"Careless With The Word"
"I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.” Psalm 119:16
I have many Bibles but only two that I use the most. One I keep in my vehicle-- I use it at church, Bible study, prayer meeting, etc. The other one I keep at home and use it for my study Bible. Sunday when I got to church, I couldn't find my Bible in my vehicle. I went in the church thinking I had left it there. It wasn't. I began to think that I had taken it out and left it either on the dining room table or in my office. When I got home, I began to look for it. My husband and I both looked numerous times in the house-- everywhere, we left no place unsearched-- and in my vehicle, but still didn't find it. I tried to recall the last time I used it. I had it at prayer group so I contacted my friend to see if I had left it-- no, I hadn't. I began to think that maybe it fell out of my vehicle, but how didn't I notice if it did. I called a few stores to see if it had be found in the parking lot and turned in. No, no one had turned it in. I even went to the shop to see if it was there. I have to be honest, at this point I began to get a little concerned thinking that I may have really lost my Bible. That night I dreamed I found it. But the next morning, it was still gone. As I went to prayer, I talked to the Lord about how heartbroken I was and how much I wanted my Bible back-- it felt like a big hole was in my heart. I repented that I had been so careless with it. I wondered if losing it was prophetic sign? As I prayed-- through tears-- the thought came to me to contact my neighbor who lives beside the shop to see if maybe she saw it laying in the parking lot. I described it to her. She messaged me back and said that lady who lived behind her (and the shop) had come by the day before to see if she had lost a Bible. It fit the description of mine. (We both decided that it was mine.) My tears of sadness turned into tears of thanksgiving and joy. I went later and picked it up.
When I said I wondered if losing it was a prophetic sign, I meant-- Am I careless with God's Word? Does it have the place of importance in my life I thought it did? Did I truly feel lost without it? It took me a few days to notice it was gone. Does that show a lack of priority for the Word? Is it something I take for granted until I get ready for it, or need it? Just what is my relationship with God's Word? The Bible is a book that has God's Word written in it. But what am I doing with the Word itself? Is it hid in my heart? Am I allowing it to be a light to my path? Is it more precious that anything else? Am I following it? Am I living by it? Am I patterning my life after it? Am I allowing it to change me?
If I asked you these same questions, what would your answer be? I was upset that I had lost it, but I rejoiced when I had found it. When we aren't holding the Word of God dear to our hearts and are neglecting it, we are being careless with it. We can't afford to "lose" God's Word-- in it is life. Therefore, we must never let it out of our sight.
Have a great day. What is your relationship with God's Word? Careless or serious?
Tuesday, June 30, 2020
Monday, June 29, 2020
"The Will Of God"
"The Will Of God"
"And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison." Genesis 39:20
When we think about being in God's will, we usually think about being some place "good". We think that being in God's will means we are in a place of prosperity, acclaim, ministry, position, etc. When we look at the life of Joseph, most think that the place of God's will for him was the palace in Egypt. It was. The palace was the place where God was taking Joseph so that he could fulfill his destiny as the deliverer and protector of God's people. But the palace was not the only place of God's will in Joseph's life.
When Joseph was in Potiphar's house, he was in God's will. When he was in the prison, he was in God's will. I am sure that Joseph never thought that he was in the middle of God's will while he was sitting in prison. That isn't what our idea of God's will is. We define God's will, like we said, as always meaning something good. The prison and slavery to Potiphar was not "good".
God's will doesn't always mean warm, sunny days. It doesn't always mean we will have abundance. It doesn't always mean being in places that are like heaven on earth. It often means suffering, pain, affliction, periods of darkness, conflicts, valleys, deserts and uncomfortable places. When Jesus was in the wilderness being tempted by the devil, He was right in the middle of God's will- it was the Spirit of God who led Him there. When He hung on the cross, He certainly was in the will of God. When David faced Goliath on the battlefield, he was in the will of God. When Joshua marched around Jericho, he was in the will of God. When Moses had to climb the mountain, that was also the will of God. When Paul sat in prison, he was in the will of God.
The will of God is not always the "palace places" like we think. You may being going through a difficult time right now. You may be struggling to get out of it. You may be "rebuking the darkness" but nothing is happening- it isn't changing. Sometimes the difficulties we face are an attack of the enemy. But not always. Sometimes the fire is God' will- so that we might be refined and purified. Sometimes the chastening rod is God's will- so that we might experience His loving correction. Sometimes the battle is God's will- so that we might become strong and courageous. Sometimes the solitude is God's will- so that we might learn His voice. Sometimes the affliction is God's will- so that we might learn to praise Him. Sometimes the trial is God's will- so that our faith will grow and we will learn to trust Him. Sometimes the valley is God's will- so that we might learn how to rest in Him.
Have a great day. The will of God is not always the "palace place" like we think it is, it might be just the opposite.
For further reading:
Psalm 119:71
Psalm 23
Hebrews 11:36-39; 12:5-7; 5:8
Matthew 4:1; 26:39
When we think about being in God's will, we usually think about being some place "good". We think that being in God's will means we are in a place of prosperity, acclaim, ministry, position, etc. When we look at the life of Joseph, most think that the place of God's will for him was the palace in Egypt. It was. The palace was the place where God was taking Joseph so that he could fulfill his destiny as the deliverer and protector of God's people. But the palace was not the only place of God's will in Joseph's life.
When Joseph was in Potiphar's house, he was in God's will. When he was in the prison, he was in God's will. I am sure that Joseph never thought that he was in the middle of God's will while he was sitting in prison. That isn't what our idea of God's will is. We define God's will, like we said, as always meaning something good. The prison and slavery to Potiphar was not "good".
God's will doesn't always mean warm, sunny days. It doesn't always mean we will have abundance. It doesn't always mean being in places that are like heaven on earth. It often means suffering, pain, affliction, periods of darkness, conflicts, valleys, deserts and uncomfortable places. When Jesus was in the wilderness being tempted by the devil, He was right in the middle of God's will- it was the Spirit of God who led Him there. When He hung on the cross, He certainly was in the will of God. When David faced Goliath on the battlefield, he was in the will of God. When Joshua marched around Jericho, he was in the will of God. When Moses had to climb the mountain, that was also the will of God. When Paul sat in prison, he was in the will of God.
The will of God is not always the "palace places" like we think. You may being going through a difficult time right now. You may be struggling to get out of it. You may be "rebuking the darkness" but nothing is happening- it isn't changing. Sometimes the difficulties we face are an attack of the enemy. But not always. Sometimes the fire is God' will- so that we might be refined and purified. Sometimes the chastening rod is God's will- so that we might experience His loving correction. Sometimes the battle is God's will- so that we might become strong and courageous. Sometimes the solitude is God's will- so that we might learn His voice. Sometimes the affliction is God's will- so that we might learn to praise Him. Sometimes the trial is God's will- so that our faith will grow and we will learn to trust Him. Sometimes the valley is God's will- so that we might learn how to rest in Him.
Have a great day. The will of God is not always the "palace place" like we think it is, it might be just the opposite.
For further reading:
Psalm 119:71
Psalm 23
Hebrews 11:36-39; 12:5-7; 5:8
Matthew 4:1; 26:39
Friday, June 26, 2020
"Ask For Directions"
"Ask For Directions"
"In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:6
Have you ever been driving and realized that you were lost? Getting lost is something that isn't too difficult to do. It happens when we aren't familiar with the area. It happens when we don't pay attention to the directions, when we lose the map, when the GPS isn't working or we are involved in something else not paying attention and miss our turn. As I said getting lost isn't always difficult, but finding our way on the right path can be-- especially if we aren't willing to ask for directions.
Have you ever been riding with someone and discovered that you were lost but they would not stop and ask for directions? I have a feeling that all of us have this same attitude when it comes to asking God for directions. We sometimes get "lost". We don't know which direction to go. We don't know the right decision to make. We seem to be at a loss about what to do next or how to handle certain situations that have risen up in our lives. Often we neglect going to God because we think we can handle it, we think we know what to do, we think we can find our way or we think we know how to make the best decision. Some continue going in the wrong direction a whole life time because they think that eventually if they just keep on "driving" they will wind up where they are suppose to be. So often we wait to go to God for guidance and direction as a last resort after we have taken the wrong turn too many times. Or we finally go to Him for directions after we have become frustrated and confused and don't know "where we are".
When you get lost traveling, you can waste a lot of time going in the wrong direction if you don't stop and ask for directions. You can also wind up miles away from your intended destination. If we don't have good, clear directions from the Lord we can do the same- waste lots of time (instead of redeeming it) and we can find ourselves so far away from His intended purpose for us. Therefore, we must lay aside our pride-- that I can get there by myself attitude-- and ask Him to give us clear guidance and direction. If not, we will stay lost!
Have a great day. Whatever stops you or hinders you from asking God for directions, put it aside. Without His direction you will get lost and stay lost.
For further reading:
Matthew 7:7,8
Isaiah 55:6
Ephesians 5:16,17
Jeremiah 10:23
Psalm 78:14
Have you ever been driving and realized that you were lost? Getting lost is something that isn't too difficult to do. It happens when we aren't familiar with the area. It happens when we don't pay attention to the directions, when we lose the map, when the GPS isn't working or we are involved in something else not paying attention and miss our turn. As I said getting lost isn't always difficult, but finding our way on the right path can be-- especially if we aren't willing to ask for directions.
Have you ever been riding with someone and discovered that you were lost but they would not stop and ask for directions? I have a feeling that all of us have this same attitude when it comes to asking God for directions. We sometimes get "lost". We don't know which direction to go. We don't know the right decision to make. We seem to be at a loss about what to do next or how to handle certain situations that have risen up in our lives. Often we neglect going to God because we think we can handle it, we think we know what to do, we think we can find our way or we think we know how to make the best decision. Some continue going in the wrong direction a whole life time because they think that eventually if they just keep on "driving" they will wind up where they are suppose to be. So often we wait to go to God for guidance and direction as a last resort after we have taken the wrong turn too many times. Or we finally go to Him for directions after we have become frustrated and confused and don't know "where we are".
When you get lost traveling, you can waste a lot of time going in the wrong direction if you don't stop and ask for directions. You can also wind up miles away from your intended destination. If we don't have good, clear directions from the Lord we can do the same- waste lots of time (instead of redeeming it) and we can find ourselves so far away from His intended purpose for us. Therefore, we must lay aside our pride-- that I can get there by myself attitude-- and ask Him to give us clear guidance and direction. If not, we will stay lost!
Have a great day. Whatever stops you or hinders you from asking God for directions, put it aside. Without His direction you will get lost and stay lost.
For further reading:
Matthew 7:7,8
Isaiah 55:6
Ephesians 5:16,17
Jeremiah 10:23
Psalm 78:14
Thursday, June 25, 2020
"Defiled"
"Defiled"
"But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself." Daniel 1:8
In this verse it says that Daniel purposed in his heart not to do something. What did Daniel purpose "not" to do? He purposed not to "defile himself". What did he consider to be an act that would defile him? Daniel's life was governed by the laws of God. God's laws included dietary laws- there were certain foods he was allowed to eat and others that he was commanded not to eat.
In the king's palace Daniel was presented with a meal that according to the law of God he wasn't allowed to eat. (This was why Daniel did not want to defile himself.) You may wonder why it was such a big issue to Daniel. It was just a plate of food. He wasn't asked to blaspheme the Lord. He wasn't asked to make a sacrifice to an idol. He wasn't asked to denounce the Lord God and worship a false god. He wasn't asked to do something which we consider "big"; it was a "small" thing. How could eating a little meat and drinking a cup of wine be considered "defiling himself"?
True, eating this certain food may not have been considered as big an offense as blaspheme, etc., but it was still in disobedience to the commands and laws of God. Daniel knew that all disobedience was sin and sin would defile you- even sins that seemed small and insignificant.
It may seem "silly" to us that Daniel made such a big deal out of a plate of food, but he knew that if he ate that plate of food he would be disobeying God. He knew that by eating, his disobedience would be sin. He knew sin will always defile you- it will always leave a "stain". The issue for Daniel was not the food, the issue was his obedience to God. Therefore, he took God's laws and commandments serious-- even the ones that might be considered "small" issues.
In this verse it says that Daniel purposed in his heart not to do something. What did Daniel purpose "not" to do? He purposed not to "defile himself". What did he consider to be an act that would defile him? Daniel's life was governed by the laws of God. God's laws included dietary laws- there were certain foods he was allowed to eat and others that he was commanded not to eat.
In the king's palace Daniel was presented with a meal that according to the law of God he wasn't allowed to eat. (This was why Daniel did not want to defile himself.) You may wonder why it was such a big issue to Daniel. It was just a plate of food. He wasn't asked to blaspheme the Lord. He wasn't asked to make a sacrifice to an idol. He wasn't asked to denounce the Lord God and worship a false god. He wasn't asked to do something which we consider "big"; it was a "small" thing. How could eating a little meat and drinking a cup of wine be considered "defiling himself"?
True, eating this certain food may not have been considered as big an offense as blaspheme, etc., but it was still in disobedience to the commands and laws of God. Daniel knew that all disobedience was sin and sin would defile you- even sins that seemed small and insignificant.
It may seem "silly" to us that Daniel made such a big deal out of a plate of food, but he knew that if he ate that plate of food he would be disobeying God. He knew that by eating, his disobedience would be sin. He knew sin will always defile you- it will always leave a "stain". The issue for Daniel was not the food, the issue was his obedience to God. Therefore, he took God's laws and commandments serious-- even the ones that might be considered "small" issues.
How do you see God's commandments? Do you categorize them-- big and small; significant and insignificant; important and not important? Do you pick and choose which ones you think won't matter if you break them and which ones will? All of God's laws are important and He expects you to obey all of them, regardless of how you might classify them. (There are no big sins and little sins- they will all "defile" you.)
Have a great day. Keeping God's commandments is a big deal and we need to take keeping ALL of them more seriously.
For further reading:
Daniel 1:8-17
Matthew 25:21
Deuteronomy 11:32; 28:58
Joshua 1:7,8
Wednesday, June 24, 2020
"Whose Words Of Approval?"
"Whose Words Of Approval?"
"There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat." Matthew 26:7
One day when Jesus was eating at the house of Simon the leper, a woman with an alabaster box came and poured the expensive ointment that was in the box upon His head. When she did, the whole house began to talk. The Pharisees began to point out this woman's reputation. The disciples began to criticize her act calling it a waste. But she continued anyway. She didn't let what they said about her, their opinions, or their accusations stop her from pouring her "worship/love" out on Jesus.
When you demonstrate your worship to the Lord, when you make sacrifices for Him, when you are unreserved in your devotion to Him, when you are giving Him your all, when you have made Him Lord of your life, there will always be someone who will make it their business to "talk about you" and try to stop you from doing so. They will criticize you. They will condemn you. They will accuse you of being fanatical, too spiritual and thinking you are holier. They will tell you that you don't have to do all that- it's not necessary. And it won't be just the people who are sinners out in the world- it will be the church people too.
That day in the house were the Pharisees and the disciples, and as we said, they both had something critical to say about this woman's actions. I can understand the Pharisee's criticism but I can't the disciples. The Pharisees just talked about her reputation and criticized Jesus for allowing this woman to touch Him. The disciples, on the other hand, criticized her act of love and worship toward Jesus. They had been with Jesus for three years. They had seen His miracles. They knew He was the Son of God. They heard His teachings. They recognized His Lordship. But they thought she had wasted something valuable on Him. They, of all people, should have known that you can't get anymore valuable than Jesus. And what we do for Him is never a waste.
The point I am trying to get to and want to leave you with is this: people, in and out of the church, will always talk about your service, devotion and love of Jesus. But don't let what they say stop you. What they say is not what really matters. What matters is what Jesus says. If He accepts it, that is all that matters. If He is pleased by it, that's all that counts. It is His approval that we are after. Those in the room that day didn't approve of what was going on, but Jesus did. So as far as this woman was concerned that was all that mattered. As long as Jesus was pleased, she didn't care whether others were or not.
Have a great day. Someone will always criticize your worship and love of Jesus, but as long as He is pleased with it that is all that matters.
For further reading:
Matthew 26:6-12
Mark 14:1-9
Luke 7:36-50
One day when Jesus was eating at the house of Simon the leper, a woman with an alabaster box came and poured the expensive ointment that was in the box upon His head. When she did, the whole house began to talk. The Pharisees began to point out this woman's reputation. The disciples began to criticize her act calling it a waste. But she continued anyway. She didn't let what they said about her, their opinions, or their accusations stop her from pouring her "worship/love" out on Jesus.
When you demonstrate your worship to the Lord, when you make sacrifices for Him, when you are unreserved in your devotion to Him, when you are giving Him your all, when you have made Him Lord of your life, there will always be someone who will make it their business to "talk about you" and try to stop you from doing so. They will criticize you. They will condemn you. They will accuse you of being fanatical, too spiritual and thinking you are holier. They will tell you that you don't have to do all that- it's not necessary. And it won't be just the people who are sinners out in the world- it will be the church people too.
That day in the house were the Pharisees and the disciples, and as we said, they both had something critical to say about this woman's actions. I can understand the Pharisee's criticism but I can't the disciples. The Pharisees just talked about her reputation and criticized Jesus for allowing this woman to touch Him. The disciples, on the other hand, criticized her act of love and worship toward Jesus. They had been with Jesus for three years. They had seen His miracles. They knew He was the Son of God. They heard His teachings. They recognized His Lordship. But they thought she had wasted something valuable on Him. They, of all people, should have known that you can't get anymore valuable than Jesus. And what we do for Him is never a waste.
The point I am trying to get to and want to leave you with is this: people, in and out of the church, will always talk about your service, devotion and love of Jesus. But don't let what they say stop you. What they say is not what really matters. What matters is what Jesus says. If He accepts it, that is all that matters. If He is pleased by it, that's all that counts. It is His approval that we are after. Those in the room that day didn't approve of what was going on, but Jesus did. So as far as this woman was concerned that was all that mattered. As long as Jesus was pleased, she didn't care whether others were or not.
Have a great day. Someone will always criticize your worship and love of Jesus, but as long as He is pleased with it that is all that matters.
For further reading:
Matthew 26:6-12
Mark 14:1-9
Luke 7:36-50
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