JACKS DAILY DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS
(Mark 10:48) “Many warned him to be quiet… but he cried out all the more.”
I often awaken before sun up, and as I watch the sky lighten up and then view the first beams of sunshine as its light begins to overtake the darkness that cloaks the morning… I always feel a thrill at the sight of the various colors that spring to life before my eyes.
Can you imagine what it must have been like for blind Bartimaeus.
Try to imagine being blind all your life… then one day miraculously receiving your sight.
And the first face you see… is the face of Jesus!
Here he is… living life the same old same old!
No hope, no joy, no laughter, just another day of darkness… as you wait for time to slowly bring an end to the hopelessness you have grown up with… as you endure the darkness of living each day… with out the ability to see the world around you.
But wait!
Suddenly you hear that Jesus is coming your way.
This one whom they’ve been talking about who is apparently healing the sick and giving sight to others and bringing healing to those who couldn’t hear… and new strength to legs that couldn’t stand and walk.
You’ve wished that you could go to see Him or maybe be in His path one day as He walks thru town and now here He is and He’s coming your way!!
He’s going to pass by the spot where you’ve sat begging every day of your life.
Recognizing this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, he cried out for help at the top of his lungs.
Sometimes dignified prayer won’t get the job done.
Desperate situations call for desperate measures.
Sometimes you’ve got to cry out to God from the depths of your soul!
When Bartimaeus began to cry out… Jesus suddenly stopped what He was doing and “Jesus stood still” (Mark 10:49).
Here is my point this morning folks.
Your cry will get God’s attention.
David said, “I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me” (Psalm 30:2)
Don’t be reluctant… be confident!
“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and…grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
The Bible says… “Throwing his cloak aside… he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus” (Mark 10:50).
The statement used here… “He came to Jesus”… does not do justice to what was happening in that moment.
Remember that Bartimaeus was blind.
He couldn’t see!
He couldn’t see where He was going… He couldn’t see those things that could cause him to trip and fall… he had to leave his spot that was familiar to him and take a chance.
The bible says he “cast his cloak away” and leaped to His feet. He staggered and tripped and probably made quite a seen all the while crying out at the top of His voice Jesus! Jesus!
So why did the writers record the action of blind Bartimaeus “casting away his cloak”?
I think for two reasons.
One his cloak… though a comfort while he was blind was now a hindrance to him as he tried to get to Jesus.
A long robe could have tripped him up and caused him to fall.
Second,,, his clothes identified him as a beggar.
To get to Jesus, you must be willing to throw aside everything that stands in your way.
The shame and failure of your past, your lack and your limitations, the labels other people have put on you.
When Jesus restores you and makes you whole… you won’t have to wear those old garments anymore.
And here’s another thought… when Bartimaeus regained his sight… he began to follow Jesus (Mark 10:52)
The world didn’t give Bartimaeus any hope before Jesus passed by.
He hadn’t anything to hope in before his healing… what was there to go back to?
As He looked upon the very first face He had ever seen in his life… he made the decision to keep that face in his view from that point forward.
His focus, his gaze was fixed upon Jesus… his only hope in life.
The old song Amazing Grace says “I once was blind but now I see”.
There is an old cliché that says “there is none so blind as He who will not see!”
There is a blindness that humanity suffers from.
It’s called spiritual blindness!
You’ve heard about Jesus.
You’ve heard about the new life He has given others… yet you refuse to believe that He can do it for you.
What will it take for you to finally cry out and ask God to heal your blindness?
It’s there for you just like it was for Bartimaeus!
Bartimaeus finally got fed up with how he was living.
He cried out at the top of his voice… he made a scene as he staggered, tripped, and stumbled to where Jesus was… and Jesus honored His efforts and his faith.
What will it take for you to cast off your cloak of pride, your cloak of dignity, your cloak of doubt and unbelief… and come to the source of the light.
Jesus is our only hope.
He is the one thing that separates us from the rest of the world.
The bible says the world is with out hope and with out God.
Does that describe you today?
He is the answer… but in it’s blindness our world sits bound by unbelief and spiritual blindness.
Though you and I have been tainted and influenced by it’s chains and cloak of darkness that tries to hold us down… Jesus is coming!
He is passing our way and He is willing to set you free today from your spiritual blindness and the chains that bind you.
Do you want to see? Do you want to be free?
Then call out to Him today.
He says “come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest for your soul” (Matthew 28:11)
Bartimaeus heard Jesus was passing by…
He didn’t wait until that happened.
He wasn’t going to live life like he had to that point any longer.
He wasn’t letting Jesus pass him by!
Don’t you wait till it’s to late either!
Good day!
(1st Corinthians 1:18) "The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing".
Jesus dying on the cross for our sins sounds like “foolishness” to some people.
They just can’t understand nor accept why God’s Son had to go to the cross on our behalf.
The world’s philosophy is “If I cannot understand it… I won’t accept it.”
That’s where they get it wrong.
Salvation comes through faith alone and we will never understand it with our carnal wisdom.
“Unless you are converted and become as little children… you will by no means enter the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 18:3)
Simple “childlike faith” in the finished work of Christ on the cross is all that’s required.
The story is told of a college student whose professor gave him zero on a test.
Upset, he said, “I don’t deserve this grade.” The professor smiled and quipped, “I agree, but zero is the lowest grade I can give.”
That’s how God feels about our wisdom. “The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God” (1st Corinthians 3:19).
The simple truth of the Gospel is this folks.
Humanity was lost and separated from a God who loves and cares for them.
At the cross, God did everything required to save you.
All you have to do is trust in Christ and receive the gift of eternal life.
Here is Gods instruction manual how to receive His salvation.
It’s called “The Romans Road”
The first verse on the Romans Road to salvation is (Romans 3:23) "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."
Truth is we have all sinned.
We have all done things that are displeasing to God.
There is no one who is innocent.
The second Scripture on the Romans Road to salvation is (Romans 6:23), that teaches us about the consequences of sin… "For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
The punishment that we have earned for our sins is death.
Not just physical death, but eternal death!
The third verse on the Romans Road to salvation picks up where Romans 6:23) left off… "but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
(Romans 5:8) declares… "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Jesus Christ died for us!
Jesus’ death paid for the price of our sins.
Jesus’ resurrection proves that God accepted Jesus’ death as the payment for our sins.
The fourth stop on the Romans Road to salvation is (Romans 10:9) "that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."
Because of Jesus’ death on our behalf, all we have to do is believe in Him, trusting His death as the payment for our sins - and we will be saved!
(Romans 10:13) says it again… "for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sins and rescue us from eternal death.
Salvation, the forgiveness of sins, is available to anyone who will trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
The final refueling station on the Romans Road to salvation is the results of salvation.
(Romans 5:1) has this wonderful message… "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
Through Jesus Christ we can have a relationship of “peace with God”.
(Romans 8:1) teaches us… "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
Because of Jesus’ death on our behalf, we will never be condemned for our sins.
We have this precious promise of God from (Romans 8:38-39)… "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Would you like to follow the Romans Road to salvation?
If so, here is a simple prayer you can pray to God.
Saying this prayer is a way to declare to God that you are relying on Jesus Christ for your salvation.
The words themselves will not save you.
Only faith in Jesus Christ can provide salvation!
But this prayer is the handshake as it were... that begins your new found relationship with God.
"God, I know that I have sinned against you and am deserving of punishment.
But Jesus Christ took the punishment that I deserve so that through faith in Him I could be forgiven.
I place my trust in Jesus Christ for your salvation.
Thank You for Your wonderful grace and forgiveness… the gift of eternal life!
Amen!"
If you’ve taken this walk unto salvation… send me a message and let me know!
Good day!
(Galatians 6:14) "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ."
It’s interesting that in the Bible, Jesus doesn’t ask us to remember His birth or His resurrection (although we do)… but He does tell us to remember His death.
When He instituted the Lord’s Supper He said, “This do in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19).
Paul said, “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
The cross like the gallows and the electric chair was and is an instrument of death.
So why glory in it?
The reason? Because of what took place there.
What took place was His death and the shedding of His blood on behalf of humanity for the remission of sin.
When Jesus said “It is finished”… all your sins from the cradle to the grave were paid for.
Jesus hung on the cross in your place!
He was your substitute… for the penalty of sin…that you and I should have paid with our blood.
The Bible says, “Without the shedding of blood there is no remission for sin” (Hebrews 9:22).
It was on the cross that the blood of Jesus was offered up as the final sacrifice for the sin of humanity.
The Bible teaches us that God became weary of the constant shedding of blood and the offering up of turtle-doves, bulls and goats to “cover” the reproach of man and his sin.
The “Old Covenant” was unable to bring access to God.
That is the purpose of the New Covenant… to bring humanity into a right relationship with God.
Remember at the last supper… as He passed the goblet of wine around to them… Jesus said “this cup is the ‘New Covenant’ in my blood, which is being poured out for you” (Luke 22:20)”
The old covenant was unable to do it.
Now remember… God set about certain standards which said “the soul that sinneth shall die,” (Ezekiel 18:20)… and the only way that somebody could come to God or find forgiveness for their sin… was if they paid for their sin with a blood sacrifice… which was to express their sorrow for sin…
That was what the Old Testament sacrifices were all about.
The “Old Covenant” demanded the shedding of blood… for peace with God!
“Without the shedding of blood there is no remission or sin” (Hebrews 9:22).
A sacrifice of something that was costly and important to the sinner was required… to show repentance and sorrow for sin.
However it only provided for a “limited relationship” between man and God by covering sin… a relationship which was not permanent.
The covering only existed until the next sin… and then another sacrifice had to be made all over again to renew the relationship.
The blood of the “Old Covenant” did not remove sin… it only covered it up.
However Jesus comes along and brings a “better covenant”… a “New Covenant”… because His shed blood removed the reproach of sin and washed us completely free for all sin… and that gives full access to God on a continual and eternal basis.
The old sacrifices were not able to wipe away sin… they only covered it up temporarily, and thus, they had to be repeated all the time.
When Jesus died and paid the penalty for sin on our behalf… it was on behalf of all humanity.
He then opened the way to a relationship with God that was and is open to all humanity for all time.
Jesus’ death on the cross became a “bridge” to God.
His death was the primary act of “mediation” that opened the way.
And Jesus Himself said… “I am the way” (John 14:6)
Jesus death on the cross as the Son of God… was a perfect sacrifice that needed only to be done once… and it took care of an “eternal redemption”… not only covering sin, but removing it, blotting it out forever, never more to be remembered. (Hebrews 8:22)
The cross is God’s first and last word when it comes to salvation and or the redemption of humanity!
It’s His first word because Jesus was “the ‘sacrificed Lamb’ slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8)
And the cross is God’s last word about salvation… for in Heaven they will sing, “Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood… out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation” (Revelation 5:9).
There is no “plan B” for salvation.
Some say that all roads lead to God.
That is not true, there is only one way.
That is by way of the cross.
The only highway that goes to Heaven goes through Calvary.
You can’t bypass the cross or go around it if you want to be saved or right with God.
If there was any other way, then Jesus would not have had to die on that cross.
As you look at the cross today, you’ll see the curse of sin, the cost of sin, and the cure for sin.
And as you look at the cross, remind yourself, “He did it for me.”
Good Day!
(Isaiah 26:3) “You will keep them in perfect peace whose thoughts are fixed on you”
I have this personal thought or opinion that many times troubles, tests, trials come our way as a distinct attack by the enemy of our souls.
They come to get our eyes of off Jesus and God’s promise of protection and provision, peace and contentment, joy and happiness.
When we get our eyes off of God and tune our attention to the problems and the issues that rise up, we tend to become consumed with handling those matters in our own strength… with our own limited abilities… and before long we are thinking more about them, than we are on the promises and the power of God that is available for each of us.
In response we tend to question God and often times we withdraw from Him rather than clinging to Him.
When that happens long enough… we soon begin to forget about the very close relationship that we once had with Him and unfortunately our passion for Him grows cold… and before long we don’t turn to Him as quickly and as often as we should.
In Revelation chapters two and three, God is speaking to the seven different churches of His kingdom.
To the church Ephesus He writes “Without growing weary, you have persevered and endured many things for the sake of My name.
But I have this against you… you have abandoned your first love.”
I wonder if that has happened to you today.
Have you abandoned your first love… that you once had for Him.
Has your passion for God Himself grown cold.
Oh I know you still go to church and you still try to do good things… but where is that all consuming desire that you once had to be involved with His work and spend time in His presence?
You know, its all good to be focused on doing good and being consumed with the affairs of this world and it’s betterment, but when you do so… or allow them to pull your focus away from God… you endanger yourself as to the beautiful close relationship that grows dormant…. because of the attention placed upon them.
Instead of relationship with God…religious has taken its place.
There’s an old song that says “turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of this earth, will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace”.
Instead of allowing yourself to be consumed with the affairs of this world… take the advice of that old song and today, turn your eyes upon Jesus.
Stayed tuned into Him. Don’t let the affairs of this life that we all struggle with in and at different levels and degrees, rob your passion for Him.
His word promises His benevolence.
His Word promises His intervention.
His word promises deliverance… and protection… and provision.
His word promises peace in the midst of the storm.
His word opens the door to His keeping grace and sovereign rein over our lives… if we stay focused on it and Him.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6)
As you read this devotional, always remember that the power of God doesn’t lie in the writer’s thoughts or comments… but in the written Word of God.
Paul tells us, “All scripture is God-breathed.”
It’s impregnated with “divine seeds of life”… and those seeds will spring to life “within you”… producing the fruit of the Spirit… and “delivering on” the promises of God.
View this devotional as a gateway rather than a goal.
See it as the little book that whets your appetite for the big Book!
When you read each day’s devotion… have your Bible beside you and turn to the scriptures that are referenced.
As you deposit the Word of God within you every day… wonderful things will begin to happen in your life.
The psalmist wrote, (Psalm 1:1-3)… “Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers… but they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.
They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do”
Note the words “they prosper in all they do.”
As you renew your mind with scripture, your faith will grow… your outlook will be altered… and every area of your life will start to change for the better.
“All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2nd Timothy 3:16)
God told King Jehoshaphat that He would not need to fight in the battle that He was facing (2nd Chronicles 20:7)
“You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions… stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem.
Do not be afraid… do not be discouraged.
Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.'"
We must be a people that keep our eyes on every promise of the Word and upon Him.
Whether it be facing and dealing with the various pestilence and disease that our world seems to be constantly having to face… or whether it be anxiety caused by the failing economy… or dealing with the limitations of advancing age…
Gods word… His promise found in (Psalm 91) says… “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty”.
“I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.
Surely He will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge;
His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.
A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.
You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.
If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.
For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”
That’s Gods promise from His Word to you and I!
Good day!
(Luke 4:4) For man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds form the mouth of God”.
Because it is God’s inspired Word… the Bible does not contradict itself or teach falsehoods because God cannot lie.
With our human limitations we may not always understand every detail of Scripture… but we must never lose sight of the fact that it is God’s Word and not man’s ideas or opinions.
Jesus constantly quoted the Old Testament and made it clear that it was the inspired Word of God.
We who follow Christ must have just as high a view of Scripture as He did.
(Matthew 5:17) Jesus passionately explained part of His purpose for coming when He said… “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets… I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you… until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished”.
Here Jesus says that not one iota (jot) or dot (tittle) will pass away from the law.
These most likely refer to the smallest strokes of the Hebrew alphabet… indicating that the Old Testament is completely trustworthy, even to the smallest detail.
If we are to be the “witness” to our world that Jesus talked about in (Acts 1:8)… then we must be a people that live by every “Word” that proceeds from the mouth of God…
And we must preach or live out that Word as (2nd Timothy 4:2) instructs… with authority and power… and the following two things must be our foundation.
First, we must be convinced that the Bible is the written Word of God, and was prepared under the direction of the Holy Spirit, who preserved the authors from departing from God’s revelation in their writing so that they conveyed exactly what God wanted them to record.
Secondly if we are to be the witness of God with authority and power, we must be convinced that the Word of God has the “power” to change lives.
(1st Corinthians 2:1-5) “And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
For I determined not to know any thing among you save Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
And I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling.
My speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom… but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power… that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men… but in the power of God”.
God has not promised to bless our eloquence or our charismatic human energy… but He has promised to bless His Word.
“For as the rain comes down and the snow from heaven… and do not return there but water the earth and make it bring forth and bud… that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater… so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth.
It shall not return to Me void… but it shall accomplish what I please… and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:10-11).
The Word of God itself is powerful.
There is a supernatural power that manifests itself when we use it and focus on it and apply it to our lives…
(Hebrews 4:12) “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart”.
(Jeremiah 23:29) tells us “Is not My word like a fire says the Lord… and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?”
Don’t let anything or anyone shake your confidence in the trustworthiness and the authority and power of the written word of God.
Make it your guide for your life no matter what circumstances dictate… or the supposed future may hold for you.
There is much external and internal evidence to show us the absolute trustworthiness of the Bible.
Externally, there is the evidence from such fields as archaeology and historical archives and archeology.
Internally there is the final word of the Lord Jesus Himself, who authenticated the Old Testament (Matthew 5:17) and anticipated the New Testament (John 16:13-14).
He often employed or used Old Testament Scripture to back up his own teaching and expounded on the Old Testament as an infallible authority (Luke 24:27-44) “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
We cannot examine the history unity and prophecy of God’s Word… let alone its staying and sanctifying power in our own lives as believers… without believing in its “divine” inspiration and authority.
As believers in the power of God and His pre-eminent authority over our lives… we must be thoroughly convinced of the “infallibility” of Scripture.
Only then can we testify with authority, God’s promise of salvation and forgiveness to all who call on the Name of the Lord, and God’s warning of judgment for those who do not.
We are grateful for the heritage of church traditions that are in accordance with Biblical teaching.
But our authority as believers and children of God does not originate in and or thru… by the history of church traditions.
This collection of 66 books written over a period of many centuries yet forming a complete and accurate divine revelation… has been carefully handed down to us from the Apostles of our Lord.
It is the very Scripture that Jesus Himself read and taught while here on earth.
In that book called “the bible”… the Word of God… “He”… is revealed in it.
Because of that book… in Him we believe… in Him we trust… in Him we proclaim to the world a Savior… and because of that book… Him we confess before others as our Lord.
He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
Because Jesus is one with God and was sent by the Father into human history (John 20:21)… the cross is an objective demonstration of divine love (Romans 5:8).
Our faith is built on the fact of Christ’s resurrection.
That is why we rejoice!
That is the foundation of the truth we declare and the Kingdom we extend as we are witnesses of Him.
Good day!
(Luke 4:4) “For man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds form the mouth of God”.
“One of the greatest needs in the church today is to come back to the Scriptures as the basis of authority… and to study them prayerfully with dependence on the Holy Spirit for interpretation and guidance… making it our foundation for life.
We must let the words of God burn in our souls.
It is when we fill our hearts with His Word that we overflow into the lives of others.” (John 8:32)
Often I am asked, ”How can we know the truth about God”?
Must we grope around in the dark only guessing but never really knowing Him?
Is religion just a matter of personal opinion or viewpoint, with one philosopher’s ideas as good as the next?
Not according to the Bible!
It tells us that we can “know the truth” because God has revealed Himself to us in His Word… the Bible!
Since man’s fall in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3)… God has revealed Himself through out history.
In (Genesis 12:1-3) we read how God revealed Himself to a man named Abraham who became the father of a great nation of people called the Hebrews.
He then revealed Himself to a man named Moses (Exodus 3:1) and used Moses to lead the people of Israel.
As time wore on… He gave Israel and her people prophets and leaders… whose divinely inspired communications and predictions were absolutely trustworthy.
Unfortunately the Hebrews constantly complained, disobeyed and even defied God and His leading and direction.
At times they turned to other gods.
God brought judgment after judgment on them for their disobedience.
Thus the history of the Jewish people… personally chosen of God… is a story of continued revival, judgment, blessing and deliverance.
But the most important revelation of all was in God revealing Himself… to all of humanity in the Person of His Son Jesus Christ.
(John 1:18) tells us “No one has seen God at any time… but the only begotten Son who is in the bosom of the Father… He has declared Him”
Here John affirms Jesus divinity as God.
In this verse of scripture… "seeing God" is meant in a physical, literal sense as perceiving or seeing God the Father in person… with one's eyes.
God chose to reveal Himself in certain forms in the past but He is essentially a Spirit (John 4:24)
Jesus said “if you have seen me you have seen the Father” (John 14:9)
The gospel of John also describes Jesus as “the Word of God”, using the Greek word logos.
Jesus is the message, or the definition of God.
His words are tangible symbols of ideas, both for our eyes and our ears.
The fact that God came in human form is critical.
Jesus is God whom became a human being… who being in the form of a human being… experienced our earthly struggles and challenges… and because He has experienced life in a physical form or manner… He can relate to us in our struggles (Hebrews 4:15)
He is one to whom we can relate.
Jesus is a message from God, in a language we all understand through relationship.
Jesus explains God to us in a way we could never understand otherwise.
John also repeats the claim that Jesus is “the only begotten Son of God”.
This means Jesus is of the exact same "stuff" ie… character and personality as God the Father (Hebrews 1:3)
He confirmed that Jesus is truly God the Son thru His miracles… and by raising Him from the dead (Acts 2:32).
Our message as believers… and the faith that we live by daily… in Christ… is anchored in what God has done in history.
Our message is not anchored in a church… religious traditions or personal feelings.
They are anchored in the assurance of what God has done in and throughout history… recorded and revealed in the Bible… “The Word Of God”!
If we are to be “the witness” to our world… that Jesus talked about in (Acts 1:8)… then we must be a people that live by every “Word that proceeds from the mouth of God”…
And we must preach or live out that Word as instructed in (2nd Timothy 4:2) with authority and power… with the following two things as our foundation.
First, each of us must be convinced that the Bible is the written Word of God…
We believe that it was prepared under the direction of the Holy Spirit… who preserved the authors from departing from God’s revelation in their writing… so that they conveyed exactly what God wanted them to record.
(2nd Peter 1:20-21) tells us “Knowing this first… that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation… for prophecy never came by the will of man… but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit”
Even though the human writers of Scripture wrote as “sons of their time”… and their own personalities often shine through in their writings… God ensured that the words and thoughts were inspired and recorded accurately as He intended.
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God… and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete… thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2nd Timothy 3:16-17).
Jesus said “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Luke 4:4)
Folks we each need to make the “Word of God” our priority in life… it is our road map… it is Gods love letter filled with His will for each of us.
More on this tomorrow!
Good Day!
(Hebrews 12:1) "Let us lay aside every weight...and let us run."
The Double Eagle II, was the very first “hot air balloon” to cross the Atlantic Ocean.
The men piloting the magnificent craft caught an air corridor that carried them all the way across the Atlantic.
But when they were just off the coast of Ireland, they flew into heavy cloud cover and ice began to form on the balloon’s outer shell.
With the added weight of the ice they began losing altitude, dropping from twenty thousand to ten thousand feet in a matter of hours.
They did everything they could to save the balloon.
They threw out video cameras, food rations, everything that combated the extra weight of the ice.
At about four thousand feet they transmitted their location and then threw the radio overboard.
Finally, at three thousand feet they broke through into sunlight.
The ice came off in sheets… and the great balloon soared all the way into France.
The Bible says that in order to run and win life’s race, you must “lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares” (Hebrews 12:1)
And it’s a lot easier to identify the sin you need to drop… than the weight you need to drop.
Why? Because often the weight is legitimate and includes responsibilities, pressures, obligations, schedules, and the entanglements of every day life.
Today we each need to stop and take an inventory of what we are carrying.
We each need to face things squarely and ask ourselves… “Did God give me this to carry, did someone else give it to me, or did I decide on my own to pick it up?”
Whatever is weighing you down today…lay it aside!
I know many, (myself included)… that are tired and exhausted from carrying and leaping over emotional, physical and spiritual hurdles… clearing out debris called emotional baggage and the weight of sin that has weighed us down.
One financial crisis after another.
One health issue after another.
One relationship issue after another.
One more disappointment… one more trial… one more door slammed in my face.
Sometimes I get so mentally tired that I can’t even think any more.
But we can’t quit living… we still have to pursue life!
How can we run the race… when we are starting the race exhausted?
Here are some steps that I am trying to implement to combat weariness and the stress of coping and trying to survive in this life.
First… I am trying to change the way I think!
What I let my mind dwell on… because the bible says “as a man thinketh in his heart so is he” (Proverbs 23:7)
There is much worry all around us… with confusing decisions that need to be made to combat the stress of living.
We all have certain responsibilities that have to be maintained as we run this race, yet if we allow our thinking to be influenced negatively by the “nay-sayers” around us… doubt filled questions begin to rise… and uncertainty and anxiety become toxic poison weakening our faith and confidence in the promise of God and His continued guidance and care.
We need to take David’s example and sit before the Lord and ask Him what we should be doing to combat the up-heavel and distraction and the stumbling blocks that have been put in our path.
The bible says that “David sought the Lord”… and David encouraged himself in the Lord” (1st Samuel 30:6)
That’s what we need to do… "encourage our selves in the Lord".
Listen to uplifting music.
Take a moment and stop and read scripture that is like healthy food for our soul (Luke 4:4) “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God”
Talk to God in praise and prayer.
Encourage yourself in the Lord!
As you do this, the things of earth will grow strangely dim… in the light of His glory and His grace.
Secondly… I am eliminate the distractions as much as apossible!
I am a bit of a talk radio or news junkie… but lately I am choosing to turn off my favorite programs right now.
All of the talk concerning government and their failure to resolve our many calamities and concerns… all the rhetoric about continued diseases flooding our society… the wars and rumors of wars… all of the “doomsday predictions” of what will happen if this candidate or that candidate wins the next election... or will the virus return next fall…
All of this rhetoric is not helping my exhausted heart to find the rest, the peace, the encouragement that it needs right now.
These distractions are not fueling my weary soul with hope... and the strength I need for the race ahead of me.
In fact, even my choice in “entertainment” is distracting me from God and causing me to focus on the things of this world.
So, I am turning off the radio, the TV and the movies… at least for a season.
I am not scrolling through Facebook.
I am trying to eliminate as many distractions as possible right now,...so that my soul can get some much-needed rest.
Thirdly… I am make room for and consuming “spiritual health food supplements”… from God’s Word
The purpose behind re-evaluating my schedule and eliminating distractions is to make room for God’s voice.
Have you ever noticed that God seldom shouts at us over the cacophony of messages that we are listening to and allowing into our minds each day?
Rather… He waits for us to quiet our own hearts and to “turn to Him”… and then He speaks truth into our hearts through His Word… comforting us… giving us rest… and healing our wounded and bruised spirits.
I am told that most professional athletes have learned to take time just before the race or what ever event they are competing in… to focus and bring into captivity every thought that might distract them from the job… the race… the fight… the goal that they are striving for.
Today lets you and I focus on Jesus and His great promise to each of us, “For I am come that you might have life and that more abundantly” (John 10:10)
Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and you will find rest for your souls” (Mathew 11:28)
Good day!