“…let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.”
Hebrews 10:22
I am never sure what will bring about the inspiration for these devotions, on this occasion it was a memory from my younger years. My mom comes from a ranching family and once a year there are round ups, to bring the cattle in. Lots of things are done to the cattle at that time but let’s just say it can be a dirty job. At the end of the day, it feels so good to take a bath and wash all that stuff off.
The selfish behavior that causes us to willfully disobey a Holy God, that causes us to be separated from a God who only wants the best for us, created us for the best, makes us dirty too. In the days of the Old Testament, the Israelite priests would offer sacrifices to wash away the sins of the people. The problem was their sacrifices were not sufficient and had to be repeated. It was a get dirty, wash, repeat kind of cycle that didn’t really draw the people back to God the way He wanted.
But God had a bigger plan in the works all along; the Father would send the Son. The Son would have an up-close and personal encounter with mankind, feeling everything we feel, experiencing everything we experience except one thing - that selfish behavior that takes us away from a Holy God. Jesus Christ is that Son, fully man and fully God he was able to live a sinless life. Jesus died on a Roman cross and left His tomb empty three days later, so that whoever believed would have their sins - the dirt of their self-focused lives - washed away.
Because of His death and resurrection, we who believe and have been washed can draw near again to the Holy God who made us in His image. Enjoy His presence as he pours out his mercy, grace and love on you.
A Prayer
Father, thank you that from the moment of that first act of disobedience in the garden you had a plan to draw us back into your holy presence. Thank you that Jesus willfully carried out that plan and that His death as agonizing as it was makes us clean again. May we draw near everyday to know you more and love you better. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Monday, February 25, 2013
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Unexpected
“He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.”
Mark 8:31
The people of Israel had been waiting for a very long time for the expected Messiah to come. The prophets seem to have made it clear what would identify the man. I don’t know if they simply did not under what the prophets had said or if over the course of time their circumstances colored their expectations of who and what the Messiah would be. Many missed Him because he did not meet their expectations. They were expecting a warrior and political king. The Father’s Son came as a carpenter, a teacher and a servant. They expected someone who would overthrow the government. He came to overthrow their hearts and ours.
Even those who did recognize Jesus as the Messiah had expectations that were met with the unexpected. Just as they were starting to “get it” Jesus tells them that He will be killed and then three days later be raised from the dead. What? In the next verse we see Peter rebuking Jesus for what He has just told them and Jesus responds be telling him “get behind me Satan!” That certainly must have been an unexpected response. Jesus was killed just as He had said and the confused and scared disciples wondered what had happened - this was not what they expected. Then there He was standing in their presence, eating with them, talking with them.
The leaders of the day would never have picked any of Jesus’ disciples to be counted among their number, Jesus did the unexpected and left a new community in the hands of fishermen, tax collectors and women - some of whom were of ill repute. This group had no idea that they with the power of the Holy Spirit would change the world by helping God overthrow the hearts of men, women and children.
Today, we have our own expectations of who God is and how He operates. The question is do we allow our expectations to get in the way of how He unexpectedly works? This week try setting your expectations aside so the Lord can work in unexpected ways - I know that could be scary, but ultimately it will be amazing.
A Prayer
Father, thank you for not living up to our expectations, instead treating us in unexpected ways that take us far beyond what we can imagine. Forgive us when our expectations get in the way of what You want to do for us, with us and through us. Help us Lord to be ready for the unexpected, the kind of unexpected that changes hearts and the world. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Mark 8:31
The people of Israel had been waiting for a very long time for the expected Messiah to come. The prophets seem to have made it clear what would identify the man. I don’t know if they simply did not under what the prophets had said or if over the course of time their circumstances colored their expectations of who and what the Messiah would be. Many missed Him because he did not meet their expectations. They were expecting a warrior and political king. The Father’s Son came as a carpenter, a teacher and a servant. They expected someone who would overthrow the government. He came to overthrow their hearts and ours.
Even those who did recognize Jesus as the Messiah had expectations that were met with the unexpected. Just as they were starting to “get it” Jesus tells them that He will be killed and then three days later be raised from the dead. What? In the next verse we see Peter rebuking Jesus for what He has just told them and Jesus responds be telling him “get behind me Satan!” That certainly must have been an unexpected response. Jesus was killed just as He had said and the confused and scared disciples wondered what had happened - this was not what they expected. Then there He was standing in their presence, eating with them, talking with them.
The leaders of the day would never have picked any of Jesus’ disciples to be counted among their number, Jesus did the unexpected and left a new community in the hands of fishermen, tax collectors and women - some of whom were of ill repute. This group had no idea that they with the power of the Holy Spirit would change the world by helping God overthrow the hearts of men, women and children.
Today, we have our own expectations of who God is and how He operates. The question is do we allow our expectations to get in the way of how He unexpectedly works? This week try setting your expectations aside so the Lord can work in unexpected ways - I know that could be scary, but ultimately it will be amazing.
A Prayer
Father, thank you for not living up to our expectations, instead treating us in unexpected ways that take us far beyond what we can imagine. Forgive us when our expectations get in the way of what You want to do for us, with us and through us. Help us Lord to be ready for the unexpected, the kind of unexpected that changes hearts and the world. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
I Powered or God Powered?
“I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
Luke 24:49
Three years, Jesus’ ministry on this planet was three years and during most of that time he was training the disciples to do the work He would leave for them to do. Three years of on-the-job training and Jesus still tells them to wait for a bit longer before they get down to real business. In today’s business organizations including the church, three years of on-the-job training is unheard of, people are expected to jump in feet first and get the job done. How is that working for you?
If you were to take a new job or start a new endeavor and didn’t get the right training, resources, authority or power to actually do the job - how successful would you expect to be? Sheer determination and grit may help you make some progress, but eventually the feeling of fighting a losing battle will take hold. Then attitudes turn sour, jobs are lost and hopelessness can find its way in.
Imagine what might have happened if Jesus’ ministry was shorter or if the disciples immediately took charge after His departure, during a time when they still were not sure what just happened. How successful would Paul have been if as soon as he received his sight he had charged back to Jerusalem and tried to join the apostles? I quite possibly would not be writing this kind encouragement and you might not be interested in reading it. There might not even be a church if they had taken it on themselves to act.
In everything you do, it is ok to wait until you have clear direction and all that you need before you act. While you are waiting - pray and listen. The Lord can see the whole picture, but He only gives us enough information to take a step at a time. When you take that step, He will make sure you have everything you need - including His power and authority to act or to wait again.
This week, will it be I power or God power? Which will make you more effective in what you have been called to do?
A Prayer
Father, thank you for taking your time as you teach us how to lead, how to love, how to reflect Your image to the world around us. Thank you for giving us all we need including the power and authority to act. Help us not to take that for granted. Grant us the wisdom to understand that without the guidance of Your Holy Spirit, we are less able to accomplish what you have for us. May we chose Your power over our own power every day. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Luke 24:49
Three years, Jesus’ ministry on this planet was three years and during most of that time he was training the disciples to do the work He would leave for them to do. Three years of on-the-job training and Jesus still tells them to wait for a bit longer before they get down to real business. In today’s business organizations including the church, three years of on-the-job training is unheard of, people are expected to jump in feet first and get the job done. How is that working for you?
If you were to take a new job or start a new endeavor and didn’t get the right training, resources, authority or power to actually do the job - how successful would you expect to be? Sheer determination and grit may help you make some progress, but eventually the feeling of fighting a losing battle will take hold. Then attitudes turn sour, jobs are lost and hopelessness can find its way in.
Imagine what might have happened if Jesus’ ministry was shorter or if the disciples immediately took charge after His departure, during a time when they still were not sure what just happened. How successful would Paul have been if as soon as he received his sight he had charged back to Jerusalem and tried to join the apostles? I quite possibly would not be writing this kind encouragement and you might not be interested in reading it. There might not even be a church if they had taken it on themselves to act.
In everything you do, it is ok to wait until you have clear direction and all that you need before you act. While you are waiting - pray and listen. The Lord can see the whole picture, but He only gives us enough information to take a step at a time. When you take that step, He will make sure you have everything you need - including His power and authority to act or to wait again.
This week, will it be I power or God power? Which will make you more effective in what you have been called to do?
A Prayer
Father, thank you for taking your time as you teach us how to lead, how to love, how to reflect Your image to the world around us. Thank you for giving us all we need including the power and authority to act. Help us not to take that for granted. Grant us the wisdom to understand that without the guidance of Your Holy Spirit, we are less able to accomplish what you have for us. May we chose Your power over our own power every day. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Monday, February 4, 2013
You Are So Loved
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16
I just recently finished reading a book that contains selected sermons by A.W. Tozer taken from John’s Gospel. This short verse is the basis for everything that Jesus - as the One and Only Son - would do. Jesus’ ministry was driven by His love for individuals, His love for you and me. Concerning this verse Tozer wrote: “When I read those words ‘God so loved the world,’ it means in personal terms that I mean something to God. God has His eyes on me and is emotionally concerned for me.” Let that thought sink in for a few moments - You and I mean something to God.
Everything Jesus did from changing water to wine, healing those who came to him, feeding the hungry, restoring life and bearing the weight of mankind’s sin on a Roman cross were all done out of his intense love for every individual human that walks this planet.
As followers of Christ, as creatures made in the image of God we are supposed to reflect His image to the world around us. When we realize how intensely He loves us, His love should flow out of us and into those around us even into those who have hurt us, who live differently than we do, who don’t agree with our politics or our religion.
In a world where hopelessness seems to be on the rise, imagine what coming to the realization that God loves you just because you are you. What a difference that would make - what a difference that has made in many of our lives.
This week, if you know how much God loves you, pour that love into the lives of those around you, especially those who do not understand how much they are worth to the heart of God. This week if you are someone who is feeling hopeless - know that God loves you and that there is at least one person praying for you to feel in a tangible way just how much God loves you - so you will know how valuable you really are.
A Prayer
Father, thank you for loving us so intensely, thank you that Your Son was driven by that love in everything He did, including dying in our place to restore our relationship with You. May we who are filled with your love pour into those around us that same love in which we find our hope and our value. May those who think they are worthless and that no one cares for them, feel Your love in a new and tangible way even now. In the name of Jesus, Amen
John 3:16
I just recently finished reading a book that contains selected sermons by A.W. Tozer taken from John’s Gospel. This short verse is the basis for everything that Jesus - as the One and Only Son - would do. Jesus’ ministry was driven by His love for individuals, His love for you and me. Concerning this verse Tozer wrote: “When I read those words ‘God so loved the world,’ it means in personal terms that I mean something to God. God has His eyes on me and is emotionally concerned for me.” Let that thought sink in for a few moments - You and I mean something to God.
Everything Jesus did from changing water to wine, healing those who came to him, feeding the hungry, restoring life and bearing the weight of mankind’s sin on a Roman cross were all done out of his intense love for every individual human that walks this planet.
As followers of Christ, as creatures made in the image of God we are supposed to reflect His image to the world around us. When we realize how intensely He loves us, His love should flow out of us and into those around us even into those who have hurt us, who live differently than we do, who don’t agree with our politics or our religion.
In a world where hopelessness seems to be on the rise, imagine what coming to the realization that God loves you just because you are you. What a difference that would make - what a difference that has made in many of our lives.
This week, if you know how much God loves you, pour that love into the lives of those around you, especially those who do not understand how much they are worth to the heart of God. This week if you are someone who is feeling hopeless - know that God loves you and that there is at least one person praying for you to feel in a tangible way just how much God loves you - so you will know how valuable you really are.
A Prayer
Father, thank you for loving us so intensely, thank you that Your Son was driven by that love in everything He did, including dying in our place to restore our relationship with You. May we who are filled with your love pour into those around us that same love in which we find our hope and our value. May those who think they are worthless and that no one cares for them, feel Your love in a new and tangible way even now. In the name of Jesus, Amen
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