Walk In His Ways

 "And keep the charge of the Lord your God:
to walk in His ways , to keep His statues,
His commandments, His judgments, and His testimonies,
as is written in the law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn;" I Kings 2:3

David the great shepherd of Israel was near death, and he was charging his son Solomon who was heir to the throne.  It is interesting that he didn't suggest Solomon get a management degree, or attend special leadership seminars.  He didn't give his son any hidden kingly schemes or tactics.  The charge David gave the next king of Israel was very simple yet powerful, he told him to obey the Lord.

  David had ruled forty years and the main lesson he had learned was to walk in obedience.  When we study the history of the kings of Israel we see the sad truth that most of the kings did not obey the Lord.  Those that did honor the Lord were blessed and protected.  Those that didn't honor the Lord, got what they desired, they were left on their own and it brought ruin.

I hope we can all learn the lesson of David.  When we walk in obedience to the Lord, it affords us great protection, and it paves the way for His blessings.

Jesus' Wonderful Grace

"However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, "Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you."
Mark 5:19

We see here such a wonderful example of the grace of our Lord.  Jesus had sailed across the Sea of Galilee to the country of the Gadarenes.  When He arrived a demon possessed man came out to Him and Jesus cast the many demons out of him, and allowed them to enter a herd of swine.  The man who had been uncontrollable was now free and at peace.  The people of the region responded by begging Jesus to leave their region.

Whenever I study this passage I'm amazed at the people who beg Jesus to leave.  How can anyone who had seen the miraculous power and mercy of Jesus plead with Him to leave!  I suppose I shouldn't be amazed, for even today there are many who want nothing to do with Jesus.  But here is where His wonderful grace is extended even to those who want nothing to do with Him.  The man who had been possessed begged to go with Jesus but Jesus would not let him.  Instead He told the man to remain in the region as a testimony to Jesus.  The people rejected Jesus but in His grace He leaves a witness behind to speak of His mercy and compassion.  What wonderful grace!

By the way, in the book of Acts we see the Gospel spread to this region and the Lord moved powerfully as the people received the Gospel readily.  We must wonder had their hearts been prepared for the Gospel seed by the plowing of the testimony of this man whom Jesus left as a witness?

Purpose In Your Heart

"But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion
of the king's delicacies...."  Daniel 1:8

Daniel had been taken captive to the city of Babylon, and he was chosen with some other young men to be trained to serve in the king's court.  They were to be put into a three year assimilation program.  This program was designed to conform these young men into the ways of Babylon, it included learning the language, laws, religion and literature of their of new land, this even included a change in diet. 

The first step taken by the chief eunuch in charge of the young men was to take away their Hebrew names and give them Babylonian names.  The changing of their names was a powerful way of saying that they were going to begin the process of a change of identity.

The young man, Daniel, knew who he was in the Lord and was determined not to allow his identity as one of God's chosen to be taken from him.  Though under extreme pressure from the culture he was held captive in, he purposed in his heart to remain faithful to the ways of Jehovah.  Because of his determined faithfulness God was able to use Daniel powerfully as a prophet and he is one of our greatest examples of true faith.

We live in a culture where we find ourselves under constant pressure to conform, and the way things have been going, I don't believe this pressure will ease up any time soon.  I believe God wants to raise up men and women to be prophets in this age, and He is seeking those who would be Daniels, and would purpose in their hearts not to conform to Babylon.  I want to be a Daniel, how about you?

Potter And The Clay

Isaiah 29:16  Surely you have things turned around!  Shall the potter be esteemed as the clay; for shall the thing made say of him who made it, 'He did not make me?'  Or shall the thing formed say of him who formed it, 'He has no understanding?'

I found myself frustrated at panel of experts on one of the news stations again.  This time some professor was going on about the evolution of what is viewed as right and wrong, and the need to reform and update religious beliefs.  All who were sitting on this discussion panel with the professor seemed to nod in agreement and didn't question him at all.  In my frustration I began to question and argue with the man as if he could hear me through the television!  The segment ended with me wonder of how many people had heard this brief sound bite and took it for truth without even thinking about it.  I was frustrated, but I was also very hopeful.

Mankind surely has things turned around.  We are seeking wisdom and truth, right and wrong, but have removed God from the equation.  Man is looking for meaning in life, but will not seek the giver of life.  We who are created esteem ourselves as above the creator.  We see the fruit of our arrogance in a society whose foundations are being shaken, and that is what gives me hope.  I am hopeful because man has looked to man for the answers and has found no answers.  Perhaps we have come to the end of ourselves and will once again seek out God.  This is my hope and prayer, that we will see that we have things turned around and will repent and turn back to God!

Remember Your God

 "Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying,
let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians? 
For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians that that we should die in the wilderness."
Exodus 14:12

I often wonder how the Children of Israel could have had such little faith.  Sure, they were in a tough spot, the Red Sea was in front of them and Pharaoh and his army were pressing down upon them from behind.  They had no escape in any direction and they knew that the Egyptians would show no mercy, but how could they have forgotten all that God had done for them so quickly?  The Lord had delivered Israel from the slavery of Egypt by His great power through the plagues, and had even gone before them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.  They were in this dangerous circumstance because they had been following the Lord!  Yet, they were fearful and even rebellious.

Usually when I begin to question the faith of the Israelites, the Lord will open my eyes to see myself in their actions.  As I wonder at their lack of faith, I'm reminded of my own lack of faith.  There have been many times when the Lord has miraculously answered prayers, and I have confessed that I would never doubt Him again only to doubt Him again.  If we are honest with ourselves I believe we can all identify with the weakness we see in the children of Israel.

If you find yourself in a season of doubt or a place where there seems to be no escape, it's time to remember your God.  The Lord knows where you are and the troubles you face, He has never failed you, and He never will fail you.  Replace panic with prayer and fear with trust.  If you are in a Red Sea moment, heed Moses command to Israel, "Do not be afraid.  Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord..."

Stepping Out

 "And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, that the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off, the waters that come down from upstream, and they shall stand as a heap."
Joshua 3:13

Faith is something that requires our action. To truly believe by faith, means you act upon that belief.  As Christians we often use the term "step out in faith".  Notice the priests caring the ark before Israel literally had to "step out in faith" into the Jordan before the Lord stopped the flow of the river.  The priests stepping into the water proved they had true faith.  The Apostle Peter was called by the Lord to walk to Him on the sea, and Peter literally had to "step out in faith" upon the water for that miracle to occur.  Peter stepped out of the boat, showing he had faith in the word of Jesus.

We are called to be men and women of faith.  We are to live by faith, meaning we truly put our trust in the Lord and His promises.  Far too many give mental assent to the truths of God but those truths don't impact the way they live.  The days we are living in demand a real vital active faith.  May we be a church that will always "step out in faith"!
 

Forgiven

 "He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities.  You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea."  Micah 7:19


This is for anyone having a hard time believing that God will forgive your sins.  Notice the two things He does to our sins or our iniquities.  First we are told He subdues them.  To subdue means literally to trample down!  Think about it, God's desire is to go after the sin that brings ruin to your life and crush it, to grind it down so it has no affect upon you.

Next we are told God will take our sins and cast them into the deep parts of the sea.  He doesn't keep your sins around to remind you how bad you are or how unworthy you are.  God removes them where they are unseen and not remembered.

The assurance of God's mercy is found in the cross of Jesus Christ.  In Christ our sins are crushed and our iniquities are cast away.  Are you bound by sins past or present?  Find freedom and forgiveness in Jesus who died for you.