Week 20: Are You Ready?

I am late getting to post this blog. I have been working a lot lately and by the time I go to bed, I pretty much just collapse. However, I have had this post on my heart for several weeks now. I hope to make this short, sweet and simple as all too often, many make it long, arduous and hard. The topic is life after death and where we spend it.

As most of my readers know by now (I hope), I am a Christian and I believe the only way a person can get to Heaven is by accepting Christ as their personal Savior (John 14:6). So, I want to make sure that I tell you how to do that, too.

First, you must believe that you are a sinner seperated from God. (Romans 3:10 and Romans 3:23)

Second, you must realize that because of your sin, you deserve to be punished by death. (Romans 5:12 and Romans 6:23)

Third, you must believe that Jesus is God's Son and that He died on the cross, was buried, and rose again ALL FOR YOU. (John 3:16 and Romans 5:8)

Finally, you must admit these beliefs to Christ and ask Him to be your personal Savior. (Romans 10:9, Romans 10:10, & Romans 10:13)

THAT'S ALL THERE IS TO IT!!! If you have done these things above, you can REST ASSURED you ARE SAVED, not because I say you are, but because the scriptures I gave you from the Bible say you are. (John 6:37)

Friend, have you done these things? It is so simple. You don't have to "clean up" your life before you come to Christ...He will do that for you. Besides, you wouldn't be able to do it on your own any way...remember what Romans 3:10 and Romans 3:23 said?

Christ is coming again, and unless you have accepted him, you will be left behind and doomed to an eternity in HELL. Hell is a real place; I BEG you not to go there.

In closing, please click on the following link for a quick dramatization of what it may be like when the rapture takes place http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zjjn4Ktc9gc

Are you ready?

Week 19: The Shield - Part 5: The Grand Finale

Well, we finally made it to the conclusion of our study of the armour of God. Our final piece of attire is the Shield of Faith. Now, let me remind you when we started this study that our goal was to find out why we are instructed to take the shield of faith above all the other armour pieces. Let’s read the scripture again for a refresher. Ephesians 6:16 states, “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”

During the day of the Roman soldier, research indicates that the shield was semicircular in shape so as to deflect arrows to one side of the other. It was usually wooden and covered with leather. Most of the shields had iron or brass rims along the edges. A soldier held to the shield with a leather strap that was secured to the back. Often, the front of the shield would sport a metal projection of some type to stun or wind an opponent so that a thrust of the sword could be applied. As soldiers approached the enemy, they would cover themselves with the shield. At times the soldiers would battle in groups and create an almost tortoise shell appearance with the shields so as to repel incoming arrows and to advance forward in the attack. However, the most intriguing aspect of the shield, was not so much a component of the shield as it was technique. Before going into battle, a soldier would soak the front of his shield in water. Now remember, I said earlier that shields were usually covered with leather. So, when soldiers had fiery arrows shot their way, the flame was snuffed out when it hit the drenched leather.

Now keeping that in mind, let’s look at the spiritual parallel of a Christian’s shield.

Why is the shield seemingly emphasized as the most important piece of battle attire? In Hebrew 11:1 we read that “faith the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” In a nutshell, faith is taking God at His word. Although we can’t always know how things will turn out, we should believe and press forward regardless. After all, it is impossible to please God without faith (Heb. 11:6).

You see, the shield and the sword are really the only two pieces of the whole armour that we use to actually combat with. All of the other pieces serve more as protective coverings; however, even our sword can become ineffective if we don’t have faith in the scripture we are learning. So, you can see why everything else relies on the shield…or our faith.

We must make sure though that we do not let our shield get dried out and parched. We have to keep it saturated. How do we do that? We have to read the Bible and pray and let our senses be constantly absorbing the things of God. This saturates our shield with faith and then we are able to snuff out all fiery darts that come our way. Otherwise, if the devil gets that fiery dart into our shield and it starts to smolder there, the shield will eventually crumble and leave us exposed to all sorts of attack. That is why it was and is so important for the shield to be soaked prior to the battle.

When we are attacked, and we throw up our shield of faith, we stun the opponent and he staggers backward. As he does, we have time to counter our attack with our sword and thrust the Word of God at the devil. The shield of faith is our weapon. If we take away the shield, our whole body is exposed. Yes, we may be saved, we may know some scripture, we may be ready and willing to share the gospel, but without faith, these other areas of our spiritual life have no foundation. Scripture becomes just pretty words if there is no belief behind them. The gospel becomes just another good story but with no eternal value if not believed.

Take time to read back over all of the armour pieces we have discussed. Pray daily for the Lord to help clothe you in each piece. Above all though, take up your shield and soak yourself in the Lord. You can have complete victory in Jesus.

I John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world, and this is the victory that overcometh the word, even our faith.




References


Holy Bible, KJV

Strong's Concordance with Hebrew and Greek Lexicon, http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Eph&c=6&v=16&t=KJV#16


Shield of Faith, http://www.christcenteredmall.com/teachings/armor-of-god-5.htm

Week 18: The Shield - Part 4: The Sword

Our final piece of armour before we conclude with the Shield of Faith is the Sword of the Spirit.

A soldier’s sword was usually made of iron and then coated with coal dust to harden it. The handle was often made of various materials such as ivory, bone, wood, or metal. The sword was used both defensively and offensively. Defensively, it was used to deflect enemy blows. Offensively, it was used as a means of counter attack against the enemy until the individual was either seriously wounded or killed. The Greek definition of the term sword plainly states that the sword’s purpose was to cut and kill.

Used spiritually, the sword manifest itself much like its physical usage. In Ephesians, 6:17 the Sword of the Spirit is called the Word of God. In John 1:1 we learn that Jesus is the Word. Jesus is described in Revelation 19: 13 again as having the name the Word of God and we see in verse 15 that a two-edged sword goes out of His mouth to smite the nations who have rejected Him. So, Christ Himself is the Word of God and the Bible is His written word. II Timothy 3:16 tells that all scripture is inspired by God and was prophesied and eventually penned by men as they were led by the Holy Spirit (II Peter 1:21). Knowing all of this, we can rest assured in the words of Isaiah 55:11, “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” God’s word makes an impression when and wherever it’s used.

Thus, the sword of the Spirit (the Word of God) is fully able to help us combat Satan and cut down his strongholds. Joshua 1:8 instructs us that the Bible is to be studied, learned, and lived. When the Word is memorized and meditated upon, it becomes natural to use it in battle. When we use our Bible as a shelf decoration, we are not equipped when the battles arise, and they will arise. Like an actual physical sword, when the Bible is used defensively, it deflects Satan’s blows of lies, doubts, and temptations with truths about God, His character, and His purpose for our lives. Furthermore, when used offensively, it helps to strengthen the inner man. The more we read it, the more we believe it and the more we believe it, the more we are apt to use it when attacked. It simply becomes part of who we are. Remember when Satan attacked Christ in the wilderness, he used the Bible against Him. He quoted scriptures out of context to tempt Christ. Now, I am of the opinion that Christ could not have sinned, because even though He was fully man on earth, He was still fully God. I honestly can’t explain that any further…there are just some things that have to be accepted totally by faith. Nevertheless, Christ fought back with scripture used in the proper context. Obviously Christ knew the scriptures inside and out…He wrote them, but the point is this, if we don’t meditate and memorize them, we may not recognize when the devil is attacking us with a counterfeit scripture. Let’s face it. The devil may not be omniscient, but he’s not stupid either. He knows if he can trip us up with our own armour, he can get a good blow in that might just knock us off our feet. Thus, it is imperative that we take heed to Joshua 1:8 and strive to follow its commands.

Memorizing and using scripture is an extremely powerful part of our Christian armour, and when used properly, it helps protect our other armour against the enemy. Think about it like this, when a soldier was in battle, the sword was used to fight off or deflect the blows that could reach the vital organs. A soldier would swing and thrust it to block impacts to the other parts of the body. Thus, the fewer impacts to the interior of the body, the longer the soldier could remain strong and alert in the heat of the battle.

All the same, the more scripture we know and use to fight off the blows of the devil before they hit our inner spiritual beings, the stronger our other armour, or spiritual lives, remain.
So, take up your sword and cherish it. If it has been shelved, blow off the dust and meditate on it. Commit it to memory and when the devil comes your way….swing away and cut him to pieces. When you resist the devil, he will flee from you (James 4:7), and there is simply nothing better than seeing the enemy retreat when you’ve been in battle!

References

Holy Bible, KJV

Strong's Concordance with Hebrew and Greek Lexicon, http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Eph&c=6&v=17&t=KJV#17

Sword of the Spirit, http://www.christcenteredmall.com/teachings/armor-of-god-7.htm

Week 17: The Shield - Part 3: Dyed for Royalty

This week we will take a look at the Helmet of Salvation in our study of the armour of God.

The helmet's obvious purpose was to protect the head and neck. Research indicated that the typical Roman soldier’s helmet was made from bronze or iron. Many of the helmets had two hinged side pieces to help protect the cheekbones and jaws. The inside of the helmet was often lined with sponge or felt for comfort. Often, the tops of helmets were adorned with dyed horsehair plumes that were removed during battle. A soldier’s rank was distinguished by the color of the plume.

So, why is the helmet important for a Christian soldier? Well, the answer to that is two-fold. The obvious protection provided by the helmet is eternal salvation from hell. Once we have accepted Christ as the Savior and Son of God, we have the helmet of salvation applied. However, the second purpose is for continual daily salvation from temptations and sin. It helps us guard our minds by providing us with hope. The Greek word for the term salvation as used in Ephesians 6:17 is “perikephalaia” meaning protection of the soul which consists in the hope of salvation. When we keep our minds guarded and focused on the Lord, we experience this hope and are able to perform our daily routines in a rational, composed, Christ-like manner. Yet, if we don’t properly suit up and we leave our heads exposed, we can get hit with the cares of this world and live in defeat and hopelessness (and we find ourselves portrayed like the old saying “running around like a chicken with our heads cut off!”) Have you ever experienced such mental franticness? Needless to say, it’s not a pretty sight, is it? Friend, the Lord never intended for us to live a frantic Christian life. I am so guilty of leaving my helmet off. I get caught up in all of the duties that I have with work, taking care of my home, fulfilling my wife and motherly duties, and well, you get the picture. Then, about halfway through the day, I can find myself downright beside myself. I’ve left my mind unguarded, picked up worry, fears, and franticness and I start to mentally look like a decapitated chicken….left in this state too long and I can begin to look this way outwardly too! Ever been there? No doubt, we all probably have at some time or another. That is why Christ says to put on the helmet of salvation that He has given to us. We can rest in the peace and comfort of the helmet knowing that we have hope in an omnipotent, omniscient Father. Nothing takes Him by surprise and He is fully capable of handling all of our cares. So, when you arise each day, slip on your helmet and know that you look fabulous to Christ as you place your hope in Him and don your plume that is undoubtedly dyed for royalty. After all, you are a child of the King.

References

Holy Bible, KJV

Strong's Concordance with Hebrew and Greek Lexicon, http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Eph&c=6&v=17&t=KJV#17

Helmet of Salvation, http://www.christcenteredmall.com/teachings/armor-of-god-6.htm

Week 16: The Shield - Part 2: A Protected Heart and Pretty Feet

We will pick up this week with our study of the armour of God and look at 2 more pieces of a prepared soldier's attire.

The second item of armour mentioned in Eph. 6:14 is the breastplate of righteousness. I have heard debate and read varying descriptions over whether or not a breastplate was armour that primarily covered the chest and lower abdominal area or armour that covered these areas as well as one's back. Either way, the intent of the piece was to protect all the vital organs, especially the heart and lungs. Without this critical piece of armour, a soldier was vulnerable to potentially fatal wounds.

In spiritual comparison, the breastplate of righteousness serves to protect our vital spiritual organ, the heart. The Bible instructs us in Proverbs 4:23 to "keep [our] heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life." I think the righteousness mentioned here can be described two-fold. First, when a person accepts Christ as Savior, he or she beomes righteous through Christ for all eternity (Romans 5:19). So, in that sense, we put on a breastplate of righteousness at the moment of our salvation. However, I think we have to strive daily to live a righteous or pleasing life before God. One form of the Greek definition describles righteousness as used here as the "justice or virtue which gives each his due." In other words, could your daily character and walk be said to be righteous by others?

Thus, as our hearts are protected with Christ's righteousness and as we strive to live Christ-like lives, we are able to effectively combat the devil. Believe me, he would like nothing more than to cut a hole straight into the heart of Christ's followers. If you have been saved, he has already lost the battle over your soul; but if he can make your heart weak and vulnerable, he keeps you from effectively participating in the Christian race. Therefore, it's no wonder when he throws the blows of a guilty past directly at our heart. On our own, when we are hit with those kinds of blows, we will undoubtedly crumble because all of our righteousness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). However, as we have already established, once we are saved, we are made righteous through the work of Christ on the cross (II Corinthians 5:21), and God has promised that no weapon formed against us shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17).

Thus, when our hearts are protected with both aspects of righteousness, we press forward in the battle and work to strengthen fellow Christian soldiers and win more souls for the cause of Christ. Which leads me to our next piece of battle attire.

In verse 15, Christians are instructed to have their feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. A soldier who doesn't keep his feet well taken of care of during battle won't last long on the field. I've heard former soldiers' and athelets' stories of how they protected their feet when having to walk or run long distances in order to keep them from becoming sore, blistered, or infected.

The spiritual application here is just as important. If we aren't preparing our feet to take us down paths where we can be a light for Christ, we aren't obeying Christ's commandments. Christ told us in Mark 16:15 to go into all the world and preach the gospel. When we are saved, we have a divine duty and priviledge to tell others of Christ's gospel of peace. A gospel that can save a soul from an eternity in hell and one that brings earthly peace to the believer as well. We have the opportuinity to help others be able to say, "It is well with my soul." Romans 10:15 tells us "how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things." This doesn't mean you have to be a preacher in the professional sense of the word. This simply means telling your faith and sharing your salvation testimony with others. Properly prepared feet are what Christ calls pretty feet.

In closing, let me ask, is your heart protected, and do you have pretty feet? Friend, I hope you do!


References

Holy Bible, KJV

Strong's Concordance of Hebrew & greek Lexicons, http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G1343&t=KJV

Breastplate of Righteousness, http://www.christcenteredmall.com/teachings/armor-of-god-3.htm

Sandles of Peace, http://www.christcenteredmall.com/teachings/armor-of-god-4.htm

Week 15: The Shield Part 1

I will have to admit, the idea for this devotion was not originally mine. My husband and I were talking one evening and he mentioned that the verse I am going to share in a moment had blessed him during his alone time with the Lord that day. So, I want to give him credit for sharing his blessing with me. I pray that it will go on to bless and encourage you as well. Then may we all bless and praise the Lord together for giving us His Word.

In Ephesians 6:10-17, we read the famous scriptures discussing the armour of God. There's the breastplate of righteousness and having your loins girted with truth in verse 14. There's the feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace in verse 15, the shield of faith in verse 16, and the helmet of salvation and sword of the Spirit in verse 17.

Verses 10-13 list all the reasons why we Christians need to equip ourselves daily with this armour. It's not so we can combat people we encounter from day to day (although we may feel like some folks need a little Holy whipping every now and then), but it is so we can fight the devil and his army.

Look at verse 11. Here we are instructed to suit up so we can stand up against the wiles of the devil. Verse 12 further tells us that we don't war against flesh and blood (or rather physical, tangible people or things) but against principalities, powers, rulers of darkness, and spiritual wickedness. It's not the things we can see and touch that can destroy us but the things we can't see and touch. Now don't get me wrong; many people have physically died at the hands of mankind because of their faith, but it was because of the things we can't see that the murderers became who they were. So, you can see why God instructs the believer to be ready for battle.

Now, back to the armour. The verse that really stood out to my husband was verse 16. It states, "Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked." My husband asked me if I had ever really noticed what the verse said. He said he circled the words "above all" and "quench all." You see, the shield of faith though not listed first in the verses was however listed as the most important item to have in battle. Why? Well one reason is because the Bible states in Hebrews 11:6 that it is impossible to please God without faith. But why is it more important than the other items? Why is it introduced with "above all?" I think if we take a comparative look at each piece in relation to the shield, we will gain a better understanding of the shield of faith's significance.

So, starting this week and continuing for the next 2 to 4 weeks, we will discuss this all important battle suit we are to cover ourselves with daily. At the conclusion we will culminate with the shield of faith and why it's significance outweighs the other armour pieces.

The first item we read about is having our loins girt about with truth. On a soldier, this would have been the area around the hips and waist or better the pelvic area. During the time period of the Roman soldier, the purpose for girding up the lions was to give the soldier more mobility. So, a soldier would pull up his tunic between his legs and tie (gird) it around his waist. This kept him mobile and free from entanglement.

As Christians we are to tie up or gird truth around us so we do not become entangled with lies of the devil . Furthermore, when we are equipped in this fashion, we can more easily determine truth from falsehood as we try the spirits and determine whether they are of God or not (1 John 4:1). Remember we battle with unseen forces. Knowing and equipping ourselves with truth keeps us from becoming entangled in Satan's lies (which by the way he often presents as truth with a small twist...read the account of Eve and the serpent.)

Friend, we all need to ask God to help us daily prepare for battle. So, gird your loins with truth and you'll be ready when the devil shoots a lie your way.

References:
Stong's Concordance of Greek and Hebrew Lexicons, http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Eph&c=6&v=14&t=KJV#14

Gird Your Loins With Truth, John. D. Cooper, http://www.realarmorofgod.com/gird-your-loins.html

Week 14: A Standing Ovation

Last week we looked at how God used Stephen like an angel to deliver an important message to the religious leaders and court authorities of his day. This week I want to talk about what happened at the end of Stephen's trial testimony.

Consider with me again the facial transformation of Stephen. This is just my personal thoughts on the matter since I can't totally support it with scripture. However, often when we think of angels, we think of them emitting light or being bright, shinny, or glowing. We can see an example of this image in Luke 2:9 when the host of angels came to tell the shepherds of Jesus' birth. The verse says "the glory of the Lord shone round about them [the angels]." The Bible repeatedly talks about the glory of the Lord which in the Greek can mean splendour or brightness. So, perhaps Stephen's face emitted a glow or Godly brightness as he spoke to the religious leaders and court authorities. Perhaps too, as they stood listening to his message that day, that same glorious light pulled back the veil of darkness they were trapped in under the law and showed them their wicked sins and evil intentions (remember, the only reason Stephen was in court was because they had hired people to lie about him). The Bible goes on to say that when they heard Stephen's message they were "cut to the heart." In the Greek, this statement translates that they were sawed in two mentally and spiritually. Thus, their souls opened up and their sins poured out before them. Not surprising, is it? It is hard to come into the Light and not have your darkness illuminated.

Unfortunately, like John 3:19 states, these "men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil." So, figuratively speaking, they closed their eyes to the Light and bit into Stephen. Yes, that's right. They literally began to bite and chew on him. (Acts 7:54)

Nevertheless, precious Stephen looked beyond their torturous acts and forgave them. Jesus pulled back the clouds and atmosphere and let Stephen look into heaven, and what an amazing sight he beheld. Stephen saw a sight that is not mentioned anywhere else in the Bible, nor is it mentioned that anyone else ever saw this sight. He saw the glory of God and Christ standing on the right hand of God. There amidst his trial, he looked up to see Christ giving him a standing ovation. I searched the scriptures for any other account of Christ standing on the right hand of the God and found zero. There is a long list of Christ's posture seen as sitting/seated/sat/set on the right hand of God (I found at least 16) but never standing. Only in this one scene is this the posture we see of Christ, only in Stephen's final moments.

Can you even begin to fathom what that had to be like for Stephen? To look up and see the One who shed His precious blood standing for him. Oh, we serve such a loving God. Here this humble servant has stood up for his Savior and is being bitten and stoned to death, but in His mercy, Christ shows him that his service has not been in vain. Christ's standing for Stephen showed how proud the Savior, his Savior, was of him. It gives me chills to think about it.

I can't begin to imagine the pain and suffering Stephen faced in his final moments on this Earth; but I am so thankful to know that Christ was with him all the way and waiting proudly for him on the other side. Hallelujah, what a Savior!

As I close, I can't help but hear the words to a song our church sings that are fitting to this scene we've just witnessed. They go like this:

Can you hear the applause of heaven?
Another crosses Jordan's chilly tide.
Can you see the host of heaven?
As they rise to celebrate the child who faithfully walked every mile
To find the Heaven's stand up and applaud
As they run into the arms of God.

I like to think that every time a saint of God passes from this world into Heaven he/she finds the Savior standing at the right hand of God with arms wide open and shouting a welcome call of "well done thou good and faithful servant. Well done!"

Week 13 - A Messenger of God

In my opinion, one of the greatest men of the faith in the Bible is one who doesn't have a whole lot of Scripture limelight. There's nothing mentioned of his childhood or even his adulthood background except for a few extraordinary comments. He was a man full of faith, power and the Holy Spirit. He did great wonders and miracles among the people of his day. In fact, this man was so full of the Holy Spirit that even people who wanted to kill him couldn't because they were captivated by his spirit and wisdom when he taught. Instead, those who wished him dead, actually sought out and petitioned others to help create an uproar against this man of faith. So who was he? His name was Stephen.

The first mention of Stephen in the Bible is in Acts 6:5. Here he is being selected to fulfill duties of the church, or better, he is being ordained as a deacon. After his ordination, mentioned in Acts 6:6, Stephen is said to have performed great wonders and miracles (vs. 8). He was a faithful disciple of the Lord and he was filled with the Holy Spirit. Yet, religious legalist of the synagogue wanted nothing to do with Stephen's gospel message. So, they found men willing to commit perjury against Stephen.

Now, isn't that ironic? Here the so called "godly" figures of the day are seen sneaking around inducing people to lie for them in order to support their religious agendas. Friends, always know that if you have to cheat, lie, steal, murder, etc. in order to better yourself or support your beliefs, your actions are not of God; they are fully of the devil. This event in Stephen's life is a prime example of this very fact.

Nevertheless, despite the false accusations brought against Stephen, he never compromised his Christian character to protect himself. In fact, the Bible says that his face looked like the face of an angel during his trial. This is important to note. If you study the Greek definitions of the words used in the phrase from Acts 6:15, "[they] saw his face as it had been the face of an angel," you will find it literally means his countenance took on or looked as though it were the face of a messenger of God. This is interesting because this verse is the last verse of Acts 6 and Stephen's trial testimony (or message from God) pics up immediately in Act 7:2-53. So, immediately after Stephen's appearance changes, he beings speaking the message God has given him for these religious leaders and court authorities. Now, do you remember in past devotions I've told you how God made no mistakes in the words/phrases he chose to have penned in the Bible? Each word is divinely inspired. Keeping that in mind, look ahead to Acts 7:53. Stephen's last words of his testimony/message are these: "Who [Stephen's accusers] have the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it." His final words had to have struck a nerve in these men (a major nerve as we will talk about next week). Here these accusers are looking on this man who has been ordained as a deacon, supernaturally transformed to look like the face of an angel or messenger of God, and given a detailed testimony of the Jewish past and everything God has done for them. Then in his summary statement, he tells them...in my words..."You have been given everything you need to know about the law and the Messiah. It has been revealed to you by the disposition or authority of ordaining angels and you still have missed it; you still refuse to believe the facts."

On that day in history, God transformed Stephen into an ordained angel, a messenger of God, an authority these accusers no doubt would listen to as they "thought it their duty to receive what was enjoined [ministered] by angels" and they still refused to listen and accept Christ. How utterly sad.

Thank God for examples like Stephen. Next week we will look a little further into his briefly mentioned, but powerful ministry example. I encourage you to read Acts 6 & 7 this week and let the faith of this amazing individual encourage your faith.

If you have never received Christ as your personal Savior, I beg you not to be as these religious legalist of Stephen's day who served their own pride and agendas by refusing to listen to the truth. Christ has provided you with all you need to know to place your faith in Him. His Word is His love letter to you. Inside of it, He lovingly urges you to come to Him. Don't turn Him away. Confess your sins and need for Him. Ask Him to be your Savior. He promised in Romans 10:13, "For whosoever [that means anyone, no matter who you are or your current circumstance], shall call upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved [immediately as you place your faith in Him]. Won't you turn to Him today?

References:
http://www.eliyah.com/lexicon.html
http://www.blueletterbible.org

Week 12 - What Will You Do While You Wait?

Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. Psalms 27:14

As I was reading my Bible the other day, I came upon the above verse. It's funny, but not surprising, how the Lord always knows exactly what we need and when we need it. I had just finished praying about a situation my husband and I are facing and seeking the Lord's will about. With no apparent answer, I have to admit I was feeling a bit discouraged. Then, the Lord directed me to this scripture. As I read it, I heard His Spirit say to my spirit, "Are you displaying good courage while you wait on my answer to your prayer?" I had to reply, "No, Lord. I'm depressed, frustrated, and scared." He spoke again and said, "Why? Didn't I just say I will strengthen your heart while you wait if you will be of good courage? Don't fail to be happy or to trust me. I will reveal your answer in due time. For now, Becky, how will you choose to wait on me?"

Then, as if on cue, the words to the following song started running through my mind and heart. They have been a blessing to dwell upon.

While I'm Waiting
by John Waller


I'm waiting, I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful, I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful, But patiently, I will wait
I will move ahead, bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience

While I'm waiting, I will serve You
While I'm waiting, I will worship
While I'm waiting, I will not faint
I'll be running the race, Even while I wait


I'm waiting, I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful, I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy, But faithfully, I will wait

Yes, I will wait
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve you while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord

As my husband and I continue our prayer and search for the Lord's will, I am also praying the Lord will help me (us) be of good courage and serve and worship Him during the wait. Has it been easy?...not always. Patience is not one of my strongest virtues. We live in a fast pace, immediate gratification world. It has been easy to get in a "I need an answer, like yesterday" mind-set. However, God does not always (not even usually) work on our time table. Yet, when He does provide His answer, His timing is to perfection. I'm thankful He is so awesome.

Friend, are you facing some struggles physically, financially, emotionally, etc? Have you been praying for God's direction but not received an answer? Take heart and choose to obey Him by waiting with good courage. As you do, He promises to strengthen your heart. Keep serving and worshipping Him. At the perfect moment He will reveal Himself.

My our mindset be as the words of the psalmist in Psalms 71:6;By Thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art He that took me out of my mother's bowels: my praise shall be continually of Thee.

Week 11: Religion or Relationship - Which One Are You Following - Part 2

Last week we looked at religious legalism during Jesus' day (John 9). We will take a closer look today.

There are times when I have seen this very mentality creep up into my own life and also the lives of other fellow Christians. Now, I don't believe we have or are going to lose our salvation, but I do believe we lose out on being a blessing to others and receiving a blessing from others as well as from the Lord. I have personally witnessed this legalistic religious mentality many times throughout my life. I've seen arguments over denominations,over translations of the Bible, over church budgets, over the way the church should be ran and a whole list of other things split the Body of Christ. I often wonder if Christ were to physically walk among us as He did in the Pharisees' day what He would think of the Church today. Would He be pleased or appalled?

Friends, I don't believe Christ is concerned with what denomination we choose to fellowship among; He wants unity among the Church. Furthermore, as long as His doctrine is not compromised, I don't believe He gets hung up on what Bible translation we read and study from. (Although, a good rule of thumb is to have one translation as your primary foundation for studying and be sure that the translation you are reading is God's Word and not man's...I prefer the KJV but I do study from other versions for comparisons; and to make sure I gain the actual meanings of the words, I look up the original Greek and Hebrew definitions.) I do, however, think He is concerned with His gospel being spread to all the world. He tells us in His Word (and He is the Word - John 1:1) that He came to seek and to save the lost (luke 19:10). Furthermore, He commands us to go into all the world and preach the gospel (Mark 16:15).

I recently heard of an evangelist who cancelled preaching a revival meeting at a particular church because some of the members in his sending church had past grievances with some of the members of the church hosting the revival. The evangelist stated that his pastor said their might be members of their church who would have a problem with this meeting. So, in an effort to not have his pastor left to answer questions about why he, the evangelist, was preaching the revival meeting at the other church, he canceled his attendance.

I don't know about you, but I feel this is no different than the way the Pharisees acted toward Jesus and His works. Instead of canceling his attendance at the revival, the evangelist should have taken a lesson from the former blind man and stood his ground for Christ. If he is truly called by God to preach the gospel, then that is what he should do...regardless of whose feelings may or may not be hurt. His attendance at the revival meeting may have been the very thing that the Lord would have used to help heal old wounds. Now, no one will ever know. You know, it is one thing for the world to be offended at the gospel of Christ (the Bible said the world would be), but it is another when the offenses are happening among fellow Christians. Furthermore, should the people of the church holding the revival learn of this event, as is likely to have happened, may they choose not to become prideful or fall into gossip over the situation.

Friend, I could tell you other stories of people being discouraged from crossing denominational lines to go and preach a service or revival or of people refusing to be blessed of God because a Bible study or greeting card had scripture that was not from their preferred translation and so on, but time will not permit. Nevertheless, we all need to examine ourselves and see if there is any religion in us that is hindering our relationship with Christ. If there is, we need to confess it, turn from it, and ask Christ to help us choose Him every time over man's ideas, feelings, or traditions. God forbid that we should get so caught up in religious P.P. (piety and politics) that we consider our thoughts and feelings superior to the Word and Will of God. If any decision we make in life does not line up with the Word and the nature of Jesus Christ, then it is wrong. May God help us always choose to bring all things under subjection to Him and may we never be a stumbling block to people who are for Christ, even if their means are different from ours.

And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us. (Luke 9:49-50)

Week 10: Religion or Relationship -- Which One Are You Following? Part 1

In John 9 we read the account of the blind man Jesus healed. Verses thirteen through the end of the chapter focus on the Pharisees' reactions to the event. I think their comments are both interesting but heartbreaking. I fear that all too often we slip and fall into some of the same legalistic positions as the Pharisees under the disguise of religion.

Let's take a closer look at how the Pharisees handled the healing of the blind man. First of all, John lets us know in verse 14 that the healing took place on the Sabbath. This would have been a big no-no to the Pharisees as Jesus' act of healing would have been considered work and not in keeping with the Jewish Sabbath law (vs. 16).

Secondly, they accused the blind man of being a liar (vs.18) and sought out his parents for a second opinion. Now the parents feared the Jewish leaders, so they chose not to stand up for their son (vs. 20-23). They told the Pharisees to ask him what had happened because he was old enough to answer for himself. Now imagine that! Here their own son who has been blind from birth has miraculously regained his sight and they are too caught up in the religion of the day to stand up and say that Jesus, the new man on the scene, may have some credentials worth looking into.

Thirdly, because of the Pharisees own spiritual blindness, they tell the former blind man that he should "Give God the praise" for his healing and not this sinful Jesus character. Their ridiculous self-serving deductions of Chirst caused them to totally miss God; the very person they claimed to know and worship had been among them and they didn't even recognize Him.

Finally, in a fourth attempt to discredit Christ, the Pharisees question the former blind man again as to the events surrounding his healing. Now this is the part of the story that I love. I think the blind man had great, noteworthy character because as he stands there obviously surrounded by a crowd of commoners as well as the religious authority of the day, he boldly replies, "Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see." Don't you know you could have heard a pin drop on that cold synagogue floor! Then, for lack of nothing else to say, they question the poor man again. At this point, the man turns the tables on the Pharisees and questions them. "He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples?" Well, this response did not sit too well with the Pharisees, so they reviled the man, throwing out all of their religious jargan about knowing God and Moses and so forth. The former blind man, once again a hero of Christ, stands up to them and smoothly declares, "Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes. Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. If this man were not of God, he could do nothing."

Wow! perhaps the once blind man went on to be a preacher after his conversion because he clearly laid it all out on the line with quite intelligent deduction. No one could refute his argument...not even the Pharisees. Thus, he was thrown out of the synagogue, and beneficially so. For as the man went on his way, he again encountered Christ and this time his soul was saved (vs. 35-38).

Look back over the chapter and notice the arrogant, religious legalism that blinded these poor Pharisees. Here Christ, their promised Messiah, was right in front of them all this time and because of their traditions, laws, and pride they couldn't even see Him. Their religion had blinded them to a real relationship with Christ; and, to put it bluntly, their religion was sending them straight to Hell.

Have you ever experienced such legalism in your walk with Christ? I have and next week we'll look further into this mentality.

Week 9: There Are No Orphans of God

I had the wonderful privilege of driving a group of students this week to Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, Georgia to see a one man drama of the book of John. The play was performed entirely by one gentleman with just a few props but with a powerful message. This man had memorized the entire book of John from the Bible. It was an absolutely wonderful performance and I am so thankful that I got the opportunity to see it. After the program, the actor allowed for a question and answer session. One of the questions that was posed to him was something along the line of what was his favorite part of the memorized scriptures. His reply was the part where Jesus told his disciples to love one another as He had loved them. I thought his answer was intriguing. He didn’t choose the miracles Jesus performed, or the crucifixion and resurrection scenes as his favorites. Of all the scriptures he could have picked, he picked the one about humans loving one another.

On Friday night, I had another privilege of driving the youth from our church to see the Atlanta Passion Play. This is a fabulous performance put on by the First Baptist Church of Atlanta. It had been about fifteen years since the last time I saw it. There were many new scenes added to this performance. I especially loved the new scene about the creation of the world and God creating mankind. It was wonderful to see the reenactment of man being created out of the dust of the ground and woman being created out of man. My all time favorite scene is of Jesus walking on the water and then His power over the turbulent seas and winds. However, I was struck most this time by the comments Jesus made to His disciples at the last supper before His death. The book of John 13 - 16 records the last supper message. Throughout those scriptures, Jesus speaks repeated of love. He wanted His disciples to know the importance of loving each other. Specifically in John 15:12-13, Christ says, “This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Seeing the visual of this at the program and hearing the words again that I had heard performed earlier during the week, really impacted my mind and heart as to how much Christ loved and wanted us to love others.

Over the weekend, I squeezed in a little down time to watch the movie, “The Blindside.” If you aren’t familiar with the movie, it is based on a true story about a white family who takes in a young, black, orphaned, teenage boy. They show great amounts of love to this young man by providing him with a home, new clothes, food, a private education, and a personal tutor. They treat him as one of their own children and strive to never make him feel different or of lesser value than their own biological children. This young man goes on to graduate and attend Ole Miss University on a full football scholarship where he eventually is recruited as a professional football player. It is a wonderfully moving film with a message resounding, once again, of love. Here was a prestigious, wealthy family who took the time to bless another individual and show him love so that he could make something of himself.

The message behind the movie got me to thinking once again about this recurring theme of love I had been considering all week. I am so thankful that God loves me. I am so thankful that God took time out of His extraordinary life to notice me, a spiritual orphan. I was a life destined for Hell with no hope of a future. I was a life scared by sin and blind to the fact that I needed help. Yet, one day, He allowed me to hear of His great love for me when He died on the cross for my sins. He convicted my heart of my lost condition and He offered His love to me…all I had to do was accept it. Thanks be to God; I did and it has made all the difference in my life. His love living in me has kept me off many wrong roads and kept me most importantly from a life of eternal death.

There was a scene in the movie I mentioned earlier when the family that is helping the young man asks him if he wants to legally become a part of their family and he accepts the offer. If he hadn’t, he may never have succeeded to the level he did in his life. I believe everyone is given at least one opportunity in this lifetime to choose to become a legal member of God’s family. He poured out His love on the cross by dying in mankind’s place for all the sins of the world. Christ died to become the world’s spiritual legal Father. The question I ask you now is this, have you accepted the offer?

Week 8: He Washed Me White As Snow

The Bible records in Leviticus 16 the guidelines God set forth for the Levitical priest to follow when he went into the Temple on the Day of Atonement to offer the yearly sacrifice for the sins of the people. Two goats were to be chosen for the sacrifice; one would become the sacrifice and the other would become the scapegoat. Once the sacrifice was offered, the priest would lay his hands on the head of the scapegoat and confess the sins of the people and then he would sprinkle the blood of the other goat on this goat’s head. After this, a designated individual would take the scapegoat out into the wilderness and leave it there to die.

The Jewish Talmud is an “extensive collection of teachings of the ancient Jewish Rabbis” and it contains “important eyewitness accounts of things that occurred during the first century A.D. and surrounding centuries.” In this book, it references the afore mentioned sacrifice on the Day of Atonement, also known today as Yom Kipper. It gives further documentation to the events that occurred each year on that important day. One bit of historical information about the sacrifice I find very intriguing was that the priest would tie a scarlet cord around the neck of the scapegoat. As the scapegoat was led out to the wilderness, it is recorded that the cord would miraculously turn white; thus affirming to the people that God had accepted the priest’s sacrifice for their sins. This occurrence is also reminiscent of the scripture in Isaiah 1:18 that states, “…though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” This historically recorded event is documented to have occurred every year on the Day of Atonement all the way up until 30 A.D. which was the approximate time period when Christ's earthly ministry began, with His baptism, when the Holy Spirit left the temple and descended upon Him and then ultimately culminating in His death on the cross. From that time until 70 A.D. ( a 40 year period), when the second Jewish Temple was destroyed and all sacrificing ceased, the Talmud records that the scarlet cord never again turned miraculously white. Why? The answer is simple. Christ had become the final sacrifice for the sins of the people once and for all. No more would the animal sacrifice be necessary nor accepted. No more would the priest have to intercede on behalf of the people. “[Christ] needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for His own sins, and then for the people's: for this He did once, when He offered up Himself. (Hebrews 7:27 KJV) Christ had given His life so that all who would believe in Him would be forgiven and have their sins turned “white as snow” forever. Thus, in order for the Jews to be forgiven, they had to accept Christ as their Savior and ultimate sacrifice. Unfortunately, many of the Jewish people of that day refused this final payment, continued with the animal sacrifice, but never again witnessed the scarlet cord turning white and signifying that their sacrifice had been accepted.

I am so thankful I don’t have to worry about whether my sins are forgiven or not. I have believed in Christ as God’s Son sent to die for my sins. I have confessed and repented of my sins, and I rest assured in the words of I John 1:9 that, “If [I] confess [my] sins, He is faithful and just to forgive [my] sins, and to cleanse [me] from all unrighteousness.” No, I don’t deserve His grace and mercy, but He has offered it freely to me as a gift. All praise be to Him. My forgiveness is not dependent on any sacrifices or works that I have done but is all dependent on the finished work He did on the cross. He is the Savior; the One and Only Sacrifice for the sins of the world.

As I write this, I am reminded of the words to the old song, “Jesus Paid It All.” It sums up our thoughts today perfectly when it says, “Jesus paid it all. All to Him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain. He washed it white as snow.”
If you have received Him, take time to thank Him again for your salvation. If you have not accepted His gift of love and forgiveness, won’t you choose Him today? The Bible promises that if you do, you can rest assured all your sins are white as snow.

If you would like to accept this free gift from Jesus, sincerely call on Him today. Proclaim Him as God’s Son and believe that He paid the final debt for your sin by His death on the cross. Accept that He defeated death by rising again and that He is alive today. Confess your sins and ask His forgiveness. That is all there is to it my friend. If you have done this, the Bible declares that you are saved for all eternity.

John 3:16 - “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 6:37 - “All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.”

Romans 10:9-13 – “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

References:
http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=1872848&D=P, Talmud Gives Unintended Proof of Jesus Being the Messiah by William Nugent, 8-15-2009

Holy Bible, King James Version

Week 7: Have You Been Licked?

My husband is an avid outdoorsman; he loves being outside in nature. He has been on numerous outdoor adventures and has several trophies mounted on our walls of various species to commemorate those times. If the day permits him to watch television, I can guarantee the show will be either about hunting or fishing. I am embarrassed to admit it with these hard economic times, but we even pay an extra two dollars a month just so we can receive the Outdoor Channel on our satellite dish! There have been times when I thought that if he had no other responsibilities he would never leave the woods or his fishing boat. If I or our children need to know something about an animal, we are confident he can come up with an answer. I have even been on a few outdoor adventures with him, but after a few freezing mornings in a deer stand or duck blind, I determined I would leave the great outdoors to him; just give me a good book and a blanket and I’ll be waiting on you when you get back! (It just dawned on me as I was writing this that I have married a Christian killer…talk about an oxymoron.)

Nevertheless, his outdoor knowledge has taught me several interesting facts over the years, one of which I’d like to share with you. You see, my outdoorsman is also my Sunday school teacher. In one of his lessons he gave a description of the power of a lion’s tongue. The illustration so struck me that I have never forgotten it, and I think about it often. He said that a lion’s tongue is so strong and so rough that it can totally consume a portion of its prey in three licks. The first lick removes the skin or hide of the animal. The second lick removes the top layer of flesh and by the time it licks for the third time, it has devoured that section down to the bone.

Now when I heard that illustration, my mind went immediately to I Peter 5:8 and a new revelation of the meaning of that scripture dawned in my life. The scripture says, “Be sober, be vigilant: because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” I had read and heard that scripture hundreds of times in my life but it never had full meaning until I heard the description of the capability of a lion’s tongue.

Listen Friend, you have heard me say in other devotions that God allowed certain words or scenarios to be written in the Bible for a reason…nothing was just haphazardly described or depicted. In my former recollections of the meaning of this verse, I nonchalantly thought, “Okay, the devil is like a roaring lion…a strong and fearsome beast”…end of thought. It wasn’t until I knew what devouring power a lion had that I realized what God was conveying in that verse.

The devil’s whole ambition is to destroy mankind. So, with his first lick, he “removes our hide;” for example, he tempts us with what appears to be a harmless thought. Then he licks again with a stronger temptation, and perhaps we allow ourselves to perform actions related to the previous thought temptation. Finally, he licks a third time. This time his lick goes to the bone and all of our moral character is devoured as we find ourselves compromised in a devastating situation with potentially excruciating consequences. Oh, what a grusome picture this paints. We must be ever mindful to keep the faith and to keep our eyes always on Christ.

Friend, take time to do a personal check-up. Are you protecting yourself with the armor of God and holding to your faith; or, do you sense that you have been licked by the roaring lion? Regardless of what “level of licking” you may currently find yourself in, Christ is always willing to forgive you if you will repent and turn to Him. He wants to give life back to your dry bones just as He did in Ezekiel’s day.

“Again he said unto me,…O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:…and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I [am] the LORD. And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above:… and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet…” Ezekiel 37:4-10

Week 6: Faithful or Fallen?

When you look back over your life, do you still have any contact with people who were close to the Lord when you were younger? When I was a child I remember looking up to so many different adults who were in service for the Lord. Some of these were Sunday school teachers, others were preachers, and others were just faithful servants who I saw on a weekly basis who I didn’t have direct personal contact with but yet knew their testimony through their actions. Now that I am older, it is such a blessing to go to church or out in the community and see these people from my childhood still serving the Lord. Yet, at the same time, my heart breaks for those that I have seen fall by the wayside because they have been caught up in the cares of this world.

In I Thessalonians, we read the letter Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica to commend and further encourage them in their faith as he was unable to personally come to visit with them. He was diligent to tell them that their faith was not in vain. He reported to them of his present journey with the Lord and of some of the trials he and his companions (Timothy and Silvanus) had faced because of their service for the Lord. However, in 3:7-8, I am personally touched by Paul’s comments to this church. He states that he and his companions were “comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith: for now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.”

Now Paul was no doubt the more mature Christian in this situation. However, he and his fellow servants had been through much persecution because of their service for the Lord. I’m certain they faced degrees of persecution that I will never have to worry about facing simply because of the time period and country where I live. Yet, despite his spiritual maturity, I’m sure there were times when he was tempted to be discouraged because of the great persecutions he faced. However, as we read here, Paul tells the people of the church that he and his friends have been comforted by the church’s faith. Don’t you know that when he and his companions heard great stories of service about the people they had taught about the Lord that it so blessed their hearts they were rejuvenated in their own service. That is just what he is expressing in this passage. Paul tells us that he and his companions had faced many persecutions but knowing these people of Thessalonica were strong and continuing in their faith helped give them the needed encouragement and strength to continue persevering in their Christian walk.

There have been times when I have wanted to quit or give up in my own Christian life, times when everything seemed in vain. Then I’d see or remember some dear saint I’d known all my life still running the race and my heart would be blessed to continue on, too.

As I was studying and read this scripture, I penned in my Bible this question, “Can the younger generation say this of me?” Do the children and youth that I encounter see me still running the race of faith? Friend, we never know who is watching us. I mentioned the younger generation, but it may be just a “young” Christian or even a mature one like Paul. Does the life that they see in you or me reflect dedication and commitment to the Lord? Would this life encourage them to keep going for the Lord at times when for all rights and reasons it seems they should throw in the towel? Oh, may we always strive to be like Christ. May all those around us be encouraged by our faith. May we never become like those I mentioned that have disappeared from the scene.

When we look back over our life, may we be able to say like Paul in II Timothy 4:7, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith;” and may that be the testimony others see when they look at us.

Week 5 - Jairus Part 3

Last week we ended with Jairus facing a decision of whether to listen to the Lord and, “Fear not, believe only…” or to walk away in the defeat of his daughter’s death.

Thankfully, Jairus chose to listen to the Lord and follow Him to his home where his deceased daughter awaited them. Now, the devil loves to beat you when you are down, and his actions were no different in this case. As soon as Jairus and Jesus arrived back at the house, they were bombarded by mourning and weeping from the paid mourners, an act that was customary during this time. The sounds alone were probably enough to make Jairus want to turn and run. But, he didn’t…he held to Christ’s words. Then, another blow to his faith came, these mourners laughed Jesus to scorn when He stated that the little girl was not dead but sleeping. Jairus was alone in his stand…no one even wanted to admit that Christ could still possibly bring a miracle. (Please note that the little girl was actually physically dead, but to Jesus, she was only asleep because he was about to “wake her up.”) Nevertheless, Christ did not tolerate this lack of belief. He immediately put these mourners in their rightful place…outside the door. You see, Christ can not work where unbelief resides. The Bible states in Hebrews 11:6 that without faith it is impossible to please Him. Christ knew that if these people stayed, they would cast a negative influence on Jairus because (unbeknownst to them they were actually being used by the devil in one final attempt to discourage Jairus’ faith).

Jesus allowed Jairus to face many faith tests that day, and Jairus passed each one. He chose to fear not and to believe and because of that, Christ honored his faith and his beloved daughter was raised from the dead.

Friend, are you in a Jairus situation? Does it seem like death is lying at your doorstep, Christ has taken a leave of absence, and all is hopeless? Perhaps you have even humbled yourself until you are prostrate on the floor and you have still not heard from the Lord. Well, take heart. Christ is still on the scene and He has heard and will continue to hear your plea. He wants you to continue to look to Him until His perfect moment arrives. Believe me, I’ve had times in my life when I thought my prayers were literally bouncing off the ceiling and hitting me in the head and the devil had to be in a backpack on my back. But God had mercy every time and came to my rescue. Christ promised us that He would not allow us to be tempted above what we are able to bear without a way of escape. He is our escape every time. So, when the devil shoots another fiery dart your way, and believe me he will. Look to Christ and “Fear not, believe only.”

Monday: Select and read one of the 3 gospel accounts of Jairus. (Luke 8: 41-56, Matthew 9: 18-26, Mark 5:21-43)


Tuesday: Have you ever had one of those days when the devil has hit you on every side and just when you think you can’t take any more, another blow comes? What did you do? Did you fight back with God’s help or give up in defeat? (Remember, there are no wrong answers. We’ve all faced defeat, but it is good to look back and evaluate our responses to the trial.)


Wednesday: Think back about a time when you have chosen to believe Christ despite the “death” that lay at your door? How did Christ honor your faith? If you don’t have a time that you can recall, ask God to strengthen your faith so that you may honor Him when you are faced with another trail.


Thursday: Spend time today thanking God for His merciful help in times of need.


Friday & Saturday: Review the memory verses from the past two weeks: Luke 8:50 and Romans 8:28

Week 4 - Jairus Part 2

Our study today picks up where we left Jairus, at the feet of Jesus (and no better place is there to be I might add). We studied last week about Jairus’ plea to the Lord. Now, take a look at the next event described in the scripture (Luke 8: 41-56). In all 3 gospel accounts of this story, we do not see Jesus respond to Jairus at this time. Instead, we see Christ’s attention turned immediately away from Jairus to another medical emergency. Now how do you think Jairus might have felt at this point? He was in desperate need of help and he needed it in a hurry…you know like yesterday kind of hurry. However, went don’t see Jairus get angry, throw a fit, or even leave the scene. Instead, he waits on the Lord, and we know he did because no sooner had Christ dealt with the other emergency that had surfaced then we see Him shift his attention back to Jairus. Why do you think this happened? Why do you think Christ allowed this other event to be interjected into the middle of Jairus’ story? Perhaps it was to let Jairus see the miracle he would and did perform for this lady who had been sick the entire length of his daughter’s life, 12 years. No better boost for our faith than to see a hopeless circumstance given new life, and Jairus was on the verge of facing what appeared to be a hopeless situation. As the story shifts back to Jairus, he is given the worst news that I think any parent could ever bare to hear, “… [your] daughter is dead; trouble not the Master.”

Oh, can you sense the pain that just flooded his soul. He had pled his case to Christ, waited for Christ to go home with him, and then he is told it is over; his daughter is dead. His servant didn’t help matters either when he told Jairus not to trouble the Master (or in my terminology, there is nothing Jesus can do about it); he just added coal to the flame. I’m sure that awful sick feeling, you know the one I’m talking about, flooded Jairus’ soul and nearly knocked the breath out of him. His baby, his only precious, beautiful daughter was dead. Oh, the agony he had to be feeling. Pause a moment and consider and empathize with Jairus’ new situation. How would you feel if you were in his shoes?

Now praise be to God, the story doesn’t end there. No, verse 50 tells us that Jesus heard what was said by the servant, and He chose that moment, that perfect moment to respond to Jairus. Finally, a word from the Master. Let’s just picture how this scene might have unfolded. With all the strength he had left, Jairus raises his head to Christ and their eyes meet. No words yet, but perhaps their eye contact spoke volumes to Jairus’ soul. Perhaps Christ heard his soul cry out, “Master, I want to believe you can still do something, but….” Then the Savior spoke. He spoke words that no doubt resonated through Jairus’ heart, “Fear not, believe only, and she shall be made whole.” You see, Christ knew all about what was transpiring. Nothing about the situation was a shock to Him. (Aren’t you thankful nothing is ever a shock to Him! Praise Him!)

I believe Jesus waited until the perfect moment before he addressed Jairus’ plea. While his daughter (as Jairus believed) was still alive, he was able to exercise faith that Christ could do something for his daughter. But now the tables had turned and his daughter was dead. How would his faith react to his now hopeless situation? Christ could see to Jairus’ soul. He knew this poor man was dying himself on the inside. Yet Christ used this time to reach out and say, “Fear not, believe only.” Don’t you know those words were like a balm to Jairus’ soul. I imagine they ignited a new spark of hope in him. You see, Christ had seen Jairus desperate and humbled, but for some reason He needed to remove all distractions from Jairus’ view. He needed Jairus to see beyond the death that lay inside his door and to look to the Life standing in front of him. He had allowed Jairus to witness His healing of a 12 year disease just moments before for a reason, more than likely to strengthen his faith. Now Jairus had seen first hand the power of Christ, and Christ was calling him to not let fear and doubt invade but to keep trusting with his original faith.

Sometimes, God has to remove all things that we are clinging to for hope and security and humble us to the point that when we look up, all we can see is Him. I know that those times in my life have never been comfortable and they probably haven’t been/won’t be for you either. However, we can rest assured that God ALWAYS has our best interest at heart. Romans 8:28 reminds us that, “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.” So, the next time you feel Christ is stripping some things from your life, continue to trust Him and know that He is working to build your faith and make you more like Him. (Next week we’ll close by looking at how Jairus faced his new dilemma.)

Monday: Read and meditate on Luke 8:41-56.

Tuesday: Why do you think God allowed Jairus’ to witness His healing of the woman with the 12 year issue of blood?

Wednesday: Do you think it is significant that Christ waited to verbally respond to Jairus as long as he did?

Thursday: Have you ever faced a time in your life when it felt like God was removing everything of value from you? How did you handle the situation?

Friday & Saturday: Memorize Romans 8:28

Week 3 - Jairus Part 1

Over the next three weeks, I want us to take a look at a ruler in the Bible by the name of Jairus.

In Luke 8:41-56, we read the account of the ruler Jairus and his 12 year old daughter. The Greek definition of the term ruler as Jairus was described in verse 41 means that he was, “a first (in rank or power), a chief. Keep this in mind as we look closer at these scriptures.

Jairus’ daughter was very ill, even to the point of death. Like any loving parent of a sick or hurting child, Jairus was doing any thing he could for his daughter. Being the political authority that he was, I’m sure he had already spent loads of money on the best doctors and medicines of the day but to no avail. Now, he had personally come to Jesus to seek help and healing on her behalf during this desperate hour. No doubt, by his actions, he had heard of Jesus’ miracles and perhaps had even seen him perform some of them. Notice that he did not send a hired servant to fetch the Lord; he went personally. I believe this showed his love and sincere need of help for his daughter. He realized without Christ’s help, his daughter had no hope. So, in one final attempt, he sought the famed man Christ. Now I don’t know much about Jairus’ spiritual condition; the Bible does not elaborate on that. However, it does show us that Jairus respected Christ enough to fall at his feet and beg him greatly for his help, thus assuming a posture of humbleness and worship. Look back at the Greek explanation of ruler as used here. Jairus was first in rank or power and now look at his present posture. Here he was a chief in the political realm and yet none of his power or prestige mattered when it came to his little girl. His pride was shot, his heart was humbled, and he was in need of the Great Physician. Oh, what a precious picture that is here portrayed. The Bible tells us in James 4:10 to, “Humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.” Why? Because He also tells us that, “…God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.” (James 4:6) Jairus had assumed the position of ultimate humility for someone of his rank. He was bowing and begging and don’t you know Jesus was willing and ready to bestow some almighty grace and lift up this humbled man. Oh, just take a moment and let the awesomeness of that scene sink into your soul. Have you ever been so humbled by a situation that you needed the merciful hand of Christ to reach down and lift you up to your feet again? If you are a Christian, there has been at least once when the Savior did this for you…when you turned to Him alone for your salvation. Take time today to thank Him for that wonderful turning point in your life. If you are currently going through a desperate situation, perhaps its financial, or physical, or maybe even a situation with a loved one, humble yourself before the Lord and rest assured, “He shall lift you up.”


Monday: Read and study Luke 8: 41-56

Tuesday: Read and study Matthew 9: 18-26

Wednesday: Read and study Mark 5:21-43

Thursday: Compare and contrast the accounts of the past three days’ readings.

Friday & Saturday: Memorize Luke 8:50

References
KJV Hebrew & Greek Key Word Study Bible, 1991, AMG Publishers, Chattanooga, TN

Week 2 - Will You Pass The Test?

How many times have you been asked a question and you didn't know the answer? You knew you should, after all, you are the boss, or the teacher, or the parent. Yet, for some reason you realize that you must have missed class on the day the topic at hand was discussed. So there you stand, embarrassed, hoping you don't appear that way, and groping for the right answer or at least an answer you hope sounds dignified and satisfying to the questioner. Go on admit it...we've all been there.

Now let me ask you this? How many times has the unanswerable question posed to you been about your faith? Ouch...did that hit a nerve. It has in me. Too many times, I have avoided conversation where I was afraid I wasn't going to know the answer to a possible theoretical question that may arise. And, in doing so, I displeased my Lord because I was not ready to be used for His service.

As a Christian, there is one course that we should not neglect to attend...Bible study. It is so vitally important to study the Bible that God inspired Paul to write the following in his second letter to Timothy, "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth." (II Tim. 2:15) Lets take a closer look at that verse. First, according to this scripture, when we study the Word, we are "approved unto God." The Greek word here for approved is "dokimos" meaning tried. In other words, God can try our scripture knowledge just as a teacher would test students on class or textbook notes.

Secondly, as that same teacher would grade the test, so God grades us on our knowledge of His Word. Now, if we fail in knowledge, we don't lose our salvation or get knocked over the head by His almighty hand, but we suffer something far worse...shame. My husband has often said that it was easier for him to take a spanking as a child than it was to see disappointment or shame on his father's face when he had done something wrong. I'm sure most of us would have to agree. However, the good news is that we don't have to ever suffer that shame. If we've studied for the test, we become "a workman that needeth not to be ashamed." Now I don't know about you, but when I think about the fact that I am God's, "...workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which [He] hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2:10), I don't want to disappoint the teacher (or in this case, the Creator). God is expecting me to be a knowledgeable workman of His Word. Why? So I can "rightly [divide] the word of truth;" or as the Greek term "orthotomeo" defines, I can make a straight cut or dissect or expound God's Word correctly to others.

You might be thinking, "Well ,this all sounds good, but the Bible is hard to comprehend and I am not comfortable speaking about it with others." You're not alone in those thoughts; I mentioned earlier that I have had them (and more). I've not always been a diligent student of the Bible. I certainly would be the first to admit that I don't always understand everything I read...especially not the first time and sometimes not even after 10 times. Yet, that is where the key word of our scripture today kicks in...STUDY. If reading and understanding God's word were simple, I believe He would have just told Paul to use the term "read" when he penned the verse. Instead though, He chose the word "study." That means we have to diligently go over the material, use other resources/commentaries to expound on the material, and give our time and prayers over to the effort.

When we do these things, we honor the Lord and He will bless us for our obedience to Him. Then, when He decides to give us a pop quiz we will "...be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you..." (I Peter 3:15)


Monday: Study and meditate on II Timothy 2:15.


Tuesday: Study and meditate on I Peter 3:15.


Wednesday: How do the above two verses coincide with one another?


Thursday: What grade percentage would you give your current study habits of God's Word? Pray and ask the Lord to help you grow in His Word and to liberally poor out His wisdom upon you.


Friday and Saturday: Commit to memory II Timothy 2:15 and I Peter 3:15


References:
Strong's Concordance with Hebrew and Greek Lexicon

Week 1 - No Longer Just Dust

In the book of John 9:1-7 we read the story of Jesus healing a blind man with some clay and spittle. You might think that to be a rather odd combination. Why didn't Jesus just touch the man or simply speak healing to the blind eyes? After all, He was Jesus, the Great Physician who could do anything. So why did he use the clay and spittle? First let me say, that Jesus never did anything on a whim. Every move He made was so that we could learn more about Him and His mercy and love for mankind.

In the book of Genesis we are told that God made man from the dust (or dirt/clay) of the ground. So when Christ used the dirt in the case of the blind man, it was a representation of mankind. Alone, the dirt was of no value, just as we are without the Holy Spirit living inside of us. However, Christ didn't perform the miracle with just dirt, He put some of Himself (the spittle) into that dirt. Now the dirt had healing power. But, the story doesn't end there. The man had to by faith let Christ apply the mixture to his eyes. The man believed that when Christ applied the mixture and told him to go wash his eyes, that he would be healed and as the story goes, he was.

Christ was not only performing a miracle on that day in history, He was also teaching an object lesson. Through the example of the dirt and spittle, Christ was showing us how we can experience that same healing power when we accept Him into our lives. By ourselves, we are nothing. Christ is waiting to apply Himself to our lives; but, He will not force Himself upon us. We have to accept Him through faith...faith that says for an unbeliever, "I know alone I am a wretched sinner, but because Christ died for my sins on an old rugged cross. I can have His Spirit living and abiding powerfully in me and for those reasons, I accept Him into my life." For the Christian, it is a faith that says, "Despite my circumstances, I choose to believe that Christ is all powerful and with His help I can live an abundant, victorious life. For those reasons I plead the blood of Christ." At those very moments of faith, Christ is free to pour out Himself upon us and provide the healing that we need for our lives. Dear friend, at those moments, we are no longer just worthless dust, but an exemplary mixture of what happens when the "spittle" hits the "dust." We are redeemed, restored, and without a doubt...made whole.



Monday: Read and meditate on Genesis 2:7.

Tuesday: Read and meditate on John 9:1-7.

Wednesday: How does Genesis 2:7 compare with Jesus' actions in John 9:1-7?

Thursday: What has this scripture meant to your life?

Friday & Saturday: Memorize John 9:6 and thank God for applying Himself in your life.

What Does A Bus Have To Do With Anything?

Hello!
This is bus driver Becky. I drive a bus for a private school near my home. I started driving the bus on December 1, 2008. This job has been a blessing to my life. I used to be a school teacher and when I had my children, I was able to quit my job and stay at home with my children. After 7 years of being a stay at home mom, I started to substitute at my children's school. Later, I heard about a job opportunity to drive the bus for the school. Never having even considered driving a bus, I was a little nervous. Me driving this HUGE bus...I wasn't so sure I could do this; BUT, I knew the benefits of the job and so I set out to get my CDL license. After 3 weeks of taking computer tests and a driving test, I was official. I turned in a copy of my license to the administration and a day later was offered the job. I have now been driving a little over a year and I love it!!