Day 26 – John 15:1-16
As a Christian, I have often found myself walking down a hard road and wondering how “I” could possibly ever make it through the situation. To my discredit, many times I have failed to make it down that road only to find that I keep coming back to it over and over.
There are trials placed before us that we must complete in order to grow in holiness. One type of these trials is placed before us to stretch our understanding, to make visible our weaknesses and to challenge our faith so that it increases. This is continual increase in holiness is sanctification.
There is also another type of trial however that moves beyond the norm but is probably the most precious. This is a trial that you can’t complete on your own. There is a saying that says “God will never put anything on you that you can’t handle.” This is unbiblical. God does tell us that there will not be any temptation upon us that we can’t find an escape from, but it doesn’t say that we can handle anything that is thrown at us. You see, this most precious trial that I am speaking will force you to rely on God to get through it. It may take 10 years, it may take 10 minutes. If you are truly a child of God, know that this trial will come upon you.
When this trial is upon you, you will realize what Paul meant about praying in the spirit with groanings which cannot be uttered. In this time, God is pruning you. The only way through this is to die to self and abide in Jesus and let him abide in you. We need to realize that it is only because of his strength that we can even take the next breath.
“For by him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And he is before all things, and in him all things consist.”
Friend, look over your life. If there is anything in your life besides Jesus that you can’t live without, CUT IT OFF. Otherwise, he may do it for us. We need not our own strength to reach our destination. He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world.
Showing posts with label Friday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Friday. Show all posts
Friday, August 21, 2009
Friday, August 14, 2009
Day 19 – Luke 10:25-35
We are all walking on a dangerous path. It may be a path littered with distractions and forks, or it may be that some are just on the wrong path.
Jesus said that he is the “way” the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through him. The word that Jesus used for the “way” ( hodos ) actually meant “road” or “journey”. This is the same word that Jesus uses in this parable when it said that there was a priest and a Levite who came down that “road” where the fallen man was laying. Both of them saw the man, but passed on by.
There are many of us who are on this same road; that are in the “way”. There are however many who have started down the road but have fallen or ran into unfortunate circumstances. When we come across those who have fallen, it is our duty to help our neighbors get back on the road even if it means getting a little dirty or denting our wallets. We would wish that our neighbors would also be so kind to us if it were us lying battered in the ditch.
The primary goal of having this passage in our study actually wished that we would focus on an aspect of this story that is often overlooked; If not overlooked then at least not discussed often.
We notice in the parable that the Samaritan departed before the man was completely well. He may have had urgent business or an appointment to keep. Regardless of the reason, he had gotten the man to a point where he was reasonably safe and left him in the care of the inn keeper. He didn’t stop there though. Since he couldn’t stay, he provided for the needs of the man.
There are times when we see our neighbors straying or fallen on the way. So after the priests and Levites have passed by, it is our duty to help them back up and to provide for them till they are back on their way. In its very essence, that is what being a neighbor is all about.
We are all walking on a dangerous path. It may be a path littered with distractions and forks, or it may be that some are just on the wrong path.
Jesus said that he is the “way” the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through him. The word that Jesus used for the “way” ( hodos ) actually meant “road” or “journey”. This is the same word that Jesus uses in this parable when it said that there was a priest and a Levite who came down that “road” where the fallen man was laying. Both of them saw the man, but passed on by.
There are many of us who are on this same road; that are in the “way”. There are however many who have started down the road but have fallen or ran into unfortunate circumstances. When we come across those who have fallen, it is our duty to help our neighbors get back on the road even if it means getting a little dirty or denting our wallets. We would wish that our neighbors would also be so kind to us if it were us lying battered in the ditch.
The primary goal of having this passage in our study actually wished that we would focus on an aspect of this story that is often overlooked; If not overlooked then at least not discussed often.
We notice in the parable that the Samaritan departed before the man was completely well. He may have had urgent business or an appointment to keep. Regardless of the reason, he had gotten the man to a point where he was reasonably safe and left him in the care of the inn keeper. He didn’t stop there though. Since he couldn’t stay, he provided for the needs of the man.
There are times when we see our neighbors straying or fallen on the way. So after the priests and Levites have passed by, it is our duty to help them back up and to provide for them till they are back on their way. In its very essence, that is what being a neighbor is all about.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Day 5 – 1 Kings 19:1-18
Every since I was a child, I have read of all these things that God has done in our lives. Such a great cloud of witnesses surround me. They are in the inspired words of men about our God. They are just as evident in the lives of men and women that we know.
Elijah in the chapter previously had trusted God and not only called down fire on the sacrificial altar, but had also trusted that God would send rain to end the drought. All these things were witnessed by the false prophets (who later didn’t fare well) and also by Ahab.
Now granted, I have never called fire down on the altar to consume a sacrifice in front of devil worshippers, but you would think Elijah would be spiritually “on top of the world” about right now. Instead his experience is short lived and he gets depressed. Maybe it was because a woman says she is going to have him killed but I rather think it was because Ahab had given the Glory of all the events to Elijah instead of God. Either way, when Elijah heard about it, he ran for his life and even prayed that God would take his life.
When we cross the highest mountains we must at some point pass through the valley below. Some journeys require supernatural strength and the Lord will provide the nourishment, but we have to eat.
From inside the mountain of Horeb, Elijah was still depressed and perhaps a little angry. When God asked him why he was there, he responded that he alone was still a follower of God and everyone else was against him.
I’ve been in that place before. I’ve been through a spiritual Samaria where nobody wants to give God glory and just like James and John I wished that God would call down fire them; how naïve to think that you alone are within the will of God.
That’s what God was telling Elijah. “See the wind tearing the mountain apart Elijah?” “Do you feel my power throughout all the Earth in this earthquake?” “See this fire I sent upon the mountain to consume everything?” God is telling him that nothing can stay his hand if that is way he chooses to work in the world.
And then….. There is that small still voice. “Listen for me Elijah.” “This is the way, walk in it” “Stay on the path, walk in the way.” God is here telling Elijah to quit worrying what the world is telling him. Jezebel has no power over God. Did Elijah so easily forget the strength of the Lord’s arm? No mortal man could so much as lay a hand on Elijah unless God had allowed it. Listen for the Lord Elijah.
Apparently Elijah got the point eventually. When he had learned the lesson, God revealed some things to Elijah. God had providentially set aside seven thousand in Israel. A remnant was held back. There always will be.
When things get tough, I too must sit back and remember that have believed in Christ. Just like the smoke from the sacrifice on the altar that Elijah has built, I have seen Jesus rise to the clouds and sit at the right hand of God. I have seen the drought come and go. I will trust in his providence and give him the glory. God give me strength.
Every since I was a child, I have read of all these things that God has done in our lives. Such a great cloud of witnesses surround me. They are in the inspired words of men about our God. They are just as evident in the lives of men and women that we know.
Elijah in the chapter previously had trusted God and not only called down fire on the sacrificial altar, but had also trusted that God would send rain to end the drought. All these things were witnessed by the false prophets (who later didn’t fare well) and also by Ahab.
Now granted, I have never called fire down on the altar to consume a sacrifice in front of devil worshippers, but you would think Elijah would be spiritually “on top of the world” about right now. Instead his experience is short lived and he gets depressed. Maybe it was because a woman says she is going to have him killed but I rather think it was because Ahab had given the Glory of all the events to Elijah instead of God. Either way, when Elijah heard about it, he ran for his life and even prayed that God would take his life.
When we cross the highest mountains we must at some point pass through the valley below. Some journeys require supernatural strength and the Lord will provide the nourishment, but we have to eat.
From inside the mountain of Horeb, Elijah was still depressed and perhaps a little angry. When God asked him why he was there, he responded that he alone was still a follower of God and everyone else was against him.
I’ve been in that place before. I’ve been through a spiritual Samaria where nobody wants to give God glory and just like James and John I wished that God would call down fire them; how naïve to think that you alone are within the will of God.
That’s what God was telling Elijah. “See the wind tearing the mountain apart Elijah?” “Do you feel my power throughout all the Earth in this earthquake?” “See this fire I sent upon the mountain to consume everything?” God is telling him that nothing can stay his hand if that is way he chooses to work in the world.
And then….. There is that small still voice. “Listen for me Elijah.” “This is the way, walk in it” “Stay on the path, walk in the way.” God is here telling Elijah to quit worrying what the world is telling him. Jezebel has no power over God. Did Elijah so easily forget the strength of the Lord’s arm? No mortal man could so much as lay a hand on Elijah unless God had allowed it. Listen for the Lord Elijah.
Apparently Elijah got the point eventually. When he had learned the lesson, God revealed some things to Elijah. God had providentially set aside seven thousand in Israel. A remnant was held back. There always will be.
When things get tough, I too must sit back and remember that have believed in Christ. Just like the smoke from the sacrifice on the altar that Elijah has built, I have seen Jesus rise to the clouds and sit at the right hand of God. I have seen the drought come and go. I will trust in his providence and give him the glory. God give me strength.
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