GOD FORGETS AND WE SHOULD TOO

I LOVE THIS AND WILL SHARE IT AS OUR DEVOTIONAL. This says so much in few words but packs a tremendous punch. Hopefully we all know this truth about genuine confession, repentance and the forgiveness of God. 

My love to all of you. And by the way aren't you thankful for the blood of Jesus? david

God Forgets, and We Should Too

Contributor: Illustration Exchange

Topics: FORGIVENESS, GUILT, BURDEN

Hebrews 8:12 For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."

In his book JOURNEY TO FREEDOM, Dr. Rich Dorst writes of a priest who was carrying a secret burden of sin. 

Even though he had told God he was sorry, and truly meant it, for some reason he couldn't accept God's forgiveness and he had no peace or joy--only guilt. 

A woman in his congregation claimed to have visions of speaking with Christ. She felt like Jesus would tell her things that nobody else could know. 

The priest, quite skeptical of her claims, challenged her: "The next time you have one of these 'visions,' I want you to ask the Lord what sin I committed while I was in seminary, 20 years ago!" 

She readily agreed and went home. When she returned to the church a couple of days later, the priest said:

 "Well, did Jesus visit you? Did the Lord speak to you?" 

"Oh, yes, Father, He certainly did!" 

"Well, what did the Lord tell you?"

"He said, 'I forget, and he should, too!"  

Application:

Oh, the wonderful forgetfulness of God! Our Creator is a loving God. When we sincerely repent of the wrong things we have done, He forgives us completely. We dishonor God's graciousness, and neglect His perfect will, when we refuse to fully accept His forgiveness.

PASSING THE TRUTH

10 24 12 Passing the Truth  

John 8:31-32 (NIV) To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. ³² Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Commentary: Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." This is not speaking of truth as we would normally think of it; the truth we place in the context of human knowledge or understanding. There have been many things thought to be true over the centuries that have now proven to be false. The truth John is speaking about in our text is the type of truth that will always be true and has been true from the beginning of time. This truth originates with God and can only be revealed by God. The “gospels,” Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, contain the following words spoken by Jesus over 80 times: “I tell you the truth.” Jesus came not only save and redeem mankind but he also came to reveal truth. In fact one of the descriptive words used to refer to Jesus is the word “truth.” (Jn 14:6)

This gives new meaning to the word truth. Truth now becomes a person that can be known personally. Not only is Jesus truth but that which he speaks is truth. His message to the fallen world is the word of truth (Col 1:5).

Here are some important observations about truth:

(1) The highest form of Truth, eternal Truth, life-saving Truth, is found only in God’s Word; the Word that became flesh (Jn1:14) and lives among us; Jesus Christ, (Jn 1:1; 14). Since Jesus is Truth he speaks only Truth. His revealed Word of Truth is the Bible. The Bible, God’s Word, reveals the Truth about those who see their need of forgiveness; their need of having a new beginning through faith in Jesus Christ and in their becoming a new creation in Christ.

(2) God’s Word, especially the New Testament revels the Truth of how Christ called, taught and personally commissioned them to take his gospel message into all the world. This personal commissioning continues to this day. All are to go, all are to teach, all are to make disciples and teach them to obey everything Christ has taught them. All go in his authority and in his power (Matt 28:19-20). 

(3) The Truth Jesus taught them is complete in every way. It was Truth in his day and continues to be Truth today.

(4) The Truth that saves and frees people spiritually is Truth revealed to mankind “by his Spirit” (1 Cor 2:10). It has never been nor will ever be revealed by anyone else, regardless of how wise or charismatic they may appear to be (1 Cor 2:12-13).

(5) There will be many, through the ages, who will reject the Truth and believe a lie (Ro 1:25). It’s difficult for believers to understand how any could knowingly turn their backs on God’s love and instead choose to be lost for eternity (2 Thess 2:9-10).

No one will ever be able to say, “I didn’t know,” because God has made his Truth plain to them (Ro 1:19). All can escape deception and judgment by accepting and basing our lives on the Truth of Christ and his Word. The Truth sets us free; the lie brings us into spiritual slavery. The Truth restores; the lie destroys. We are called to love Jesus and his Word so that we can know the Truth that sets us free.

In our journey of faith, Jesus has commissioned us to pass his Truth from one person to another. When this Truth is believed by faith, it leads to a personal relationship with Christ, the redeemer, Savior and Author of life. 

Every day lived is a day of life or a day of death. What makes the difference is found in what you believe. To believe the “Truth” is life; to believe the “lie” is death. The Father of the “Truth” is God; the father of the “lie” is Satan. Who do you believe?   

Did the Lord speak to you today?  Why not write it down and claim it for His Glory.

Prayer:  What do you need to pray to the Lord today? Listen to your heart. He loves you!

GOD'S LOVE LETTER WRITTEN IN RED

10 24 12 Gods Love Letter Written in Red

Did you know God has sent you a love letter? It’s a letter commonly referred to as the Bible and it really is a letter of love straight from the heart of God. It’s a letter that proclaims a message we all long to hear, I love you. It is a letter written with an uncommon pen using an uncommon ink. The pen was very large nails and the ink was the precious blood of His only Son. How important is that blood? Consider the following:

Fourteen Blessings of the Blood

1.  Reconciliation and Justification: Romans 5:9-11 (NIV) Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

2.   Remission of sins: Ephesians 1:7-8 (NIV) In him (Jesus) we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8 that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.   

3.   Life and peace: Colossians 1:19-20 (NIV) For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him (Jesus), and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.  

4.   Redemption: Hebrews 9:12 (NIV) He (Jesus) did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.  

5.   Brought close: Hebrews 10:19-22 (NIV) Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

6.   Pure conscience: Hebrews 9:14 (NIV) How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!

7.   Purifies from sin: 1 John 1:7 (NIV) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

 8.   Equipped For Every Good Work: Hebrews 13:20-21 (NIV) May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

9.   New covenant:  Matthew 26:28 (NIV) This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

10.   New birth: 1 Peter 1:18-19; 23 (NIV) For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

11.   Overcoming power: Revelation 12:11 (NIV) They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.

12.   Church membership: Acts 20:28 (NIV) Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.

13.   Salvation: Romans 5:9 (NIV) Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! 

   

14.   Heaven: Philippians 3:20-21 (NIV) But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

One of my favorite hymns is entitled, Nothing But The Blood of Jesus. The first two lines of each stanza are pure “gospel.”

What Can Wash Away My Sin

What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;

For my pardon, this I see,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;

Nothing can for sin atone,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;

This is all my hope and peace,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;

Now by this I’ll overcome—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;

Glory! Glory! This I sing—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus,

The hymn’s refrain sung at the end of each stanza is a wonderful affirmation of our faith in the all sufficiency of Christ’s blood for the forgiveness of our sins. 

Refrain:

Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Praise the Lord for the Blood of Jesus!!! I encourage you to read God’s love letter each and every day and take great joy in the depth of His love for you.

Did the Lord speak to you today?  Why not write it down and claim it for His Glory. 

Prayer:  What do you need to pray to the Lord today? Listen to your heart. He loves you!

GOD REMEMBERED

10 22 12 God Remembered  

Genesis 8:1 (NIV) God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark, and he sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded.

Note: For 150 days (Gen 7:24) Noah and family took care of the animals he had on board the Ark; a smelly, difficult job of watering, feeding and cleaning. During this time, God was silent. God had given Noah specific information on how to build the Ark, the necessary food and supplies but now in the long days and nights of enduring ceaseless rain and rising flood waters, Noah had not heard from God. His days were characterized by doing the mundane repetitive actions of caring for the animals over and over and over again. Was this a test of his faith? It would be of mine. None of us enjoy living a life filled with doing the same boring things over and over again with no end in sight.

I think this is especially true when it comes to our spiritual lives. We love the mountain tops; we endure the valleys. One thing is certain; the mountain top experiences are anything but boring. They are filled with the awesome awareness of God’s presence, power and love. It’s the mountain top experiences where we see and feel God’s power, where we see and experience the mighty unfolding of his miraculous works in us and in the lives of his people, the Church.

On the other hand the valley is routine, worrisome and tiring, and for the most part uninspiring. We do what is expected of us but in time life loses its joy if we are not careful. I wonder, if like many of us who have gone through these times of boredom and separation from God, if Noah cried out for a Word from the Lord? Did he echo the refrain often heard spoken by many, where are you God; where are you in all of this? The obvious answer is, he is where he has always been and continues to do what he is always doing; working in the lives of those he loves and bringing to completion his plan and purpose for all his creation. All will be done in his perfect timing.

In God’s perfect timing, He remembered Noah and all the animals. In his perfect timing the waters receded and the sun came out. In God’s perfect timing the earth dried and God spoke to Noah and said, “Come out of the ark…”

What’s the message of Noah to those of us who are following God and find ourselves going through a storm of monumental proportions or a time of spiritual dryness?  We are to keep the faith and wait for God’s perfect timing. Regardless of whatever is going on in our lives, God continues to love us and continues to work in our lives. We are not alone now and will never be alone in the future. God is with us and in us and around us. We are HIS and HE is ours. The routine of life with all its regularity continues to be a part of God’s plan. The part we play is to continue to obey his Word, follow his Spirit and let “His Way” be our way (Pr 3:5-6; Phil 2:13).

Do you need a turning point in your journey of faith? Have you been waiting faithfully? Remember, God has always been faithful to his children; he has been faithful in the past; He will continue to be faithful in the future.

The same wind he caused to blow over the earth bringing deliverance to Noah can blow over you and bring relief to your troubled spirit. The Hebrew word for wind, ruakh, is often translated “Spirit” (Gen 1:2; 6:3) and God’s Spirit can quicken your spirit and cause you to look up and rejoice in the storm clouds and the desert places because you know who is in control. At the proper time, GOD WILL REMEMBER YOU!

I am including four scripture passages for you to read that will hopefully be a great encouragement to those of you going through a time of not hearing a Word from the Lord for a while:   

1.  Genesis 19:29 (NIV) So when God destroyed the cities of the plain, he remembered Abraham, and he brought Lot out of the catastrophe that overthrew the cities where Lot had lived.

2.  Genesis  30:22 (NIV) Then God remembered Rachel; he listened to her and opened her womb.

3.  Exodus 2:24 “God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob.”

4.  1 Samuel 1:19-20 (NIV) Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the LORD and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah lay with Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her.  So in the course of time Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son…” 

God is the God of the second chance; He is also the God who remembers. What do you want Him to remember in your behalf? Write it out and trust him to spiritually blow it away.

Heavenly Father, remember me in the following:__________________________________________________.

Thank you for loving me and implanting your faithful Spirit within me. Thank you for saving me and making me new. I love you and will now wait on you and for your perfect timing in answer to my prayer. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Did the Lord speak to you today?  Why not write it down and claim it for His Glory.

Prayer:  What do you need to pray to the Lord today? Listen to your heart. He loves you!

LET US ALSO GO

10 19 12 Let Us Also Go 

John 11:1-8; 11-16 (NIV) ¹ Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. ² This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair. ³ So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick." ⁴ When he heard this, Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it." ⁵ Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. ⁶ Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days. ⁷ Then he said to his disciples, "Let us go back to Judea." ⁸ "But Rabbi," they said, "a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?"  ¹¹ After he had said this, he went on to tell them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up." ¹² His disciples replied, "Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better." ¹³ Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. ¹⁴ So then he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead, ¹⁵ and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him." ¹⁶ Then Thomas (called Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him."

Note: How committed are you? I think the “one disciple” that got bad press in his day would have been Thomas. In fact he is remembered as “the doubter,” the one who did not believe Jesus had risen from the dead or was resurrected. If you were to ask a student of the Bible to tell you what they know about Thomas, their answer would be short. He is hardly mentioned in the first three Gospels and not a lot in John’s Gospel even though John does give him recognition for his unwavering commitment and love for Christ.

Prior to Thomas’ statement in our Bible text today, Jesus had told the disciples their friend Lazarus had fallen asleep and he was going to go to Jerusalem to wake him up (v.11). The disciples didn't understand that Jesus was speaking of Lazarus’ death. They thought he meant Lazarus was asleep. Later Jesus revealed to them Lazarus had died (v.13-14). The one thing they did understand was the danger for Jesus to go to Jerusalem. It was a danger that was real and they tried to talk him out of going (v.8). Then Jesus made an unusual statement, “and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe (v.15).” Believe what? The question had to have come to their minds but unless Jesus said more it would go unanswered. Then Jesus said, “But let us go to him (v.15)."

It’s at this point Thomas speaks words that have been a source of encouragement to millions of followers of Christ for over two centuries… "Let us also go, that we may die with him (v.16)." The dangers that lay before them were real. They may not have fully understood why Jesus would be killed but what they did know was the deep love and commitment they had for their Master and Lord. If their going resulted in their deaths, so be it.

Friends, this is a hard place to get to in our journey of faith. I pray if I am ever put in a similar situation I would make the same declaration Thomas made. Thomas becomes an example of those who are committed to faithfully following Christ regardless of the cost or consequences. He made his decision while the others hesitated. He was going to go even if he went alone.

When faced with difficult challenges none of us know how we will respond. We hope and pray it would be a response that would be pleasing to our Lord, but we really don’t know. I encourage you to ask God to help you have the boldness of Thomas as you face the challenges of life.  

Eleanor did a cross-stitch for me that read: “My goal is God Himself, at any cost, by any road.” I continue to pray I will live up to those words.

Did the Lord speak to you today?  Why not write it down and claim it for His Glory.

Prayer:  What do you need to pray to the Lord today? Listen to your heart. He loves you!

MY ROCK, MY REDEEMER

10 17 12 My Rock My Redeemer 

Psalm 78:35 “They remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer.”

Note:  “They remembered”…God. Usually an expression like this is the result of something happening and often it is not something good. “They remembered” implies they had forgotten. They had forgotten who and what God had done for them. To forget God is to fail spiritually in our relationship with him. He becomes irrelevant to those who are supposed to know him. People who find God to be irrelevant have a heart problem; they have lost their first love. Outwardly they may say they know him, they go through the motions, but inwardly their hearts are cold and unfeeling.

A faithful relationship with God is characterized by loyalty to Christ. The evidence of faithfulness will be seen in how you live. The things you buy, the things you do, the places you go are evidence of who is directing your life. Either you are in control or God’s Spirit is in control.  If the Spirit controls you, you will be living by the standards and principles of God’s Word. To be guided by self will eventually lead to disaster; eternal separation from God. It is truly frightening to think of how many people go through life thinking they are in control of their lives. And many of them never find out differently until it’s too late. They pass from this life being faithful to self rather than being faithful to God. 

This past week my wife had an opportunity to witness to a young man who works in the retirement community where we live. She asked him about his church affiliation. He said: “he didn't go often but he tried to be a good person and to do what was right.” She commended him for that and then shared with him what the bible revealed about being good. She told him, “getting to Heaven was not about being good but it was about being forgiven and made new in Christ. Regardless of how good a person might be they will never be good enough to make it to heaven own their own. The only way anyone has eternal life in heaven is through believing Jesus died for your sins and accepting him as your Lord and Savior. Jesus is the only way to salvation.”  (Rom 3:10; Rom 10:9)

This young man is like millions of others who live in the United States. If they have any spiritual sensitivity at all know they are not honoring God the way they should but they continue to attempt to live right enough in order to be considered good. They need to hear the gospel. They need to know that the way to heaven is not about how good they are but about what Christ did on the cross for them. 

The scripture text today said, “They remembered God”.  Do you need to slow down and remember? Do you need to remember who God is, what he did for you? Is he your Rock and your Redeemer? Do you understand what Jesus being your Rock and Redeemer means? The Bible says we are to examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith. (2 Cor 13:5) If you have any doubts about this you need to get serious with the Lord. Do it now!

Did the Lord speak to you today?  Why not write it down and claim it for His Glory.

Prayer:  What do you need to pray to the Lord today? Listen to your heart. He loves you!

GIVE ALL THAT YOU HAVE

10 15 12 Give All that You Have

John 6:7 (NIV) Philip answered him, "Eight months' wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!" Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up, "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?"

Note: The disciples had seen Jesus perform a miracle of turning water into wine; they witnessed his miraculous healing of a royal official’s son; they had witnessed the miraculous healing a man who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years and now they are on the side of a mountain where a great number of people (about 5,000) have come to see this miracle worker. Jesus remarks to his disciples when he sees them coming, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" The Bible tells us he did this to test them. Had the disciples recognized his miraculous power and where this power came from? Were they beginning to see that he had the kind of power no one who had ever lived on the earth had possessed? 

Philip answered Jesus ‘question the way most of us would probably have answered. Like him we would have looked at the crowd, estimated its size and come to the same conclusion; it can’t be done. Like him we would have seen the problem before us, rather than the “Problem Solver” who was with us.

But thank God for the Andrews among us; those who may not know exactly how Jesus is going to accomplish the impossible but by faith knows he can. Andrew tells Jesus what he has discovered as he went through the crowd. He had found a young boy with five loaves of bread and two small fish and wonders aloud, “…how far will they go among so many?"

At this point in the narrative Jesus takes control. We remember the rest of the story. He fed the 5, 000 and had twelve baskets of food left over; a great miracle any standard! But that is not what I want to emphasize in this devotional. My emphasis has to do with a young boy having little and yet when called upon, was willing to give what little he had to Jesus. Jesus then took what was entrusted to him and worked a mighty miracle.

This is the application for you to think about. How much faith do you have, a little or a lot?  How much money do you have, a little or a lot? How much talent do you have, a little or a lot? How much time do you give to Jesus each day, a little or a lot? How much will-power do you have, a little or a lot? You get the point? Whatever you have that you are willing to give to Jesus, it will always prove to be enough. We serve a miracle-working God. We are empowered by a miracle-working Holy Spirit. A little faith can unlock the storehouse of God’s abundant supply. He will use everything you entrust to him.

What problems are you facing? Have you already come to the conclusion it’s beyond your power to control? Have you been praying; losing sleep; stressed out? Have you finally realized that what you have been doing isn’t working? Do think you have too “little faith.” Are you running on empty; at your wits end, nothing seems to work?

NEWS FLASH FROM HEAVEN! Why not give God a try? Why not trust everything to Him? Is there anything too hard for God? NO! He may not deal with your situation the way you envisioned, but I promise you, he will deal with it the “right” way. He will bring peace to your spirit.  Faith and obedience open the windows of heaven. Redirect your vision. Learn the lesson the disciples learned from a young boy with a little food. He gave all he had to Jesus and everyone there witnessed a miracle. Just as Jesus took the small amount the boy gave, he is willing to take your little and multiply it. You can rest assured that young boy was never the same again and you won’t be either.

Did the Lord speak to you today?  Why not write it down and claim it for His Glory.

Prayer:  What do you need to pray to the Lord today? Listen to your heart. He loves you!

WHO DO YOU...

 10 12 12 Who Do You…?   

Deuteronomy 13:4 It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.

NOTE FROM DAVID: I know today's verse of Scripture is taken out of context. It is taken out of context when you consider the surrounding text of the chapter in which it is found. It is not out of context when placed in the Bibles revelation as to how God wants his people to relate to him. Any Godly characteristic that is used in explaining God's will for his creation is always in the proper context. Any time you use words that reflect God’s character they are always true regardless of the context in which they are found. Words such as love, merciful, forgiving, 

redeemer, truth when referring to God are never out of context wherever they appear in scripture The verse of scripture used in this devotional is one such example. It may mean one thing in the context quoted here in Deuteronomy but it is also acceptable in the way I am using it for this devotional.

The people of God in the Old Testament were under a different covenant, the covenant of law. Christians today are under the covenant of grace. This covenant was put in place by Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Even though the Jews were under a different covenant God's desire for them was the same as it is for his followers today; to follow him, to revere him, to keep his commands, obey him, serve him and hold fast to him and him alone. All universal spiritual truths apply to all who believe in Jesus Christ, Jews and Christians alike. That is the case in this passage of Scripture for today. Hopefully, you notice I entitled this devotion, "Who Do You." With that phrase in mind let's look at the text and together generate questions that would reveal God's will for us. Our answers to these questions would also reveal to us how faithful we are following God and that is of the utmost importance.

1. Who do you follow?

2. Who do you revere?

3. Whose commands are you obeying?

4. Who do you serve?

5. To whom are you holding fast?

The next part of this devotion is an opportunity for you to answer these questions and reflect upon your answers. Take a sheet of paper and one by one list the questions above, giving yourself several lines of space between each question for your answer.

1.Who do you follow? We all follow something or someone. Whatever we follow is not difficult to identify because we spend the majority of our time pursuing it. Am I pursuing the Lord my God? Am I being guided by his Holy Spirit; am I studying the Word of God; am I growing in my love for God and in the knowledge of His love for me or is the majority of my time spent in worldly pursuits?

2. Who do you revere? To revere someone means to show them devotion and respect. In our text the object of our reverence is a person, the Lord God.  Reverence is seen in the following ways: worship, love, adoration, and respect for God. Do I revere the Lord my God? If not, who (or what) do you revere?

3. Whose commands are you obeying? All of us knowingly or unknowingly live by a code of conduct; the rules and directions that define our understanding of what is right and wrong. In the process of submitting ourselves to these guidelines, our lives are being transformed and conformed by them. That which we do, that which we live by, is what we become. Is the Lord God visible in your life? What are you becoming?

4. Who do you serve? This is a very important question because we all serve someone or something. We serve self primarily. We serve others, husband, wife, children, friends, and our work. We also serve various causes. Who is number one in your life; the one to whom you are the most devoted? Can you honestly say the person you serve is the Lord your God?

5. To whom are you holding fast?  Again our text reveals this to be a person. Are you holding fast the Lord your God or to your bank account, your position in life, your abilities?

If you were put on trial for being a Christian would there be enough evidence to convict you? I pray so!

These questions and answers should reveal to you one very important truth that needs to be recognized. Humanly speaking we all want to be in control. We want to chart our own path and be obedient to our own understanding; to do things our way. It is this part about us that needs to be crucified with Christ. We are to take up our cross daily, dying to self so that we can live for Christ. We are not given the option of how we are to live out our relationship with Christ. We are to obey and keep his commandments; we are to serve Him and depend upon Him for our daily lives. In other words we are to be a people of faith, a people of Great Faith.

Did the Lord speak to you today?  Why not write it down and claim it for His Glory.

Prayer:  What do you need to pray to the Lord today? Listen to your heart. He loves you!

DYING PASTOR'S LETTER TO EDITOR

Dying Pastor’s Letter to Editor  

Don’t forget to pray.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:22 (NIV) For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.  

Dying Pastor's Letter to Editor   

Teresa Neumann (Oct 9, 2012) 

"I've known that life is brief, death is certain, and an appearance before the Judge of all the Earth is coming. Yet, my life is more of a "disappearing vapor" than I imagined. Indeed, the one great thing in life is to be ready to die. It is simple, but big." -Pastor Robert C. Jennings

(Sedalia, MO)—On September 30, the Sedalia Democrat published the following letter to the editor by Robert C. Jennings, a pastor who is dying of pancreatic cancer. Our prayers go out to Pastor Jennings and his family, and also to the folks who read his poignant farewell. May they come to know the all-consuming love of Christ as a result.

Dear Editor:

Terri and I moved to Sedalia with one child in 1983 to pastor a new church which has met at Highway M Chapel since 1987. Alas, pancreatic cancer showed up two years ago. Apart from divine intervention, I'm near the end of the road. Permit a farewell to my dear community.

In the almost 30 years we have raised our five children, lived our lives, gone in and out of the businesses, talked on the sidewalks, preached indoors and out, and I've written maybe 300 letters to the editor. This appears to be the last. The songwriter says, "Time, like an ever-rolling stream, bears all its sons away."

Especially being a Christian, I've known that life is brief, death is certain, and an appearance before the Judge of all the Earth is coming. Yet, my life is more of a "disappearing vapor" than I imagined. Indeed, the one great thing in life is to be ready to die. It is simple, but big.

Yes, I'd like to stay on with my family, with my church, and with the souls of men to try to serve. But God's will is sovereign. And, I am ready to die, in that I was saved from my sins by the grace of Christ 41 years ago. Heaven is OK!

This world is passing away, ruined by sin. There is no fix to all the misery. A new president cannot fix the land. Hospitals remain, law courts remain, the jail house remains, the military remains, and tears will continue to fall.

My closing exhortation to fellow-Sedalians is that Christ is the only hope. Make sure you have Him. That's all one can have, ultimately. All else is stripped away. He will fix you; He will fix it all. He conquered the grave. I go down with a glad shout, "O grave, where is your victory?" When the Lord Jesus returns I will rise again with all the Christians to a new heavens and new Earth. There is a Heaven to gain; there is a Hell to shun.

Farewell to all. It has been a well-spent journey here in Sedalia. Robert C. Jennings [Source: Sedalia Democrat http://www.ordinarypastor.com/?p=10882]

Note: What a wonderful letter to write and to share with others as death approaches. A short letter but one that contains many wonderful truths. Robert Jennings is facing a universal event that all of humanity will have to face at one time or another, death. How you face it, is yet to be determined. That’s the purpose of my comments today. I think it would be wise for us, for all of us, to write a letter that we would like to have read by others before we die. The purpose of writing this letter now is for your benefit, not to share with your loved ones at this time. Many letters or request are made known about a person after they die but I wonder if the content of the letter would be different if we knew our letter would be read by others especially if we found ourselves in a similar situation as Robert Jennings, facing the end of life.

An interesting thought and quite possibly a thought without much merit but interesting nonetheless. So here’s the deal, grab a piece of paper, pick up a pencil or pen and write your letter. Make it short. Robert Jennings’ letter was about two thirds of the page in length. Obviously he covered the things that were of importance to him, especially those things that brought him comfort as he faced death.

Would your letter end with an exhortation to your family and friends about Christ being their only hope? Would you be able to write truthfully that you were ready to die because you have been saved from your sins by the grace of Christ? Can you join him in making the glad shout, "O grave, where is your victory?" because you know beyond a shadow-of-doubt you will be victorious over death and the grave? Would you be able to state emphatically that you are a resident of the new Heavens and the new Earth? More importantly does your life reflect your faith in Christ Jesus? Do you believe in your heart of hearts, because of your faith in Christ, there is a Heaven to gain and hell to shun?

When you ask these probing questions you give the Holy Spirit an opportunity to reveal to your true beliefs and the Holy Spirit will always bring you face-to-face with Christ. That face-to-face encounter raises the important question: Are you counting on Jesus Christ and His finished work to save you or are you counting on self and your good works? 

Your answer will reflect your faith position. If you are not at peace with your answers and feel you need spiritual guidance I recommend you go to the source of peace, Jesus, through His Word. If you don’t have a good study Bible go to a Christian book store and purchase one. Then look up the subjects of salvation, redemption, and forgiveness and ask the Holy Spirit to give you incite and understanding. Read slowly and carefully and see what the Bible declares as being necessary for you to be saved, redeemed, and forgiven. If you do this following the leading of the Holy Spirit, you will discover that there is only one Savior of the world and only one Way to be saved. Then, without debate, I’m going to encourage you to do what the Bible says you are to do. Confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved (Rom 10: 9).

If, in faith, you did what the Bible told to do, you have done what all believers have done at one time or another and like them you are saved for eternity and now have a personal relationship with God. Having the assurance of your salvation will very obviously change the tenor of your letter. You will be able to write as one who has no fear of death and great assurance as to where you will spend eternity. You will also be able to write forcefully about your desire for your family, friends and loved ones to be saved. Who knows your letter might be published in a local newspaper and read by someone just like me who then uses it in a devotional to bless the lives of others.

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. 

Can I get a witness?

ALWAYS AVAILABLE

10 8 12 Always Available  

Matthew 28:20 "I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Note: What a wonderful comforting promise that is. To know regardless of what I must face in life I am never alone, Jesus is always with me. Life is filled with a mixture of emotions, many of which are harmful, like fear, anxiety, frustration, anger, and bitterness. These are just a few of the negative emotions we experience in life and I think it is safe to say, they result in our being less healthy and less satisfied. Some of the positive emotions we experience that add to our physical and spiritual well-being are laughter, joy, happiness, contentment, satisfaction, healthy relationships and the number one emotion, the most important one of all, love. The love we share with family and friends is important, but the love we share with Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, is the most important love of all.

The love of Jesus can bring you through the hard times, especially the hard times of the “unexpected.” Even though Jesus had told his disciples that he was going to die they did not fully understand what he was trying to tell them. His arrest and crucifixion was totally unexpected and when it occurred they were devastated. Their recognition of Jesus as the Messiah, the Promised One, crumbled before their eyes. Their dreams and plans for the future of the Kingdom of God here on the earth seemed destroyed. Their teacher, mentor, Savior and friend was dead. But then, as God often does, an “unexpected” miracle happened. Over the next several days they discovered they had not been abandoned, Jesus was alive!  They were not left on their own, they were not alone. They would discover that He was still with them as much as He had always been, only in a different way.

He first appeared to two followers on the road to Emmaus. He came to a meeting the disciples were having in the upper room. He later appeared to His disciples on the shores of Galilee and ate breakfast with them. He appeared to a crowd of over 500 on another occasion. Jesus was making a visible statement to them. Even though things had changed, He was with them and would always be with them in Spirit. They would continue to have the assurance and blessing of His life giving presence.

This was something new. Nothing like this had ever been possible before. The Spiritual presence of Jesus would teach them a new way of relating to God and it would be the way of FAITH (1 Jn 3:24). They would live by faith in the same way Jesus did while He lived among them. It didn’t matter they could no longer see Him in the flesh, they could now see Him with their spiritual eyes and His presence would be just as powerful and comforting. He would continue to walk and talk with them, as His Spirit empowered them to teach the lost and touch the sick and dying in His Name. He continues to want all who are sin-sick to come to Him for forgiveness, healing, redemption, and eternal life. Their commitment to doing the work of ministry is the ultimate evidence of His abiding presence with them. Jesus has set them free from the power of sin, enabling them to live lives of righteousness to the glory of God. His power to save, to keep and to serve emanates from His presence, His ever abiding presence through the Holy Spirit.

Word from the Lord: Beloved, if you are in Me, I am in you, there is nothing you and I cannot handle together. I will never leave you or forsake you. That’s a promise and I always keep My promises.    

Did the Lord speak to you today?  Why not write it down and claim it for His Glory.

Prayer:  What do you need to pray to the Lord today? Listen to your heart. He loves you!

MY KIND OF TEACHER

Don’t forget to pray.

Scripture: 1 John 5:11-12 (NIV) ¹¹ And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. ¹² He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 
 

I don’t know if you saw the following story about an Ex-marine Corps Sergeant who took a job as a teacher in a very difficult part of the city. He would be dealing with some of the toughest students in the school and decided to impress them with how tough an ex-marine corps sergeant could be. The story follows:

A former Sergeant, having served his time with the Marine Corps, took a new job as a school teacher, but just before the school year started, he injured his back.

He was required to wear a plaster cast around the upper part of his body. Fortunately, the cast fit under his shirt and wasn't noticeable. On the first day of class, he found himself assigned to the toughest students in the school.

The punks, having already heard the new teacher was a former Marine, were leery of him and decided to see how tough he really was before trying any pranks. Walking confidently into the rowdy classroom, the new teacher opened the window wide and sat down at his desk.

When a strong breeze made his tie flap, he picked up a stapler and promptly stapled the tie to his chest. There was dead silence.  He had no trouble with discipline that year.

Note: Being a good teacher is not easy. Many refer to teaching as a calling because of the dedication it requires. Often those you are trying to teach are not interested and don’t take seriously their need to learn. The greatest teacher who has ever lived found this to be true. His students, like many in classrooms today, would rather stay in the darkness of ignorance than to move into the light of truth. They too were a rebellious group, many considered hard core in their opposition to the subject being taught and to the One doing the teaching. Because this is a devotional I’m sure you know the teacher I am referencing is Jesus Christ. But what you may not know is one of the most important lessons He taught while here on the earth was the lesson about eternal life.

The New Testament has a number of examples of people who wanted to know about eternal life. Individuals came to inquire about this subject often. A large group of people who were miraculously fed wanted to know about eternal life. Rabbi’s, rulers and legal experts wanted to know about eternal life and what they must do in order to have it.

When you need answers to life’s greatest questions you need to go to the One who knows the answers. There is only One who has the right answers. He is the creator of all we see around us including humankind. He is the author and sustainer of life, His name is Jesus Christ. He is not only the God-man; He is also the greatest teacher that has ever lived. So what does He say about what we must do to have eternal life? His Words are recorded for us in John 17:3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

This verse reveals to us that eternal life is more than an endless existence. Eternal life is to know God the Father and the only way for us to know Him is to know His Son, Jesus Christ. If you want to have the assurance of eternal life you must have a personal intimate knowing relationship with Christ, the author of life. What does it mean to know Christ? It means to believe that He is who He says He is. He is the One and only Savior of the world. It means that you see yourself as a sinner doomed to die and you are willing to confess your sins, asking God to forgive you, and to fully entrust your life to Christ. It means that you are willing to die to self and your old way of living and want to spend your life serving God in obedience to His will. It means you realize there is no eternal life, no hope apart from a relationship with Him. Jesus declared, "…I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; ²⁶ and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”  He then asked the most important questions ever asked of anyone; “Do you believe this? (John 11:25-26) The answer to this question is the answer to the question about eternal life. “Yes” is to know God the Father and to know Christ and to have eternal life. “No” is death and eternal separation; “No” is Hell now and it continues into eternity.

Jesus didn't staple a tie to His chest in order to get the world’s attention. He did something for more profound…He allowed Himself to be nailed to a cross.

Word from the Lord: Beloved, I have come to give you understanding of those things written about in My Word. The lessons I am teaching you are the same as the ones I taught to your forefathers. Some of them took My teachings to heart and turned to Me for the gift of life and I gave them the gift of righteousness. Many rejected My teachings and continued in the way of unrighteousness. All of the Old Covenant teachings concerning Me found their fulfillment in My coming. Because I now dwell in your hearts I can give you greater understanding of the things I desire you to do, things that will lead you to being able to have a growing and knowing relationship with Me, a relationship that leads to eternal life. What I am revealing to you is true. See Me as your Savior God and because you know Me, you know the one and only true God and eternal life. (1 John 5:20)    

Did the Lord speak to you today?  Why not write it down and claim it for His Glory. 

Prayer:  What do you need to pray to the Lord today? Listen to your heart. He loves you!

  

Doggedly Determined To Wait For His Master

Colossians 4:2-6 (NIV) Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. ³ And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. ⁴ Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. ⁵ Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. ⁶ Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

How devoted are we?

Below is a wonderful human interest story. It was especially interesting to me for I have always love dogs and German Shepherds are one of my favorite breeds and we were blessed to have had one. His name was JD and it stood for “just dog” but he was much more than that to our family. I like many of you, hope there is a dog heaven and if so look forward to being reunited with him along with our other assorted pets we’ve had during our lives. This story speaks for itself but several thoughts came to my mind as I read it. Devotion is one of them. Love is another, not a surface type of love but the type that results in a deep bonding to one another that even in death, love continues to be demonstrated.  

Here’s the story: Miguel Guzman, a family man from Argentina, passed away more than six years ago. To add to the family’s grief, the family dog, a German shepherd named Captain, disappeared just days later. The family frantically searched for him but to no avail. 

Several days later they made a trip to the cemetery to visit Miguel’s grave. There, to their great surprise and delight, they found Captain sitting atop the freshly mounded burial plot. They mused how he could have ever found the cemetery on his own (he had never been taken there). Then they began the many attempts to take Captain home, only to have him run away time and again, doggedly (pun intended) determined to return to the cemetery. 

Cemetery officials (who now feed and care for Captain) say the faithful dog has lived on the grounds for six years. "During the day he sometimes has a walk around the cemetery,” says cemetery director Hector Baccega, “but always rushes back to the grave. And every day, at six o'clock sharp, he lies down on top of the grave, [and] stays there all night."

Note: As we journey through life there will be times when we will be confronted with darkness and despair. Life may not always turn out the way we had hoped or envisioned. The greatest cause of these disappointments usually involves those who are closest to us, our family and friends. Regardless of the specific causes, darkness and despair is still darkness and despair.

Darkness is the absence of Light and the absence of light is the absence of God; darkness without God leads to despair; loss of hope. God speaks into this darkness and His Word penetrates it with the light of His abiding presence. How blessed we are to know that in our times of waiting we do not wait alone. God is with us.  

Like the faithful Shepherd, Captain who waited for the return of his master, we too wait faithfully for the return of our Master, Jesus Christ or His summons to us to come home. As we do, we place our hope, our faith in Jesus Christ and His promises to us in the Word of God. My prayer is that we are willing to wait for our Master with the same devotion as Captain was waiting for his. 

Word from the Lord: Beloved, I am blessed to be able to look within your heart and see the deep longing you have for My return. Don’t be influenced by those who mock My Word in an attempt to weaken your faith. They too eagerly await the things of this world and when they receive it they are no less satisfied than they were before. You on the other hand are presently enjoying the benefits of My blessings and know how completely they can satisfy your hunger. I am withholding nothing from you that you are capable of understanding. Some of My blessings may be partially fulfilled for now but ultimately all will be fulfilled and you will know the complete fullness of My love for you.   

Did the Lord speak to you today?  Why not write it down and claim it for His Glory.

Prayer:  What do you need to pray to the Lord today? Listen to your heart. He loves you! 

DO YOU THINK I WILL EVER FIND GOD?

DO YOU THINK I WILL EVER FIND GOD?

Don’t forget to pray.

Scripture: John 13:34-35 (NIV) "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵ By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

1 John 3:16 (NIV) This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.

John Powell, author of "Unconditional Love," tells about a student named Tommy:

Tommy was an "atheist in residence" in my Theology of Faith course. At the end of the semester, as he was handing in his final, he asked...

"Do you think I'll ever find God?" "No!" I said very emphatically. "Why not?" He responded, "I thought that was the product you were pushing."

He turned to leave and I called out, "Tommy! I don't think you'll ever find Him, but I am absolutely certain that He will find you!"

Just a few years later I heard that Tommy had terminal cancer. Before I could search him out, he came to see me. When he walked into my office, his body was very badly wasted and the long hair had all fallen out as a result of chemotherapy. But his eyes were bright and his voice was firm.

"Tommy, I've thought about you so often; I hear you are sick," I blurted out. "Oh, yes, very sick. I have cancer in both lungs. It's a matter of weeks." "Can you talk about it, Tom?" I asked. "Sure, what would you like to know?" he replied. "What's it like to be only twenty-four and dying?" "Well, it could be worse." "Like what?" "Well, like being fifty and having no values or ideals, like being fifty and thinking that booze, seducing women, and making money are the real biggies in life."

"But what I really came to see you about," Tom said, "is something you said to me on the last day of class. I asked you if you thought I would ever find God and you said, 'No!' which surprised me. Then you said, 'But He will find you.' I thought about that a lot, even though my search for God was hardly intense at that time."

"But when the doctors removed a lump from my groin and told me that it was malignant, I got serious about locating God.  When the malignancy spread into my vital organs, I really began banging bloody fists against the bronze doors of heaven. But God did not come out. In fact, nothing happened. Did you ever try anything for a long time with great effort and with no success? You get psychologically glutted, fed up with trying.

"Well, one day I woke up, and instead of throwing a few more futile appeals over that high brick wall to a God who may be or may not be there, I just quit.” I decided that I didn't really care about God, about an after-life, or anything like that. I decided to spend what time I had left doing something more profitable. I thought about you and your class and I remembered something else you had said: 'The essential sadness is to go through life without loving. But it would be almost equally sad to go through life and leave this world without ever telling those you loved that you had loved them.'

"So, I began with the hardest one, my dad. He was reading the newspaper when I approached him. “Dad, the newspaper came down three slow inches. “What is it?” "Dad, I love you. I just wanted you to know that."

"The newspaper fluttered to the floor. Then my father did two things I could never remember him ever doing before. He cried and he hugged me. We talked all night, even though he had to go to work the next morning. It felt so good to be close to my father, to see his tears, to feel his hug, to hear him say that he loved me.

"I was only sorry about one thing... that I had waited so long. Here I was, just beginning to open up to all the people I had actually been close to.

"Then, one day I turned around and God was there. Apparently God does things in His own way and at His own hour. But the important thing is that He was there. He found me! You were right, He found me even after I stopped looking for Him."

Note: When I read this I have to admit something very personal to you. I cried. I cried because I went through much of my life without telling my dad I loved him or hearing him say he loved me. Even after being called into the ministry it took the Lord several years to get through to this set-in-his-ways child of His. But thankfully He didn't give up and kept “pestering” me until I finally obeyed Him and did what He wanted me to do. When I could put it off no longer I made plans to travel to Atlanta to see my parents but primarily to see my dad. I went in, visited for over an hour, looking for the opportunity to tell him. Finally, it was time for me to go. I had planned to drive all the way back to Jennings, FL. where we were serving a church that day. We stood at the door. I hugged my mom and told her I loved her. I then turned to my dad and moved over in front of him and before he knew what I was doing grabbed him and said, “Dad, I love you.”  He was like hugging a telephone pole, ridged. He said nothing in reply. I released him and he turned and went back to his lounge chair and sat down and I left. I had just experienced a deeply moving spiritual encounter as a result of being obedient to God’s will. Even though my dad’s response was not what I had hoped for my spirit was flying high. After that every time an opportunity presented itself, I told my dad how much I loved him and in a very short time I heard the words that meant so much to me…I love you too.  Over the next several years I told my parents as often as I could how much I appreciated them and how thankful I was to have them as my parents. They sacrificed much and worked very hard providing for my needs and those of my brother and sisters. The amazing part about this is that once I had told my earthly father how special he was to me and how very much I loved him; my relationship with my Heavenly Father became more intimate and loving. As a result of this I am not hesitant about speaking before others and sharing with them the love I have for my Heavenly Father and the love I have for my Savior Jesus Christ. I started telling my brothers and sisters in the faith, especially those God had placed under my care as His under Shepherd, about the love I had for them. God is “LOVE.” His Love cannot be contained. Once you experience it you have no choice…you must share it with others.

Question: Aren't you glad God found you and loves you? Don’t put off telling those closest to you how much you love them. You need to put your love into words and they may need to hear it more than you may ever know.

I bring this somewhat lengthy devotional to an end by saying to all of you reading this, I LOVE YOU IN CHRIST! AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SPENDING ETERNITY WITH EACH OF YOU. david  

Did the Lord speak to you today?  Why not write it down and claim it for His Glory.

Prayer:  What do you need to pray to the Lord today? Listen to your heart. He loves you!