THE GREAT ‘I AM’!

“Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me.”  Isaiah 46:9

            The Lord is speaking thru the prophet Isaiah to remind the children of Israel just who He is.  They had just been delivered from the Babylonians and were being instructed to remember the former things God had performed for them in the past. The parting of the Red Sea immediately comes to mind as an act of deliverance that no one save a supernatural God could do.  I heard it said once that the Red Sea story was a myth; that the Red Sea was nothing more than a marsh.  If it were indeed a marsh, then it would be even a greater miracle, for that would mean that God drown Pharaoh’s entire army in shallow water!*

            After the Red Sea crossing, on DRY land, which was another miracle, Moses and the children of Israel sang a song of praise to their God.  Exodus 15:11 is a small part of it: “Who among the gods is like you, Lord?  Who is like you - majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?” The answer is that no one is like our God.  He is consistent and endless in His love for His people.  The Lord God desires to be trusted and relied upon for who He is and what He has done and can do.  To that point, there is nothing the Lord cannot do. 

            Have we become too impatient, too self-reliant or simply too spiritually lazy to wait for God to move in our lives?  Remember the former things.  There is no one like our God.  He can do whatever He chooses to accomplish His will for us.  Our job is to make sure our will lines up with His so as not to become frustrated or disappointed.  God is never late, nor is He ever wrong.  The Lord’s will is done for His own good pleasure and His good pleasure is to be our delight.  We must learn to trust in and rely on our Heavenly Father, for He is God and there is none like Him.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resources:  Matthew Henry’s Commentary of the Bible; The Reformation Study Bible.

* NOTE: The Red Sea is an extension (or inlet) of the Indian Ocean, located between Africa and Asia. This salty sea is just over 190 miles across at its widest point, and about 1,200 miles in length. There's a measured maximum depth of 8,200 feet and an estimated average depth of 1,640 feet. Much of the immediately shoreline is quite shallow.  http://www.worldatlas.com/aatlas/infopage/redredsea.htm

RELYING ON THE LORD

“Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He; I am He who will sustain you.  I have made you and I will carry you.  I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”  Isaiah 46:4

            This is a message of hope by the prophet Isaiah to the Israeli exiles.  God’s message to them and even to us today is to “remember the former things”.  The children of Israel are to remember God’s hand at work during all their times of difficulty. The point being that the Lord’s care is constant.  He has promised in His word to never leave, nor forsake any of us, for we are His children and He cares deeply for us.  God graciously supports and comforts those faithful to Him even to their old age.  We must remember that the Lord is the one constant who is the same and never changes.  We change constantly.  Our moods, our thought processes, our emotions change at the slightest shift in circumstances.

            It should be noted that the idols of Babylon needed to be carried about by those who were already weary, while the Lord God is the one who carries us.  He sustains and rescues us continuously from each and every calamitous situation we may find ourselves in.  We tend to gravitate towards non-beneficial circumstances.  It is in our nature.  Even as believers less than constructive scenarios can lure us.  This is all the more reason why we must stay focused on the Lord constantly.

            God will never forsake us.  Read the words of King David regarding the righteous: “I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.” (Psalm 37:25)  Just as the Lord delivered Israel from captivity in Babylon, so He will deliver you from whatever may have you bound.  There is never a reason to lose hope when our hope has been placed in the hope giver.  Jehovah God is “the same yesterday, today and forever”. (Hebrews 13:8)  He can be relied upon because He never changes anything about Himself.  We can lean on Him in our most difficult times and He will see us thru them.  On that we can rely.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resources:  Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Bible; The Reformation Study Bible and The Asbury Bible Commentary.

TRUSTING THE LORD

“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.  Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.”  Psalm 143:8

          In this Davidic Psalm we find King David crying out for God’s help, protection and vindication against his enemies.  Saul & David’s own son Absalom readily come to mind as ones who put the king to flight during his reign.  His enemies were plentiful; therefore he needed to stay very close to God for strength and encouragement.  In verse 8 we see David expressing one of the Lord’s key characteristics:  unfailing love (Romans 8:38-39 – see below).  It is interesting to note that David not only seeks deliverance, but also guidance.  David is keenly aware that the only way to live in safety is to walk in the way the Lord has laid before him.  If only Christians today would be that discerning. 

           It takes a close relationship to bind together the cords of trust.  The Lord desires that we would draw near; for it is only then that we can hear the still small voice of the Holy Spirit.  David states that he has placed his trust in the Lord.  One must assume, especially when you look over David’s life in scripture, that his trust in God was complete, total and unwavering.  To trust is simply to have a firm belief in one’s character, ability and integrity.  David also mentions the word ‘entrust’, which has a slight difference in meaning.  The king had entrusted or turned over his entire life to the Lord.  He believed that God would care for and protect him under any circumstance.  That is why he continually called upon the name of the Lord, because he trusted Him.

         No matter what time of the day or night, the Lord hears us.  He also knows exactly where we are at all times.  There is no circumstance that the Lord cannot lead us out of.  We must remain calm and focus on Christ, for therein lies the power that is available to us.  It’s resurrection power!  We are already victorious because of whose we are.  We are children of God.  When you are near the edge of the ledge and you think that no one can save you, look up and cry out for God’s love to manifest itself in your rescue.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resources:  American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language; The Reformation Study Bible & Charles H. Spurgeon’s Treasury of David.

Romans 8:38-39 (New International Version) “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

RECONCILED

“Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation—if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel.”  Colossians 1:21-23a

          For those of us who are Christians, it is no secret that we were living against God’s plan for us prior to our conversion.  We never would have classified ourselves as God’s enemies, but that is exactly what we were because of our behavior. Receiving God’s gracious gift of redemption is supposed to cause a radical change in us.  No longer do we crave the things of this world.  When God removes our sins our mind should begin to set itself on the things of the Lord. Christ’s work on the cross has brought about reconciliation between God and man.  Not only have your sins been removed from us forever and all time, but we are now seen by God as holy and righteous.  We are not literally holy and righteous, but are seen that way by God because we are seen through a veil of Christ’s blood.  We stand free from every blemish and all accusations.  These things stay in place IF we continue on in our faith.

          Too many folks dabble in this whole ‘Jesus thing’.  They twist and turn scripture to suit their taste, believing what seems palatable and easy to swallow.  God’s precepts are not suggestions that can be either followed or not followed depending on how you feel about them.  They are universally fair and just and shall never change.  This world is in a constant state of flux, with changes coming so fast one can hardly keep up with them.  God presents a game plan that provides consistency.  Following it to the best of our ability with the help of the Holy Spirit will bring us peace.  Trusting the Lord will establish in us hope for all our tomorrows.

          Do not allow daily frustrations or unanswered prayers to cause you to turn from the hope you have believed in.  God is never late and His delays are not denials.  There is no reason to believe that God will not answer your request, as long as it lines up with His word and will for your life.  If you insist on having things your way, God will oblige (1 Samuel 8).  But not all things are beneficial for us.  God knows what we need and also knows that if we follow His path, remaining under His umbrella of grace, we will remain faithful to our call.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resource: The Reformation Study Bible.

RESCUED

“For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:13-14

       Scripture is clear. Those outside of God’s umbrella of grace are slaves to darkness.  That darkness is their sin.  They are powerless to overcome it on their own.  It takes being blood washed to overcome the darkness, for it has permeated every cell of their being.  Those who are washed in the blood of Christ are free from the power of sin.  We have been rescued.  Christ “... gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, …”. (Galatians 1:4)  Because of His sacrifice we live.  It was and is the will of God that we live in freedom from sin.  The price we are to pay is minimum, for it is simply to obey the standard the Lord has set before us in scripture.  The Spirit within us makes it possible. 

          We must never forget that we have been purchased at a high cost.  Jesus Christ, God’s only Son willingly gave His own life to rescue ours.  We were drowning in a quicksand of sin and didn’t even realize it until it was pointed out to us.  We were blissfully and ignorantly sailing along in life, dealing with our problems in human fashion, never realizing that our very lives were in direct conflict with that of our Creator.  While available to all, God’s forgiveness is only received by a portion due to continued ignorance.  Knowing the futility with which man lives, God patiently waits for him to come to his senses. 

          Mounting opposition rises daily against believers in Christ.  Those in darkness refuse to enter into the light.  One day the light will be taken from them and they will remain in darkness forevermore.  That will be a sad day.  The dominion of darkness will have won the day, but lost eternity with God.  They will not know what they have lost until the final move is played.  Only then will their souls be lost for all eternity.  Until that day, rescue is possible.  Live your life as a Christ like example so that others may see the hope that is within you. (1 Peter 3:15) Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resource:  The Reformation Study Bible

DEVOS - WED, 9-2 THRU SAT, 9-5

Taking several days off to go out of town.  

Here are your devos for Wed, Thu, Fri & Sat.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2015

DO YOU HAVE A TEACHABLE SPIRIT?

 “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.” Romans 15:4  

            If a person wants to learn anything at all it is necessary to have a teachable spirit. To learn you must listen.  There is a big difference between hearing and listening. A person has to be willing to listen intently and not just hear what is being told to them. You can hear someone speak all day long, yet if you are not listening, you’ll not hear a thing they’re saying. 

            The Bible was written to teach us. If you believe it to be God’s flawless, inerrant Word, then that which lies between the covers is food for the spirit; worthy of being digested and adhered to. It’s meant as a tool to build up our faith and trust in God. If we have a teachable spirit we will harvest many nuggets of truth from its’ pages. It will act as a source of encouragement, instruction, peace and hope.

            Although many fail to realize this, there is a spirit realm that exists where angels and demons wage war all around us.  The prizes sought are men’s souls.  The devil already knows he is a defeated foe. His lone desire is to drag as many down to hell with him as possible. We are making it easy for him. We are not paying attention. We are doing as we please and not allowing ourselves to be taught. This is war! If it weren’t, why would God have wasted space on his pages to speak of spiritual armor in Ephesians 6? “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” We must learn our lessons well and be prepared to stand our ground.

            We have nothing to fear for we are the children of God. We do however need to be attentive to our surroundings and allow ourselves to be taught by our Lord and Savior. The knowledge is there for the asking.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

___________________________

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2015

GODLY ALTERATIONS NEEDED

“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.  This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.  And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” 1 John 5:13-15

            The Apostle John makes sure to encourage his readers first off by acknowledging and confirming that those who believe in the name of the Son of God can know that they have eternal life with Him. We know from the remainder of scripture that there is more to it than just believing in the existence of Jesus. It is in the change that takes place in us that the difference comes. Many say they believe in Jesus, yet never allow the Spirit of God to make any alterations to the fiber of their being. Nothing changes for them. Their value system remains unchanged, as does their moral structure.  They profess and then go about business as usual, as if nothing had happened. 

            It’s in the changing that we become very different. We see things differently, from a different perspective … a Godly perspective. Just like an expensive suit needs alterations to fit us properly, so our own mind, soul and spirit requires alterations so as to fit us for heaven. We must submit to these alterations and allow them to change our behavior. It’s not just in the believing, but in the living that people notice the change and are drawn to it.  God loves us and has great plans for us if we will just submit to His Spirit’s work in us. 

            If we truly know God in an intimate way, as He knows us, then we will inherently ask for that which is in His will for us. It is in the knowing that we find common ground. God desires for us to know Him.  We must desire to know Him ourselves.  We mustn’t clutter our minds and lives with trivial nonsense that is temporal at its best and harmful at its worst.  We don’t want to be so heavenly minded that we’re no earthly good, but conversely, we don’t want to become mired in the things of this world that we’re no use to God.  Satan is clever.  His devious ways are meant to entrap us so we do nothing of any eternal value. We are to set our focus on that which is good and right and just and shun that which serves us no good purpose. 

            God promises in scripture that He will provide for and sustain us throughout this life. He has a general and very specific will for us all. Generally speaking, God’s will is to love and worship Him and spread the gospel message to the far corners of the earth. His specific will is not for us to say, but to be determined and manifest before us as we serve Him. It will become apparent once we get to the place where we need to know.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

_____________________________

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2015

WHAT’S YOUR WORTH?

 “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”  Luke 12:6-7

            What do you think you’re worth? Let me tell you, you are of incalculable worth to God, who created you to begin with. Think about how insignificant 5 sparrows would be. Let’s take a brief look at the sparrow. There are five species of sparrow in the world today. The largest species group is referred to as True Sparrows. There are 27 different types of True Sparrows flitting about the earth. Generally speaking, sparrows are small, plump, brown-grey birds with short tails and stubby, powerful beaks. The different species can weigh anywhere from a 1/2 oz to 1-1/2 ozs. Sparrows, which are primarily seed eating birds, have an extra bone in their tongues to help stiffen it giving them the innate ability to hold their seed firmly in their mouth. 

            The first thing that could be said is regarding the intricacy of the bird’s skeletal structure, especially the extra bone in its tongue to aid in eating. Do you seriously think that just happened? I choose to believe that it was by grand design and the designer was Almighty God. 

            Like the tiniest seed, the mustard seed, being the perfect example for the amount of faith that is required to believe, so one of the tiniest birds is a perfect comparative example of worth. If God, in all His power and wisdom, values the sparrow and doesn’t neglect them in any way, how much more does He value you? 

            Luke goes on to make a good point by saying that every single hair on your head is numbered. It is meant to show that God cares and not just in a casual way. He cares for you intimately. He cares about everything that matters to you. He loves you and wants you to know it. If you seek His face and trust in Him He will never fail you. We are not worth more to God than one sparrow, but rather many sparrows. If the Lord takes good care of the little birds of creation, He will most assuredly take good care of you. But you must have faith; you must believe. You must place your complete trust in Him. 

            God cares deeply for you as an individual. Never forget that. Call out to Him regardless of your situation.  He’s there waiting to hear from you. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

__________________________

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2015

What’s Your Motivation?

“People may think all their ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart.” Proverbs 21:2 

         Throughout the ages man has been drawing on his own resources, leading him to believe he is self-sufficient.  While he may not feel invincible, he feels pretty good about himself and believes that his assessments of any given situation are right. However, when the dust settles on the day, it’s our heart’s motivation that truly matters. You see, it matters little what we accomplish in this life if our heart’s motivation is self-centered.  God looks at the heart of a man. He knows the what and the why of the things we do. The why is far more important to Him than the what. Does worldly success motivate us? Is it personal fame and notoriety? While generally harmless, these things are temporal and shall pass away. Only that which is done for Christ will last. The why of motivation is of eternal importance.

            Some folks are concerned about leaving a legacy. What will people say about them after they are gone? Did they make a difference? As believers we should want to make a difference for Christ. Our lives are mundane and lifeless without the fulfillment of exhibiting the mercy and grace of God to those around us. It’s what our calling is. It’s what our heart’s motivation ought to be. 

            Things may not always turn out as we would like them to, but if our heart’s motivation is on the mark, then God will bless our efforts. He wants to use us to share the gift of redemption to a lost and dying world who thinks they have their act altogether. God wishes to impart forgiveness thru us for His glory. Be still and get your motivation lined up with His.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOURS THIS UPCOMING LABOR DAY WEEKEND!! 

OUR GREAT GOD AND KING

“For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods.  In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him.  The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.”  Psalm 95:3-7

       Here we find David singing with joy about the greatness of God.  His first couple verses tell us that Jehovah God is the maker of all things.  The Lord created the earth itself, the mountain peaks on the earth along with the seas and the land.  No one else can make such a claim.  Frankly, it is easier to believe that a Supreme Spirit Being orchestrated, organized and put in place all that the eye can see than it is to believe it all happened by chance.  If you doubt that, take a hard look at the intricacy of your hand with its 5 fingers, all functioning independent of one another. 

       Too many folks focus on the negative aspects of life rather than the beautiful, wonderful, positive and pleasant things.  No matter how difficult things may seem, it could always be much worse.  If you don’t believe that, all you have to do is watch the news.  We have a pretty good life after all.

       The Lord is the Great Shepherd.  We are His flock.  We must rely on His ability to lead us to the greenest pastures so that we can thrive.  God knows what He’s doing at all times.  We normally don’t have a single clue.  Doing it on our own is not the answer.  Allowing the Lord to mold us and make us into all He knows we can be for the kingdom in this life is the answer.  God created us for His good pleasure.  Our lives are to emulate the life of His Son.  For all that we should bow down and worship Him for all eternity, for He is truly a great and awesome God!  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!