"God Is The First"

"Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last."  Isaiah 48:12

Three times in scriptures the Lord reminds us that He is "the first" and "the last".  In the verse above He says to "hearken" to Him.  In other words, He is telling those He is addressing -- His called people (that would include the nation of Israel and spiritual Israel, those of us who were "grafted in")-- to listen and pay attention to what He is saying. 

So what is He saying?  One thing He is saying is a revelation of who He is.  He is the first and He is also the last.  That means He was there at the beginning and will be there at the end.  He was there before the worlds were even framed by His word.  He was there at the beginning when He spoke it all into existence.  He was there before you and I had our beginning.  He was there at our beginning-- when we were conceived in our mother's womb (as He told the prophet Jeremiah).  He was there at the beginning of your new birth-- when you received His Son Jesus as your Savior. 

It also means He is the first and only God.  He was God before men ever devised their idols and false gods.  He was the first before we rebelled against Him and started serving self.  He was already God before we started worshipping the creation as God instead of worshipping God. 

Being the "first" (before anything else and the first and only God) means He sees down the portals of time and space, even before it came into being, and knows what is going to happen.  This is good news for us on a personal level.  It means that He saw into my life and knew what it would be.  It means He sees into my life and knows what it going on, even before it happens.  It means that since He already knows, He already makes provision for anything that comes into my life.  Him being God means that He has the power and ability to take care of whatever happens in my life.  He is God, therefore, He is powerful, He is provider, He is healer, He is deliverer, He is redeemer, He is everything and has everything that I need-- and that you need. 

What do you need this morning?  What are you going through?  He already knows it and already saw it because He is the first.  He saw the need first, even before you did.  He already has your answer and your provision because He is God.

Have a great day.  God is the first!

 

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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell

and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from

About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.

Please feel free to

call (601) 833-5278 or
Email:  mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net

Visit us on the web: 

www.mastersbusiness.org
 

"He Is Looking At You"

"Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high,  Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!"  Psalm 113:5,6

 Loosely translated this verse means-- God sits high, but He looks low!  This God who is so highly exalted above anyone and anything else, keeps His eye on the things that are in heaven and that are down here on earth.  When you consider the heavens, the work of His fingers, the moon and the stars, which He has ordained; what is man, that He is even mindful of us? He has made us lower than the angels.  Yet He did not create us then leave us on our own.  He didn't create us then sit back in His "easy chair" somewhere and like some child playing with a toy-- "wind us up and let us go" moving around on our own.  He is always there.  He is always watching over us.  He is still ruling from on high.  He is still very active in the affairs of men.  He is very mindful of us.

You may feel as if He has left you, neglected you or forgotten you.  You may feel abandoned by Him.  You may feel like He doesn't care about you.  You may feel like He has left you to yourself and doesn't know where you are or what you are going through.  Your feelings are not telling you the truth.  He does care.  He is with you.  He is watching over you.... always.  

Have a great day.  Although God sits high, He still looks down low to watch over you.   

For further reading:
Psalm 8:3-5

 

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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell

and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from

About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.

Please feel free to

call (601) 833-5278 or
Email:  mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net

Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

"I Know A Secret"

"For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries."  1 Corinthians 14:2

The word for mysteries here means- hidden secrets, hidden things not obvious to the understanding, the hidden purposes and secret counsel of God.  How amazing is it that God desires to reveal His secrets to us.  It is amazing because His ways and thoughts are so much higher than ours.  It is amazing because He knows the names of each and every star-- all trillions times trillions times trillions of them.  It is amazing because He sees each and every sparrow when it falls, measures the universe in the width of His hand, knows the numbers of hairs on each person's head, and yet He would let man made from dust in on His secrets.

"He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given." (Matthew 13:11)  This privilege and honor is not given to everyone.  It is not because God does not want to share them with us all.  It is given to those-- like His disciples-- who spend time with Him.  Who are with Him twenty-four seven.  It is given to those who will sit at His feet and listen to His words.  It is given to those who follow Him everywhere He goes and leads, and obeys what He tells them to do.  It is given to those like Moses who will come apart to listen.  And to those who will draw near to Him to observe and hear.  "And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt." (Exodus 3:3)

"He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel." (Psalm 103:7)  Even among those who profess to know Him most only know His "acts".  They see what He is doing but they don't understand it.  They don't know "what?" or "why?" God is doing what He is doing.  Will we know "everything" about the workings of God?  No.  We only know in part now while on earth.  But there is a whole lot more that God desires to show us and make us privy to if we would have a heart that desires to know Him in a deeper way and listen to what He is saying.  There is no good thing that He withholds from those who walk uprightly... including His secrets.

Have a great day.  God desires to reveal His secrets to you.   

For further reading:
Isaiah 55:9; 40:12
Psalm 84:11; 147:4 
1 Corinthians 13:9,12

 

 <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< 

Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell

and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from

About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.

Please feel free to

call (601) 833-5278 or
Email:  mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net

Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

"The Highest Call"

"I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."  Philippians 3:14

There is a prize that is laid up for those who receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  We should be "pressing" toward it.  Those who faithfully run, and finish, this race of life staying connected to Him will receive it when they stand before Him. 

There is also a high calling that we are to be "pressing" toward.  That high calling is not some lofty position that we hold in church.  It is not some great ministry that we might aspire to.  It is not some religious vocation.  There is a call to service that the Lord places on all of us, but this "high calling" is far more valuable and greater than any religious title or work that we might be called to do.  It is much more important.  It is also the one that is most taken for granted.

What is this "high calling"?  It is the same as the "prize".  It is Jesus Himself.  Our highest call is to come into a place of intimacy with the Lord Jesus Christ.  It is a call to "know Him".  It is a call to come and sit at His feet and love on Him.  It is a call to become one with Him.  It is a call to love Him with all our heart, soul, strength and mind.  When asked what was the greatest commandment, Jesus didn't say it was to do some "work"-- don't kill, don't steal, feed the poor, don't lie, don't mistreat people, give tithes, sing in a choir.  He said the greatest was to "love God with everything that is in you".  This is our "high calling".  Everything else we do stems from it and is a by-product of it. 

On the day when we stand before Jesus, it won't be about the works we did.  Many will profess that they did great and miraculous works in His name, but He will tell them to depart because He did not know them.  Knowing Him is the greatest work-- it is our high calling.  Have you made it yours?

Have a great day.  Our highest calling is to know the Lord in an intimate and deep personal way.    

 

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< 

Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell

and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from

About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.

Please feel free to

call (601) 833-5278 or
Email:  mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net

Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org 
 

"Foolish Weapon"

" And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the Lord; for his mercy endureth for ever."  2 Chronicles 20:21

I wish I had time to expound on this whole chapter because there are so many rich verses in it. (Take the time to read it when you have an opportunity.)  The Israelites were facing a great battle against many enemies.  The king prayed to the Lord and sought His help and counsel.  The Lord promised to be with them, to fight the battle for them and to give them victory. 

The one thing I want to talk about this morning is how the battle was fought.  It wasn't fought with swords and spears.  It wasn't fought with guns and bullets.  It wasn't fought with knifes or hand to hand combat.  It was fought with the oddest thing-- praise!    

The Lord said He would fight our battles as well.  But His weapons aren't our weapons-- they are more powerful, and they seem foolish.  Who would stand before an enemy with only the praises of God in their mouth and no weapon in their hand?  Yet, this is what Israel did and won the battle.  "And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten." (verse 22)

Your praise may seem like a foolish weapon, but it is a powerful one.  It confuses the enemy.  When you are facing a battle- or going through some difficulty- he does not expect you to be praising and worshiping God.  He expects you to complain, grumble, speak negatively, get angry, etc. but not praise.  Praise is so contrary to our human reactions.  It is contrary to our nature.  But praise is God's nature in us and it is faith at work.  When Job worshipped God after his tremendous trial, the devil was put to confusion, he was proven wrong, and his accusations against Job were put to silence for a season.     

If you want to rest assure that you win your battles, then first seek the Lord for guidance.  Then let the high praises of your awesome, wonderful, mighty, God who has already won the victory for you be in your mouth.

Have a great day.  Praise may be a foolish thing to do when the enemy is attacking you, but it is a powerful thing to do!

 

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< 

Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell

and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from

About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.

Please feel free to

call (601) 833-5278 or
Email:  mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net

Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org