Forgiveness Full and Free

Psalms 32:1-2 ¹ Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. ² Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.

Oh, the guilt of sin and our sinfulness.  Just when we feel we are drawing near to our Lord Jesus Christ, our accuser, the devil, begins to remind us of our transgressions of old.  Who among us does not have such a record of iniquity that can be rehearsed time and time again?  Then when trials, testing, and temptation come our way, when the hot coals of life’s circumstances hurdle our path, those failures of old seem to be ready on our adversary’s lips.  He shouts them to us anew, reminding us that we are unworthy of our Heavenly Father’s mercy and omnipotent (all powerful) help.

It is at these times that we need to be reminded by the Psalmist of this thirty-second Psalm that our Lord graciously forgives.  We must be renewed in the immutable (unchanging), eternal reality of the forgiveness of our God.  Through His son, Jesus Christ, the penalty for our sins has been fully paid, and our sins can be, and have been taken wholly away, if we have but confessed them and sought such forgiveness.  We are reminded in the New Testament:

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

Hence, our adversary may cry out our sins toward us, but let that accounting fall on deaf ears.  For our advocate, the Lord Jesus Christ, has already paid the price for us, and we stand in His presence and in the presence of our Heavenly Father as white and clean as the driven snow.  Forgiveness full and free is already ours.  So lets us be gladly reminded by the Psalmist again:

Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about. ¹¹ Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart. (Psalms 32:10-11)

Praise our glorious Lord and Savior. (Pastor Walter Huyck, This Christian Journey)

Week One - Day Two

This Amazing Love 

Titus 3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,

How sweet it is to behold the Savior communing with His own beloved people! There can be nothing more delightful than, by the Divine Spirit, to be led into this fertile field of delight. Let the mind for an instant consider the history of the Redeemer's love, and a thousand enchanting acts of affection will suggest themselves, all of which have had for their design the weaving of the heart into Christ, and the inter-twisting of the thoughts and emotions of the renewed soul with the mind of Jesus. When we meditate upon this amazing love, and behold the all-glorious Kinsman of the Church endowing her with all His ancient wealth, our souls may well faint for joy. Who is he that can endure such a weight of love? That partial sense of it which the Holy Spirit is sometimes pleased to afford, is more than the soul can contain; how transporting must be a complete view of it! When the soul shall have understanding to discern all the Savior's gifts, wisdom wherewith to estimate them, and time in which to meditate upon them, such as the world to come will afford us, we shall then commune with Jesus in a nearer manner than at present. But who can imagine the sweetness of such fellowship? It must be one of the things which have not entered into the heart of man, but which God hath prepared for them that love Him. Oh, to burst open the door of our Joseph's granaries, and see the plenty which He hath stored up for us! This will overwhelm us with love. By faith we see, as in a glass darkly, the reflected image of His unbounded treasures, but when we shall actually see the heavenly things themselves, with our own eyes, how deep will be the stream of fellowship in which our soul shall bathe itself! Till then our loudest sonnets shall be reserved for our loving benefactor, Jesus Christ our Lord, whose love to us is wonderful, passing the love of women.  [C.H. Spurgeon-Morning and Evening]

Week One - Day Three

Justified Freely

Romans 3.24-26 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus :  25 Whom God hath set forth [to be] a propitiation through faith in his blood , to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past , through the forbearance of God ;  26 To declare , [I say], at this time his righteousness : that he might be just , and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Oh, to be justified freely!  What an incredible, unimaginable gift.  To receive justice is to get what one deserves.  Therefore, to be justified freely stands in opposition to the whole principle of justice. 

When freely is combined with justice the implication is justification without its penalty; and that is just what God offers.  Yet, this justification does not come without consequence, the truth of the passage is that the consequence has just been placed upon another, the Lord Jesus Christ.  Notice the words, ". . . Propitiation through faith in His blood."  We must always be reminded that our justification is personally free, but is cost Jesus everything.  To have "faith in His blood" is to take God's Word concerning the blood of Jesus Christ.  His blood was unique blood, it was divine blood, and it was shed and presented to the Father revealing that the required penalty for our sins had been Paid In Full.   So that our justification appears free to us only because Jesus paid for it by taking our place on Calvary's cross. 

That payment is made for all who will act "through faith in His blood."  Those of us who respond to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ by accepting Him as the payment required for their personal sins will be, and are, justified freely.  All that is required to remove the burden and guilt of your sin is for you to see what Jesus did for you, understand that God has said that what Jesus did is all that is required, and accept Jesus’ payment on your behalf.  Once you do then you will be justified freely and everything in your life will change, as many of us already know.

It saddens my heart to know how great the cost was for sins that I took so lightly.  Yet, it rejoices my heart to realize that my Lord Jesus Christ loved me so much that He was willing to give everything to pay the penalty I owed and to unite me with my Heavenly Father.  It is this realization and joy that helps me to make right decisions about sin daily.  This understanding also helps me to stand in the face of present temptations and trails.  How could I disappoint one who has given so very much for me?

Praise God for the free justification He willingly gives you and I.  It is available to all, and something to be highly desired.  Thank God for the precious blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, and all that it represents and reminds us of, as we are justified freely through faith in His blood. (Pastor Walter Huyck, This Christian Journey)

Week One - Day Four

Our Delight

Isa 58.13-14 If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath , [from] doing thy pleasure on my holy day ; and call the sabbath a delight , the holy of the LORD , honourable ; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways , nor finding thine own pleasure , nor speaking [thine own] words :  14 Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD ; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth , and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father : for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken [it].

Isaiah at the end of Chapter 58, right after a spiritually enlightening discourse on God honoring fasting, points out how God's people delight  God and receive His bountiful blessing because they delight in their Heavenly Father.  When our Heavenly Father smiles upon us all of creation responds with great and bountiful joy.

As I think about delighting in God it seems obvious that those outward manifestations of that spiritual joy are often the same actions that a legalist struggles to empoly.  Yet, when one acts out of deep desire,  that which once was a painful burden becomes a simple act of devotion and love.  The ten percent tithe of our worldly treasure is a joy to those who delight in God.  The seventh of our time (the sabbath) set aside as holy and sacred for our God is a great and blessed privilege for those who delight in our Lord.  The sacrifice of our words is a demostration of the highest regard for our highly honored King of glory in whom we wholly delight.

Hence, we discover that what the religious legalist can not do through a stone cold law, because to transgress in one article of the law is to violate the whole law.  What the sinner cannot do for, no matter what good thing he might do, his sins haunt him with impending doom.  The born-again Christian finds in fulness through the delight of the presence of a living, indwelling, forgiving, invigorating Lord and Savior; in whom he fully delights.

Oh, delight in His sacrifice.  Delight in His forgiveness and cleansing.   Delight in His peaceful presence.  Delight in the bounty of all of heavens riches an honor.  Delight in our Lord Jesus Christ. Delight to walk with Him and honor Him with all of your heart, for this is the place of God's supernatural bounty. (Pastor Walter Huyck, This Christian Journey)

Week One - Day Five

And He Arose And Went

Acts 8:26-27 ²⁶ And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. ²⁷ And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, 
 

If there is one theme that is consistent in Acts chapter eight it is the fact of going.  We notice in verse four that the Church was scattered through persecution.  Put simply, that means they left and went.  We notice in verse 14 that Peter and John came to join in the Samarian Revival being serviced by Philip.  Then again in verses 26-27 we see Philip willingly yielding to God's direction to even go again.  Clearly, one must go if one will win with the Gospel.

Just today I was talking with one of our dear Church saints about how we sit in our homes and offices and speak to the same people from day to day.  People we have already tried to witness to and continue to share with as God gives us opportunity.  However, we often feel the urge, realizing the command, to go.  But how do we go when we know we have already gone?

I remember reading about one prominent pastor who felt the same urge and came up with an answer that worked.  He went to a local book store and joined a book club.  He joined this club, not so much for the books, but for the opportunity to get around new people in a way that would allow him to one day share his faith with them.  Taking this into consideration the opportunities are limitless.  If we will go?

So the question is simple and its answer is all around us.  If we would be obedient, if we will respond to the spirits urge within us, then we will go.  We will find a way and we will go.  This might require a bit of a stretch and a sacrifice, but the results are potentially eternal in their perspective.   How will you carry the gospel to the world all around you? (Pastor Walter Huyck, This Christian Journey)

Week One - Day Six

 Digging Deep

 Luke 6:47-49 ⁴⁷ Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: ⁴⁸ He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. ⁴⁹ But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

 The foundation of ones spiritual life is the most important part of their spiritual journey.  It is this foundation that provides the strength to endure through all of the storms of life.  The foundation of this life in none other than our Lord Jesus Christ; but not just an acknowledgement of who He is, it is also having an ear that will hear him, and a will that will obey Him. 

What is often forgotten about a foundation is that it is the part of a building that is not seen.  It is buried under the ground where it lays undetected by passers by.  This is true about ones spiritual foundation as well.  Your spiritual foundation is not based upon what others by see as they look at you, but it is based upon what you are doing in the unseen aspects of your spiritual journey.   

 What are these unseen realities of a spiritually mature and strong Christian?  They include:  Disciplined time in the Word of God, secret time spent in prayer and meditation, and a deep desire to live in a way that pleases one’s Heavenly-Father.  Digging deep with our Lord involves developing our unseen relationship with God by seeking effectually to draw nigh unto Him. 

 So the question arises, have you dug deep and laid a rock solid spiritual foundation upon your Lord Jesus Christ?  If you have then you will find that when life’s storms come, you may tremble on the Rock, but the Rock (Jesus Christ) will never tremble under you. [This Christian Journey]

Week One - Day Seven

Sealed With The Holy Spirit

Ephesians 1:13-14 ¹³ In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, ¹⁴ Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

 Glory to God, when you received your Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior your Heavenly Father did not leave you to wandering aimlessly through life.  Instead He sent the person of the glorious Holy Spirit to dwell deep inside your heart.  You were supernaturally sealed with the Holy Spirit. 

 The indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit confounds natural minds.  It is the supernatural act of God, and is known by the redeemed through an inexpressible presence deep within them.  The gift of the Holy Spirit deep within every born again believer is God's down payment and assurance that every other eternal promise given is His divine Word will be fulfilled completely.  The Holy Spirit is God's earnest or down payment given to every believer.

 The Holy Spirit has been placed within you, at the very moment of your salvation.  Let Him be your assurance of God's love for you and God's eternal promise given toward you. [This Christian Journey]

Week Two - Day One

He Did It

 2 Timothy 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
 

At the memorial service for Leroy Eims, longtime staff member with The Navigators, I pondered why hundreds of colleagues and friends had come from across the US to pay tribute.  Why did so many people love him so deeply?

 As a young Christian, LeRoy had been challenged to disciple others one on one.  He took seriously Paul's charge to Timothy: "The things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also" (2 Tim. 2.2).  LeRoy embraced that clear, simple command of Scripture and practiced it faithfully for more than 50 years.

 Scores of people who packed the church that afternoon had lived in Leroy and Virginia Eims' home.  They had been embraced, encouraged, and instructed by him.  As his spiritual children, they had multiplied his ministry by investing themselves in others, just as he had in them.

 One sentence in a written tribute captured the essence of the man: "His life was characterized by singleness of purpose, great creativity and a wonderful sense of humor."

 LeRoy's example spurs us on to a lifetime of faithfully following the Lord.  He did it!  And by God's grace, so can we. --David McCasland. 

It is in loving ---not being loved-- the heart is blessed;
It is in giving--not seeking gifts--we find our quest. --Anon.
[The Daily Bread, November 8, 2006]

Week Two  - Day Two

His Precious Blood

1 Peter 1:18-19 ¹⁸ Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; ¹⁹ But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

 There is no blood like Jesus blood.  Dr. M.R. DeHaan once wrote a book called "The Chemistry Of The Blood."  In this book Dr. DeHaan explains that every child gets its blood from its father.  Hence, the chemistry of the father’s blood is passed on to the children.  In the case of our spirituality the sin of Adam has been passed on from generation to generation through the inheritance of the blood.

 The only human exception is that of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Jesus had no natural father but was born of His virgin mother, Mary.  The Bible tells us that His seed was placed inside of Mary by the Holy Ghost through a supernatural act of God.  Hence, Jesus natural father was the Heavenly Father.  Thus the scriptural reference to Jesus as "the only begotten Son" (John 3.16).  This reveals that Jesus blood was unique blood because it was God's blood.

 The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ is precious blood because it was the sinless blood of Almighty-God.  This blood was shed on Calvary's cross to wash our sins away.  We can take confidence that Jesus’ unique blood is capable of cleansing us completely and eternally because His blood is precious blood indeed.  Praise God for the precious blood of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. [This Christian Jouney]

Week Two - Day Three

How Permanent Is What You Build

Matthew 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

The permanence of any building depends upon three things: the materials used, wisdom exercised in its construction, and its foundation. Inferior materials, though skillfully assembled, cannot stand for long against the elements of nature. Nor will superior materials, if carelessly put together, be able to stand. A combination of sound materials and wise direction in assembling is necessary if the building is to endure, also it is very important that it be built upon a solid foundation. The same truths apply to the building of a life. One must choose his materials carefully and work them into the structure of his life wisely. He must be positive that it is built on a good foundation. In the sermon on the mount, Jesus challenges each one of us to build for eternity! Jesus urges men to cast aside such material as selfishness, hypocrisy, lust, and hatred. These can only lead to failure and ruin.

Christ prescribes the materials that will stand throughout time and eternity. He stresses humility, meekness, righteousness, mercy, and purity. The quality of this material has been tested and tried through the centuries.

We must heed the instructions of the Master Architect. Build with Christ—Build for eternity! (Author Unknown)

Week Two - Day Four

The Priority Of Church

Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

As born-again Christians we must resist the temptation to look lightly upon the Church of our Lord, Jesus Christ.  In the Bible the Church is referred to as a Building (Eph 2.19-22), as a Body (1 Cor 12), and as the Bride of Christ (2 Cor 11.2; Eph 5.25-32; Rev 21.9).  As a building the Church is the dwelling place of God, as a Body the Church is the living organism of God in our world, as the bride the Church ought to be prepared for the soon arrival of its bridegroom.  All of which present an incredible picture of the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ.

But the verse that reveals the importance and priority of the Church must be:

Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

Jesus loves the Church so much that He died for the Church.  He gave us the Church that we might realize His purposes and truths for our lives in this current world. 

While there are many problems in Churches today, Christians must guard their outlook concerning the Church of our Lord, Jesus Christ.  We must cherish the Church as our Lord cherishes His Body.  We must nurture the Church through our diligent studies, and longsuffering service just as our Lord would if He were here. 

We must never forsake the assembling of ourselves together (The Church). (This Christian Journey)

Week Two - Day Five

Thinking Of Prayer As Jesus Taught

1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.

Our thinking about prayer, whether right or wrong, is based on our own mental conception of it. The correct concept is to think of prayer as the breath in our lungs and the blood from our hearts. Our blood flows and our breathing continues "without ceasing"; we are not even conscious of it, but it never stops. And we are not always conscious of Jesus keeping us in perfect oneness with God, but if we are obeying Him, He always is. Prayer is not an exercise, it is the life of the saint. Beware of anything that stops the offering up of prayer. "Pray without ceasing . . ."— maintain the childlike habit of offering up prayer in your heart to God all the time.

Jesus never mentioned unanswered prayer. He had the unlimited certainty of knowing that prayer is always answered. Do we have through the Spirit of God that inexpressible certainty that Jesus had about prayer, or do we think of the times when it seemed that God did not answer our prayer? Jesus said, ". . . everyone who asks receives . . ." ( Matthew 7:8 ). Yet we say, "But . . . , but . . . ." God answers prayer in the best way— not just sometimes, but every time. However, the evidence of the answer in the area we want it may not always immediately follow. Do we expect God to answer prayer?

The danger we have is that we want to water down what Jesus said to make it mean something that aligns with our common sense. But if it were only common sense, what He said would not even be worthwhile. The things Jesus taught about prayer are supernatural truths He reveals to us. (My Utmost For His Highest, Oswald Chambers, May 26, 2006)

Week Two - Day Six

The Discipline Of Hearing 

Matthew 10:27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.

 Sometimes God puts us through the experience and discipline of darkness to teach us to hear and obey Him. Song birds are taught to sing in the dark, and God puts us into "the shadow of His hand" until we learn to hear Him (Isaiah 49:2 ). "Whatever I tell you in the dark. . ."— pay attention when God puts you into darkness, and keep your mouth closed while you are there. Are you in the dark right now in your circumstances, or in your life with God? If so, then remain quiet. If you open your mouth in the dark, you will speak while in the wrong mood— darkness is the time to listen. Don’t talk to other people about it; don’t read books to find out the reason for the darkness; just listen and obey. If you talk to other people, you cannot hear what God is saying. When you are in the dark, listen, and God will give you a very precious message for someone else once you are back in the light.

 After every time of darkness, we should experience a mixture of delight and humiliation. If there is only delight, I question whether we have really heard God at all. We should experience delight for having heard God speak, but mostly humiliation for having taken so long to hear Him! Then we will exclaim, "How slow I have been to listen and understand what God has been telling me!" And yet God has been saying it for days and even weeks. But once you hear Him, He gives you the gift of humiliation, which brings a softness of heart— a gift that will always cause you to listen to God now. [My Utmost For His Highest, Oswald Chambers, February 14, 2007]

Week Two - Day Seven

Reckless Prayer  

Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

 Many Christians never learn the truth of unguarded prayer.  They pray, and many pray faithfully with discipline.  Yet, their prayers are always guarded prayers.  They pray as though there are secrets in their lives that just simply ought never to be revealed to others, even God.  It is as though God does not see what they do not allow Him to see.

 But what is beyond the knowledge of God?  What is there that is hidden from His omnipotent (all-knowing) gaze? 

Everything is laid bare before Him that knows all things.  If it is in your heart, mind or soul, God already knows that it is there.  So, a wise child of our Heavenly Father will take even the hidden secrets of his heart and life and will simply lay them down at the foot of His throne.

 Whatever it is that is in your heart: some hidden unconfessed sin, some secret dream or desire, some bitter root from many years ago, or some longing to deep for tongue to tell.  God already knows it exists within the secret chambers of your heart.  He merely desires that you acknowledge in His presence and accept what He might do with it.  When you do the promises of verse seven will be fulfilled in your heart and life. There is no peace like the peace of one who is wholly manifested by God. [This Christian Journey]

Week Three - Day One

The Milk Of The Word

 1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

Every parent knows how much a baby likes milk.  Without any hesitation a baby will bellow out its deepest desire for a bottle to satisfy its hunger, and absolutely nothing else will do.  A babies demands cannot be silenced by a comfortable blanket, a luxurious crib, an expensive rattle, or any other distraction, when once the hunger has firmly pricked the child’s mind.

This is the depth of desire that a Christian should have for the Word of God.  It must be recognized as the spiritual food that provides everything needed for healthy spiritual growth.  A Christian without a daily draught from the nourishing Word of God is a starving spiritual child.  Don’t ignore the spiritual hunger when it pricks the deepest part of your heart, it is merely trying to remind you that you need your daily spiritual feast.

The interesting thing about hunger is that it can be forgotten.  Deprive yourself from food for a couple of days, and at first your hunger is almost insatiable.  But after a relatively short period of time the hunger diminishes and the famished body just does not seem to feel hunger any more.  The living body still needs the nourishment of food; it just doesn’t seem to make its need known.  This is the condition of a Christian that is starving spiritually.  This child of God is in dire need of its spiritual nourishment, but the hunger is hidden in forgetfulness. 

Don’t be a starving child of God, desire the milk of the Word daily. [This Christian Journey]

Week Three - Day Two

The Touch Of Love

Romans 5.8 But God commendeth his love toward us , in that , while we were yet sinners , Christ died for us . 

Love commended is love given.  Isn't it incredible to think that, while we were lost in rebellious sin, our Heavenly Father loved us so much that He sent His Son to die for us that we might be united with His wonderful love.  Almighty God made a supernatural provision for you to be touched by His divine love.

Some mighty suggest that this is a demonstration of God's love.  So that, when you see Jesus hanging on Calvary's cross you see the extent of God's love.  However, a commendation is so much more than a demonstration; a commendation implies a literal touch.  Hence, this verse of Scripture when properly understood expresses that God seeks to unite you with His love rather than merely show you His love. 

When you fully grasp what our Lord Jesus Christ really did for you on the cross, and respond in repentance and surrender, then you will experience a personal unification with the incredible love of God.  Any other response to the suffering and death of Christ will yield only the visual perspective of a spectator.  God's goal here is not a demonstration but is instead a commendation.    

So, how do you behold the cross? [This Christian Jounrey]

Week Three - Day Three

 Fair-Weather Christians

 2 Timothy 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

 DEVOTIONAL TREASURE: 

 Are you a fair-weather Christian? There are some who, if their children get sick, will stop tithing. If they get a bad report from the doctor, they stop praising. If somebody hurts their feelings, they stop going to church. You can tell the commitment level of a Christian by their "fair weather" gauge. The test is, when everything goes wrong or doesn't add up, what will you do? I'll give you some hints. Keep giving. Keep praying. Keep praising. Keep witnessing. Keep worshipping. Don't fail to be faithful.

 ACTION POINT: 

 Think of three things you can do today to bring the light of God's Son to someone who may be struggling with his or her faith. Then go do it! [Love Worth Finding Devotion, Adrain Rogers, Dec 7, 2006]

Week Three - Day Four

The Sons Of God

 Romans 8.14-15 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God , they are the sons of God .  15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear ; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption , whereby we cry , Abba , Father .

 Glory to God, as His adopted children we can and must cry out to our Heavenly Father as His dear children.  With arms stretched out, eyes yearning, we should cry out, "Daddy, help me."  This is the plea of this passage of Scripture.

 It speaks to us of the nearness and presence of our Heavenly Father.  He is not far away on a business trip.  He is not on the other side of a vast and glorious throne room as King of Kings.  No, our Heavenly Father is right here, nearer than our nearest companion, closer than our embracing earthly father.

 How do we know that He is near?  We know it because of the intimate presence of the glorious Holy Spirit within our hearts.  Deep inside our most personal being, touching us in comforting and assuring ways that no mortal presence could reach.  Our ever present God assures us of His passion and persuasion in our lives, even in its difficulties. 

 Rest assured dear child of God, and be deeply and supernaturally touched.  Your Heavenly Father is near and listening. [This Christian Journey]

Week Three - Day Five

Trusting God

Proverbs 3.5-8 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart ; and lean not unto thine own understanding .  6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths .  7 Be not wise in thine own eyes : fear the LORD , and depart from evil .  8 It shall be health to thy navel , and marrow to thy bones . 

 Learning to place all of your confidence and trust in God and His ways is possibly one of most formidable character changes a Christian needs to make.  Life’s lessons continually teach us that there are none worthy of our unyielding trust.  Our friends and family have continuously hurt us, sometimes unintentionally, and at other times with purpose.  Yet, our Heavenly Father encourages us time and time again to unquestionably trust His will and way in our lives. 

The truth of Scripture is that God has promised to protect, provide, and promote us.  Yet, there are those times when difficulties come when we are not so sure that our Lord is keeping His promises.  But He is.  Therefore, there will be those times when all of our confidence must be placed in the never changing and never erring Word of God. 

These verses remind us that our ways and our thoughts are not the same as God's.  Therefore, we must avoid the tendency of sifting God's will through the filter of our circumstances.  We must know, that we know, that God's will and way is always perfect, good, and acceptable.  Why?  Because our Heavenly Father loves us and will always keep His Word toward us.  Hence, we must "Trust in the Lord with all our hearts!" [This Christian Journey]

Week Three - Day Six

Meaningful Sacrifices

 Romans 12:1-2 ¹ I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. ² And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Sacrifice is a word that strikes us right where it hurts.  It implies giving more than we really want to give.  It calls out for us to give those things that we value the most and desire to grip the tightest.  God does not ask for just any sacrifice, he asks for an acceptable sacrifice; which could only mean that He expects a meaningful sacrifice. 

Consider the examples given in the Bible.  God asked Abraham to give his only son, the son of his old age.  Our Heavenly Father gave His very best when He gave His only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.  Jesus gave everything in that He came to serve and not to be served, and then gave His life that He might save those who did not deserve to be saved.  The kings from the east gave up their prestige, protection, and their provision when they left the security and comfort of their kingdoms to chance traveling through the kingdoms of ruthless tyrants, like Herod the Great, in order to give gold, frankincense, and myrrh to a baby they called King of the Jews.  Each of these sacrifices of time, talent, and treasures were of incredible value and meaning. 

What about your sacrifices?  Are they of the kind that declare, “Lord, you are worthy of more than I have or can give?”

Week Three - Day Seven

A Bowed Knee

Philippians 2:10-11 ¹⁰ That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; ¹¹ And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  

There is no doubt about it, there is a King of kings and Lord of lord’s, and He is our Lord Jesus Christ.  There have been many that have foolishly declared themselves to be god or one of the god’s, but their mortality provided irrefutable proof of the level of their authority and power.  They still died.  Yet, our Lord Jesus Christ, after He died, arose physically from the grave, providing irrefutable proof of His authority and power. 

While you can do nothing that would make Jesus Lord, for He always has been and always will be Lord of all.  You can willingly enthrone Him as Lord of your life.  You can consciously stand up from the throne of your life’s authority and invite our Lord Jesus Christ to take over.  This act of surrender and humble submission needs to be purposeful and final in every new born Christian’s life.  This is called consecration. 

Will you bow your knee to the Lord Jesus Christ and yield your will and life to Him?  The truth is that you will one day bow to His divine and supreme authority.  Even those who deny Him and rebel against Him will one day bow before Him.  If you willingly bow to your Lord Jesus Christ in this mortal life, you will have the honor of reigning with Him in the coming eternal life.  If you refuse to bow to the Lord Jesus Christ in this life, rest assured you will bow before Him in your coming judgment.

 It’s up to you.  What will you do?

Week Four - Day One

Being faithful in life’s struggle

Psalms 18:23-28 ²³ I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity. ²⁴ Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight. ²⁵ With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright; ²⁶ With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward. ²⁷ For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks. ²⁸ For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.  

According to the heading for this Psalm David wrote it after being delivered from his enemies and from King Saul.  If you know anything about David’s life you know how he struggled throughout his life.  In his early years he was called into King Saul’s service, selected by God, anointed by Samuel to be King in Israel; while Saul was still alive and reigning.  Saul sought to kill David time after time.  Eventually, David is found hiding in caves, running for his life.  Yet, in the midst of all his struggles David kept a pure heart.  He struggled to maintain his integrity before God, regardless of what people might have thought about him. 

On at least two occasions King Saul was delivered into David’s hands.  David and his men could have killed Saul, and David’s men viewed Saul’s vulnerability as a deliverance by God; they said (in so many words), here he is let’s lets kill him and take the kingdom, God has given his life to us.  Yet we find David, under the deep conviction of God restraining his men, holding his integrity before God and keeping himself from taking matters into his own hands.  David wrote, 

Psalms 18:2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.  

In essence David was saying, there are some things that only God can do, and regardless of appearances or the counsel of trusted confidants we must trust God and wait on His divine deliverances.  In verses 23-28 David reveals that a faithful trusting servant in the midst of trial is one that maintains uprightness (vs 23), righteousness (vs 24), cleanness (vs 24), mercy (vs 25), and purity (vs 26).  David then notes that with the froward God will show himself froward.  Frowardness is the opposite of all the other characteristics; it is crookedness.  We might call it compromise.  The froward is one who would say, well something is telling me to wait on God, but . . .  Whenever the but arises in your decision making beware.  God is looking for integrity in the midst of life’s temptations and trials.  Throughout this Psalm David contrasts the honor of integrity with the obscurity of compromise and its ensuing wickedness.  Compromise always ends in tragedy. 

The point seems clear.  It is not always easy to wait on God’s deliverance.  Circumstances lure us, our desire to work it all out for ourselves and to be out of the trial draws upon us, but our integrity before God will always be honored by God.  I have often said, when you are in a trial and you are not absolutely sure what to do, do everything you can that maintains your integrity before God, and then trust God to do the rest.  It is not easy to step back and trust God, especially when things are in the gray or unclear, but it is our only real option.  There are many times in life when we just must say, “Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, make me stand . . .”   

Perhaps you need to take your Lord Jesus’ hand today.  [Pastor Walter Huyck, This Christian Journey]

Week Four – Day Two

 Beyond Comprehension  

Job 10.14-16  If I sin , then thou markest me, and thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity .  15 If I be wicked , woe unto me; and [if] I be righteous , [yet] will I not lift up my head . [I am] full of confusion ; therefore see thou mine affliction ;  16 For it increaseth . Thou huntest me as a fierce lion : and again thou shewest thyself marvellous upon me.  

As I read Job chapters 8-10 I see Job, whom God described as a perfect (spiritually mature) man, enduring great trial and tribulation.  His friends have come, to comfort him, and have turned out to be poor converters indeed.  Instead of comforting Job the start accusing him. 

Now, Job's friend's intentions are pure.  They point Job toward his sin because they know that if a man would be blessed by God then they must be right with God.  They also know that if a man lives in sin then God's judgment is sure to follow; there will be a pay day someday, as R.G. Lee used to say.  Job friends only made one error.  They failed to understand that sometimes God moves in our lives in ways that we can not possibly understand. 

In Chapter 10 I hear Job responding to his friends appropriately, yet with question.  In Job statements I hear him saying, "Lord, show me my sins."  I believe that Job, having heard his friends comments, searched his own heart for the purpose of true repentance.  Job want to see clearly if there were any sins in his life that he had ignored.  Job clearly desired a heart of godly integrity and purity with God.  Job's friend took Job comments as rebellion and denial, but I believe that Job really desired to be pure with God.  

In all of Job's discourses with his friends one undeniable fact is evident.  Job and his friends saw all that had happened to Job and tried to explain it in human terms.  In trying to understand the circumstances of job life through the narrow looking glass of their life's experiences that developed answers and solutions that were far from reality.  Job and his friends could never have imagined how the whole record began; with Job as a perfect man in God's sight, and Satan challenging God through the life of Job.  It was just too unthinkable. 

So what does this mean? 

As Christians we must always remember that God's ways are not our ways.  There are things at work in our lives that are supernatural in nature.  These supernatural and sovereign acts of God go far beyond our comprehension.  In your life there may be, and probably are, things at work that are that just go deeper than our mortality and natural creation.  In trying to understand and explain your personal circumstances you may fail to understand the spiritual and immortal ramification of your experiences.  One thing is certain, they are divine in nature. 

However, let us never forget that the reigns that control our circumstances and trials are in our heavenly Father's hand.  He loves us, he proved that with a cross.  He knows us and our particular circumstances; even down to the hairs on your head.  And all will work to our good in the end, God guarantees it.  Perhaps that best things we can do is fall back into the supernatural arms of God, trust Him, and let Him have his way in our lives and all of His creation, both natural and supernatural. [Pastor Walter Huyck, This Christian Journey] 

Week Four – Day Three 

The Joy Of Heaven  

Luke 15:8-10 ⁸ Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? ⁹ And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. ¹⁰ Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.  

A single piece of silver may not seem like a lot in our day.  It probably wasn't much more than a silver dollar.  Yet, the value of a silver dollar has certainly changed with time.  Today a dollar hardly buys a piece of candle.  Not too many years ago that same piece of candy may have cost a quarter.  Go back a few more years and some of may recall when a nickle was enough to satisfy a sweet tooth.  For a special few of us a penny or two would put a smile on a childs face; we won't list names to protect the innocent. 

The woman in this parable placed so much value upon this silver coin that she labored and fretted in her search for it.  She probably began by just noticing that the coin just was not where she expected it to be.  A coin in Jesus day was so very rare that to misplace one was just unconscionable.  One can see her first glances around, and almost hear the question in her mind, "oh my, where could that coin be?"  She most likely looked in the most obvious places first;  picking up a few items, and pillows to see if it in advertantly got covered up; looking briefly here and then there. Yet, all of her initial searches were to no avail.  For some of us this is where the accusations would begin, "honey, did you move that coin?" 

In this parable that one silver coin was so very important.  The woman is described as sweeping the whole house and searching with great interest.  The woman just would not, could not give up her search.  She had to find that coin, and in the end she does. 

That coin was so important that when it is found it is not just casually placed back in its proper place.  The woman rejoices to have found the coin.  She is said to have celebrated with her friends and family.  Who of us would show such enthusiasm over a mere coin?  It just exemplifies the incredible value that such a coin presented. 

Yet, Jesus says, "Likewise, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth ."  The picture of this women and this coin are merely a picture of the value God places on a single lost soul.  I wonder if we have the same heart for lost souls that God has.  Do we notice their need?  Are we willing to search for their repentance until they are won?  Or are we satisfied with an initial invitation and casual rejection; telling ourselves we have done all we can do?  Will you labor ,travail, and even fret to bring the lost into the fold?  I wonder? 

Someone might think, "well there's no sense in doing all that, God has to work on them, only God can do the saving."  Indeed, only God can do the saving through Christ Jesus our Lord.  Yet, if we have developed the heart of Christ then His burden will be ours, and in this chapter He is the shepherd searching for one lost sheep, He is the woman searching for one lost coin, He is the father longing for one prodigal son.  And in each case, greatly rejoices when the long search ends with eternal victory.  But, be sure to notice the search did not end until the discovery was made. 

Are you searching?  Are you laboring?  Are you demonstrating the diligent heart and mind of our Lord Jesus Christ?  Then know, there is a great celebration on your horizon, for there is great joy in heaven when one sinner repents! [Pastor Walter Huyck, This Christian Journey] 

Week Four – Day Four 

Risen Indeed 

Luke 24.36 And as they thus spake , Jesus himself stood in the midst of them , and saith unto them , Peace [be] unto you .  

Consider this event for a moment.  There they were gathered in a room together; confused and scared.  When they looked up, and to their amazement there Jesus stood, right there in the room with them. As you read on in the text Jesus proved to them that He was not just a ghost or spirit, but He stood there in physical flesh and blood.  They touched Him, and heard Him. 

The foundation and corner stone of all Christianity is the actual, physical resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Not just the testimony of His resurrection but the fact of His resurrection.  All the religious leaders of the day would have had to do to defeat Christianity would have been to lay Jesus physical body out in the city square and say, "There He is, dead as a door nail."  But they couldn't.  Why?  Because Jesus

was physically alive, walking around and talking to people.  More than five hundred people saw Him after His resurrection at one time, and this powerful witness has never been refuted. 

False teachers may come and go, the adversary of every child of God may try to undermine the Gospel message, but they can never prevail until they defeat the witnessed and reliable resurrection of our Lord.  A fact so substantiated historically and convincingly that it has stood through the ages.  He lives, He lives, He has risen and is alive! 

Week Four – Day Five

Bellyaching And Its Cure 

1 Corinthians 13:4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,  

A Mentally impaired man always shook hands with his pastor after each service.  But he often made critical comments like these: “You preach too long.”  “Your sermons are boring.”  “You talk about yourself too much.”  Distressed, the pastor mentioned this to a deacon, who replied, Oh, don’t worry about him. All he does is parrot what he hears others say.” 

Grumbling is an all-too-common sin among Christians, and some are chronic complainers.  They are skilled at finding something wrong with anyone who is actively trying to serve the Lord.  And undoubtedly all of us have done some bellyaching. 

The best cure for this sinful habit is Christian love—something easy to talk about but difficult to practice.  First, we must consciously desire God’s best for everyone,  This love “. . . suffereth long, and is kind; charity [love] envieth not; charity[love] vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, ⁵ Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil” (1 Corinthians 13.4-5).  Then, as we depend on the Lord, we must put these attitudes into practice. 

The next time you feel like finding fault with someone, resist that impulse and look for a way to do good to that person (Galatians 6.10).  Do this diligently, and in time you will be cured of your bellyaching.  – Herb Vander Lugt 

I would not criticize the one who works,
The one who listens to God’s Word and heeds;
But I would criticize myself, dear Lord,
Confess to You my faithless words and deeds. –Hess 

Don’t find Fault—Find a remedy.
[Daily Bread, August 14, 2006, KJV Scriptures substituted for this devotional book]

Week Four – Day Six 

It’s Your Choice 

Joshua 24:15 . . . choose you this day whom ye will serve; . . .  

As Joshua was nearing the end of his life, he gathered the children of Israel together at Shechem.   And there, from the lips of a man who was close to death, came an appeal that throughout the centuries has moved the hearts of many Joshua said, “choose you this day whom ye will serve” (Joshua 24.14).

This challenge, viewed in the light of the New Testament, suggests three outstanding lessons regarding our salvation.  First, we must make a choice between God and the devil.  To refuse Christ leaves us automatically on the devil’s side.  Jesus said, “He that is not with me is against me” (Matthew 12.30). 

Second, this choice is a personal choice.  Joshua said, “Choose you. . .whom ye will serve.”  Through faith in Jesus Christ, we can be born again and become a child of God.  But we must do the believing ourselves. 

Third, There is an urgency in this charge.  “Choose you this day.” Not next month, not a week form today, not tomorrow, but this day. 

 Have you made that all-important choice?  Have you trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior?  If not, do so right now!  Remember, the choice is yours.  –Richard Dehaan

 If I the King of heaven choose,
If I the things of earth refuse,
The best I gain, the worst I lose—
The choice is mine. ---Stanphill

 Now is the time to choose the Lord—
tomorrow may be too late.
[Daily Bread, October 22, 2006, KJV scriptures substituted]

 Week Four – Day Seven

Sinless Perfection

1 John 3.7-9  Little children , let no man deceive you : he that doeth righteousness is righteous , even as he is righteous .  8 He that committeth sin is of the devil ; for the devil sinneth from the beginning . For this purpose the Son of God was manifested , that he might destroy the works of the devil .  9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin ; for his seed remaineth in him : and he cannot sin , because he is born of God .   

What an incredible expectation?  To even consider living in utter sinlessness goes beyond human reason.  Yet the passage sounds so very clear.  Sin, any sin presents itself as an indication of a lack of the new birth.  What are sincere Christian folk supposed to think of a passage of Scripture like this?

 The truth of this passage lies deep within the heart of a born again Christian.  In that most hallowed place where the Holy Spirit of God dwells.  If God indeed dwells in the tabernacle of your heart, then sin will be a most reprehensible thing to you.  Why?  Because sin, any sin, throws up a curtain of separation between you and your God; for He is of purer eyes than to behold sin.  God cannot dwell with sin, His perfect holiness prevents such a union. 

 Therefore, once a child of God has known the presence of God within him, he will find that relationship to be of greater value than anything else in life.  Such a relationship with the divine enhances every other relationship in life, and bringing a curtain of separation into the tabernacle of the living God (your heart) becomes intolerable to you.  In other words, you will no longer tolerate sin in your life.  Your attitude toward sin will be transformed. 

Hence this passage is all about your attitude concerning sin.  A heart that despises sin is far less likely to sin.  If a heart like this finds the presence of separating sin upon its hallowed ground, this heart will demand its immediate cleansing through confession and repentance.  Why?  Because the presence of the Holy in far more important and valuable than the pleasures of sin.  What is your attitude toward sin?

Good daily devotional resources for continuing devotions include:

• Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest

• Evening and Morning by Spurgeon

• Love Worth Finding Daily Devotional via email, www.lwf.org

• The Daily Bread, available from many Churches.

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