Numb Silence

"Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you"- James 1:27 (NLT).

Show me how to worship and serve You Lord with a pure and genuine religion. James gave us two components of sanctified religion. The first is most well known, taking care of orphans and widows. The second had escaped my attention. Let's look at the Scripture with the removal of the first: "Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means...refusing to let the world corrupt you." Money, power, position...violence, sex, drugs...What about allowing worldliness to desensitize us? We watch television shows glamorizing evil, read demoralizing sins of the flesh literature, listen to music that is contrary to our faith and our God...and remain silent, anesthetized, on the sidelines as this parade of sin passes before us. I listened to a man tell a group that Moses' burning bush was produced by ground-seeping oil in the middle east. Isn't silence the same as agreement? There should be an addendum to today's Scripture: "Refusing to let the world corrupt you"...and those around you. Lord forgive my numb silence and revive us!

I Love You This Much

"To Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!"- Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV).    

There used to be a newspaper cartoon called, "I Love You This Much." The creator, whom I can't find on Google, used her marriage as the inspiration to her creation. She even had a little dog. Do you know the cartoon I'm talking about? I used to cut them out and save them. Each one made you realize the imperfections of your husband don't alter the fact that you love him. She actually found humor in the imperfections and we laughed along, because we all have imperfections. There is no perfect spouse...Amen? I wonder if Jesus finds humor in our imperfections? I also remember a poster of Jesus on the cross, arms spread wide, with the caption, "I love you this much." Jesus has loved us immeasurably more...more than we can ask or imagine. To Him be glory for ever!

Tarry Lord

"The Lord in not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance"- 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV).

The Second Coming of Jesus Christ is not slow...according to God's timetable. Our view of slowness is defined by our own time schedule. The Second Coming will happen, but there are many who still need salvation and Jesus yearns for them. C. H. Spurgeon said, "While I have prayed, "Come quickly," I have often felt inclined to contradict myself and cry, "Yet tarry for a while, good Lord. Let mercy's day be lengthened. Let the heathen yet receive the Savior." We may desire the coming of the Lord, but we ought to be in sympathy with the tarrying of the Most High, to which His loving heart inclines Him." Though our hearts cry, "Come now, Jesus," let us be patient while the Lord tarries, for those remaining, to come to Him. 

Living Sacrifice

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God--this is your true and proper worship"-Romans 12:1 (NIV).

"Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee. Take my moments and my days, let them flow in endless praise." Henri Abraham Cesar Malan wrote those lyrics in 1827. Consecrated means to set apart, to transform, to dedicate for a sacred purpose, to make hallow. True and proper worship is fulfilled by offering ourselves, our bodies, as living sacrifices in His service. The Israelites looked for a spotless lamb, a perfect sacrifice; nothing less was acceptable to God. Our sinful bodies are far from spotless, so God provided the perfect Sacrificial Lamb, consecrating our bodies as temples for the Holy Spirit to reside. You have been set apart, transformed, dedicated. Do not ignore your sacred purpose by treating your offering with little regard. Do you worship by treating your body as an offering to God?

Uncovered

"Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator"-Colossians 3:9-10 (NIV).

Being honest is liberating and feels crisp and clean. Dishonesty, on the other hand, makes you feel dirty and leaves you trapped with the possibility of having to tell a "cover up" lie or the fear you may be found out..."uncovered" as a liar. Today's Scripture talks about an "uncovering," one that liberates and makes you brand new, a chance to put on a new person in the image of Jesus Christ. Life is all about this choice, this "uncovering." God has set before you life and blessings or death and curses (Deuteronomy 30:19). Now is the time to choose and let us share this Message with others.