Revive Us Lord!

"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God--having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people"- 2 Timothy 3:1-5 (NIV).

There are many who would say we are in the last days. The daily news is filled with every aspect of Paul's list to Timothy, but it was also true of Paul's time. Look back at the culture of the Roman Empire...heartlessness, domination, oppression, deprivation, cruelty, etc. History is filled with periods of turning from God, the rise of tribulation and running back to God. God in His mercy and grace says if we will just humble ourselves, pray and seek His face...He will forgive us and heal our land (2 Chronicles 7:14). Billy Graham is calling for prayer for revival. He follows a long list of God's children who have prayed for revival in the past. Isaiah 55:7 says God is merciful and quick to forgive those who turn to Him and change their ways. Do you see our nation in today's Scripture? Let us humble ourselves and pray for revival: in the heart, home, church, community, nation. Revive us Lord!

Facing the Unknown

"He said, "If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in His eyes, if you pay attention to His commands and keep all His decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you""- Exodus 15:26 (NIV).

Jesus is the Great Healer. His ministry was spent healing lepers, restoring sight, strengthening limbs, removing evil spirits...restoring minds and bodies. He still heals today: The cancerous tumor can't be found, an organ donor is found just in time, rare blood types are matched, cures are found, and lives are extended. Still some are called home, leaving some wondering why their prayers weren't answered and others trusting in God's Sovereign will. The Israelites had witnessed the Egyptians contract boils and all Egyptian first born die during the night. That had to be the most frightening events the world had ever seen. Yet...they followed God out into the unknown! Trusting God and His Sovereign will, even in the face of the unknown, is an act of courage...It's an act of obedience. Did He not command us to do so (Joshua 1:9)? Let us pray for those who are in need of His healing and trust in His Sovereignty. 

The Treasure

"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field"- Matthew 13:44 (NIV).

At first blush, it sounds like this man wanted the kingdom of heaven all to himself, unwilling to share or tell anyone about the treasure he had found in the field. I believe the parable speaks strongly about the man having his heart set on giving up everything to possess the treasure, the kingdom. The location of the treasure is relevant; after all it is in a field that a harvest is reaped. The yielded harvest analogy is fruit intended for the kingdom of heaven. Truly our "mission" field, sought and bought with our whole heart, holds the treasure we are building in heaven...a harvest...for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:21). 

Mission Possible

"We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ"- 1 John 1:3 (NIV).

This is a Holy assignment, demonstrated by Jesus. Jesus gave testimony of Himself: Where He came from, where He was going (John 8:14). His example is our assignment: follow Him. Jesus instructed the once demon possessed man to go and tell his own people what the Lord had done for him (Mark 5:19). Personal testimony is powerful! Remember, Satan will be conquered by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony (Revelation 12:11). Do you remember this line from the television series Mission Impossible? "Your assignment, should you choose to accept it"...Well, it's to proclaim what you have seen and heard; to share your testimony with others. Your faithfulness links arms with other believers and with Jesus in powerful fellowship. This isn't Mission Impossible, it's Mission Possible...because nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37).   

Grab the Thought

"For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek His kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom""- Luke 12:30-32 (NIV).

What are you thinking about today? I'm reading a book, Gods At War, by Kyle Idleman. Most of us would deny having created any foreign altars in our lives. We serve the only True God, but Kyle points out that the very things you worry about, desire, stress over, dream about, make plans for, hunger for...in other words, whatsoever your most predominant thoughts, are self-generated altars erected to gods that war for your soul. We are to take these thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5), thinking on anything that is worthy of praise (Philippians 4:8). Grab that thought and this...the kingdom is already yours. 

Ashes to Ashes

"[Jesus] gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good"-Titus 2:14 (NIV).

Gregg Laurie said, "As Christians, we should run together, not trip each other in the race. We are not competing against one another." One of my fears, in writing devotions, is that those whom I entrust them will think I consider myself more righteous than the next person. If it's true that they do, they should meet the Nora before Jesus got hold of me. When Jesus burned my sinfully long sin-filled rap sheet, it was a blazing bonfire, and probably still smoldering today. Jesus forgives past sins, present sins, and sins yet uncommitted. That's being fully covered my friend. It also means I still compile a new rap sheet each day regardless of how hard I try...yep, filthy rags from my best efforts. Jesus, in His goodness and mercy, faithfully takes the ledger and once again commits the list to ash. Jesus has redeemed us and called us His own. Let us so encourage each other, in love, to know to Whom we belong.   

Follow Me

"For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him"-2 Chronicles 16:9a (NIV).

Jesus asks, "Do you love Me? Do you trust Me? Then surrender everything and come follow me." Before you shout yes, you need to understand He means for you to take up your cross, daily, to be His disciple and follow Him (Luke 9:23). You can't put anything before Him: spouse, children, job, home, money, comforts. You can't ask for time to settle unfinished business, say goodbye to your family, bury a father, finish a project. Luke 9:62 says no one who puts his hands to the plow should look back. When Elisha was called by Elijah, he butchered his oxen and burned his plow. He had no plans of going back. Your response to Jesus's "Follow Me" requires your life, your everything, to be fully committed to Him. 

Product and Production

"To love Him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices"-Mark 12:33 (NIV).

The greatest commandment can also be found in Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18. How do we love God? What does He expect from us in regards to loving Him? Our Heavenly Father wants us to respect Him, serve Him, and obey His commandments (Deuteronomy 10:12-13). We respect our human fathers or the consequence is to be disciplined, the best they know how. Why wouldn't God do the same? His discipline is always good for us and the intended consequence is for us to share in His holiness (Hebrews 12:9-10). Love is both a noun and a verb. We are a product and production of God's love.

Perfect Focus

"Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve my life. You stretch out Your hand against the anger of my foes; with Your right hand You save me. The Lord will vindicate me; Your love, Lord, endures forever--do not abandon the works of Your hands"-Psalm 138:7-8 (NIV).

The NKJ version reads, "The Lord will perfect that which concerns me" (v.8). There are many world events to be concerned about right now, but nothing really new. After all, there is nothing new under the sun. It has all happened before and will happen again (Ecclesiastes 1:9). No need to concern yourself. The Lord will perfect it. Is your tomorrow packed with plans, consequences, decisions...other concerns? Jesus said not to be concerned about tomorrow, keep your focus on today (Matthew 6:34). God has already perfected today and tomorrow's concerns. God has promised to keep you in perfect peace as long as you trust Him and keep your mind steadfastly focused (Isaiah 26:3). Where should your focus be? Lifted (Psalm 121:1). In doing so, God will perfect you, His child, into a shining light in a warped and crooked world (Philippians 2:15). 

Seasons

"To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven"-Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NKJV).

Life is all about the timing and discerning of the seasons: When to build, plant, embrace, laugh. We add to the Ecclesiastical list...when to marry, have babies, retire. Most of these seasons are looked forward to, but some we want to put off. Seasons come and seasons go. You can't stop them. Many try to discern their approach and some don't even bother. The Israelites knew a season was coming, the Messiah, and they watched for Him, but many within Judah couldn't discern Who or when He came (Luke 19:44). That season came and went. Many still don't know Who He is, that He came, and that there is an approaching season of His return. That season can't be delayed or put off either. Like those before us, let us be found steadfast in instruction about the season to come. 

Come

"Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost"-Isaiah 55:1 (NIV).

The food and drink are free! He offers, "Come." Are you tired and overburdened? He says, "Come to Me" (Matthew 11:28). There is no cost...for us. Payment has already been rendered...at great cost. We were the lost coin, the sheep who left the fold, the pearl of great value that all was given in exchange for the treasure. You are a treasure. Let us respond to His call and take of the free gift...the water of life. Then we will join with the Spirit and beckon Jesus, "Come!" (Revelation 22:17).   

Out of Nazareth

"The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation"- Colossians 1:15 (NIV).

Jesus is God in the flesh. He chose to be called a Nazarene. Obviously, the town wasn't held in high regard, because Nathanael, when told about Jesus of Nazareth, asked how anything good could come out of that town. But Philip enticed him to "Come and see" (John 1:46). Colossians 1:16 says all things were created by Jesus, through Jesus, and for Jesus. Jesus knew Nathanael before Philip introduced them to each other, before Philip even told Nathanael about Jesus (John 1:47-48). Nathanael, one of the twelve, also known as Bartholomew, died a martyr's death. That first encounter with Jesus was life changing and it was all it took for Nathanael to declare that moment, "You are the Son of God" (John 1:49). That declaration was before Nathanael saw miracles, the crucifixion, or the ascension of our Lord. That revelation came on the first encounter. Something Good did come out of Nazareth.

Leaping

"For you who revere My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall"- Malachi 4:2 (NIV).

The image of little calves leaping and frolicking in front of their mothers, as they move toward open pastures, projects past memories across my mind. They exude so much energy that they need a nap by time they get there :). Exhilarating news, rushes of extreme emotional uplifting, unplugs the bottle neck that stress and boredom create during the ebb and flow of our lives. The non-movement, the muck and mire of the rut, can take our eyes off of the Joy of our life. We can depend on our Lord Jesus, the Son of Righteousness, to release us, to set us free. Then we will rise and dance for Him until our joy is expended and then lie down in green pastures and take our rest. 

Seeking Truth

"What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God"- Micah 6:8 (NIV).

Yesterday's message told us to avoid worldly corruption. Today's is instruction in purposeful behavior: How to act, love, and walk. The Bible is God's Holy Word...His voice. Daily reading opens and increases the frequency of our conversations with God. His Holy Word teaches, admonishes, encourages, guides, and consoles. The encounter is supernatural and powerfully personal. Daily Scriptural reading is life giving and life changing. You know It is! The devil will try to throw stumbling stones in your path, distractors, to keep you from this Holy interlude. Satan wants you unarmed, questioning, weak, lost, hopeless. The Bible is inerrant. It's the truth, the whole, and nothing but the truth. What "in this world" is holding you back...keeping you from the Truth today?