"...let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to GOD..." (Hebrews 13:15). How is Praising GOD a Sacrifice? Praising GOD in ALL circumstances becomes an effort when we don't feel like it. Or to give Thanks and Praise in spite of our stubbornness, pride and selfishness is, I admit, a sacrifice for me. It is like I say, "Not Now GOD, I'm busy being angry". Even this time of Lent, have we listened to the things that come from our mouth? Have we privately chosen to think "bad" thoughts instead of Praising GOD? When we PRAISE GOD, we bring HONOR to GOD and ourselves! Our Religion is NOTHING, if it costs us NOTHING! PRAISING GOD continually is a SACRIFICE of this world. DO YOU REALLY WANT TO SACRIFICE SOMETHING FOR LENT?
It's never to late with JESUS,
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It is TRUE, when we have NOTHING, GOD is EVERYTHING. When we have NOTHING, we are not distracted with short lived vanities, we see more clearly the Everlasting Presence of GOD in everything. Ecclesiastes 3:14, "...whatever GOD does endures forever, nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it..." We find, having NOTHING, is a place of AWE, where we never want to leave. There are no DISTRACTIONS and NO LIES IN NOTHING. NOTHING BECOMES EVERYTHING. NOTHING BUT YOU AND GOD.
Abundant Blessings Always, "A young man appeared preaching with humility, a new law in the Name of the GOD who sent HIM. HE offended many Religious leaders but not the people...what a contrast between HIM and the other teachers and philosophers of our day. HIS golden hair and beard gave HIM a celestial aspect. Never have I seen a sweeter or more serene countenance..." Where is this description of JESUS in the Bible? IT IS NOT! It is in a letter from Pontius Pilate to Tiberius Caesar. Notice he only slightly describes JESUS'S outward appearance; rather he chose to describe the Character and Serenity. So where do all of our modern day pictures of JESUS originate? Depending upon the region, each picture gives HIM a different ethnicity. Do we in an effort to have a "tangible" GOD, try to make HIM in our image? Exodus 20:4, "You shall not make for yourself a graven image, or any likeness..." How do we see JESUS? Is HE in everything and beyond, or is HE in a picture someone painted WHO NEVER SAW HIM?
Elisha was a disciple and scholar of the Prophet Elijah. He was immersed into Elijah's teaching and Holy life. Elisha saw and experienced the Utopian JOY of GLORIFYING GOD. He was only taught by Elijah, but he served GOD. His fulfillment of the HOLY SPIRIT impelled him to want GOD TO BE GLORIFIED EVEN MORE. 2 Kings 2:9, "...Let me have a double portion of your SPIRIT upon me..." Elisha did not ask for "worldly advantage" in vanity or ambition; he asked from the unquenchable eagerness to inspire GOD'S GLORY. The only JOY Elisha had, was in GLORIFYING GOD. That was his only source of Happiness. He said, "Give me your DOUBLE PORTION of SPIRITUAL POWER to Glorify GOD; even if I must have a DOUBLE PORTION of suffering. Do we not know that our greatest desire, obsession and Eternal JOY is the REVELATION that leads us to say: GIVE ME A DOUBLE PORTION.
Is there too much "thought" and emphasis on our "own Suffering"? Are our misfortunes the real context of "Suffering"? Do we describe "our pouting" as "suffering"? What have we really Suffered, what have we really given up? How many times have we been in constant prayer for someone to know the Contentment of knowing CHRIST, or brought to tears for the lack of Salvation for anyone? 2 Corinthians 1:5, "For we share abundantly in CHRIST'S sufferings, so through CHRIST we share abundantly in comfort too." Did JESUS "suffer" personally, or was HIS concern for others. Whether we speak it, or think it, does our "SUFFERING" have TOO MANY "I'S" AND "ME'S"?
If we are elated with success, and become depressed with failure, we are left "wanting" in both. 1 Corinthians 2:16, "...But we have a mind of CHRIST." "...I no longer live, but CHRIST lives in me..." (Galatians 2:20).
"...YOU keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on YOU" (Isaiah 26:3). THE BEST PART OF US IS WHEN WE THINK ABOUT CHRIST; THE WORST PART OF US, IS WHEN WE DON'T. ON THE HIGHWAY TO HEAVEN, THERE IS NO MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. The pursuit of "happiness" in itself, leaves us incomplete and unsatisfied. We are really "pursuing" those things which we think will give us "happiness" . Happiness is not Holiness, but we can be Happy by being Holy. Holy is not necessarily a monk in a cloister, shaved head and a suffering look. Leviticus 11:44, "For I am the LORD your GOD...be Holy for I am Holy...you shall therefore by Holy for I am Holy." HOLINESS IS HAVING THE CHARACTER OF GOD. Does THE CHARACTER OF GOD feel sorry for someone's circumstances, or is it the absence of GOD in our lives? HAPPINESS IS NOT HOLINESS, BUT HOLINESS CAN BE HAPPY.
When someone we know physically dies, we come face to face with our own inevitability of death. When we try to think beyond this life with logic and reason, we begin to fear death. But when we live by Revelation and Inspiration we LOVE LIFE, and anything beyond, CAN ONLY BE BETTER. 1 Corinthians 15:14, "And if CHRIST has not been raised , our preaching is useless and so is your Faith..." If life is like a beautiful Sunrise, then death will be even a greater one. We won't have to ask WHY, WHY, WHY; because we will be knelling before THE ANSWER.
Thank you LORD Do we find that experiencing the Presence of GOD will leave us separated from others? Do our friends no longer understand our longings, our aspirations, or even our absorption and obsession with CHRIST? So much so, that we become separated, because we appear silent and preoccupied in a world of our own. 2 Corinthians 12:10, "For the sake of CHRIST then, I am content...when I am weak then I am strong." We ponder and keep this Presence in our hearts, much as Mary did. It is the essence of this very loneliness that intensifies our need for a greater relationship with GOD. A relationship we can find nowhere else. ONE IS "NOT" THE LONELIEST NUMBER.
When our Hearts and SPIRIT are judged by the "minds of men", we hold fast to that which is good. We better discern and no longer accept, to coexist with evil. It is a time when we give more, although we have less. It becomes a time of Strength and Rejoicing. It is a TIME WHEN LOVE IS GENUINE (Romans 12:9).
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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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