GOD uses the "least" of this world to show the world's knowledge as foolishness. Wisdom is the revelation of the inter-relation consistency of TRUTH. GOD is TRUTH. Conventional education makes TRUTH impossible and leads us to false security in the majorities mediocrity. 1 Corinthians 1:30, "...you are in CHRIST JESUS, who became to us wisdom from GOD." We do not "discover" Reality than know TRUTH. We ask GOD to give us HIS wisdom to know HIS TRUTH through the HOLY SPIRIT, then we see Reality that others never see. GOD'S wisdom reveals the TRUTH of the Scriptures and they are no longer without meaning; they are the way of life, they are Reality, they are GOD. HOW CAN WE HAVE GOD'S POWER WITHOUT HIS WISDOM?
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We can ask every good of which we have heard, think of and imagined beyond beyond all human descriptions, and we still haven't even touched the impossibility of our minds to perceive Eternity. When everything seems so perfect, we meet someone who touches our heart where possessions and success have no value. When everything seems so far beyond us that we want to give up, we meet someone who touches our heart and we again see, where possessions and success have no value. A GLIMPSE OF ETERNITY! Ephesians 3:20, "...able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power within us..." When we go beyond our "accomplishments, success", "failures and disappointments" we get that TRUE GLIMPSE OF ETERNITY, "IT'S NOT ABOUT US"! IT'S ALL ABOUT GOD.
The most painful yet most rewarding experience is failure. Failure arises from our commitment to accomplish something, then depending upon our own power to accomplish it. Luke 22:32, "I have prayed for you...that your Faith may not fail". Isn't it interesting that the only Failure JESUS talks about to Peter, is the Failure of FAITH? Here we cannot depend on ourselves. JESUS knows that learning to live in the confidence of HIS love amid the realities of everyday life, is the most difficult and yet the most rewarding revelation we will experience. FAILURE IS NOT ALWAYS FAILURE, UNLESS OUR FAITH FAILS. Stay confident today, GOD LOVES YOU, LIVE IN HIS LOVE.
It's not fair that JESUS had to die for our sins! Are we now so confident and wise (not to mention, VAIN) that we can call GOD into question? To wonder if HE couldn't have found another way, is to imply that HE did not choose the best course of action and that something else would have been better. Deuteronomy 32:4, reminds us that GOD is the ROCK, HIS works are perfect, and all HIS ways are just. Just as the "Plan of Salvation" is perfect and just. GOD can not overlook sin because it would make HOLY GOD, UNJUST! Our "good works" cannot make up for our sins; Isaiah 64:6, "..all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags..." GOD'S perfect plan was the only plan that could bring us into HIS presence, we could not, on our own, live in "perfect" harmony and peace with our PERFECT, JUST AND LOVING GOD. We needed the PERFECT SACRIFICE; GOD HIMSELF! Then again, BEING JUST, IS NOT JUST FAIR; IT IS FAR GREATER!
Churches today, in an effort to differentiate themselves from the world are also separating themselves from other CHRISTIANS. "We are a 'Believer's Church'; We are 'Followers of CHRIST'; We are 'Baptists' or 'Catholics' not CHRISTIANS! Why do we associate ourselves to any name, other than CHRISTIAN? The name CHRISTIAN was not made up by a group of Disciples; rather it was given by an unbeliever named Agrippa while talking to the Apostle Paul. Agrippa 'coined' this term to identify those who were "followers of CHRIST". CHRISTIANS, "one who is not ashamed to be known as a 'follower of CHRIST', one who is not ashamed of the Gospel or the name he bears. 1 Peter 4:16, "...if anyone suffers as a CHRISTIAN, let him not be ashamed, but let him Glorify GOD in THAT NAME." To be called a CHRISTIAN is to be associated with Paul, Peter, Stephen, John, James, and JESUS. Sometimes we are called CHRISTIANS as a form of reproach or rejection. I once heard a CHRISTIAN say, "when I became a CHRISTIAN most of my friends left me." An 'unbeliever' looked at him and said, "they didn't leave you, you left them." I pray that I am known as a CHRISTIAN, that is MY BADGE OF HONOR.
Some people can memorize, some even have photogenic memories but when it comes to applying what they have "stored" it becomes useless. It is because memorization reveals no meaning in itself, where being able to associate words to events, people or experiences provides understanding. John 14:15, "If you obey my commands..." Do you really think JESUS was saying, memorize everything I tell you in the Bible and then do it; or could it be that the word "obey" means to follow; FOLLOW JESUS and we will live in the FRUIT OF HIS LOVE! The prodigal son was no less loved by his father, but he was not LIVING in the reality of that love. And as long as we try to do what we memorize, we are only trying to appease GOD, and not live in the reality of HIS LOVE. THERE IS NO SITUATION that JESUS cannot reveal HIS Glory in our lives. When we FOLLOW JESUS our thoughts, ideals and actions begin to reflect HIS; we are being transformed to be like HIM. 1 Peter 4:1-2, could be summarized like this: "Since JESUS went through everything we are going through (and more) we should learn to think like HIM. Then the "sufferings" we are going through are really self-inflicted, it is the separation of us from our sinful ways, and expecting to get our own way. Only then are we FREE to pursue what GOD wants, instead of being paralyzed with what we want. What allows us to FOLLOW JESUS; ASSOCIATION OR MEMORIZATION?
Nothing has value if it is based upon intellectual reasoning! We read and talk about GOD'S love but never experience it, because we don't know HIM. Once we experience GOD, we begin to LEARN HOW TO LIVE LOVED, to awaken each day confident the the FATHER delights over you! Hebrews 9:24, "...that he understands and knows me..." When we know GOD we live confident of HIS love for us. LIVING LOVED! Living Loved is not difficult because it is "so complex and mythical"; it is because it is so SIMPLE. Let's start today; ask GOD to give you a personal revelation of HIS love for you. Just simply ask HIM to show you the depth of HIS love for you. Ask HIM to make HIMSELF known to you. There are places to let this happen; a place where you go to be alone and become honest with yourself uninterrupted. It is a place where you can just let your heart be before HIM. Another place is the Scripture; looking to the Bible about issues that are on your mind. Just ask JESUS to reveal HIMSELF in whatever and wherever HE wants. BUT, don't add your expectations to what is going to happen, for it will limit GOD in your life. Your expectations have us looking for SOMETHING, rather than SOMEONE! Yes, it could take awhile, HE is not waiting to see how sincere you are; HE may have to work deep inside you to sort out those things that crowd HIM out of your heart. Ask HIM to show you HIS love, not your preconceived misunderstandings of HIM. LIVING LOVED is better than LIVING LARGE!
In a ham and egg breakfast, we find that the chicken participated but the pig was committed. Why did JESUS set the ""bar so high" when the rich man asked HIM how to have Eternal Life? Matthew 19:21, "...sell what you possess and give it to the poor..." JESUS was showing the man that it was impossible for him to "earn" his way to Heaven; because the gift JESUS offered was FREE! I like the way that the Bible didn't tell us what happened to the rich man; it lets you write your own ending. I prefer to think that the man when away and thought about how foolish he had been depending upon his own efforts. I believe he came back (like all of us do) and repented and became a "Believer"! Yes, the rich man no longer "just PARTICIPATED"; HE WAS COMMITTED!
1 Timothy 1:14, "...the Grace of our LORD was exceeding abundant with faith and love ..." Being able to love, is the overflow of being loved.
When we think about a country song, we think about a lost love, an old pickup truck, and losing a job. It focuses on the person telling or singing the story. Are our "Testimonies" becoming "country and western songs"? Do we become the "object and the subject" of our "testimonies", do we pull at the "heart strings" of feelings and emotions (feeling with thought) until there is not a dry eye in the house? Do we keep telling this story of pain so that we can maintain some kind of identity, if even to ourselves? Are we holding on to the pain for recognition, in which we are glorified not GOD? Revelation 12:11, "...we overcome our enemy by the blood of the LAMB and by the WORD of our TESTIMONY." A testimony is not about miracles, encouragement, brokenness and how you over came. It is about GOD'S "Transformation" of you, beyond knowledge and reason, a place of enlightenment, outside of the body and mind, a place of "Relationship with GOD". A testimony overcomes the enemy (even if the enemy is disguised as our-self), IT GLORIFIES GOD beyond the reason of mind and emotion. People can argue and debate the validity of the Scriptures and they can deny an invisible GOD; but they can't argue or deny YOUR personal encounter with GOD! Now that could be a GREAT TESTIMONY and not A COUNTRY AND WESTERN SONG. AMEN?
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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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