faith but to share our faith so that others may see Him in us.  It is enough that we believe in Jesus as the risen Christ for our salvation, but what we do with that belief bears directly with how richly we are rewarded, with how well our Lord and God receives us.

I would rather sweep the floors of heaven with a toothbrush than rule as a king in hell.  But Jesus and Paul both speak of the rewards to be garnered and distributed in heaven depending upon our actions here on earth.  The thing is, if you truly love Jesus and you're grateful for the sacrifice He made for you, you will want to do good works for His sake.

Is there something very special about you or your life that others can easily see Christ Jesus in you?  If not, and even if so, you can happily and eagerly share just what Jesus means to you with others, and in that way they may see Jesus at work within you.  Confess Jesus before your fellow man, and He will witness to you before God Almighty.  Amen.

Dear Lord Jesus, we pray that others might see You when they look at us, that they might see Your life reflected in ours.  Please give us the courage to witness Your amazing works in our life to all others we meet.  Please let them see You at work within us.  In Your wonderful name, Christ Jesus, we pray.  Amen.

None Better

"A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.  It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master."

--Matthew 10:24-25a  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on January 13, 2013 of Psalm 12; Matthew 10:1-25; Genesis 25-26.

Like many passages in the Bible, this one can impart multiple messages.  For one, we should never consider ourselves superior to anyone, but especially not to those we are set before to learn from or set before to serve.  But pride too often gets in our way and sometimes we do just that.  Jesus wants us to not put ourselves before others, instead to serve them and put their interests first.

But perhaps more importantly and implied in this passage, we should never think ourselves better than Jesus, our Teacher, nor God, our Master.  This is Satan's great sin, thinking himself greater than God.  We do not know everything, we cannot do anything, we cannot even make it on our own for too long before we trip and fall.  Serve others, and serve God above all.  Amen.

Father God, Please forgive us when we forget our station in life, and especially when we let our pride trip us up and we desire to be served rather than to serve.  Jesus came to us as a humble servant, not because He could do no better but to show us how we should live our lives and deal with others in our daily walk with Him.  Please help us to remember that if we truly love others we will want to serve them.  In the dearest name of Christ Jesus we pray.  Amen.

Trusting God

In the Lord I put my trust.

--Psalm 11:1a  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on January 12, 2013 of Psalm 11; Matthew 9:18-38; Genesis 24.

No matter what his circumstance or what befell him, David trusted God completely.  Sure, sometimes he questioned God, but in the end he always knew God had his best interests at heart.

I spent too many years thinking I could do everything on my own, could take on anything and come out on top.  Like David in his earlier years, my pride knew no bounds.  It took a while but, again like David, I finally realized I could do nothing without God's help.  I began to understand He always kept His promises, that everything He did was ultimately for our good, how He could take even the vilest evil and make something very good from it.  I now know I can trust in my Lord in all things, no matter the circumstance, no matter what may befall me.  God has my back.  Amen.

Lord God, I know from Your word that David was a man after Your own heart, that he was beloved of You, even with all his faults and failures.  And Father, I know that I am also beloved of You, even with all my faults and so many failures.  You have been faithful to me even when I barely knew Your Son.  And I know because You have kept every promise, every covenant You ever made that I can trust in You fully and completely.  Thank You, Lord, for loving me so very much.  In the glorious name of Jesus we pray.  Amen.

Giving Our Love

And He said, "Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me."

--Genesis 22:12  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on January 11, 2013 of Psalm 10; Matthew 8:28-9:17; Genesis 22-23.

The word "fear" here can more likely mean deeply and truly love and respect.  Abraham surely feared the Lord for His power and the consequences He can enforce, but he also loved our Father and respected Him, doing everything God asked of him.  So much so that he was willing to give his only son of Sarah, his son promised to him by God.

This is how much God loves us, that He was willing to give His only Son begotten of Mary.  This is how much Jesus loves us, that He was willing to give His life for us, that we might be forever saved.  All we have to do is believe.  And if we believe, we will be ready and willing to give our love and our lives to God and Jesus, and to our fellow man.  Praise Jesus!  Amen.

Dearest Father, You tested Abraham to see if he truly loved You.  He proved his love to You by being willing to sacrifice his son.  You proved Your love for us by willingly sacrificing your only Son, just so that we might be saved and washed clean by His blood.  Thank You, O merciful Father, for Your unmerited love and Your undeserved grace.   In the name of Jesus we pray.  Amen.

The Promise Keeper

Now Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.

--Genesis 21:5  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on January 10, 2013 of Psalm 9:11-20; Matthew 8:1-27; Genesis 20-21.

Imagine becoming a father at one hundred years of age!  That's how old Abraham was when Isaac was born.  And Sarah would have been 90 when she became a brand new first time mother!  God can do anything, even making it so an old couple long past their child-bearing days can indeed bear a child!  God promised Abraham a child so that countless generations would spring from him, and God keeps His promises.  No matter how difficult or even impossible it may seem to us, God can make it happen.  Have faith, believe, and be faithful to God and He will do miracles for you.  Amen.

Glorious Father in heaven, You amaze us when we see all the miracles You can perform, all the many wondrous things You can do in Your heavens and on the earth.  And the most amazing is how You can continue to be so faithful to us when we are not faithful to You.  Forgive us, please Father, the many times we displease You, the many times we sadden You with our actions, the many times we disappoint You with our lack of caring for one another.  In the name of Jesus Christ we ask and we pray.  Amen.

Seek and Find

And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.

--Psalm 9:10  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on January 9, 2013 of Psalm 9:1-10; Matthew 7:7-29; Genesis 18:16-19.

Every promise, every covenant God ever made with man, He kept.  To Noah, with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, the new covenant through Jesus -- every single one He made He kept.  God has been truly, fully, and completely faithful to us, even though we have not always been faithful to Him.  He loves us so much, His Son Jesus came to us even as we lived in sin and still sin.  He has always been faithful, so we can trust anything He says, anything He promises.  We need only put our trust in Him and His word and He will never fail us, never forget us, never abandon us.  Jesus promised that those who seek will find.  Seek the Lord God with all that is within you and you will find Him and He will never forsake you.  Amen.

Heavenly Father, thank You for always keeping Your covenants with us, for Your word being true.  Thank You for the promise of never abandoning us as long as we just put our trust in You.  And thank You most of all for sending Your Son Jesus to us when we were sinners, that through Him we might be saved.  That is Your greatest promise and Your greatest gift.  Thank You, Lord.  In the name of Jesus we pray.  Amen.

Feeding the Dogs

"Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces."

--Matthew 7:6  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on January 8, 2013 of Psalm 8; Matthew 6:19-7:6; Genesis 16-18:15.

I often see or hear someone say the second part of this phrase, about not casting pearls before swine, but seldom the first part.  Until this reading, I didn't even remember this lead in to the more familiar admonition.  Yet this former injunction definitely has significance, even lacking the cautions of the latter such as being trampled underfoot or torn to shreds.  Dogs, while much beloved in our society and even treated like family, have never been looked upon too highly in the Middle East.  Giving them something to eat that had previously been set aside as holy would be considered a grave sacrilege.

But ignoring for a moment how the people in Matthew's time may have viewed our four-legged friends, think about how a dog normally eats.  They quickly gulp down their food, as if in fear of it disappearing or some other beast taking it away from them.  They don't care what it was made of, what the can or bag contained, as long as it came out of our hands and landed anywhere near them.  There is no way they can taste what they are eating, much less savor those meaty flavors.  Compare that mental image with trying to share God's holy word, our daily bread, with someone who doesn't take the time to savor it, to think about it, to digest it, to ponder on it and dig deeper into it.  Instead, they just wolf the scripture we lay before them down in one gulp, almost as if to get it over with quickly so they can get on about their more important business.  Jesus is saying if they won't take the time to savor God's meal, if they don't care about the content, don't waste your time and breath.

Lord Jesus, we know You are ever forgiving of us and love us so much and want us to hear God's word and let it work in our lives.  We know You want all this for us.  But You know some people will never come to You, will never acknowledge You as Lord and Savior.  You know that no matter what wonderful holy morsels we may feed them, no matter what pearls of scripture we may throw at them, their hearts will ever be hard and they will not see the true Way.  We pray that we may not become like them, dear Lord.  Forgive them, Father, and have mercy on them.  In the name of Jesus we pray.  Amen.

When You Pray

"And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathens do.  For they think that they will be heard for their many words."

--Matthew 6:7  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on January 7, 2013 of Psalm 7; Matthew 6:1-18; Genesis 13-15.

Too often we just go through the motions, reciting words we learned long ago, not thinking about what we say, not even listening.  (Please reference my discussion of the Apostles Creed at http://tpohw.blogspot.com/2007/09/i-believe.html.)  And not just words, prayers, songs, and liturgy, but even our very actions become so familiar we do them by rote, by habit, giving no thought to what, why, or how.

I wonder how praised God feels when we simply mindlessly spout memorized words or go through learned motions when we should be paying true, heartfelt homage to Him for His eternal love, mercy, and faithfulness!  Jesus cautioned us not to be like the hypocrites, just going through the motions for the glory of man.  We need to seek the glory of God!

Ever faithful Father, please forgive us when we just go through the motions, doing what we've learned to do without giving a thought about Who we should be doing it for.  Forgive us if we think our many words might be considered true worship, when they are really hollow for lack of true feeling. In the name of Jesus we seek Your forgiveness.  Amen.

Have Mercy, O Lord

Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak...

--Psalm 6:2a  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on January 6, 2013 of Psalm 6; Matthew 5:21-48; Genesis 11-12.

David had some serious character flaws, and eventually he came to recognize and acknowledge that fact.  The same goes for me, and maybe for you as well.  Why are we so flawed?  Because we are weak, we lack the strength to stand firm against the constant barrage of temptation from the evil one.  All of us are flawed to some degree; all of us are weak to some degree; all of us are tempted.

Even Jesus had to face Satan's tempting offers.  But Jesus stood strong and resolute and resisted.  We are weak, but our Lord is strong and He will help and strengthen us if we let Him, if we call on Him.  Through Jesus, we can do all things (Philippians 4:13), even resist the greatest temptations.

All powerful God and loving Jesus, thank You for giving us strength when we have little of our own.  Thank You for helping us resist temptations, and please forgive us when we fall prey to Satan's offers.  In the wonderful name of Jesus we pray.  Amen.

In the Morning

My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord!  In the morning I will direct it to You.  And I will look up.

--Psalm 5:3  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on January 5, 2013 of Psalm 5; Matthew 5:1-20; Genesis 9-10.

I've never been a "morning person", being stronger, better, more alert, more focused in the evenings.  But I have been trying to remember to thank the Lord when I awaken, or shortly thereafter, to praise Him and rejoice in the new day, another fresh start He has given me.  Just as God gave us all a fresh start when He sent His Son to us, that if we only believe in Him we will have eternal life.  Just as He gives us a new chance each time we confess our sins, seek His forgiveness, and turn from that wicked way, each new day offer a chance for a new beginning, another step in our walk with Jesus.

Just as David knew, if I lift my voice of thanksgiving and praise to the Lord each day, He fills me anew with His Holy Spirit until I overflow, allowing me to share God's gift to others.  If I look up, I lift my face to the Lord, and my voice will be directed to Him, just as David says.  Good things come from starting off the day right!  Praise the Lord!

Father God and Jesus His Son, thank You so much for giving us second chance after second chance.  Thank You for each new day and the opportunity to praise You, to lift our faces and our voices to You, to speak Your holy name and proclaim You to all the nations.  In the blessed name of Jesus we pray.  Amen.

Fishers of Men

And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.  Then He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men."  They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

--Matthew 4:18-20  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on January 4, 2013 of Psalm 4; Matthew 4; Genesis 7-8.

Imagine:  You're on the job, working at your chosen profession, doing what you're good at, what you've been trained for.  And this perfect stranger walks up and says, "Follow me.  I have a new job for you."  What would you do?

This is pretty much what happened to Peter and Andrew, as they toiled at their chosen profession.  Their reaction was to immediately drop everything and follow Jesus, even though, by what we know, they had no clue who He was.  So did James and John.  So did Matthew.  "Follow Me", Jesus said, and they did just that.  Why can't we show that much faith, that much trust, that much commitment?  Why did I personally wait so long before answering His call and following Jesus, to become a fisher of men?  Why do I, and other I know, still have trouble dropping everything?  Satan has a firm grip on the natural world, and is tightening it daily.  If we follow Jesus, we can better resist the evil one.

Dear Jesus, Son of Man, You know our every weakness.  You know how easily we are tempted.  Deliver us from temptation, O Lord; deliver us from the ways of evil.  Make us fishers of men.  In Your name, Lord Jesus, we pray.  Amen.

Earth Corrupted

The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.  So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.  And God said to Noah, "The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth."

--Genesis 6:11-13  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on January 3, 2013 of Psalm 3; Matthew 3; Genesis 5-6.

The world is again filled with violence and corruption.  Will God again raise His hand against mankind?  The rainbow is His promise not to destroy the earth by water again, but there are many other ways to destroy a world.  Many of my fellow preachers and I feel a building sense of urgency to reach the lost.  Signs foretold by Isaiah and Daniel and Jeremiah and described in Revelations seem to be appearing in greater frequency.  Could Christ's return be nigh?

Almighty God, we know You could easily destroy all which You created, including mankind and all his works.  We know that when Jesus comes again, He will take His church home to heaven and that great trials and punishments will be meted out upon the earth and its inhabitants.  Lord we pray that we remain faithful and true in our belief so that we might be spared those final, fateful days.  In Jesus' name we pray.  Amen.

Breaking Bonds

Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing?  The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, "Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us."

--Psalm 2:1-3  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on January 2, 2013 of Psalm 2; Matthew 2; Genesis 3-4.

The United States, its leaders and its people, once truly worshiped and honored the Lord and were blessed for it.  Now more and more scorn God and Jesus, thinking themselves superior to those who still offer themselves subservient to God.  They pride themselves on their own accomplishments, giving no credit to Him who created all and gives all.  How long will even our most benevolent Father ignore this behavior?  How long will He continue to smile upon the US?  Please, dear Father, don't destroy us just yet.  There are still righteous people here.  Please don't turn Your back on this once great nation.

Father God, we humbly fall before You and beg Your forgiveness, as a nation and as a people.  We have turned our backs on You.  Please do not treat us as we treat You, but be merciful in Your dealings with Your misbehaving children.  In Jesus' name we pray.  Amen.

A New Year

Then God said, "Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years."

--Genesis 1:14  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on January 1, 2013 of Psalm 1; Matthew 1; Genesis 1-2.

It has been quite a while since I last posted to this blog.  The demands of life and trying to do too many things at once have kept me away.  Since I last posted I have retired from the full-time workforce to give more of myself to Jesus and pursue the ministry with greater vigor.  I have applied with two churches and have given trial sermons and done interviews at each.  I know God has something good in store for me although I don't know exactly what that might be.  So I keep on the path He showed me and await His continued wonders in my life, trying to follow the personal instruction He gave me to, preach His word.  I have full confidence, trust, and faith in our Lord.

I want to revive this little devotional blog, as much as possible, and will post to it as time permits.  Sometimes I will post thoughts from my daily Bible reading.  Other times, just as scripture is laid on my heart.  We'll see how it goes.  The first series of posts will be for January of 2013, covering my daily readings and thoughts that are not included in "The Power of His Word" (http://tpohw.blogspot.com).  So let's begin in the beginning, with Genesis 1:14.

God gives us each new year, a fresh beginning, another chance to grow in our relationship with Him.  It is interesting that, at least in the northern hemisphere where I live, the new year begins just before the coldest, the harshest weather of the seasons.  But once we get through that period, and are strengthened by it, we come to Spring, the earth's renewal, and the celebration of Christ's death and resurrection.  In a way, Spring is our reward for surviving winter.  What wondrous rewards await us for our faith and belief in Christ while surviving the winter of this mortal world!

Gracious Creator, thank You for giving us a fresh start every time we fail.  Thank You for giving us another chance when we displease You.  Thank You for offering us a rich reward if we only maintain our faith and our belief in Your one true Son.  In Jesus' name we pray.  Amen.

The Shadow of Your Wings

Because You have been my help, therefore in the
shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.

-- Psalm 63:7 (NKJV)

Throughout nature, a mother protects her child. She stays close, warding off enemies, giving comfort, sharing her warmth. A mother bird will gather her babies to her, sheltering them beneath her wings, keeping them safe from all danger.

The Psalms are filled with passages acknowledging the mighty works of God, singing His praises, giving thanks for all He gives us. In this moving verse the Psalmist compares God to a mother bird, safeguarding her young in the shadow of her wings. He admits that God has held him up when he was weak, has assisted him in trials, has protected him from foes and perils, has sheltered him in His loving hands. And because of all this, for thanks of all of this, the Psalmist rejoices.

Praise God and rejoice! For He shelters us beneath His mighty wings.

Father, thank You for being our help, our strength, our refuge. We pray that You always protect us and keep us safe within the shadow of Your wings. May we forever rejoice. Amen.