“The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” – 1 John 4:8 NASB1995
““God is love” is not an old saw, it is biblical affirmation. It does not depersonalize the Almighty by replacing Him with an idea or an emotion. To the contrary, it defines His nature.
““God is love” says that anything and everything that answers to the finest qualities of true love flows from Him. He is the source of all real love. He is also the judge of all that would call itself love and by its counterfeit seek to deceive minds and destroy hearts.
“What is His call to us? “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:11).” (Jack Hayford)
There is very little that I have read from Jack Hayford that I cannot stand in agreement with. Disagreement does not necessarily mean that we cannot walk together and encourage one another in the truth of God. It is opportunity for us to grow together as iron sharpens iron.
God knows that we will not understand the fullness of His truth this side of standing face to face with Him. His thoughts are higher than our thoughts, and His ways than our ways (Isaiah 55:9). As we who follow Christ grow, we can help one another to find truth and unity in our understanding through love that practices patience and overcomes obstacles. It is a journey we are all on as we seek after God.
Disunity is not God‘s desire for His people. He expects us to sit down together and discover His truth. The fellowship of believers is vital to our maturity and to unity of the Faith. May we be found faithful in that task.
Father, thank You so very much that You grow us through Your Word, line upon line, day by day, and step by step as we continually seek after You. Deliver us from every falsehood, and lead us to fullness of truth as You continually perfect us until the day of Christ. And as we grow, may the walls of division be toppled as unity of love prevails and truth wins out. In Jesus, amen.
We left things last post at “So, Darlene,” you ask, “what brought you to the question at hand, “Is ‘legalism’ a manmade philosophy?””
I’ve always been told that the fellowship of believers known as the Church of Christ is a legalistic group, requiring obedience as part of salvation. I can see where one might think that. But as I study with them, the thing I find more true is their extreme emphasis on the proof of salvation seen in Christ’s words: “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). Obedience is required and proves our love of God and His ways. We should all give “extreme emphasis” to this act of love for God that reveals we have come to know Him.
“We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world” (1 John 4:16-17).
Love that obeys “…is the fulfillment of the law” (Romans 13:10).
Scripture leads us to understand that right standing with God is seen in lives that consistently bear GOOD fruit (Luke 8:15; Matthew 7:15-30; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 5:7-10; and more). We are also told to “WORK OUT our salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12). But in our day I hear more and more from people confessing Christ, being confronted with the word of God or with opportunity for self examination, spout out, “That’s legalistic!” Many reveal an attitude toward salvation in Christ that appears to believe obedience is not a necessary part of salvation and is unrelated to it.
I have, for all my days in ministry through writing and teaching, been used of God to call us – beginning with myself – to;
“test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! …” (2 Corinthians 13:5).
“Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit” (Luke 12:35 ).
“prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves” (James 1:22).
It is my calling in Christ and He makes me fearless when it comes to the backlash that can come from the world, and most assuredly, from those who profess Christ.
Recently I’ve shared some things that come from Church of Christ bulletins that I found thought-provoking and worthy of consideration. The things that help me, I enjoy sharing in hopes that it will help others. Having shared many such items in my past, even from Chuch of Christ publications, I never dreamed of being told that an item was legalistic in its content. It came across to me as something said simply because it was linked to a Church of Christ publication.
Coupling that with the number of times that I’ve heard people say, “that’s legalistic,” when they are confronted with conviction, leads me to believe it is a man-made philosophy used to make ourselves feel righteous, and remove from ourselves any sense of the conviction that God may be putting upon us.
Conviction is from God. God does not condemn through false accusations and throwing forgiven sins we’ve turned away from practicing in our faces. The words of others will not bother us if we are walking in righteousness in the area of truth presented. To deny conviction without considering it before God, is to deny God. Things we do not want to face become an easy target for squelching with the blanket called “legalism”.
The choice I see is simple. We can continue to use the excuse of legalism as a way of separating ourselves, or we can choose to do business with God, find truth for our lives, and walk together in love’s unity. The important thing is that we find the truth of God, practice the repentance that proves unity with Him, bear fruit in keeping with righteousness, and walk together in love.
Jesus knows those who are His. Those He knows are the church. And those who are His reveal themselves through alignment with His righteousness. Let us choose to love God through Christ and be The Church.
I pray God for us in this new year, for He is the source of all blessing and good to those who seek Him, trusting Him to see them through. When we choose to bless the Lord at all times, walking in His ways, growing in His Word, His praise continually in our mouths, we enter His presence and find His help in time of need.
May our souls make their boast in the Lord, humbly seeking Him through and in accordance to His Word. He hears and rejoices to help us in our need as we do.
O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. Seek the Lord as he calls us to, and He will answer, and deliver our hearts from fears. Looking to Him lifts our countenance and makes our souls radiant, our faces never needing to be ashamed as we follow closely to Him, keeping His Word.
We, who realize that we are poor without Him, seeking Him wholeheartedly in this way, can cry out to Him in our need, and find Him faithful to hear and save us out of all our troubles. Following through faith that trusts Him makes us strong to face hardship, walk through it, and see His good come out of it. His reputation is that He, the angel of the Lord, encamps around those who fear Him and He rescues them.
O taste and see that the Lord is good! How blessed are those who take refuge in Him. O fear the Lord, you His saints; for to those who fear Him there is no want. He satiates us and makes us content in every circumstance as we walk in reverence for Him. Young lions do lack of and suffer hunger; but we who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing. These are truths I have walked in with ever growing understanding and fervor, every day for over 45 years. He has not let me down. Come join me. Let’s walk hand in hand together as family in Christ through 2024.
Does God give you a verse or scripture passage each year as a focus for spiritual growth?
I’ve had this practice for many years. It has greatly helped my growth in Christ. I start in October asking Him to reveal the area of focus He has for me in the new year. It’s amazing how scripture jumps out to catch my attention and inspire my heart for growth, followed by a year of complimentary passages that instruct my heart in my focal area. And I cannot tell you the number of times that group Bible study materials I’m drawn to each year wind up giving insights on my areas of focus.
This past year was the best year to date. I see great progress in my focus on Philippians 2:1-8 and growing in “intentional selflessness“. That focus does not permit laziness in study or practice. 😂 It does not permit giving self to fear or selfish desires. I am made new through this focus that has made such strides in delivering me from self-focus and self-centeredness. It kept me from curling up in a ball from grief, doing nothing of significance, hiding from the world, and ignoring the needs of others.
The year my husband died (last quarter of 2022), my focus was Psalm 23 AMPC and “Be Intentional”. I am so grateful for how that focus made for a glorious last year with him and prepared me for his death, spurring me on after his death to get needful things done with intentional effort. Psalm 23, and many other focal passages from past years, still come to me as instruction for life’s challenges.
This coming year I am excited to get into Ephesians 5:15-17 and “walk circumspectly” (phrase from the NKJV).
If you have not developed this practice for deliberate focus in spiritual growth, I highly recommend it. Be sure to include memorizing the passage and keep a journal, so you can review your findings and insights as you read through the Word of God. Go forth and have a happy, inspired, spiritually prosperous 2024!
We are called to walk in God’s Light and to be light in the earth. The true light pours forth from God, to us, and through us back to God and out to others. The light Jesus calls us to be moves in the will and way of God, desiring to please Him above self-will and man-pleasing.
The light we are called to produces
the fruit of The Word of God living and active in us,
the fruit of repentance,
the fruit of righteousness,
the fruit of good works,
the fruit of the Spirit of God,
the fruit of God’s Kingdom on earth, which is the bearing forth of Christlikeness.
If these things are not living, active, and growing in us, the light in us is the false light of darkness.
A profession of knowing Jesus, while not having this light visibly working in us is darkness – it is useless and accomplishes nothing good or of eternal value. “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” - Ephesians 5:15-17 NASB1995
“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong in behalf of those whose hearts are blameless toward Him. You have done foolishly in this; therefore, from now on you shall have wars.” – 2 Chronicles 16:9 AMPC
“God is not democratic. His Kingdom is not a democracy. He is never subject to our whim or rule. The only real authority we ultimately have with God is the right to completely rule Him out of our lives. You can do that. But who in their right minds wants to? That’s the decision of those who refuse Christ, who reject God’s redemption and rule through His appointed King.
“But once I receive Jesus Christ as Savior, He enters to become Lord. Once my choice is to “rule Him in,” He comes in to rule! He takes over at Master-control and exercises God’s Kingdom rule to achieve our best blessing and highest destiny.” (From Praise in The Presence of God, by Jack Hayford)
Father God, I am so grateful for Your saving grace found in Jesus Christ, my Savior and King. Thank You for leading my heart to bow before You and choose Jesus as Lord and Redeemer King. Thank You for paying the price I could not pay so I can have the Life I do not deserve.
And thank You for giving Your Word and Teacher Spirit to train me in righteousness and empower me to walk out the salvation You call me to, living out the righteous life You call me to display. You are awesome God and Faithful Creator, worthy of all glory, praise, and honor. May my life and every breath prove these truths to the glory of Your name. In Jesus and for Your glory and crown, amen.
“… These are inveterate {chronic} murmurers (grumblers) who complain [of their lot in life], going after their own desires [controlled by their passions]; their talk is boastful and arrogant, [and they claim to] admire men’s persons and pay people flattering compliments to gain advantage. But you must remember, beloved, the predictions which were made by the apostles (the special messengers) of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). They told you beforehand, In the last days (in the end time) there will be scoffers [who seek to gratify their own unholy desires], following after their own ungodly passions. It is these who are [agitators] setting up distinctions and causing divisions–merely sensual [creatures, carnal, worldly-minded people], devoid of the [Holy] Spirit and destitute of any higher spiritual life. ….” – Jude 1:14-25 AMPC
Inveterate (murmurers) – Firmly and long established; deep-rooted. Persisting in an ingrained habit; habitual: synonym: chronic.
Father, I don’t think I’m a grumbler – especially not habitually so. But if I, in any way or depth, am given over to grumbling and complaining, reveal this evil in me and deliver me from its grasp.
I do see that I tend to fall to the sin of giving compliments, not falsely – what I speak, I say out of true evaluation, but with the wrong motives of trying to get into another’s good graces, or trying to prove something they believe about me to be incorrect. This, too, is not out of a lie. The things the ones I think of in this do believe of me is a lie. But working to please them in proving them wrong is prideful. So forgive me this sin, O God, and prove righteousness and truth in me in ways they can rightly see. I rest my defense into Your capable Hands, for You see and know the truth of every heart.
Father, let me not be found an instigator of division, but use me to bring peace that unites from a position of righteous understanding. In Jesus I pray, amen.
A devotional done with friends reminds me of the need of long hours at Your feet in some life issues, Lord. My heart stays so overwhelmed by so much in these days that part of me feels prayerless – or at least inadequate in prayer for such unbelievable turmoil, while the other part feels the groaning of Your Spirit that has me constant at Your feet – watchfully waiting. Lord, I believe, help my unbelief.
Thank You for Your Word that is the dictator and heart of my prayers in these days. And thank You for the answer received today in one of those major devastations. I love You dearly and long for Your will, to see Your hand in the land of our living, as You have so faithfully done so many times throughout my years of running hard after You. In Jesus, make it so. Amen!
”He also spoke this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’ But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’ ”“ – Luke 13:6-9 NKJV
We planted two trees in our front yard at our home of 32 years. The one to the right, as one looks at the house, soon grew big and tall and shaded the yard. The one to the left, after numerous years, was barely bigger than when we first planted it. As I was giving up on it and about ready to change it out, God used this passage to speak wisdom and instruction to me. I followed the instructions in the scripture, and the tree began to grow. After a couple of years, it was almost as big as the first one. It did not take long for it to catch up after that.
There are two truths to capture here. First, there is great wisdom for our day in the Scriptures, if we will but hear, take counsel, believe, and obey. And second, for growth to happen, living things require the proper care and nourishment. For the Christian, the food and water needed is found in God’s Word, and in the fellowship of believers.
Is your spiritual growth stunted? Get with the people of God who can help you know how to study, and let God take His bread and living water to the root of the problem.
“I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished! Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division.” – Luke 12:49-51 NKJV
Jesus took our sins upon Himself for the purpose of taking our eternal death of separation from God for us. In the baptism of His death and burial, followed by His rising again as Victor over sin and death, He gave us opportunity to enter into His baptism and rise again to newness of life.
Do not take the baptismal waters lightly, as commonplace. This is the sin of the Pharisees who ritually washed without thought of its importance. When you enter those waters, do so in full understanding of its meaning, as this is a vital step in the experience of the saving grace of Christ. It is not a ritual. It is a commitment, requiring full understanding of its importance as a first act of obedience for righteousness sake. This, too, follows the example Christ gives (Matthew 3:13-15 NKJV).
Entering the baptismal waters is the reality we enter into in Christ when we surrender ourselves to walk in the newness of life Jesus provides for us. As we enter those waters, we enter His death. Recognize that as you step into that glorious bath. Your old life is over. Leave it behind and let it die.
In being lowered in submersion to those waters, we are buried with Him. If you want the full experience of this, let those waters be cold. It takes your breath away so in rising again, you inhale deeply, as taking the first breath of life – a life made new in Christ. The slate of your past is wiped clean.
As you step out of those waters, fully realizing the reality of entering the baptism Jesus took for you, do so with a heart determined to write on the slate of your life the good God desires to write through You, following the example of the Christ with every subsequent breath.
This is the meaning of “There is also an ANTITYPE which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (I Peter 3:21 NKJV).
Anyone can say the right words and get dunked under those waters. But God, who knows the heart of every person, sees the sincerity of the commitment we make when we enter the baptism of Christ in this first step of obedience. It is vital we understand the heart of the action, and do not take these steps lightly.
“In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.”” Luke 12:1-3 NKJV
Father, forgive me any gossip, slander, unkind, down trodding, etc., speech spoken at any time. Make me alert to such and quick to repent and apologize. Reveal to me anything that I need to make amends for and grant me wisdom in how to do so.
I love You. Help me rightly and truly love in Your name by word, deed, and thought. Let that which is in me be that which can flow forth to the glory of Your name as a loving testament revealing You in me. In Jesus, amen.
Wow! Father, I love when You refuse to allow me to give myself to fleshly fears and self-centered cares. You truly are giving me purpose in making this trip with my daughter. You’re speaking to my heart about not allowing fear to rob me of the blessing of fulfilling Your purpose as I choose to live life to the full. It’s been made clear that she wants time with me and this is opportunity to gift that to her – and to myself. I long to see my granddaughter and family, and to meet my new great grand and his dad, my new grandson in love. This is my chance to do that.
You have opened doors for me. I must not let my flesh, the ills and difficulties of this world, and satanic fear rob me. I must cling to faith’s trust in You as You are clearly calling me to do through Your Word to my heart today. Grant me to remember Your words to me and put fear thoughts and self-centered comforts behind me. In Jesus, amen.
“Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.” Then Moses called to Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall give it to them as an inheritance. The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”” Deuteronomy 31:6-8 NASB1995
You are so faithful, Lord, to lead us and direct our paths as we seek Your opinion. Thank You for sparking my heart today with Deuteronomy 31:6-8, increasing faith in me to make this upcoming trip with my daughter to see my granddaughter and family three days journey away: a daunting distance to me. I am trusting You have a purpose to fulfill in my going, and giving me a word from You to hold to confirms Your will and provision for it. I am so very grateful.
This is exactly what I needed to hear from You. Thank You that You never fail to inspire my faith in You for the things You call me to, and You are faithful to encourage my perseverance on the path You lead to. I do trust You. Now, Lord, entrusting this journey to You, I pray to be Your instrument in loving these, and in shining You into their lives and the lives of others at every opportunity as we go. In Jesus, amen!
“And He said, “If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the Lord, am your healer.”” – Exodus 15:26 NASB1995
You are! You are my first, most vital need and necessity. I can do nothing apart from You of any eternal worth or value. With You working in and through me, nothing shall be impossible, for I can do all things through the strength of Your supply.
You are my hope, my help, my provision, my treasure. Every good and perfect is from You, the Father of Lights, in Whom there is no variation or shifting of shadow. I trust You, looking to You for my every good. Make Yourself known as You show Yourself strong in me.
You are my life. You cleanse and sanctify me in holiness. You heal me by Your Word from a sin nature in my flesh and bring me surely into righteousness and truth through my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I bow!
Thank You for saving me and making me whole as You make me wholly Yours. In Jesus name, amen.
In reading this passage today, Father, I see something different. I always read it as our love for one another. Now I see it as our love for You.
This is speaking of coming into perfected love, in which there is no fear. As we grow in love for You in our knowledge and discernment of You, we then are able to approve the things that are excellent. It is in loving You that we are enabled to desire the things You deem excellent. That focus equips us to walk love out into life in ways that are sincere and without offense. That love for You makes fertile soil in hearts made ready, able to produce in us the fruit of righteousness in Christ to the glory and praise of our God.
It’s in growing understanding of You and Your desire for us to walk with You that works in us an increasing love for You, that enables us to love others well as part of bearing Your fruit into life. Here am I, O God. May my love abound still more and more to the glory and praise of Your great name. In Jesus, amen.
“Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.”” – John 8:28-29
Your Word is pure joy to my heart, Father. Even when it’s words convict me of sin, I rejoice, for that conviction reveals Your love that wants a pure relationship with me and desires I be holy as You are holy. I desire to know and walk in Your truths, so that I may know and walk with You. Grant me to love Your Word, abiding in that which makes me to know You and Your ways.
I pray to only speak Your true words, Father. Teach me, that I may have truth to speak. Show Yourself strong with and through me. Grant wise discernment of clear paths that I may consistently walk as pleases You at all times and in all things. As Jesus – our example for life – is, so I desire to be. In Jesus, amen.
“Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the Lord blessed him. The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous;” – Genesis 26:12-13 NKJV
Prosper us, Father, in our relationships – beginning and majoring in our relationship with You as First and Foremost, our most vital need and necessity. Increase us in fruit bearing that glorifies and honors You, bringing increase to Your Kingdom. As stewards of the manifold gifts of Your grace to us, prosper us in fulfilling Your purpose and plan. You give sufficient and beyond so that we have sufficient for every good deed. Grant us wisdom to know the good that rightly uses Your good gifts to us. May we walk as pleases You in all our ways, being found faithful and ready at Your coming, when we meet You face to face. In Jesus, amen.
“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” – III John 1:2 NKJV
“For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” – Hebrews 4:12 NASB1995
Thinking on this verse this morning, I couldn’t remember exactly how it’s worded, so I looked it up. As I think on it, I realize – maybe not for the first time – the significance of its parameters.
The Word of God is living and active. It’s timeless: useful to God for directing and instructing, inspiring and strengthening our lives now as much as it did those it was originally spoken to. God can highlight any portion of it to our hearts, giving wisdom for our now situations. It is as relevant and vital to life now as it was in the days it was lived out. It has the capacity to lift us out of death and depression, giving us all that is needful for an abundant life that glorifies and honors God, accomplishing His purpose with wisdom and grace. So how does it work? This verse tells us.
The Word of God is sharper than any two-edged sword. It cuts to the quick of life as God’s Spirit highlights it to our hearts for our good, to inspire, teach, direct, reprove, and train in righteousness. It pierces our lives as far as the division of…
Soul and spirit: the soul is our mind – the way we think; our will – the desires and inclinations that dictate choice; and our emotions; all making us the unique individuals we are. Our spirit is that part of us that is eternal. It cannot be separated from that which makes us who we are and will live on after our flesh shell dies. The question is, where? There is an eternal destination we are responsible to choose before our physical flesh dies. We will either be with God for all eternity, or we will be doomed to separation from Him, given over to the hell that separation brings us to.
Joints and marrow: joints make full, functioning mobility possible. Without the joints, the body cannot move far quickly, nor accomplish much. Marrow is the factory for red blood cells, which are the oxygen carriers of our bodies. Oxygen is necessary for life. The breath of life cannot flow through our bodies without well functioning marrow. God’s Word keeps our spiritual and physical lives healthy and full of Life, able to function at full strength.
Rightly judging the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Without right thoughts within us, even our best intentions will fall short of God’s glory, which makes even our good to be sin in God’s economy. We cannot recognize when our good intentions are being misled and fed by wrong thinking and selfish motives without the instruction of God found in His Word.
We cannot live righteously on the earth apart from God. We learn of God and His ways through His Word. God transforms us to be and function at our best capacity, with adequate life-breath and full function, as we let His Word penetrate our lives and make us wholly holy, as He is holy.
I pray you find time everyday to be in God’s Word. It is our life breath. Since, in Christ, we live in the New Covenant found in the New Testament, this is the reading plan I recommend. Read 5 times through the New Testament in this fashion:
John through Revelation
Matthew, skip to Acts through Revelation
Mark, skip to Acts through Revelation
Luke, skip to Acts through Revelation
Matthew through Revelation
Then read Genesis through Revelation.
Repeat over and over again. The Word of God never gets old or obsolete. And there is always and forever greater depth of understanding to glean.
When a verse or passage makes your heart jump, don’t just read on as if nothing happened.
Pause over it.
Note the full context of the passage. Who? What? Where? When? And why?
Pray over it, asking for wisdom and understanding in its application to your life.
Make note of it.
Follow the references that are listed with it and note any of them that speak to your heart and need.
Look up definitions of words that stand out – both in a good language dictionary and a detailed Bible Word dictionary.
Note any insights found.
Memorize the verse or passage.
Write the verse or passage on a piece of paper. Put it in your pocket. Reread and meditate on these things throughout your day, asking God for His good seed to take root in the soil of a heart made ready to apply its truths to your life.
May the Lord bless you, through the reading of His Word, to have a glorious life.
“He is on the path of life who heeds instruction, But he who ignores reproof goes astray.” – Proverbs 10:17 NASB1995
“Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.” – Colossians 1:25-29 NASB1995
Thank You, Father, for making a way for us to be clothed again in Your glory, through Christ Jesus our Lord. In Christ, we were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that we might be joined to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. Therefore, if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord. Whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. This we profess and this we trust as we walk out our salvation in the land of our living; this place of habitation You set us in.
Whether, then, we eat or drink or whatever we do, empower us to do all to the glory of God, that Your glory may rest on and shine through us as Your light to a lost and dead world. Whatever we do in word or deed, may we be faithful to do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to You, our Father God. For it is in Jesus we pray, amen.
“Walking in the spirit of trust means simply doing what the Holy Spirit directs you to do. And keeping quiet.” Jack Hayford
The focal thought You gave me for today comes from Paul’s words in Acts 26:19, “Be Obedient to the Heavenly Vision.”
The place You called me to in this season is often a hard place to be, most certainly beyond my ability alone. But You keep confirming the path and assuring my heart that You are accomplishing Your purpose in and through me.
Here am I, O God. Help my mouth speak the assurances You give and my heart recognize Your sure presence in this place. Grant me wisdom and perseverance, especially in the hard times. And let my love for You and those around me be visible and palpable, going above and beyond mere words. In Jesus, amen.
“Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”” – Mark 14:37-38 NKJV
Father, thank You for pausing me here this morning, leading me to consider these words. As I do, it dawns on me that Jesus just told these with Him that they would fall away and deny Him. If ever they needed to be praying, it was then. He was warning them of what was coming to Him and that one of their number would betray Him. If ever they needed to be praying, it was then.
Father God, You call us to Yourself, giving us assignment in living and serving You. Living for You is bigger than our flesh can accomplish without Your work in us and cannot be done apart from You. The wisdom of this world, our very flesh, and demonic influences stand against us, set to draw us into falsehood and sin. If ever we need to be praying and seeking Your Face, it is now.
Here am I, O God. Teach me to pray fervently, just as Jesus did. In Jesus, amen.
Father, I so greatly appreciate being able to look at the many uses and benefits of salt. It greatly increases understanding of what saltiness looks like on Your people. We are called to be salt in the earth and use gracious speech, seasoned with salt. Salt adds flavor and lessens bitterness, soothes the burning sting, lessons heat and puts out fire, preserves, cleanses and purifies, removes stains, provides pest control, tests for rottenness, clarifies view, has a strengthening effect, and more.
Father, may my speech be filled with just the right amount of salt for every occasion. Make my life salty to the glory of Your name and fulfillment of Your purpose in me. In Jesus, amen.
As I ask You, Father, if there’s any I haven’t forgiven, those used to put people intent on evil in authority, those leading us to the evil prevalent in our land today come to heart. I hate the evil, especially that which threatens the very life and wellbeing of our children and grandchildren. But I must forgive those who “do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). I must forgive for my own sake as exemplifies You (Isaiah 43:25).
Here am I, O God. Forgive and cleanse me of this unforgiving spirit. The greatest evil ever done was the killing of the Lord of Glory, yet it was most necessary to the fulfillment of Your purposed plan. You are still working Your plan, O God. Make us faithful to trust You, who will bring good to those who love You and are called according to Your purpose (Romans 8:28).
You will make Your servants stand (Romans 14:4). May I be found standing firm in Christ, for it’s in His name and for Your glory that I pray, amen.
“Again, departing from the region of Tyre and Sidon, He came through the midst of the region of Decapolis to the Sea of Galilee. Then they brought to Him one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech, and they begged Him to put His hand on him. And He took him aside from the multitude, and put His fingers in his ears, and He spat and touched his tongue. Then, looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly. Then He commanded them that they should tell no one; but the more He commanded them, the more widely they proclaimed it. And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”” – Mark 7:31-37
“But He sighed deeply in His spirit, and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Assuredly, I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation.”” – Mark 8:12
I noticed the sigh of Jesus in chapter 7, then this sigh. Was the heart of the people in 7 a desire for a sign as well? Is that why He took the man away from the crowd to heal him? Where else does Jesus sigh?
Doing a search using the Literal Word App, there are only 10 “sighs” found in scripture. These two are the only ones found in the NT. All others are in the old.
“Now it came about in the course of those many days that the king of Egypt died. And the sons of Israel sighed because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry for help because of their bondage rose up to God.” — Exodus 2:23
“I am weary with my sighing; Every night I make my bed swim, I dissolve my couch with my tears.” — Psalm 6:6
“For my life is spent with sorrow And my years with sighing; My strength has failed because of my iniquity, And my body has wasted away.” — Psalm 31:10
“Lord, all my desire is before You; And my sighing is not hidden from You. My heart throbs, my strength fails me; And the light of my eyes, even that has gone from me.” — Psalm 38:9-10
“My voice rises to God, and I will cry aloud; My voice rises to God, and He will hear me. In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; In the night my hand was stretched out without weariness; My soul refused to be comforted. When I remember God, then I am disturbed; When I sigh, then my spirit grows faint. Selah. You have held my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak.” — Psalm 77:1-4
Read this chapter and see how the sigh here comes from viewing the circumstances of life without remembering the faithfulness of God. See how remembering God’s hand working in past situations brings a sigh to one’s failure to see and trust God in the now. Then understand the sigh of Jesus at the inability of the people to trust God’s faithfulness after all the miraculous works He did. Yet they still needed a sign. This leads me to ask, will I trust God though I do not see in the moment the work He is accomplishing?
“You have placed our iniquities before You, Our secret sins in the light of Your presence. For all our days have declined in Your fury; We have finished our years like a sigh. As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, Or if due to strength, eighty years, Yet their pride is but labor and sorrow; For soon it is gone and we fly away. Who understands the power of Your anger And Your fury, according to the fear that is due You? So teach us to number our days, That we may present to You a heart of wisdom.” — Psalm 90:8-12
“Therefore, a curse devours the earth, and those who live in it are held guilty. Therefore, the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men are left. The new wine mourns, The vine decays, All the merry-hearted sigh. The gaiety of tambourines ceases, The noise of revelers stops, The gaiety of the harp ceases. They do not drink wine with song; Strong drink is bitter to those who drink it. The city of chaos is broken down; Every house is shut up so that none may enter. There is an outcry in the streets concerning the wine; All joy turns to gloom. The gaiety of the earth is banished.” — Isaiah 24:6-11
“No lion will be there, Nor will any vicious beast go up on it; These will not be found there. But the redeemed will walk there, And the ransomed of the LORD will return And come with joyful shouting to Zion, With everlasting joy upon their heads. They will find gladness and joy, And sorrow and sighing will flee away.” — Isaiah 35:9-10
“Was it not You who dried up the sea, The waters of the great deep; Who made the depths of the sea a pathway For the redeemed to cross over? So the ransomed of the LORD will return And come with joyful shouting to Zion, And everlasting joy will be on their heads. They will obtain gladness and joy, And sorrow and sighing will flee away.” — Isaiah 51:10-11
“Then the glory of the God of Israel went up from the cherub on which it had been, to the threshold of the temple. And He called to the man clothed in linen at whose loins was the writing case. The LORD said to him, “Go through the midst of the city, even through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations which are being committed in its midst.” But to the others He said in my hearing, “Go through the city after him and strike; do not let your eye have pity and do not spare. Utterly slay old men, young men, maidens, little children, and women, but do not touch any man on whom is the mark; and you shall start from My sanctuary.” So they started with the elders who were before the temple.” — Ezekiel 9:3-6
Forgive me, Father, when I cause Your heart to sigh because of fear and doubt that grabs me. Empower me to seek Your face and trust in You with whole heart. You are faithful. Make me faithful to trust You more in these days that cause my heart to ((sigh)), appalled at the sin of humankind, a sigh that is deeper than ever before, longing for Your presence in the land of the living. In Jesus, amen.
“Then He got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased [as if exhausted by its own activity]; and they were completely overwhelmed, because they had not understood [the miracle of] the loaves [how it revealed the power and deity of Jesus]; but [in fact] their heart was hardened [being oblivious and indifferent to His amazing works].” – Mark 6:51-52 AMP
They took it for granted. The power and might of the Christ became commonplace to them. It made the evidence of His power go over their heads without note.
To take something for granted: “to believe something to be the truth without even thinking about.” Cambridge Dictionary
“The expression to take for granted means “to accept without question or objection,” and often implies a lack of appreciation or gratitude. (E.g., “Many of us may take for granted the fact that we have access to clean drinking water.”)
“When it comes to people, to take someone for granted means to take advantage of, show no appreciation for, or undervalue them.” – Dictionary.com
Father, forgive me for failure to be amazed and realize Your power and ability to work among us. Nothing is too difficult for You. You can and will accomplish what concerns me. I can trust You. Forgive when I forget that You are God.
You place on my heart a work You desire I do, and I do so willingly, but I too readily slip into trusting my own ability instead of relying on Yours. You don’t need me to accomplish Your purpose in a work You lead me to. It is a privilege and joy to be Your instrument in accomplishing Your purpose. But it is still Your work in and through me. I can do nothing truly good or of eternal purpose apart from You. Father, You are my first, most vital need and necessity. Help me remember Your greatness and give You the glory due Your name.
Forgive me when I forget Who You are, becoming hardened against Your reality and might, failing to trust You to direct me and accomplish Your purpose in me. You are faithful. I trust You. Make Yourself known in, to, and through me. In Jesus, amen.
Any one of us weak fleshed beings are capable of denying the Christ apart from Your work of grace in us, Lord. Draw near to me, Lord, as I draw near to You. Fill me with Your Holy Presence, for apart from You I can do nothing. You are my first, most vital need and necessity. You are the oil in my lamp that keeps me dressed in readiness with lamps alight. Make me faithful and, according to Your faithful Word, empower me to stand despite any fear that comes my way. You are my hope and my help. I bow to You. This I pray in Jesus, amen.
The hardest and most important thing about confessing sin is seeing self rightly and truly, as You see me. I too readily tend to look at myself with rose colored glasses, if I am not careful to honestly and earnestly seek Your opinion or keep ears attuned to You.
I understand the importance of right relationship with You, Father, and the role of sincere repentance in maintaining that connection with You. Empower me to be quick in hearing You and faithful in seeking hard after You. Grant me eyes to see clearly as You see me; ears to hear truly, recognizing Your voice over those that are falsely self approving and deceptive; a mind of comprehensive understanding, in agreement with Your will done Your way; a heart set to seeking You with right desire for You as first and foremost need and necessity; and a spirit vitally united with Your Spirit, bowed down to You in willing obedience.
“This is my desire to honor You. Lord with all my heart I worship You. All I have within me, I give You praise. All that I adore is in You. Lord I give You my heart. I give You my soul, I live for You alone. Every breath that I take, Every moment I’m awake, Lord have Your way in me.” In Jesus, amen.
Thank You, Father, that You desire a loving, open, full, complete, and trusting relationship with us, so much so that You gave Your Son to achieve it. Thank You that as we seek You wholeheartedly, You give us Your Spirit Teacher to make Yourself known to us, disclosing Yourself and Your Word to our understanding. I praise You that, in Christ, You open the chambers of Your secret place, where we can meet heart to heart, a place no one can take from us. There, through Your Living Word, You instruct us in the way in which we must go, and grant us grace sufficient for our successful journey through this life, taking us safely to the fullness of Your Presence.
Thank You that as we earnestly seek You, You grant us understanding of how to walk out our salvation as pleases You, and You undergird us as Your bondservant-child, making us stand to the glory of Your name and the fulfillment of Your purpose. Nothing is to difficult for You. I bow in faith’s trust, and rise in belief’s loving obedience. Glory to Your Name, in Jesus, amen.
Every time we face something in life that appears impossible or tempts us away from faithfully following You; any time we sense Your call to a hard thing we aren’t sure we can do; with every opportunity to doubt or fear, a stone pops up to cause stumbling, making us stop, leading us to sin against You. Father, grant us faith to trust You that, in all You call us to and every opportunity You set before us, You are with us to move those stones or show us the path to removing their hindrance. When we walk with faith that fully trusts You, stones of stumbling get crushed under the Cornerstone of our faith, and we walk free to stand firm on the foundation of our victory in Christ. Increase our trust as we walk securely in The Way, The Truth, and The Life. Make us faithful to trust You more and obey You fully, especially in the hard places. IJA
“I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.” – Revelations 2:2-6
Father, thank You for this passage that always gives me opportunity for self evaluation. Am I producing a work that honors You as God, laboring in patient endurance out of love for You, as pleases You as my First and Foremost desire? Am I testing the teachers and teaching I sit under by digging into Your word for myself, that I may know truth, giving me a basis for recognizing falsehood? Do I live as one who hates evil? Am I remaining true to You as my First Love?
Here am I, O God. Search me and know my heart. Try me and know my anxious thoughts. Grant me eyes to see myself – my heart – as You see me. See if there is any hurtful way in me, and lead me to a right heart in walking through life into eternal purposes fulfilled to the glory of Your Name. Grant me right heart attitudes in serving You with whole hearted fervor, practicing patient endurance, to a finish that glorifies Your name and accomplishes Your purpose. May I realize the evil around me and recognize any way in which I inadvertently give myself to those things that displease and dishonor You. Deliver me from evil, and lead me to repentance that reestablishes right standing with You. Make me a light that helps those I love or come in contact with to find You for themselves. This I pray in Jesus’ Name and by His authority, amen.
Seeking Holy Habitation, seated at God's feet (Exodus 15:13).
Darlene's Ponderings 