"A Safe Place"

"The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord."  Proverbs 21:31

People are becoming anxious and even fearful concerning the events that are taking place throughout the world.  Evil people are infiltrating every nation and raining down terror, destruction and death.  Is there anyone who is safe from the onslaught of the enemy?  There seems to be no place to hide.  Is there a safe place anywhere?  The answer is, "yes", there is.

The safe place is not found in a geographical location.  This safe place is also a secret place.  The safe place is a person-- Jesus Christ.  He has provided a safe place for those who have, and those who will, put their faith and trust in Him.  We are safe when we abide in Him. "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust." (Psalm 91:1,2)

Dwelling in Christ Jesus doesn't necessarily mean that we are safe physically and protected from bodily harm.  It means that none of the weapons that the enemy forms against us will prosper.  Why?  Because they won't be able to find us-- we are dwelling in a safe place.  What it means is that the weapon of fear that the enemy uses against us won't be able to find us and destroy us-- because in that safe place there is peace.  The weapon of doubt won't be able to find us and destroy us-- because in that safe place we have faith.  The weapons of confusion or anxiety won't be able to find us and destroy us-- because we have a sound mind that comes from dwelling in that place. 

If you are going to be safe from the enemies who attack physically and spiritually, you are going to have to get to a safe place.  You are going to have to get to Jesus.  He offers that place of safety to all who desire to enter into it.  

Have a great day.  There is only one safe place where we are protected from the weapons of the enemy-- Jesus Christ. 

Read these verses when you are feeling afraid and anxious: 

"Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah."  (Psalm 32:7) 

"Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word."  (Psalm 119:114)

"The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence."  (2 Samuel 22:3)

"For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy."  (Psalm 61:3)

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe."  (Proverbs 18:10)

"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord." (Isaiah 54:17)

"Fumes Or Full?"

"Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.  And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out."  Matthew 25:7,8

All morning a thought has been stirring in my heart.  Our "lamps" can either be full of oil, empty, or partially full.  Many of you who are reading this are "running on fumes".  Your lamps aren't empty, but they barely have any "oil" in them.  How does that happen?  What causes our lamps to run low or out of oil? 

Neglect-- the foolish virgins neglected the oil in their lamps.  Lack of attention-- they fell asleep thereby not noticing what was taking place with their lamps; they didn't pay attention to their lamps.  Distractions-- allowing the cares of this life to cause you to lose focus on your lamps and get it on something else.  Assumption-- assuming you have enough and don't need extra.  

Don't neglect your spiritual life.  Don't neglect those things that will keep your "lamps full of oil".  Don't neglect your fellowship and prayer time with the Lord.  Don't neglect filling yourself up with God's Word.  Don't neglect your praise time.  Don't neglect your communion with the Holy Spirit.  Keep your heart and mind fixed and stayed on the Lord.  All these keep your "lamps full".  So, pay attention, don't fall asleep, don't neglect your lamps. 

Have a great day.  Is your lamp full of oil?  Or are you running on fumes?  

"Are You Going For Others?"

"I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord."  Psalm 122:1

On Sunday many people go to church, but my question to you if you attend is, "why?".  Why do you go to church?  Do you go out of habit?  Or because of some religious duty?  Do you go to socialize?  Do you go because it is a place you feel acceptance?  Do you go to be seen of others?  Do you go because you think it will make you look "bad" if you don't or look "good" if you do?  Do you go because it is a good way to get customers for a business you own?  Do you go because you have nothing else to do?  Do you go for someone else?  Just why do you go?

Our reason should be because of our love and devotion to Jesus.  We should want to go to His house because we know that this pleases Him.  We should go because we want to spend time with others worshipping Him.  We should go because this is one more opportunity to meet with Him.  He should be our sole reason for going and our focus once we are there.     

Most people go for the reasons stated in the questions above.  To most it has become more of a social gathering.  For most it is because of the friendships they have made.  It is mostly because they want to see and spend time with each other.  The real reason is left out.  Does this describe you?  Have you placed your reason for going to church in the people or in the Lord Himself?  Go for Him, then the relationships with others will follow. 

Have a great day.  If you attend church, do you do it for someone else only-- to either impress or fellowship with them?  Or do you attend because of your love and devotion to the Lord--- and long to meet with Him?

"Escape Route?"

"...they have forgotten the Lord their God."  Jeremiah 3:21b

Do you have people in your life who only call you when they are in trouble and need your help?  I suppose we all do.  You never hear from them unless they have a problem or want something. 

I was thinking about this in light of our relationship with the Lord.  Sadly, most people do Him the same way.  They don't give Him any thought unless they need HIs help.  They only pray to Him when they are in need.  For some reason they think they can neglect Him and then when they are in trouble "throw up" some sort of SOS and He will come to their rescue.  To them all He really is is a "way of escape" from their problem. 

The children of Israel did this numerous times.  When things were well, they forgot God.  But when things were going badly for them, they would turn to Him.  Many times, because of His tender mercies, He would answer their cry for help.  With those who call upon Him only when they need help, many times He will come through for them too, but only because of His own nature of love and mercy.

God doesn't desire to be an "escape route".  He desires a relationship with you.  He doesn't want to only hear from you when you have a need.  He wants to have fellowship and communion with you every day-- in the good times and the bad times.  He doesn't want you to neglect Him until you need His help.  He wants to be actively involved in your life all the time.  So, which type of person are you?  One who has a relationship with Him?  Or one who just goes to Him when you have a problem?  One has a relationship with Him, but the other doesn't.     

Have a great day.  Do you have a relationship with the Lord?  Or is He nothing more than an "escape route" to get you out trouble? 

"Proper Attire"

"And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:  And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless."  Matthew 22:11,12

I grew up being taught that you always wear the appropriate clothes to fit the occasion or place.  For example, you don't wear your pajamas to work.  You wear your "Sunday best" to church.  You wear black to a funeral.  You don't wear shorts and a t-shirt to a job interview.  You don't wear white to a wedding.  Now days, it seems like anything goes.  

The way we dress, no matter where we are, may seem acceptable here and now, but one day we will be invited to a wedding and what we wear will matter.  We are all given an invitation to come to a wedding given by the King of the Universe, but the condition to whether you will be accepted as a guest or not is determined by what you are wearing.  You will have to have on the proper attire. 

You won't be able to show up dressed any way you want.  You won't be able to come dressed in "fig leaves"-- your own ability to cover your sins.  You won't be able to come dressed in dirty garments-- your own filthy righteousness.  You won't be able to come dressed in the same thing that you wore in the pig pen -- your rebellious attitude toward God.  You won't be able to come dressed in anything that has been spotted by the world.  You won't be able to come dressed in your own religious deeds, your good works or your own goodness.  You will have to be dressed in the proper garment.

What is that garment?  It is the righteousness of Christ.  You have to be "clothed in Christ".  It is the righteousness of the Son that the Father is looking for.  There is only one way to get that garment.  You can't purchase it with money, with talent, with religious acts, by church attendance, or water baptism, by joining the church or by cleaning up your act.  Actually, it can't be purchased at all.  It is given to you freely as a gift.  You receive it by faith.  Faith in the provision of God to forgive your sins that came through Jesus' death on the cross. Do you have that garment?     

Have a great day.  If you are going to get into the Wedding, you have to have on the proper attire. 

For further reading:
Matthew 22