Isa 41:8-10
8 ”But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the descendants of Abraham My friend.
9 You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest regions, and said to you, ‘You are My servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away:
10 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
(NKJ)
When you start to feel abandoned or as if God must have given up on you, remember Israel. Remember that God has never forgotten them or totally abandoned His people. Even though they had forsaken Him for other Gods. Even though they turned their backs on Him and went their own stubborn way. Even though they allowed the Gods of foreign countries into their lives. Even though they would be carried off into exile for their refusal to honor God. Still, God does not abandon them or His covenants with them. In these verses Israel is reminded who God is and what He has promised. His promise is to not cast them aside; He has chosen them! His promise is to strengthen them and to help them. Inspite of everything, God remains faithful. Therefore, like the words through Isaiah to Israel, I say, God will faithfully strengthen those of us who have called on His name. I say, God will uphold us, not because we are righteous, but because He is righteous. I say with Isaiah, “fear not, for God is with you, be not dismayed, for He is your God and will never let you down!”
1 Chr 28:20
20 And David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God– my God– will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.
(NKJ)
Solomon was named by God to build His temple. David had gathered all of Israel including his leaders to let them know that Solomon was God’s choice to get this task done. Solomon was addressed by his father in front of all and was called to walk steadfastly with the Lord, to honor Him by following all His commands and then was promised before all the people that God would never abandon Him as long as he faithfully served God. We don’t take this verses lightly. God promised Solomon He would not leave him or forsake Him until Solomon had accomplished everything God gave him to do. I want you to be encouraged through this story. Sometimes life is more than we can bear and all of us have wanted to quit something one time or another. But God is no less faithful to us than He was to Solomon or Joshua. If we understand that God has called us to be His own and equipped us to serve Him in life, these promises are equally for us. He will not abandon us or leave us so long as we continue to honor Him in service. There is no higher calling in life and no greater reward to be gained than when we choose to serve Him until are tasks are done here on earth. So don’t let life get you down. You have a great God with honorable purposes for your life. Embrace them and follow Him until life is done!
Josh 1:8-9
8 ”This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.
9 ”Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
(NAS)
What ever it is you go through in life you have the promise of God that He will be with you. That is unless you are not living in His word daily. When you look at this promise to Joshua you need to see the context as always. The context is the very first verse. If you make the Word a priority every day of your life, if you meditate on it and are careful to do all you are to do according to its directions, then you will be successful at living. It is in the context of letting the word of God permeate your life that the promise is given. That is why God says to Joshua, “do not tremble or be dismayed!” Or in other words, “these words are true and you can count on them to direct you, therefore, don’t get worried or fearful because of what you see in the world. You will win in the end.” It’s not a promise to those who believe, but to those who let the word of God richley dwell within. Have a great start to your new week in Him. And do meditate on His word for life!
Gal 6:1
1 Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted.
(NAS)
We live in a culture that tells us what others do is none of our business. But we serve a God who tells us in His word that it is our business when someone is struggling with sin. The Apostle Paul tells us that anyone caught in a tresspass should be confronted. Not with a judgemental spirit, but in a spirit of gentleness and with an attitude of restoration. It is our concern when someone in the body is struggling! It is our concern when someone in the body is stumbling! It is our concerning when someone in the body is sinning! The problem with us is we listen to the culture more than we listen to the word of God. It is important that we mature in our walk with God. As we mature it is important to share our successes and victories with those who struggle. Do so with an intent to hold them accountable and build them up in the faith. And always remember, each of us is prone to fall to the same kinds of sin. God bless your weekend and you Sunday Worship!
Matt 5:23-24
23 ”If therefore you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,
24 leave your offering there before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.
(NAS)
I always preach context. You cannot understand a passage without its context. The context for this passage is Jesus teaching on how we are to treat one another. It’s not just about murder, but your attitude and your treatment of people that leaves them hurting or questioning their value or worth before God. We are not to put people down, call them fools or even make them feel stupid or embarrassed. That’s the context of these verses. So don’t get the idea that it’s talking about being at the alter and all of a sudden you remember someone who has a problem with you (their problem) and you must go and convince them your a pretty good guy and they should not talk poorly about you. No, the context suggests this is being at the altar and their remembering someone you have hurt or wronged and it needs to be made right. In the context of this passage it would be people you have made to feel like a fool, or less a person than yourself or stupid. It means taking seriously the things you have done that have diminished a persons character in the eyes of another. It means taking ownership for our sins against people we’ve come across in everyday life. The “something against you” is not about your personality or things you’ve done that they don’t like. It is about something they would have against you as you stood before God trying to justify your behavior. When you are convicted by the Holy Spirit over such action, take ownership and do not wait. Go to that person, and make it right. If you do not, your heart is not in a place where you can truly worship God who hates our sin! So this passage is about what you have done, not what others have done to you!
2 Cor 12:20-21
20 For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there may be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances;
21 I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, immorality and sensuality which they have practiced.
(NAS)
When you look at this passage you may think Paul was concerned about the sinfulness he would find in Corinth when he came to them. By all means look at the sins he was willing to flag for them and know that there is no place for them in the Church. But what catches my eye in this list of sins, is not the sins themselves, but the complacency the Corinthians seem to have towards sin. It wasn’t just that he may find jealousy, or strife and anger or others he listed, but it was his concern that there really would be no repentance over their sins at all. Repentance to Paul means recognizing my part in sin and doing something about it. In other words, changing the direction of my life by moving away from that sin. The Corinthians seemed to be content just to acknowledge the presence of sin without doing anything to stop it in their lives. Repentance is taking ownership for what I have done and changing the course of my life so that I may not do it again! Don’t be complacent about the sins God points out to you. Take ownership when you fall short and change your direction so you are moving away from it and towards God!
James 3:13-16
13 Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.
14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.
15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic.
16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.
(NAS)
James is trying to make a point to the scattered Church. A lot that looks like wisdom to us is not wisdom at all. Especially if that wisdom is tainted by our own selfish ambition or jealousy towards others. I have been around Church Ministry for 32 years and I agree with James. A lot of people have decieved themselves into believing that their thinking about certain issues was Godly criticism when in fact it was nothing more than demonic self-centeredness and focused on what would be best for them. James warns us to be careful, don’t be deceived into believing that anything that starts with jealousy towards others or is based on selfish ambition can be misconstrued in any way, shape, or form to be Godly wisdom or spiritual insight. It is nothing short of demonic. So be careful not to place what you think about certain things in the church in the category of godly wisdom. Instead, examine the motives for your thinking! Make sure your ego or your image aren’t really what stands to gain if your opinions are adopted by others.
Phil 2:1-5
1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,
2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
(NKJ)
If you want to know what the focus of any Church following Christ should be, you need only look as far as this passage in Philippians. Paul focuses on what we have as a body. We certainly do have consolation in Christ. We certainly do have comfort in the love of God. And who would argue that part of following Jesus does indeed give us fellowship in the Spirit and the continueing compassion and affections of the Father at work in our daily lives. So Paul appeals to each of us to do the one thing that is harder than anything else in our lives to do. It is to set aside personal agendas, self-centered ideas and any designs we may have on controlling events around us. Our commitment should be to a common cause of lifting up our Lord, a common love centered in Him and a mindset that draws us together, not divides us from each other. But in order for that to happen in any church and in any setting, we must recognize how deadly and compromising self centered behavior is to the body. I have watched people come and go in my ministry over the years and the one thing I know for sure, is very few people left my ministry centered on what God wanted. Almost all of them were looking at what they thought should happen, or what they wanted to happen. The common cause in Christ was not good enough for them! That’s why Paul reminds us ministry is all about setting aside selfish ambition and holding on to the notion that your thoughts and ideas are more important that others. Don’t take that approach where you worship. Instead, have the same attitude Jesus portrayed! He thought you and I were more important than His own life! Think about that today, not about the things that have to be changed to your liking at your Church.
2 Cor 5:14-15
14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died;
15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
(NKJ)
So did you get that toaster you have always wanted for Valentine’s Day? Hopefully you did not. Hopefully you had some kind of confirmation that you are greatly loved and appreciated just for who you are! Hopefully, you let others who are in your life know that they are greatly appreciated also. If you did, I promise you there will be a return for that kind of love. Tit for tat! When you demonstrate the kind of love we have been talking about it has a profound effect on your relationships. It brings out the best in others. That’s what Paul is talking about in these verses today. If you truly realize how much God loves you and how much He gave up for you it profoundly affects your life. So much so Paul says, that we in return sacrifice ourselves to live our lives as an expression of our love for Him. The kind of sacrificial love Jesus exemplifies compels us to respond with the same kind of sacrificial love for Him. Normally I would end this devotion right here and now. What could be more inspiring than being reminded why we live for Jesus! But what I want you to realize is this; when you realize the depth of someones love by what they have been willing to give for you, it demands a return. It demands the same kind of love for them. It calls us to set aside our selfishness and to move towards sacrificial giving for the sake of others. That’s why Paul teaches us we can no longer just live for ourselves! We have received the ultimate gift of love from Jesus. It compels a response. Likewise, when someone expresses their love for you in the same manner, it demands a response. Part of what it means to love is to return the favor. Have a blessed day!
