While there may be no atheists in "foxholes", the Air Force has decided "there may be no GOD in Heaven". Surrendering to "Freedom Activist Groups and Political Freedom Foundations"; the Air Force has removed "...so help me GOD..." from their "HONOR CODE" and removed GOD from their Logo. We can quote, Matthew 10:33, about denying JESUS; 2 Peter 2:1, about False Prophets; 1 John 4:1, but test the spirits to see whether they are from GOD; or Jeremiah 17:9, the heart is deceitful and desperately sick but our words are empty without DUTY. Have we allowed "the bonds" of Love and Duty to be broken through ENMITY (mutual hatred for) for CHRIST? Our enemy, and the enemy of GOD, is worse than beasts; in that they prey upon their own kind. The enemy is patiently "eroding away" our Christian foundation, while our APATHY has already destroyed us. HAVE WE NOT FOUGHT HARD ENOUGH TO DEFEAT THE ENEMY; OR HAVE WE NOT LOVED HARD ENOUGH SO THEY WILL WANT TO KNOW OUR GOD?
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Have we let GOD be "COUNTERFEITED" out of our lives and the Church? Have we been deceived by those who IMITATE WHAT IS GENUINE? FALSE PROPHETS AND TEACHERS are not always speaking from the Pulpits; they are on the streets, in our work and like a "cancer" they spread into all parts of our lives. 2 Peter 2:1, "...just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring destructive heresies..." Do we "test everything" (words and actions) to the WORD OF GOD to determine what is TRUTH AND what is FALSE? Have we fallen prey to "COUNTERFEIT OR SUPERFICIAL SALVATION" because someone "preaches or teaches" with the Authority of the Church or Ministry? We are to TRUST THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH and COMPARE WORDS AND ACTIONS TO THE WORD OF GOD. Do we always assume we are the ones wrong even though our HOLY SPIRIT tells us differently? If we continue to follow false teachers, we are partaking of evil deeds, 2 John 9:11. COUNTERFEIT IS TO TRY AND COPY THAT WHICH IS GENUINE; "DO WE KNOW THE DIFFERENCE?"
A man sitting on a grassy spot beside the road was talking, laughing and eating a morsel of food. It was as though each word, thought and bite were presented TO GOD before Speaking, Thinking and Eating. You know, like GOD was REALLY THERE; not way up in some clouds or a figment of imagination. Has any of us been "SO BLESSED" to have had to search, and live on, the "fragments" we once "threw away" and wasted? Fragments such as, Time, Food, Money, Thoughts, Words we speak, Prayer, Time or Even a Place to Sit down becomes Peacefully Precious. Do we "waste" the passing moments while we are "waiting" for our next "Big Event"? Such a life we certainly would not choose for ourselves but when GOD lets it happen it is LIFE living LIFE. Today, let us "depart into a desert place...privately", (Mark 6:32) WHERE EACH MOMENT IS AN EVENT WITHIN ITSELF; IT IS A CHAPTER IN OUR LIVES; IT IS A BOOK WORTH READING.
Do we ask for "Signs from GOD"? Are we so "defiant" and "unbelieving" that we demand an earthly measurable arrow pointing us in the "direction" of GOD'S WILL? We say, "LORD" if this sign appears, then I will do this". And, "if the other sign appears, then I will do that". Not only do we WANT SIGNS, we attempt to tell GOD what signs. John 6:30, "...What sign show YOU then, that we may see, and believe YOU?..." GOD'S WORD tells us WHO HE is, what HE wants us to do. Do we ask for "earthly" SIGNS to BELIEVE, instead of BELIEVING what HE has already told us? Isn't that like asking JESUS FOR HIS CREDENTIALS? Do we not like what HE has told us, so we ask for "SIGNS" to do what we want? So do we want SIGNS OR OBEDIENCE?
How many times have we taken the six lane "expressways" so we would get to our destination faster, only to end up in traffic jams and construction? And how many times have we been forced to take a back road and encountered less frustration, even enjoyed the drive and still got there on time? "...for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction..." (Matthew 7:13). Is the "narrow road" really full of pain and effort when we desire only the Sacred Holiness of JESUS? Or is it that the "wide road" is the one that inflicts more pain and effort? WE ONLY HAVE PAIN AND PERSECUTION WHEN OUR WILL IS NOT GOD'S WILL. It is not that PAIN AND PERSECUTION does not exist, IT IS JUST THAT IT "PALES" and "VANISHES" BY COMPARISON TO THE JOY OF THE JOURNEY ON THE "NARROW ROAD".
There is no profitable teaching, reproof for correction, training in righteousness or competence in every good work without GOD, (2 Timothy 3:16). Is Counseling the answer to our differences without US first being RIGHT WITH GOD? Without first Reconciling ourselves with GOD,we will only go where we will hear what we want to hear; because we really do not want the SPIRIT OF TRUTH to guide us in ALL TRUTH...(John 16:13). A trusted Counselor will "bear your burdens, to fulfill the law of CHRIST", Galatians 6:2). WHEN WE SEEK COUNSELING, THERE CAN BE NO "MY WILL" OR "THEIR WILL", ONLY GOD'S WILL. AND IF WE TRULY WANT, AND DO, GOD'S WILL, HE IS OUR GREATEST COUNSELOR.
Romans 3:11, "There is no one who understands; There is no one who seeks GOD." The evil-one has been so thorough in his deception to mankind that we recognize only "bits and pieces" of the TRUTH. We are so convinced and comfortable with our "HALF-TRUTHS" that GOD becomes a vague distant NON-REALITY. Is our "concept and perception" of GOD just that, "A CONCEPT AND PERCEPTION" INSTEAD OF A RELATIONSHIP? Are we living and teaching "Responsibility" instead of REVELATION; "Duty" instead of PASSION; and "Obligation" instead of LOVE? Is our profession of FAITH just "bits and pieces" of TRUTH where we are Glorified instead of GOD? IT'S NO WONDER, "THERE ARE VERY FEW WHO SEEK GOD".
The sun is setting and all creation's thoughts turn to GOD. Things like, did GOD choose us, or did we choose GOD? We know GOD chose us in John 1:13, "...those who believed in HIS name, HE gave the right to be HIS children...not of the WILL of man, BUT OF GOD." It is also revealed to us here that being "BORN AGAIN" is something that GOD and ONLY GOD does. Acts 16:14, "GOD made Lydia's spiritually dead heart come alive so that she could HEAR and RESPOND to the Gospel Message." Our heart's are opened (GOD CHOOSING US) to hear the Message, and then WE CHOOSE to ACCEPT or REJECT JESUS CHRIST. DOES GOD "CHOOSE" US? ABSOLUTELY! DOES GOD ALLOW US TO "CHOOSE" TO ACCEPT OR REJECT HIM? ABSOLUTELY! ARE WE BORN AGAIN BY GOD? ABSOLUTELY! Is Salvation possible without these Truths? As the sun rises after a night of Prayer, GOD reveals that HIS Truths are not contradictory, HIS TRUTHS ARE SIMULTANEOUS AND PRESENTED SIDE BY SIDE. GOD CHOSE YOU, YOU CHOSE GOD, YOU ARE BORN AGAIN. In the silence of the night we go beyond the HOW'S, WHY'S AND WHAT IF'S, into THE QUIET SPIRIT OF GOD AS ONE, SIMULTANEOUSLY. ABSOLUTELY!
Let us try something today. Before we read the following Scripture, let us Pray and ask the HOLY SPIRIT come into us and to read with us. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, "If I speak in tongues..but have not LOVE, I am nothing but a noisy gong or clanging cymbal. If I have Prophetic powers and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have ALL Faith that can remove mountains, but have not LOVE, I am nothing. If I give away all that I have and even deliver my body to be burned, but have not LOVE, I gain nothing." We didn't need any Theologian (or self-proclaimed Prophet) to "interpret", "explain" or "change" the meaning of what GOD is telling us; we know exactly what HE says as HE offers HIMSELF TO US. Now what if we take this Scripture today and Meditate on it and Live it? Confident we are "walking" with GOD in Revelation upon Revelation, Glory upon Glory! DON'T YOU JUST LOVE IT?
Isn't it "all-powerful" to know we are NEVER alone? When others question, doubt and even forsake us, we become stronger in our "contriteness" because GOD knows the way that we take. When catastrophe, memories and accusations come to discourage us, we know they are nothing more than "illusions" of the evil one. Job 23:12, "...we treasure the WORDS of HIS mouth more than our portion of food". At this time there is no doubt who we are, we LOVE as GOD LOVES, SEE as GOD SEES and KNOW as GOD KNOWS. When we are in HIS PRESENCE, we are not the one who is questioned, doubted and forsaken; IT IS GOD. HE IS IN YOU, AND YOU ARE IN HIM.
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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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