To go to Church to "see and be seen", or because it is the "thing to do", or worse yet, just to "satisfy someone else's wishes", when all you want to do is get it over with. Going to Church is not to "memorize" the sermon or message. The message is to be absorbed, pondered and applied into our lives. We go to Church to Praise GOD, Give thanks and be Grateful, to stimulate one another to love and GODLY actions and to encourage one another. James 1:25, tells us there are four kinds of people who enter the Churches (Synagogues): 1) those who enter but does not apply; 2) those who "try" to apply but does not enter (either of these are people who are indifferent to GOD); 3) those who enter and apply the WORD to their lives (these are the ones who want to GLORIFY GOD); and 4) those who neither enter or applies GOD'S WORD to their lives (these do not seek GOD). The GOSPEL must be received and applied in totality with all of ITS promises, warnings, its precepts and ALL of ITS PRIVILEGES; OR WHY GO TO CHURCH AT ALL?
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Have you ever been overwhelmed, undecided, maybe you don't feel "up" or "down", you are just there? Our friends don't help as they say, "oh GOD, is with me 24/7. Sure HE is with us 24/7; HE is omnipresent (HE'S EVERYWHERE), but we don't realize or recognize HIS presence. We are not conscious of HIS presence because we are not "WANTING HIM", we are not SEEKING HIM 24/7. Rather we treat HIM like a book, when we "NEED" HIM we take HIM from the shelf and read awhile; then put HIM back on the shelf and go on with the rest of our lives. Have you ever been going through some difficult times in your life where you just stopped and began to Praise GOD? Did you begin to thank HIM, read HIS WORD and yes, did you start to sing with HIM? Acts17:28, "In HIM we live and move and have our being." We always are aware of HIS PRESENCE when we go to OUR SECRET PLACE WHERE NO ONE CAN INTERRUPT US, BUT SOMETIMES I FORGET TO GO THERE. Luke 5:33-39, "...the disciples of John fast often and offer prayers..." Have we made our Christian belief into something we perform "Religiously"; going to Church, fasting, morning obligatory "Devotionals"? Have we convinced ourselves that Fasting is "A" somber sacrifice that we "Religiously" perform? GOD says, "...when you fast, don't look somber as the hypocrites do..." New Wine in old wine skins; do we hold rigidly to the past or "tradition" rather than what GOD tells us in HIS WORD? Have our minds and hearts become old "wine skins", hardened and rigid where we do not respond to the "new wine" of the HOLY SPIRIT? Have we made CHRISTIANITY JUST "A" RELIGION and NOT A RELATIONSHIP? Matthew 13:57, "...and they took offense at HIM...a prophet is without honor in HIS own home..." When a six year old was asked what this meant, they replied; "it means when HIS friends would see HIM, they would say, 'HI JESUS', but not know HE was GOD." When people remembered JESUS, he was a carpenter's son with no formal education and teaching. How could HE have all of this WISDOM, they were amazed and yet offended by HIM. When we live and speak GOD'S WORD, HIS kingdom is revealed and HIS power is released; we are NEW CREATURES IN JESUS CHRIST! When people try to "remind" you of your past and that you can't possibly be SO FAVORED; just smile like the little six year old and say, HI JESUS! Do you have a sincere desire to go ABOVE AND BEYOND the mere formalities of "religion"? Just as "satan deceived Eve" he is trying to corrupt and confuse our hearts from the Simplicity of CHRIST! We are to protect ourselves and others from those who preach "ANOTHER JESUS"! We are warned in the Bible that some people are dangerous to our Spiritual Health. If someone is teaching that JESUS never died on the Cross, then you know they are impostors (Islamic Muslims). If someone teaches there is no TRINITY, BEWARE (Jehovah Witnesses). If someone says trusting JESUS as SAVIOR is not enough to be saved, then satan is trying to deceive us (Seventh Day Adventists). If someone denies the Virgin Birth of JESUS or wants us to offer our prayers before statue, BEWARE! The Bible tells us to "TEST" every Spirit; because there are MANY FALSE PROPHETS. 2 Corinthians 11:4, "...as the serpent deceived Eve ... he will try to lead your thoughts away from CHRIST..." Don't be deceived by man; GO ABOVE AND BEYOND!
Have you ever had a FRESH occasion where you have experienced GOD'S GRACE? Was this NEW REVELATION so intense and so powerful that your RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD was filled with a greater understanding of HIS CHARACTER? Was this experience SO FREE OF PREJUDICE AND BONDAGE that your SOUL was fulfilled with the GRACE OF GOD? Did it make you want to INVITE THE WHOLE WORLD to join in with a NEW SONG OF PRAISE? Psalm 96:1, "Oh sing to the LORD a NEW SONG..." Were there no words to describe thisextraordinary event except in A NEW SONG? WON'T YOU JOIN ME?
1 Peter 5: "Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of GOD..." Real HUMILITY in our lives is acknowledging that everything is a GIFT OF GOD. It is the submitting ourselves to the ORDER GOD has or our lives. Every GIFT is OF GOD, each GIFT, each FAVOR has GOD'S PRESENCE. GOD does not separate HIMSELF from HIS GIFTS AND FAVOR. HUMILITY is being in HARMONIOUS COMMUNION WITH GOD AND ACCEPTING HIS "ORDER" FOR OUR LIVES.
Have you ever been told that the "world you live in" is not real? It is not REALITY? Do you find yourself preferring one minute in "the world you live in" than a life-time in false pleasures and duties that this "world" has to offer? Are you exulted with the lowest task in GOD'S PRESENCE than the most powerful "worldly" position? Do you prefer GOD'S Favor, Mercy and Honor over monetary riches and what they will give? Psalm 84:10, "For a day, in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere..." Reality is the way things are, rather than how they appear or are imagined. Reality is what is, even though they are not observable or comprehensible. That is the way things are in my world with GOD, AND THAT'S REALITY!
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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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