Have we ever listened to the words someone spoke, and yet, hear something completely different? Even if these people are non-believers or FALSE "PROFITS", the MESSAGE they "repeated" touched our very SOUL. It is a MESSAGE that is beyond anticipation and imagination, which begins to RECONCILE us to GOD. The MESSAGE is so CLEAR that this word called "FAITH" comes ALIVE; and our Prophecy is HEARING GOD'S WORD. Do we begin to, "receive the WORD with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things are so" (Acts 17:11)? DOES OUR CHURCH BECOME THE MESSAGE INSTEAD OF THE MESSENGER? DO WE "CONFESS" THIS MESSAGE?
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IS A PROFOUND STATEMENT REALLY PROFOUND? How many times have we heard someone say, "that is a Profound"? Is PROFOUND insightful, does it imply intellectual depth, and not for one who has SIMPLE ORDINARY knowledge? Just making such a statement conveys an understanding of deep meanings that are beneath the surface. But if these "DEEP MEANINGS" are the core of TRUTH, not ARTIFICIAL and give PEACE to the SOUL are they PROFOUND or SIMPLE? Does GOD us the simple things to shame the wise, (1 Corinthians 1:27)? Does GOD refresh the SOUL and MAKE THE SIMPLE WISE (Psalm 19:7)? MAYBE PROFOUND IS REALLY SIMPLE and SIMPLE SIMON WASN'T SO SIMPLE AFTER ALL.
"I WAS SO RIGHT; I KNEW IT AND I PROVED IT TO EVERYONE ELSE TOO"! I showed NO MERCY in presenting (even shouting) my facts. Immediately I suffered one of the worst convictions and contriteness I had ever known. Sometimes when we read Scripture we should substitute the words I, ME or MINE instead of "world" or "man". Galatians 1:10, "do I seek MY own approval or that of GOD"? 1 Thessalonians 2:4, "If MY heart were tested by GOD, who did I really want to please"? Galatians 2:20, "Was I crucified WITH CHRIST, or did I crucify CHRIST ALONE"? I REALLY DIDN'T WANT TO go back to that person and say, "PLEASE FORGIVE ME, I DID NOT HONOR GOD in the way I talked to you, IT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAT YOU SEE GOD IN ME THAN MY BEING RIGHT". A "smidgen" of WRONG can SPOIL a whole lot of RIGHT! From that moment on the day was PERFECT; not without a few challenges I am sure, but I don't remember any. I FOUND OUT THAT, "I REALLY WANTED TO DO" what I thought "I REALLY DIDN'T WANT TO".
Do we sometimes try to find a "scripture" we haven't read to "uplift" and encourage us? Do we think if we could just "one time" hear GOD, and know it is HIM, then we could go on? Do we really think that is the answer when we "skip over" or "ignore" certain scriptures because they bring up sensitive memories or "rekindle" guilty feelings? 2 Peter 1:21, "For Prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but Prophets ... as they were carried along by the HOLY SPIRIT". Can we, with the Purity of THE HOLY SPIRIT, read Scriptures about Murder, Lust, Adultery, Lying and Selfishness with the COMFORT OF FORGIVENESS instead of THE BURDEN OF GUILT? DO WE REALLY NEED A "NEW" SCRIPTURES, WHEN WE DON'T BELIEVE THE ONES WE HAVE ALREADY? When we receive an "Act of Love", WE KNOW IT. There is no "Analyzing", "Evaluating" or trying to "Understand" its meaning; why is it being done or what is the "agenda". Nothing matters except the purity and trust in the moment. There is no breaking down each word for its Theological mysterious meaning, because there are no words, JUST ACTS OF LOVE. Acts 6:10, "And they did not resist the SPIRIT in which they spoke". We may not understand all there is to know, BUT WE KNOW LOVE. ANALYZE THAT.
Have we conditioned ourselves to believe that if we don't say it, it's not a lie? Do we use "cute witticisms" to avoid answering a question? Do we use rudeness or angry comments in order to intimidate, again, to avoid telling the Truth? Do we have a false sense of "loyalty" to someone else that "justifies" our lying? Is lying just words, or is it the INTENT AND DECEIT OF THE HEART? Psalm 101:7, "No one who practices deceit shall dwell in MY house, no one who lies shall continue before MY eyes". Is the absence of our YES OR NO destroy integrity? Do we believe that in our arrogant ignorance that our "wisdom" is GREATER THAN THAT OF GOD'S? Do our lies really hurt others, or is the hurt because THEY CAN NEVER TRUST US AGAIN? Do lies fool others, OR ARE WE THE GREATEST FOOLS OF ALL (Isaiah 32:6)?
"BEGET" is to "make known its presence"; to be like, in every aspect, the original. They are identical in likeness, without diminishing or altering that which is "BEGOTTEN" or that which is the "ORIGINAL". Does LOVE BEGET LOVE (2 Thessalonians 3:5)? Can we LOVE fully, everyone and everything, without taking away from another (Mark 4:26)? Are we like a candle, who can lite a thousand other candles without LOSING OUR FLAME? So could a SINGLE FLAME BRING LIGHT TO THE WORLD AND WARM THE HEARTS OF MANY?
Do we really know how to GIVE if we have never had to receive? Have we ever been so "broken" that all we could do was accept the Kindness and Love of others? Did this "RECEIVING" teach us something about how to "GIVE"? John 1:14, "And the WORD became flesh and dwelt among us...." Paul's life was changed "WHEN GOD BECAME REAL" to him while he was on his way to Damascus to persecute Christians. Is GOD REAL TO US, or just a name we occassionally recognize from time to time? HAVE WE EVER RECEIVED "GRACE UPON GRACE" WHERE GOD BECAME REAL TO US? DO WE WANT TO KNOW HOW?
WE ARE SO BLESSED! WHAT AN AWESOME GOD! How many times do we "count our Blessings" in terms of worldly accomplishments? Does GOD see our BLESSINGS differently? HE says, "BLESSED are the poor of Spirit", they receive the Kingdom of Heaven; Those who mourn, are comforted; "the meek are BLESSED"; Those who hunger for righteousness", they are satisfied; "the pure of heart" shall see GOD; (Matthew 5:2-12). When we wish BLESSINGS upon ourselves or others; do we wish for money, new cars, or other "material things"? Or is a BLESSING that "no evil will befall you" (Psalm 91:10)? "No weapon formed against you shall proper and every tongue that rises against you shall be condemned" (Isaiah 54:17). "I am with you always" (Matthew 28:20). HOW WE COUNT OUR BLESSINGS, IS WHO WE ARE.
No matter how many, or how few, years we are here on earth, do we ONLY LIVE ONE OR TWO OF THEM? Did we wake up this morning thinking about work and chores that need done? Did we start making plans on how to get through the day? Did we prioritize what absolutely needs to be done? And did we "create" too many "MUST DOS" so that we had to start prioritizing for tomorrow too? Proverbs 14:27, "The LOVE of the LORD is a fountain of life..." Maybe when we know there are "no more tomorrows" will we feel the wind in our face; see for the first time the brilliance of creation; and TALK WITH GOD, HEART TO HEART. NOW THAT IS LIVING! EVEN IF IT IS JUST ONE DAY.
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About the Author and writerThe writer for our daily devotionals wishes to remain anonymous in regard to his work, giving instead Glory to the Author. Archives
December 2015
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