Taking Jesus at His Word

 

“Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.”

The man took Jesus at his word and departed.”

John 4:50

Have you ever said to someone

“I’m going to take you at your word!”?

In other words – I trust that what you said to me is true and I will act on it accordingly.

That is what we find in this verse.

The son of a royal official, we are told, was sick; actually near death.

The official begged Jesus to come and heal his son.

He exercised faith at the words of Jesus because, in fact, Jesus did not go from Galilee to Capernaum where the official’s son lay sick, He only spoke the word.

Have you received and acted on a word from Jesus or do you need something more?

Jesus commanded the official to “Go” and then added the words that drew out this man’s faith – “your son will live.”

So how did he exercise that faith?

The very next verse declares it:

“The man took Jesus at His word and departed!

The words of Jesus were enough!

Are they enough for you?

We sometimes ask for more.

But Jesus, aren’t you going to come and lay hands on her?

Won’t you follow me to my home?

I need others to see you act on my behalf!

Nope, none of those things were said, he simply took Jesus at His word and departed.

Oh that we as a church will take Jesus at His word and go!

 

 

 

Nazareth - That Scandalous Town

 

““Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?”

Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip.”

John 1:46

 

Nazareth obviously had a reputation.

Not a good one either, judging by Nathanael’s response to Philip.

Maybe it was considered the ‘other side of the tracks’ or the ‘bad side of town’ to use a couple of terms familiar to us today.

It sounds like it was not a place mom’s let their kids freely roam the streets nor does it sound like a place one might plan to vacation in.

No, Nazareth had a bad rap.

Maybe you’ve encountered similar statements about yourself.

Maybe you have been ostracized.

Hurt by others’ neglect or worse, their insults and injuring words.   

The comments directed at you (or about you) include –

“Can anyone good come from that family?”

“Stay away from them, they’re nothing but trouble.”

Or even, “I forbid you to see them again, they are beneath you!”

But I have some wonderful news for you.

God is in the redemption business.

Even better news – we are A-L-L in need of redemption.

You, me and everyone else.

So if others have turned up their nose at you; remember that God will not.

Instead, He will extend to you His grace-filled hand.

Did something good come out of Nazareth?

Indeed it did.

Jesus, the Messiah.

Let God be God and watch Him turn your life from scandalous to sacred!

He can cause others to be amazed at what He does in your life.

Let Him have His way!

Aroma Therapy

 “But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.”

II Corinthians 2:14-15

 

Are you a practitioner of aroma therapy?

No, I am not going “new age” on you.

What I mean is what fragrance do you carry?

What aroma is evident when you walk into the room?

Paul said that God “…uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of Him everywhere.”

What a potent and powerful aroma we are to be in this world.

Paul goes on to say that we are a “…pleasing aroma of Christ…” to the Father.

He further states that aroma is among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.

The aroma of Christ ought to be on us.

One definition offered by Webster’s dictionary of the word aroma is:

“a distinctive quality or atmosphere”

What distinct quality or atmosphere is evident when you walk into a room?

Are you spreading the aroma of Christ wherever you go?

Is the atmosphere changed for good when you walk in?

It should be!

Some ladies - and even some men - baptize themselves (full immersion picture here) in their perfume or cologne.

Usually you can tell they have arrived before they walk through the door.

The fragrance permeates everything.

Does the pleasing aroma of Christ follow your life?

Is it evident to others that Christ is in you?

Is the quality of your life distinctively Christ like?

Does the atmosphere of the knowledge of Him surround you to impact those around you?

It can.

It should.

It must…

…if we are to be the agents of change for the Kingdom of God on earth.

Join in that triumphal procession as a captive of Christ and let His aroma in you change others.

Be His fragrance...His aroma to others.

A Penny for Your Thoughts?

 

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

Philippians 4:8

 

Have you ever stopped to think how silly and how detrimental it would be if we actually thought about the opposite of what Paul listed for us above. 

For instance, thinking and meditating on falsehoods.

Honestly, I think we are guilty of doing it all the time.

We worry about the future and things out of our control.

We sometimes entertain, in our thought life, rumors, gossip,

innuendos and half-truths.

Instead of meditating on whatever is lovely we find it difficult to refocus our thoughts from the uglier things of life like vengeance, jealousy and anger.

That is precisely why the author of the Book of Romans tells of the importance of renewing our minds.

We need to set our affections and our thoughts on things above.

It is far too easy to dwell on the darker side of life.

But God has given us His word.

In it there is treasure to be mined.

Listen to how the Psalmist approached it:

“I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.

I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.”

Psalm 119:15-16

 Consider this: there is absolutely nothing more true, noble,

right and pure than Gods’ word!

Let your mind be transformed by thinking on, meditating in and memorizing the treasure that is Gods’ Word.

If I can be so bold – let me give you one to start with:

“Turn my eyes away from worthless things;

    preserve my life according to your word.”

Psalm 119:37

What Do I Do?

 

“When the foundations are being destroyed,

    what can the righteous do?”

Psalm 11:3

 

 

What an apropos question to ask today?

It seems like every attempt is being made to destroy the foundations of our culture, our society and in particular the foundations of our faith.

So what can the righteous do?

The Psalmist continues in a way that does not seem to answer the question –

or does he?

Here is the next verse:

“The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord is on his heavenly throne.

He observes everyone on earth; his eyes examine them.”

Nothing, absolutely nothing, gets by our God.

One might still ask – “OK, but what are the righteous to do?”

We are to honor, reverence and worship the one who sits on the throne.

Our eyes and our devotion are to remain fastened on Him.

If we believe God is just then He is well aware and He will take care in His time.

Our temptation is to go to one extreme or the other.

Like Abraham, we may decide to try to take matters into our own hands.

That creates an Ishmael.

Or we choose to do nothing and in so doing we exercise no faith and there is no partnering with God.

Instead, as we keep our eyes and our devotion on Him who is able, He will order your steps and guide you in the way you should go.

Perhaps now more than ever before we are being called to intercede, to pray and plead for our nation.

That must begin with personal repentance.

“if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

II Chronicles 7:14

What is Truth?

 

“Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?”

Galatians 4:16

 

If ever there was a verse that asks a question that is relevant to the times we are living in, it is Galatians 4:16.

“Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?”

Certainly, Paul was addressing a specific issue with the Galatian church.

They were following after teachings of those who were perverting the Gospel and taking believers away from their freedom in Christ.  

I must admit some apprehension, however, because of that word “I” in the verse.

Paul spoke as an Apostle and he spoke with the authority of that office.

He preached the truth fearlessly and endured much because of that preaching.

Any number of people (any number of “I”s) can come proclaiming a truth which is not the truth.

So how do we know?

Become a person who intimately walks with the Holy Spirit.

Speaking of the Holy Spirit, Jesus told us that “...he will guide you into all truth.”

It is a very good thing to be a student of the Word of God.

It is an even better thing when that is paired with an intimate relationship with God through the Holy Spirit.

That is the protection we have when others come proclaiming ‘truth’.

Paul was not an enemy of the Galatians.

Their true enemies were those who misrepresented the truth.

There is far too much of that misrepresentation of the truth happening today.

Stand fast in the Word and the Spirit to walk in the truth of the Gospel!

 

Appointments or dis-?

 

“For this is contained in Scripture:

“Behold, I am laying in Zion a chosen stone, a precious (honored) Cornerstone, And he who believes in Him [whoever adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him]

will never be disappointed [in his expectations].”

I Peter 2:6 Amplified

 

We are given a definition of the word disappointment to mean:

‘defeated in expectation or hope.’

Have you ever been there?

Maybe you are there now.

Truth is, whether currently or in the past, every one of us would be guilty of lying if we claimed never to have been disappointed.

But follow me on this -

The prefix dis in the evolution of the word came from the French word dessapointer which meant to undo an appointment or to deprive of an appointment.

So when you and I are disappointed in life I think it is more than fair to ask ourselves this:

Have I been guilty of undoing or depriving myself of my appointments with God?

Has my time with Him fallen by the wayside of busyness or to concerns in other areas of life?

If I might suggest: take away the dis- and keep your appointments with God.

Don’t be guilty of undoing or depriving yourself of time with the Lord.

Do you want to eliminate disappointment?

Then keep your appointment!

Remember the words of I Peter 2:6 which I will repeat in part in closing.

“And he who believes in Him [whoever adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him]

will never be disappointed [in his expectations].”

We cultivate that trust, reliance and adherence in Him by keeping those appointments.

 

 

God’s Set Time

 

“But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son,

born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law,

that we might receive adoption to sonship.”

Galatians 4:4-5

 

 

God is never late.

As a matter of fact, neither is He early.

God is always on time.

So what’s the problem?

Well, His timetable isn’t always ours.

We want Him to act when we want Him to act.

But, as we see from the verses above, there was a set time in Gods’ calendar when He sent His Son.

There were no darts randomly thrown at the Hebrew calendar.

There is no happenstance with the Lord.

In the exact moment He has planned every event – any event – on His timetable takes place.

Abraham learned that lesson.

The promise of a son was given but the fulfillment of that promise was anything but instantaneous.

Joseph learned that lesson.

The reality of his dream of his brothers bowing down before him did not take place the morning after he dreamt it.

As with Abraham, many years passed before it came to pass.

But indeed it came to pass at God’s exact moment.

How about you?

Are you becoming antsy waiting on God?

Trust Him to complete what He has promised even if it missed the date you anticipated.

He is faithful , who has promised....

 

I HAVE THE RIGHT!

 

“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial.

 “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive.

No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.”

I Corinthians 10:23-24

 

“I have the right to do anything...”

The Apostle Paul repeats that phrase twice.

It is a common refrain of man.

And usually it ends there.

But not with Paul!

He rightly tells us that our rights get their wings clipped by a few other considerations.

Here are three questions to ask ourselves -  

1. Is exercising my right beneficial?

2. Is exercising my rights constructive?

3. And finally, is exercising my rights seeking only what is good for me or does it consider the good of others.

We usually don’t want to have to weigh our rights against their impact to others.

Often, we simply say – “I don’t care, I’m doing it anyway!”

But Paul cautions us against this type of attitude.

He goes on later, in this same chapter, to say:

“Do not cause anyone to stumble...”

So we must ask ourselves this:

Do my attitudes, behaviors or actions take others into consideration and how they will be impacted by them?

Too often we plow ahead regardless.

But take the time today to sit with Holy Spirit and examine your life in light of those three questions.

Let Him reveal areas of opportunities for growth and maturing.  

 

 

Stand ‘Your’ Ground?

 

“See, I am doing a new thing!

Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in the wilderness

and streams in the wasteland.”

Isaiah 43:19

 

We often hear the phrase or have people repeat to us the words:

“Stand Your Ground!”

That speaks to us of not being moved from our position or opinion.

But today as I was reading a prophetic word from another person I felt the Holy Spirit ask me a question.

It was this:

“Are you standing your ground or are you standing my ground?”

We are so easily convinced of our own ways and our own opinions that if we are not careful they begin to creep into how we interpret what God is doing and how He is doing it.

What do I mean?

Simply this – we so hold onto our own interpretations of all that is happening around us so vehemently that we begin to eliminate the very possibility that God could be doing something quite differently than what we imagine.

Now this is not a call to back down from any firm convictions you may have in God.

It is however a plea for us within the Body of Christ to recognize that while it is true that God works all things together for good to those who love Him, the “how” of that verse often comes as a surprise to the very ones He is rescuing.

Think about Joseph in the prison.

I doubt that he perceived his release would come through a dream interpretation.

Or that Gideon could ever have expected victory over the Midianites with an army consisting of a meager three hundred men.

King Jehoshaphat prayed and heard the Word of the Lord.

He then had singers in front of the troops; but I am thinking that even he was amazed when “As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.”  

It is not a time to stand our ground.

It is rather a time to stand His ground and see the salvation of the Lord.

Do not expect that God will move only in the way(s) you have imagined.

Stand His Ground and let God be God!

Gods’ Success-Meter

 

“To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.”

Proverbs 21:3

God has different ways of measuring success than we do.

When it comes to our own personal lives we often measure how successful we are as a believer by how many verses we have memorized or perhaps by the unbroken streak of three years, five months and eleven days of morning devotions! Great job, we tell ourselves, give a pat on the back (when no one is looking of course because we do not want to be guilty of boasting) and wait for the next morning so we can increase that record stretch!

Did I mention – God has a different way of measuring success than we do?

Oh sure, we need quiet time with Him and there are plenty of good reasons to memorize the Word; but as valid as these things may be they are no substitute for obedience to the measures He has for you!

How does God measure your success?

I can’t answer for you – you have to ask Him!

How’s that for a cop-out?

But, it is true.

God plans for you are good but they are uniquely specific to you and for you.

We sometimes look at what others may or may not be doing in and for the Kingdom and make judgments based on the specifics of how God is dealing with us or with our local church. It is unfair to judge another persons life or the vision of another local church based on the measure God is using for you or for your church.

MAKE NO MISTAKE –

There are expectations and basic foundation stones for every believer and every local church. Those are the same. How I walk out the specific plans God has for me and the vision He has for our local church – the methods He employs through us – may vary and so He will measure success in both you and me by obedience to Him.

Cookie cutters may work well in a bakery but they do no good in building a relationship of obedience to the Lord!

Grow in success by building that relationship with Him and as you do, he will reveal the plans and purposes He has for your life.

Division is Divisive

 

“I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.”

I Corinthians 1:10

 

I remember math class way back in grammar school.

I could add, subtract and multiply without difficulty.

But long division was just tough for some reason.

Division has come to mean something quite different in my adult life.

It is still a difficult thing to deal with though!

A church, a family, a business, a nation cannot survive in continued division.

Having an opinion (don’t we all) is not necessarily wrong.

Divisiveness always is!

The proud will always seek to speak their opinion which often leads to arguing, fights and division.

Division will always destroy the bond of unity we seek in the church.

When you divide something the result is always smaller than what you started with.

Think about that for a moment.

In advancing the Kingdom of God we desire to see it grow and enlarge in the earth.

Divisiveness works against that.

Think about how and when you share your opinion.

Will it build up your listeners or bring them revelation?

If not, maybe saying nothing is best.

“Set a guard over my mouth, Lord;

    keep watch over the door of my lips.” Psalm 141:3

Those are words worth taking to heart in these contentious times.

 

 

Unity or Uniformity

 

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.  Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism;

one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

Ephesians 4:2-6

 

 

So many people declare unity but fight for and demand uniformity.

You need look no further than todays’ top news.

Censoring is all about uniformity.

If you don’t hold the same viewpoint I cannot let you speak to others.

I can’t listen to what you are saying.

I must censor you!

Censorship is a weapon of the weak.

Often, the truth is what gets’ censored.

God has called His church to unity.

But it is not conformity.

He has called us to a unity of the Spirit, His Spirit.

As we individually and corporately mature in the things of God we discover that we can hold differing opinions and still respect and love one another.

Sure, there are non-negotiables.

The reconciling work of the cross is not something we would compromise.

But I have known others who reject a brother or sister in Christ over their opinion on something of little importance.

Petty things divide petty people.

We are not to be engaged in silly divisiveness.

I will say it again. There are things that matter.

But there are far too many things that consume our energies that matter little to the Kingdom of God.

If you are going to fight; then Paul directs it well in some advice to Timothy that we are wise to lay hold of today:

“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

I Timothy 6:12

  

 

 

No Time for Cavalier Christians

 

“Be alert and of sober mind.

Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion

looking for someone to devour.”

I Peter 5:8

 

Are you alert and of sober mind?

That is the charge we are given in the verse above.

The cavalier Christian easily becomes the enemies prey.

A person who has been alerted is someone who is aware of their surroundings and the events and circumstances taking place and how

they can be impacted by them.

They do not move through life naively unaware.

Ignorance is not bliss, it is dangerous.

Jesus sent His disciples out with this warning:

“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.

Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”

Matthew 10:16

Sheep are not safe among wolves.

The believer who glibly meanders through life misses the sound advice of the Lord.

Now is not a time (if ever there was one) to hide our heads in the sand.

It is a time for vigilance.

It is a time to walk circumspectly.

The days of ambling casually through our walk with God are over.

God promised He would never leave us or forsake us.

He promised and gave to us His Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth.

Today – lean into all God has given you to make purposeful use of every minute you are blessed with!

 

 

Keep Watch

 

Many people rightly question:

Are we in the last days?

And the answer from some whom they ask is emphatically “Yes!”;

while still others answer emphatically “No!”

There is likely also a group who would answer (just not as emphatically) “Maybe”.

It can get confusing to be sure.

You might be tempted to laugh and think to yourself:

 “That counsel is as useful as a screen door on a submarine.”

But whether Jesus returns in 10 minutes, 10 months, ten years or well beyond that for His church, He offered sound advice for us in Matthew 24:42-44

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what

day your Lord will come. But understand this:

If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.

So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

Keep watch!

Be prepared; be always in a state of readiness.

Be found, not unaware, but busy in the work of the Kingdom!

How will you engage in His work today?

Whatever work that may be, do so fully engaged as a watchmen who looks for the return of His King at any moment.

Jesus is coming soon.

Lest We Forget

 

Just seemed like a good reminder for us at the end of this week.

My suggestion?

Print this page out, take it into your prayer closet and meditate on these verses.

 

“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us

and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

       Ephesians 5:1-2    

 

 

“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies,

do good to those who hate you,”

Luke 6:27

 

 

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

John 13:34

 

 

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.

Romans 12:9

 

 

“If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains,

but do not have love, I am nothing.”

1 Corinthians 13:2

 

 

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient,

bearing with one another in love.”

Ephesians 4:2

Praying for Our Nation and Her Leaders

 

“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority,

that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

This is good, and pleases God our Savior,

who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”

          I Timothy 2:1-4

“...for kings and all those in authority.”

For Presidents, Governors, Senators, Congressmen, Mayors, and the list goes on.

If ever our nation needs prayer, it is now.

Please join me as we pray-

“Father God, good leaders, come from you.

Lord, this nation needs leaders with discerning hearts and wise minds.

We come to you today asking you to give us wise leaders that will lead this nation in the right direction.

Remove wrong people that are corrupt and living against your word from influential positions.

Let our leaders be people who honor your holy name for it is only from you that they will get true wisdom.

It is in the mighty name of Jesus that we believe and pray, Amen.”

 

Prayer taken from Connect –Us Website

Bigger Barns or Bigger Blessings?

 

“And he told them this parable:

“The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest.

He thought to himself,

‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’

“Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do.

I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones,

and there I will store my surplus grain.”

          Luke 12:16-18

 

Look over those verses again closely.

Did you catch it?

It says: “The ground...yielded an abundant harvest.”

What is didn’t say was the skill of a certain rich man.

It was the ground.

He was fortunate; one might say this rich man was blessed.

But I can’t help but notice how many “I” statements followed.

Look with me at these verses:

‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’

“Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do.

I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones,

and there I will store my surplus grain.”

No less than 5 times in two sentences of this parable from Jesus.

Greed can make us very self-centered.          

The indictment of this parable is not in the resources given to the rich man.

It was how he chose to use them.

We all face that same choice.

Greed is not a characteristic only of the wealthy.

You may not have two pennies to rub together and still be a selfish person.

When blessing are showered on you, do you imagine yourself consuming them only on me, myself and I?

Let me leave you with two questions to ponder...

What does the ground God has given you yield and how will you use it?