JACKS DAILY DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS
In (Matthew 18: 10-14), “If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off”
Jesus taught His disciples a simple story to illustrate a spiritual truth.
Jesus taught about a shepherd who had 100 sheep, and one of the flock wondered off by itself.
The sheep was lost… and the word “lost” as used here is the same word that means “perish” in the original Greek writings.
In other words, the sheep was in peril, in great danger, headed for destruction, because it had left the safely of shepherd’s flock.
A shepherd knows all of his sheep and is concerned about the condition of every one of them.
He decides to go after that sheep and save it, because it went astray!
God knows whether people are saved or lost, he knows the condition of every lost soul and devised a plan to do something about it.
He sent his only begotten son, Jesus Christ, to pay the penalty for their sins so they wouldn’t have to be punished.
By coming to earth as a human being, Jesus died on a cross to reconcile us to a Holy God, because we were spiritually separated from Him due to our sinful nature inherited from our natural parents whom inherited a sinful nature from their ancestors as well, all the way back to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
That lost sheep in this story may have wandered away from the shepherd, but because the shepherd is a “good shepherd” who loves and cares about His sheep, He went looking for it.
Another shepherd might have counted the 99 and decided it wouldn’t be worth his trouble, and the time it would cost him to go after just one dumb sheep.
But Jesus is not like that.
He is the “The Good Shepherd”, who came to this world to give His life because He cares about us the sheep of His pasture. (Psalm 103) (Psalm 95:7) Ezekiel 34:31))
The shepherd in this story didn’t stop until His mission had been completed and the sheep had been found!
The final words that Jesus cried out from the cross when He was crucified was “It is finished”!
The price or the penalty for sin was paid… judgment for sin was carried out and fully accomplished.
Sin was defeated… never more to have the strength to imprison mankind in its grip and mastery any longer.
The Good Shepherd perfectly fulfilled His mission, and all those who believe in what He did for them by shedding His sinless blood are saved, and guaranteed a home in Heaven.
The sheep that was lost was now found, saved because of what “The Good Shepherd” did for it.
The word “saved” means “to rescue from all harm.”
That’s what Jesus, “The Good Shepherd”, did for all of us delivering us from the penalty and power of sin.
By believing that fact, God declares us righteous… meaning just as if we had never sinned at all… which gives us the legal right to make us fit to enter a holy heaven.
That one lone sheep in this story may have been dumb enough to have wandered away from the flock, but getting it home was the responsibility of “The Good Shepherd” who owned it.
When “The Good Shepherd” found that sheep, he saved it and brought it home where it belongs.
Jesus said in (John 10:28), “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish… no one will snatch them out of my hand”.
True believers in Christ are described by Jesus as sheep… the Lord’s sheep are saved by God’s gift of undeserved grace.
(Ephesians 2:8) says “For by grace are ye saves through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God”
That faith, that trust… is what “secures” eternal salvation for "the lost soul" the lost sheep.
(Psalm 79:13) "But we your people, the sheep of your pasture",
(1st Peter 2:25) "For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd".
Jesus said He came into this world to “seek and to save that which is lost.”
The Bible makes it clear that “the angels in heaven rejoice” over every lost soul/sinner who comes to faith belief and trust in Jesus. (Luke 15:10)
That faith, that trust, is what “secures” eternal salvation for their lost soul.
Because of that new spiritual rebirth, our relationship with Christ restores fellowship between a Holy God and lost sinners.
So my question to you today is, “have you believed”, in the finished work of Christ on your behalf”?
Are you in a relationship with the Good Shepherd?
Or are you still lost?
I did not ask you if you go to church?
I did not ask you if you are a good person?
I asked you, “are you in a relationship with Jesus Christ”?
If so, then you are saved!
But only if you come to the one who can help you, and who died for you to take away your sins.
(Romans 10:13) “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved”!
His name is Jesus Christ.
Good Day!
(Luke 15:8) “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?
This story that Jesus has told his followers is one of a series of three parables… the lost sheep… the lost piece of silver… and the prodigal son, which all teach of the Lord's love and care for all of us.
They teach us that not one human being ever gets beyond the Savior's care.
All three of these parables illustrate first of all, the infinite love and mercy of God.
But within this story is a clear and evident challenge not so readily apparent, with a message applicable to us all… for as the Lord took on our humanity, whatever is true of Him in the highest degree is also true of us in the lowest.
If the Lord came as He said, "to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10),
His command to us also is "seek and ye shall find" (Matthew 7:7)
In the parable of the lost piece of silver we have the picture of a woman seeking for a treasure which she once had… but which she has lost.
She knows that it is in the house somewhere, and she knows too… that if she searches diligently she will find it.
Silver in the Word represents truth or beliefs.
Belief in a good and wise God in heaven… and eternal life in heaven with that wise and good God after death is very real to us when we are taught it in childhood.
But as we grow older, doubts often come to mind.
We get so busy making a living and raising a family using our God given gifts to take control of our lives… that we tend to exclude God from the decisions we make and soon we lose the “childlike awareness” of His presence, and the faith in Him we once had appears to be lost.
One says, "I wish I could believe, but I cannot."
Though the desire is there, it has been lost in the maze of worldly ambition and business of taking care of business.
In this light we should all from time to time ask ourselves, "Have I lost anything of value that I once possessed?
Have I lost that condition of childlike faith and confidence in my Heavenly Father which I once had?"
This “confidence” in the wisdom and love of God was no less real because we were too young to express it.
It was a “state of faith”… the quality of which was unknown to ourselves at the time… the confident trust of a child.
Many will say that we have "grown out of it."
But in reality… no, we have not!
Like the woman in our parable or story we simply have mislaid it… lost it for a time.
But the Lord wishes that we find it again.
He says: “Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3)
He is referring to having the faith of a child, or “childlike” faith and trust!
We “misplace” truth only when we do not practice it.
The ten pieces of silver that Jesus mentions at the beginning of His story represent all the truths necessary for our spiritual life and development.
One of these is the truth that all knowledge of God and of spiritual things is “a gift from God” and not from any ability in ourselves to discover it.
When we look out upon the world and see the foolish things that men do trusting in themselves, the lust of the flesh, the pride of life, the rivalries and discord… we ought to have little confidence in our own wisdom.
The bible teaches us that “there is a way which seems right unto a man, but it is the way of death” (Proverbs 16:25)
We may accumulate many treasures, but there is still one which is represented in the parable by the piece of silver which was lost.
That is the full and perfect belief and trust, familiar to early childhood, that is fortunately still enjoyed by some adults also.
The lost coin is still in the house.
God, in His infinite wisdom, has so ordered it that nothing which we have once attained, is ever completely destroyed.
The state of “childhood trust” and faith in Him, remains somewhere within us.
That’s why (Proverbs 22:6) teaches “train up a child in the way he should go when he is young, and when he is old he shall not depart from it.”
We may have lost sight of it, but it is not lost.
It is still there lying hidden deep in the soul,
It is still in the house, and it is to the Divine purpose of God that we attain that state again in a fuller degree.
So the Lord commands, "Seek, and ye shall find."
And our parable tells us just what to do to find it.
First light a candle and sweep the house.
The house is our mind or soul… in which are all our treasures.
Our mind is a dwelling place in which we manage and store many things, and also lose many things.
The candle that lights our search is truth from the Lord. "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet" (Psalm 119:105).
From Him proceeds all truth, “He is the light of the world”.
The little child in Sunday School learning the first lessons of the Lord's commandments and precepts, is lighting a candle sufficient to illuminate his or her little mental home.
The wisest scholar in the universe, in learning “the deeper truths of the Word” is but lighting a candle obtained from Him who is “the light of the world”.
The lesson of this parable to each one of us is simply this… when once we have been thoroughly convinced of any “truth”, let us immediately make use of that knowledge to get rid of whatever is foolish, false, or wrong in our own hearts and minds.
If we do this, we shall regain or make room for “the lost treasure”.
We must have “the will”, “the desire” to attain regeneration or rebirth.
“Seeking diligently, that’s where we find this wonderful relationship of faith that God offers each of us.
Good Day!
(Psalm 103:5) “Who satisfies your mouth with good things... so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s”
I don’t know of any one that is living life under the extreme challenges of today… that does not look for a rest or more strength to deal with those challenges.
From the dads trying to support and take care of or provide for their families… to the stay at home moms dealing with babies that demand so much of their attention… to the seniors of our society facing uncertain retirement and continued existence despite the many physical hurdles they are facing as their bodies grow more weary and tired as age creeps up upon them…
All of us long for more strength to deal with the pressures of life!
The Bible is an “Eastern” book that was written many years ago by people raised in the Middle East.
As such, there are many customs and idioms that are not familiar to the “Western” mind.
In understanding the scriptures it is important for us to understand the culture, but it doesn’t mean that we should necessarily “follow” that culture.
Rather, it is in the understanding of the Eastern culture that we gain light and understanding about many things in the Bible.
In the fifth verse of (Psalm 103), God promises “to satisfy us with good things so that our youth is renewed like the eagle”.
In order to understand this verse of scripture, let’s first consider the eagle.
It is both interesting as well as noteworthy that eagles are mentioned and used as a comparison numerous times in the Bible.
The eagle like other comparisons, is mentioned in places where its characteristics help make a point concerning Gods care and concern for you and I.
Understanding some characteristics of eagles helps us to understand those comparisons.
For instance, (Deuteronomy Chapter 32) refers to God as an eagle, fluttering over the young, spreading out His wings, and then bearing them up or carrying them on His wings.
In (Exodus 19:4) God reminds Moses that “He bore the nation of Israel on eagle’s wings”.
In other words, He carried the nation on His wings… in the strength of His hands.
That is quite a picture of God’s great power, care and concern which is there for all of us to find safety in.
There are numerous comparisons in the Bible using the eagle.
One such case is Psalm 103, where it talks about “our youth being renewed” as an eagle is renewed.
How is the youth of an eagle renewed?
I have read of different methods that different types of eagles have to shed their old feathers.
Eagles… as do all birds go thru a molting process where as their old feathers have to be preened, cared for, and renewed .
Once he has his new feathers, he can fly again, and the whole process is compared to its youth being renewed.
The book of Isaiah says “those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength… they shall mount up with wings as eagles… they shall run and not be weary… and they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31)
Our “youth,” or specifically, our spiritual walk with God, can be renewed, as we shed the old, and take on the new!
There are a number of verses in the New Testament that refer to
“putting off the old”, and putting on the new.
(Ephesians 4:22- 25) “That you put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts… and be renewed in the spirit of your mind.
That you put on the new man, which God has created in righteousness and true holiness.
Wherefore put away lying… speak every man truth with his neighbor… for we are members one of another”.
We are to “put off the old man and put on the new man”.
Just like the eagle cannot get new feathers until he gets rid of his old feathers thru the “molting process”, we too must put off, cast down, or lay aside the old and then put on the new.
We must make a conscious mental effort to put off the actions of the old nature.
We determine mentally that those old things will “no longer” be a part of our lives.
And then we “purpose” to replace them with what the Bible declares to be part of our new nature.
For example, in Ephesians it says “to put away lying and speak every man truth with his neighbor”.
Lying is part of the old nature.
Speaking the truth is a characteristic of the new nature.
So we can mentally determine to put away lying… we can shed those old feathers.
And in it’s place we make a conscious mental decision to speak the truth… developing new feathers.
In doing so, we can then walk with God unencumbered by the old.
As we shed the old feathers and put on the new in their place, we are renewed.
We can walk with Him and not faint.
We can run with Him and not be weary.
We can be renewed and mount up with wings as do the eagles.
This is the exhortation of Gods word for each of us.
We don’t have to live with our lives being governed oppressed and dictated to by the old nature of sin.
We can over come… we can be more than conquerors… you don’t have to live “the same old same old”
(Hebrews 12:1) “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses… let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us… and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”
With Gods help you can fly like an eagle, you can be “a new creation “in Christ!
The question remains though,
Do you want to?
Good Day!
(1st John 4:18) “Perfect love drives out fear”
According to psychiatric statistics, there are approximately 2,000 classified fears or phobias that exist and have been catalogued.
What’s interesting is that psychiatrists say we are born with only two innate ones… the fear of falling and the fear of loud noises.
That means that the other 1998 fears that plague humanity are learned.
This seems inconceivable I know… but I don’t argue with folks that are smarter than me.
But more importantly, if these fears are learned fears, then that means we can unlearn every other fear.
The majority of our lives are shaped, for better or worse, by a handful of experiences.
These defining experiences can plant a seed of confidence or a seed of uncertainty, a seed of hope or a seed of vulnerability, a seed of faith or a seed of fear.
John expresses the end goal of our relationship with God… “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear” (1st John 4:18)
The words “perfect love”, do not describe our love for God, but rather God’s unconditional, unearned, unfailing love for us.
(John 3:16) “for God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that we might be saved”
(Ephesians 2:8) “for by grace we are saved thru faith and that not of our selves but it is the gift of God”
The goal of love is fearlessness!
As we grow in a love relationship with God, we unlearn the fears that paralyze us and neutralize us spiritually.
That is the essence of faith.
Faith is the process of unlearning our “irrational” fears.
The only God-ordained fear, is the fear of God.
And if we fear… as in love, honour, reverence, and respect God… we don’t have to fear anyone or anything else.
Unlearning our fears is really a process of learning to trust God more and more.
One of the greatest promises God has given to us in scripture is this…
(Hebrews 13:5-6 ) “He Himself has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you.
So we may boldly say… The Lord is my helper… I will not fear.
What can man to do me?”
In (2nd Timothy 1:7) Paul writes to the early church of his day saying… “for God has not given us spirit of fear…but of love, power and a sound mind”.
Its time to unlearn the fears that we have been indoctrinated with from the enemy of our soul and the world around us… and in turn cleave to the confidence and faith in God that drives out fear.
To overcome fear… through faith in God… consider the following principles.
Put your confidence in God instead of relying on your own strength.
Trust in God for His guidance.
(2nd Corinthians 3:4-5) tells us “Such confidence we have through Christ before God.
The Bible reassures believers that they are not alone in their fears.
For instance (Isaiah 41:10) states… “Do not fear for I am with you… do not be dismayed for I am your God… I will strengthen you and I will surely help you”
Biblical examples of Gods promise are found in the accounts of David and Goliath.
Scripture exemplifies how faith can conquer fear.
David’s confidence in God enabled him to face the giant with out fear, demonstrating that faith can also dispel anxiety and uncertainty!
Developing faith takes daily discipline, prayer, and a relationship with Christ that goes beyond a church service once a week.
Engaging in regular prayer and meditation… feeding on scriptures that reinforce the promises of God… can help you filter out fear and align it with God truth.
Developing that faith takes daily discipline, prayer, and a relationship with Christ.
Engaging in regular prayer meditation and the reading of Gods word can help filter out fear and align it with God’s truth.
By integrating these principles into your life… you can cultivate a deeper confidence and faith that drives out fear.
“Gods perfect love for you casts out all fear” (1st John 4:18)
Good Day
(Romans 3:17) “The way of peace they have not known”
Think about when Abraham and Lot had become prosperous, and their herds began competing for the grazing land.
There was strife between the herdsmen of Abraham and the herdsmen of Lot.
So what did Abraham do?
He gave Lot first choice of the land!
That sounds like an “inequitable solution”, but God made “all things work together for good” (Romans 8:28) for Abraham, because of his desire for peace and his generosity to others. (Genesis 13:1-17.)
The same with Isaac in (Genesis 26:12-33) His neighbors kept stopping his waters sources and demanding he move else where, so Isaac would move down the road find another spot to live, dig another well and then his neighbors would come along and do the same thing.
This happened several times and for some time, but in each case Isaac practiced making peace.. and the bible eventually records that his neighbors finally came to him, admitted that they could see God in his life and they wanted to make peace with him.
(Genesis 26:30) records the following “Isaac then made a feast for them, and they ate and drank. Early the next morning the men swore an oath to each other. Then Isaac sent them on their way, and they went away peacefully”.
The bible is filled with stories of this same turn around happening in the life of Gods people and each story from scripture dealt with “no small dissension” but serves as an example for you and I to consider today in the manner of walking in the way of peace.
Each story chronicled was a “crisis event” for the people of God.
One of the most interesting examples is found in the New Testament Church at the Jerusalem conference in Acts 15.
A “dissension rose up” between the leaders involved in the early church.
The dissension was over “the practice of circumcision”.
Some of the Jewish leaders in the early church felt that the early church needed to continue in this practice of circumcision.
Those that were Gentile leaders following Paul’s message of “freedom from the law in Christ”… felt that circumcision was nothing more than bondage.
It was threatening to “split the church”, with “no small dissention among them”.
Though the scripture says their was “no small dissension” and there was “much dispute”, they managed to come to a “peaceful” resolution.
Verse 22 says, “Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church” to announce the decision they reached.
It is interesting to note the process the council followed in resolving this conflict.
First, the problem was clearly stated… each side was presented in a public debate.
Second, the facts were presented by those who were acquainted with them not just here say or rumors.
Third, counsel was given by a person who was trusted for his
“objectivity and wisdom”.
Fourth, “unanimity” was sought in the decision.
Fifth, the attitude of “preserving the unity of the Spirit” remained utmost on every ones mind.
The council was more concerned about what God truly thought about the situation, than what mans opinion was!
They all wanted “the mind of Christ” in this situation and they all wanted the Spirits leading.
That is when “true peace” is found,
This same formula would be helpful in resolving conflicts today.
The way of peace is found in the mind of Christ.
So today I ask you, are you “like minded”?
Is it your way or “Christ’s way”?
What would Jesus do?
That needs to be the motto of each of us as we live out our lives as “Ambassadors of Heaven”.
It’s a way of life that is simple (not complex) but hard, (not easy).
Yet it is the way that works… that brings many wonderful benefits.
And it’s the only way to achieve real, lasting peace!
Good Day!
(Romans 3:17) “And the way of peace they have not known”;
In (Matthew 5:9) called “the “Beatitudes” Jesus said “blessed are the Peace Makers”.
And in (Romans 3:17) Paul speaks to the lack of that “beatitude”, when he is making his case that ‘natural man’ or (mankind) is a sinner and needs the redeeming and regenerating work of God in His or her life (Romans 3:11-18)
To walk in or live in “The way of peace”, we need to be a people that love and obey “the Word of God”, and submit or obey to His “law of love” (Psalm 119:165)
We also need to get “wisdom” at any or all cost (Proverbs 4:5-7)
Thirdly we need to walk in “maturity”; “spiritual maturity” is made evident or proven through being more careful about the words we say.
(Hebrews 6:1) “Therefore, let us leave the ‘elementary teachings’ or as Peter puts it in (1st Peter 2:2) “desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby... in regard to evil, be infants… but in your thinking be mature.
Today I want to talk about “having the mind of Christ”.
To walk in “the way of peace” is to seek for, desire to, reject the philosophies of the world and adopt “the Word of God” into our heart and life as being “the end all, to all”.
Jesus said “man shall not live by bread alone” (Luke 4:4).
(Colossians 3:16) says “let the Word Of Christ dwell in you richly”.
We need to seek the mind of Christ.
(Philippians 2:5-8) talks about having the mind of Christ!
“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking on the form of a servant…
Being born in the likeness of men and being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
What was the mind of Christ?
How about humility, servant hood, humbleness and obedience?
Can we do or be any less?
Consider Paul’s “human relations” advice in (Philippians 2:3-5):
“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each “esteem others” better than himself.
Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.”
To “esteem others” means to use a “thorough analysis” to see the value of other people’s strengths and to recognize their challenges and needs.
I’ve read the following thoughts by many esteemed writers and counselors of the past who all agree… “we should seek first to understand others, then to be understood”.
In verse 5 Paul explains that we each need the mind of Christ, to copy to imitate His willingness to sacrifice and to serve humbly.
This takes the work of the Holy Spirit and being spiritually minded, as Paul put it in (Romans 8:6)
Ultimately, every conflict can have a solution that will benefit all parties for eternity.
We can learn from those who have met the challenge of reaching workable solutions in conflict
After all that was the mind of Christ... "Peace I give unto you... Not as the world gives, give I unto you"
Lets look at that together tomorrow…
Good Day!
Lets look at that together tomorrow…
Good Day!
(James 4:1), ““Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your “desires for pleasure” that war in your members?”
As touched upon yesterday, “The way of peace”, requires walking in “The way of Maturity”.
As we have looked at over the last couple days spiritual maturity is gauged by the following attitudes or spiritual principles:
#1) Spiritual Maturity receives the truth with out arguing it or manipulating it.
#2) Spiritual Maturity stops pointing fingers at every body else’s failures and mistakes.
#3) Spiritual Maturity knows when to and when not to speak.
#4) Spiritually mature believers are less dependent on themselves and increasingly dependent on Christ… the Word… and the Holy Spirit.
Mature Christians do not make much of themselves and their good works and progress… they make much of Jesus.
They believe and practice what Jesus said: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.
Every branch in me that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit”.
Even while mature Christians are growing in faith and holiness, they do not grow more dependent on themselves, because they know their growth comes through abiding in Christ - dependency on Christ alone - and obedience to His command to “love God and love others”.
Mature Christians don't take credit for themselves… they humbly follow Jesus.
#5) Spiritually Mature Christians make every effort to build themselves up in faith.
The good news is "Come close to God, and God will come close to you." (James 4:8)
As we take steps closer to God, we experience His goodness, grace and glory in our lives in new ways.
The Apostle Peter tells us: "Make every effort to add to your faith goodness… and to goodness, knowledge… and to knowledge, self-control… and to self-control, perseverance… and to perseverance, godliness… and to godliness, mutual affection… and to mutual affection, love.
For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election.
For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2nd Peter 1:5-11)
We need to understand these biblical principles so we can help others learn to calm their anger and put away their generations-long cycle of revenge.
If we learn these lessons of love, controlling our tempers and fighting the desire for revenge, we will be able to practice and later to teach others these essential components of, “The way of peace”.
Good day!