S. Ecclesiastes 10:1 "Dead flies putrefy the perfumers ointment, and cause it to give off a foul odor; So does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor."
O. "does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?"(Jas. 3:11) How can we, who have the word of God and to whom the storehouses of Heaven been opened be so foolish? All the wisdom and honor that God has displayed in us (His work of art), can be destroyed with one foul stroke of the paintbrush. We not only look foolish, we stink to a world that is looking to us for answers.
A. Correction sometimes hurts; ouch! I must admit that I haven't always walked circumspectly, redeeming the time. As the sands of time slip through this old hourglass, I don't want to contaminate the ointment that He is preparing me to be to a hurting world.
P. "Thank You, LORD, for reminding me who and Whose I am. Help me to keep the 'dead flies' away."
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Friday, June 8, 2012
Schemes
S. Ecclesiastes 7:29. "Truly, this I have found: That God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes."
O. We were created to have perfect communion with God. In other words, we were made "upright". But we, being human and having a free will, have sought out many schemes, beginning in the garden of Eden. When the devil's schemes took man outside of God's perfect provision, he wound up feeling embarrassed, ashamed, and guilty. After initiating communion with Adam, God finally found him hiding in the trees, covered with fig leaves.
A In direct contradiction to an upright vertical relationship with God, my schemes (sin), run horizontal. This screams of the cross. It's imperative that my relationship with the LORD remains completely, uncompromisingly upright. I thank God that the Holy Spirit not only found me hiding, Jesus' blood completely covered me where the fig leaves never could. So God no longer sees my horizontal schemes ; He only sees the righteous blood of Jesus Christ, Who restores my "uprightness".
P. "Jesus, thank You for covering my sought out 'schemes' and redeeming my 'uprightness'. Praise Your name that You made it possible for me to live a vertical life in communion with my LORD."
O. We were created to have perfect communion with God. In other words, we were made "upright". But we, being human and having a free will, have sought out many schemes, beginning in the garden of Eden. When the devil's schemes took man outside of God's perfect provision, he wound up feeling embarrassed, ashamed, and guilty. After initiating communion with Adam, God finally found him hiding in the trees, covered with fig leaves.
A In direct contradiction to an upright vertical relationship with God, my schemes (sin), run horizontal. This screams of the cross. It's imperative that my relationship with the LORD remains completely, uncompromisingly upright. I thank God that the Holy Spirit not only found me hiding, Jesus' blood completely covered me where the fig leaves never could. So God no longer sees my horizontal schemes ; He only sees the righteous blood of Jesus Christ, Who restores my "uprightness".
P. "Jesus, thank You for covering my sought out 'schemes' and redeeming my 'uprightness'. Praise Your name that You made it possible for me to live a vertical life in communion with my LORD."
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Among The Nations
S. Psalm 18:49 "Therefore I will give thanks to You O LORD, among the gentiles, and sing praises to Your Name"
O. When ever we see the word "therefore", of course, the question "What's it therefore?" begs to be asked. David opens this psalm with "I will love..., I will trust..., I will call upon the LORD". As he witnesses all hell (literally) breaking loose, he cries out to God, and God saves him from his enemies. Now David declares that he will praise God, not only in Israel, but among the gentiles (the nations).
A.Tonight I get to gather with the saints to praise and worship the Creator of the universe and the Redeemer of my soul. To quote the great theologian Jackie Gleason, "How sweet it is!" Yet what about today and tomorrow, as I go about my witnessing His goodness and strength in my life? I have to confess that I am weak when it comes to giving thanks to God among the gentiles (the unsaved).
P. "LORD, I am walking this earth right now to bring You praise among the unsaved. Give me strength and courage to give You thanks and sing praises to Your name among the nations."
O. When ever we see the word "therefore", of course, the question "What's it therefore?" begs to be asked. David opens this psalm with "I will love..., I will trust..., I will call upon the LORD". As he witnesses all hell (literally) breaking loose, he cries out to God, and God saves him from his enemies. Now David declares that he will praise God, not only in Israel, but among the gentiles (the nations).
A.Tonight I get to gather with the saints to praise and worship the Creator of the universe and the Redeemer of my soul. To quote the great theologian Jackie Gleason, "How sweet it is!" Yet what about today and tomorrow, as I go about my witnessing His goodness and strength in my life? I have to confess that I am weak when it comes to giving thanks to God among the gentiles (the unsaved).
P. "LORD, I am walking this earth right now to bring You praise among the unsaved. Give me strength and courage to give You thanks and sing praises to Your name among the nations."
Friday, March 23, 2012
The knowledge god
S.1 Cor. 8:1-3. "Now concerning the things offered to idols: We know that we have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. And if anyone thinks he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him."
O. In this "information age" where "knowledge is Power", there's not a lot that we can't know about if we really set our minds to know. Even as we endeavor to know about God we are blessed with seemingly endless resources. Yet here, it appears to me that, Paul is referring to knowledge as an idol. As we become more and more knowledgeable about anything , including God and His Holy Word, our nemeses, pride, gains more and more of a foothold in our lives. The very Word that God has given us as a means of drawing us closer to Jesus has suddenly become a chasm between us.
A. The daily S.O.A.P. reading plan has been nothing short of an enormous blessing for me, enabling me to discover truths that I might have otherwise overlooked. Could it be possible that all this wonderful knowledge that God's word has revealed to me has become an idol? My only hope, the only thing that I can count on is that He knows me and that He loves me anyway!
P. LORD, give me a contrite heart. Help me remember that I really don't know anything that counts except " I love You JESUS!"
O. In this "information age" where "knowledge is Power", there's not a lot that we can't know about if we really set our minds to know. Even as we endeavor to know about God we are blessed with seemingly endless resources. Yet here, it appears to me that, Paul is referring to knowledge as an idol. As we become more and more knowledgeable about anything , including God and His Holy Word, our nemeses, pride, gains more and more of a foothold in our lives. The very Word that God has given us as a means of drawing us closer to Jesus has suddenly become a chasm between us.
A. The daily S.O.A.P. reading plan has been nothing short of an enormous blessing for me, enabling me to discover truths that I might have otherwise overlooked. Could it be possible that all this wonderful knowledge that God's word has revealed to me has become an idol? My only hope, the only thing that I can count on is that He knows me and that He loves me anyway!
P. LORD, give me a contrite heart. Help me remember that I really don't know anything that counts except " I love You JESUS!"
Monday, March 19, 2012
What are these stones?
S. Joshua 4:21,22
"When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, 'What are these stones?' then you shall let your children know....."
O. When John the baptist came baptizing in the Jordon River, he pointed to the very stones that the children of Israel set up at Gilgal, as a monument representing God's promise to them and said, ".....God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones." I find it interesting that there were 12 stones, representing all 12 tribes, even though 3 tribes decided not to settle in the Promised Land. It is no less interesting that they set up a 12 stone monument in the middle of the Jordon River. This tells me that my salvation is complete and hidden forever in The River (Jesus Christ).
A. As I look at the cross I am assured that every issue concerning my salvation is settled in Heaven. No matter how rock hard my personality is, I know by faith in The Rock (Jesus Christ), that I'm a child of God. Now, when asked by my children, "What does this mean?" I can simply point to the Cross and say, "God is able!"
P. Thank You, Jesus that You brought me across the river and that I'm hidden in the Rock. Remind me to point to my monument (the Cross).
"When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, 'What are these stones?' then you shall let your children know....."
O. When John the baptist came baptizing in the Jordon River, he pointed to the very stones that the children of Israel set up at Gilgal, as a monument representing God's promise to them and said, ".....God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones." I find it interesting that there were 12 stones, representing all 12 tribes, even though 3 tribes decided not to settle in the Promised Land. It is no less interesting that they set up a 12 stone monument in the middle of the Jordon River. This tells me that my salvation is complete and hidden forever in The River (Jesus Christ).
A. As I look at the cross I am assured that every issue concerning my salvation is settled in Heaven. No matter how rock hard my personality is, I know by faith in The Rock (Jesus Christ), that I'm a child of God. Now, when asked by my children, "What does this mean?" I can simply point to the Cross and say, "God is able!"
P. Thank You, Jesus that You brought me across the river and that I'm hidden in the Rock. Remind me to point to my monument (the Cross).
Saturday, March 17, 2012
The Mind of Christ
S. "For who has known the mind of the LORD, that we may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ."(1 Cor. 2:16)
O. Paul tells me in this chapter before me that I have received the Spirit who is from God. Not that I might or even that I will, but that I have! If I want to know the mind of the LORD, I must have the mind of Christ. Christ had one mission, one mindset and one will, totally surrendered to the Father.
A. In my struggles to "know the will of God," I need to come to the realization that I can't really know the mind of the LORD, but I do indeed have the mind of Christ, through the Spirit who indwells me. Christ's mind was stayed on doing the will of the Father. The only thing that remains for me then is total submission to "thy will be done."
P. "Father, give me the mind of Christ, who always does your will. Fill me with Your Spirit that I might obey Your voice"
O. Paul tells me in this chapter before me that I have received the Spirit who is from God. Not that I might or even that I will, but that I have! If I want to know the mind of the LORD, I must have the mind of Christ. Christ had one mission, one mindset and one will, totally surrendered to the Father.
A. In my struggles to "know the will of God," I need to come to the realization that I can't really know the mind of the LORD, but I do indeed have the mind of Christ, through the Spirit who indwells me. Christ's mind was stayed on doing the will of the Father. The only thing that remains for me then is total submission to "thy will be done."
P. "Father, give me the mind of Christ, who always does your will. Fill me with Your Spirit that I might obey Your voice"
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