JACKS DAILY DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS
(Proverbs 18:24) “A man with many friends may be harmed… but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother”
In our world today, the word “friend” is a watered-down word used on most social media sites.
It’s like that with virtually anything that is so seemingly easy to come by.
As used on social media sites the word friend is a noun that, in the world of social media, has been turned into a verb, and along the way has come to mean something much different than it should.
A “friend” now means someone that we know a few facts about (maybe), or someone that we have at least been introduced to.
It’s no longer a term of intimacy as much as it is a “catch-all” word meant to describe virtually any relationship we have with anyone else, regardless of how truly close.
But into this world of watered-down friendships… steps the wisdom from Proverbs reminding us that though there might be many who hold the title of “friend” in our social networks… there is still another category… “a friend who stays closer than a brother”.
I have over the course of my life, had several of these kind of friends.
The kind of people who are ready and willing at a moment’s notice to pray, listen, give, and support.
Those with whom you are comfortable sharing the intimate details of life... with all its joys and pains.
Those that, when you are in the same room with them, bring an instant comfort and security.
And yet we know that these friends are only shadows… pointers as it were… to a greater friend who is indeed “closer than a brother”.
For in the gospel... Jesus has done something that seems so commonplace in a world full of shallow relationships... and helps us recover the true gravity… meaning… and integrity of the word.
Jesus, the King of the Universe, calls us His friends:
“I do not call you slaves anymore, because a slave doesn’t know what his master is doing. I have called you friends”… (John 15:15)
What a marvelous thing to be called “a friend of Jesus”.
And what a thing to know that no matter how deep, how precious, or how committed the other friendships we have are… they pale in comparison to friendship with Jesus!
So what, then can we expect from this friend who is indeed “closer than a brother”?
We can certainly expect love.
We can expect faithfulness.
We can expect generosity, forgiveness, understanding, and presence.
But there is one other thing more important than any thing else.
We can expect from this friend… and that is truth.
Back to the wisdom from Proverbs:
“Better an open reprimand than concealed love. The wounds of a friend are trustworthy… but the kisses of an enemy are excessive” (Proverbs 27:5-6).
Is this not the truest gauge of whether someone is our friend or not?
I believe it is.
For there are many who will “like” our photos… many who are seemingly fun to hang with… some who are charming conversationalists and good for a laugh… but there are far fewer who love us enough to actually tell us the truth and accept us and love us despite our failings.
Not when the truth is hard.
Not when it hurts.
But this is what we can and should expect from our friends.
It’s what we should want from them.
In truth… we are all “self-deceptive” creatures.
We have the unbelievable ability to talk ourselves into anything, and then justify our decisions...
make excuses… until they actually make sense in our minds.
But our friends?
The ones that stick closer than a brother or a sister?
These are the ones who care too much for us... to let us deceive ourselves.
These are the people in our lives who will help us look in the mirror and help us see the truth… tell us the truth… and work with us thru to an answer!
Here is where we find the Son of God, our greatest friend.
He is the One who gave up His life for us, the One who is more invested in us than any other.
And it is His hand that is stretched out to you today saying… “come unto me all ye that labor and I will give you rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29)
All thru the scriptures it is His promise to you… “I will never leave or forsake you… I will be with you always even to the ends of the earth”
The truth is… God love you to much to let you “lie” to yourself any longer and or leave you in the state you are in.
He is truly “a friend that sticks closer than a brother”
Good day!
But our friends?
The ones that stick closer than a brother or a sister?
These are the ones who care too much for us... to let us deceive ourselves.
These are the people in our lives who will help us look in the mirror and help us see the truth… tell us the truth… and work with us thru to an answer!
Here is where we find the Son of God, our greatest friend.
He is the One who gave up His life for us, the One who is more invested in us than any other.
And it is His hand that is stretched out to you today saying… “come unto me all ye that labor and I will give you rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29)
All thru the scriptures it is His promise to you… “I will never leave or forsake you… I will be with you always even to the ends of the earth”
The truth is… God love you to much to let you “lie” to yourself any longer and or leave you in the state you are in.
He is truly “a friend that sticks closer than a brother”
Good day!
(Numbers 13:30) “We are well able”…
Aging can be difficult at times.
We all go through it and at various points along the journey… we face times when the challenges of aging cause us to often cry out in frustration and defeat… worry and anxiety… fear and doubt.
Why do these emotions rise up as we get older you ask?
Because as we get older we realize that the strength of our youth can no longer sustain us… and if we haven’t learned to trust in the Lord and His abilities… then we have nothing to support us… or to carry us thru but our own pride… which still continues to lie to us telling us that we need to depend on no one but our selves…
But alas in our own strength… which is slowly diminishing… we find we can’t do the things which we used to do… and so as age slows us down we tend to get bitter and distrustful… and the cycle just keeps getting more negative and debilitating.
It is important to remember that even though our physical bodies and appearances change… our spirit does not.
Some people in their 70s and 80s act much younger than some people in their 20s or 30s.
Why is that you ask?
Its all about attitude and faith in God.
It all comes down to one thing… and that is “our outlook” on life.
Everybody is looking for “the fountain of youth”… but what they are unaware of… is that there is no fountain of youth…
But there is “a fountain of faith” that we can drink from that will carry us over the hurdles and down the path of old age better than when we carried ourselves in our youth.
And its found by looking into and consuming Gods word… trusting in the Lord with all your strength… with all your might… and with all your understanding.
Always remember… we are never too old to realize a new goal or a dream.
Also we must realize that just because someone is older… it does not mean that they have nothing left to offer to society… nor are they incapable of accomplishing great things in their remaining years.
Henry Ford said… “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at 20 or 80.
Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life… is to keep your mind young.”
Eleanor Roosevelt said… “Beautiful young people are accidents of nature… but beautiful old people are works of art.”
Thomas B. Aldrich said… “To keep the heart unwrinkled, to be hopeful, kindly, cheerful, reverent… that is to triumph over old age.”
Muhammad Ali said… “Age is whatever you think it is. You are as old as you think you are.”
Former President of the United States of America Bill Clinton said…“When our memories outweigh our dreams… we have grown old.”
Abraham Lincoln said “And in the end… it’s not the years in your life that count… it’s the life in your years.”
C.S. Lewis said… “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”
And the Bible (Proverbs 23:7)… “as a man thinketh in his heart… so is he”!
The Bible is filled with stories of men and women whom learned the art of “trusting in the Lord”.
From youth to old age… the scriptures encourage us with stories and lessons of victories to be had…claimed… and received by faith… in those whom trusted in God.
And the great hope we have is that those whom trust in Jesus Christ will be more than conquerors in this life. (Romans 8:31-39)
And that hope… that promise is not limited by age.
(Daniel 11:32) tells us… “the people whom know their God shall do exploits”
That’s why Joshua and Caleb could stand up in the midst of their peers and confidently say… “We are well able”.
They knew their God… they trusted their God… and they believed their God.
Do you?
Then you are a candidate “to be more than a conqueror” as well… no matter what your age is telling you!
So today… start trusting in the Lord with all of your heart… and lean not on your own understanding but in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths” (Proverbs 23:7)
Cast not away your confidence in Him that has great recompense of reward… (Hebrews 10:35)
He will guide… He will strengthen you and He will cause you to overcome in His time and in His will… no matter how old you are.
(Jeremiah 29:11)… “for I know the plans I have for you says the Lord… plans to prosper you and give you a future… not plans for evil”
The key to victory in “old age” is found in Paul’s great Epistle (Philippians 4:8)… “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy... meditate on these things”.
Again from (Proverbs 23:7)… “as a man thinketh in his heart… so is he”!
Good day!
(Revelation 2:1-7) “You’ve lost your first love”
This text this morning carries a message from Jesus to the Church in Ephesus… the first of seven exhortations to various churches in the Roman Empire.
Each message or exhortation had a specific topic of encouragement and or rebuke concerning the churches strengths… and its weaknesses as well.
Now the city of Ephesus had some unique challenges for a “Christ follower”… in that it was home to the “Emperor’s Cult” and worship of the Greek goddess Artemis (Acts 19:23-40)
Because of these wicked influences… the Ephesian believers had developed great discernment when it came to false teachers and heresy and were very zealous in their defense of spiritual truth.
According to the scripture they experienced an abundance of joy, peace, and confidence in the abiding grace of God because of faith in Christ… a joy that comes form knowing that “He first loved them” (1st John 4:19) and it was in fact… His great love for them that had made them “alive together with Christ.”
(Ephesians 2:1-5) tells us that in the beginning of their relationship with Christ… they were excited and passionately joyful as they understood their former state… that state being… “dead in trespasses and sins”… but now having received “new life in Christ”.
Because of God’s great love for them… they were “made alive in Christ”… and that “new life”… was exhibited with a passion of gratitude for the Savior that spilled over onto one another… and out to those in the culture around them… corrupt as it was.
In other words… they were loud and proud about their position in Christ… their faith… their freedom… their deliverance... and they made sure every one around them new about it.
They tested the preachers and teachers to see whether their professions were real… they endured hardship and persevered in the faith without growing weary.
They were excited happy believers in Christ.
But somehow… they had lost their passion… their excitement… and their zeal for Christ, and when that happened… they began to… “go through the motions” of good works…
Which were “religious activities” motivated… not by passionate love of and for Christ… but by the works themselves.
What was once “a love relationship with God”… somehow cooled into mere religion and religious activity.
Their passion for Him became little more than cold orthodoxy… and the rules or religious works required by it.
Somehow they had lost their way, their zealousness, their ardor, and their passion for Him.
Instead of pursuing Christ with the devotion they once walked in… a devotion described by (Jeremiah 2:2) a"s a bride who follows her groom through the desert”.
The Ephesian Church was in danger of falling away from Christ completely.
This is why He warns and calls… “those who have “ears to hear”… to prove the reality of their salvation by returning to Him and “rekindling the love”… that had begun to cool.
Obviously there were among the Ephesian believers those whose profession of faith was false… and whose hearing had become dulled.
He warns the rest not to follow them… but to repent and return to Him with the passion they once had for Him.
We face the same challenges today in the twenty-first century.
There are few churches that aren’t subject to… and in danger of a certain amount of false teaching.
But Jesus calls us to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15)… and to not let “the frustration and deception of false teaching”… overpower “the love of Christ in us” (Ephesians 4:31-32)
There is so much distraction and activities in our society today… that can and do interfere in our relationship with Christ.
The love of pleasure has consumed many who claim faith in Christ.
The sports world… the many licentious sensual activities available… a myriad of carnal entertainment… a plethora of business opportunities… education… etc etc etc… all of them having a heinous power… or ability to crowd out that place which was once filled with Christ and the joy of salvation.
Our first love… is the love Christ gives us for God and for each other.
Unfortunately… the church today is much like the Church at Ephesus… we have lost that first love for our Savior… we are no longer consumed with gratitude for our redemption and deliverance… given to us freely by God.
The Church today… the body of Christ… each of us that are born again washed in the blood of Jesus… we need to be like the early Church at Ephesus… zealous for truth… filled with passionate love for God… always “speaking the truth in love” to the world around us as we… “in all things, grow up into Him who is the Head”… that is Christ” (Ephesians 4:15)
And we must return to the realization and understanding that our salvation… our relationship with God is found in the saving faith of Christ… not our good works or religious activity.
It’s found in the realization of “what Christ has done for us”… not of works lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:8)
Let me ask you this morning, do you love God?
I mean do you really love Him?
Are you really filled with gratitude to Him… for what He has done for you and I?
What would you be willing to do for Him to prove your love… your gratitude?
As we begin this new day filled with all kinds of opportunity… lets all ask ourselves “how much are we really thankful to God for”?
For what He has done for us… our families… for Canada and the USA… and the rest of the world for that matter.
We enjoy life and hope for the future… because of His great love for us… not for the religious works we have entered into.
Good Day!
(Philippians 1:6) "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion."
If you want God’s will to be done in your life, don’t try to rush things!
Sarah, Abraham’s wife did that… and as a result, Ishmael was born… and that brought all sorts of strife and family complications.
Whenever we try to fulfill the dream or vision that motivates us… we tend to get into fleshly or carnal activity to bring it about.
That’s because too many of us are "carnally minded"… influenced by the worlds thinking and ideas.
(Proverbs 14:12) says… "There is a way which seems right unto a man but its end is the way of death".
God says through His prophet in (Isaiah 55:8-9)… “For my thoughts are not your thoughts… neither are your ways my ways declares the Lord.
As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts… than your thoughts”.
Remember: “Flesh gives birth to flesh…the Spirit gives birth to spirit” (John 3:6)… so be sure your plans are conceived by God’s Spirit.
Don’t try to salvage anything "flesh-based".
God said to Abraham in (Genesis 17:21)… “My covenant will I establish with Isaac”.
Gods promise to Abraham was fulfilled in Gods time… at the right time.
Isaac was born as a result of God’s will, done God’s way, in God’s time.
Everything that’s conceived in you… comes from one of two sources… the flesh or the Spirit… so be careful.
People will try to involve you in all kinds of schemes to promote yourself.
God doesn’t need anybody’s help to bless you… He can do it all by Himself!
That’s why whenever Satan attacks you… (and he will according to 1st Peter 5:8)… you need to point him to your "spiritual birthplace"… and remind him that you didn’t begin this project… and you don’t have to finish it.
(Philippians 1:6) tells us… “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.”
And here’s another thought.
If God’s dealing with you about carnality, pride, or some other obstacle in your path… don’t resist, don’t run, and don’t get in His way.
Like a drowning man frantically trying to save himself… until you stop flailing around… the lifeguard can’t do anything.
And until you stop flailing around like a drowning man… or letting the worlds way of doing things influence your thinking and judgment… God can’t do anything for you as well.
To often we get in the way!
But possibly your thinking if I don’t do something… nothing will get done.
If that’s the way your thinking then you haven’t yet begun to understand how God works.
He made everything out of nothing!
He simply spoke it into existence and He still does that today.
Bottom line is that we only need to do one thing… that is “Love the Lord your God with all your heart… with all your mind… and with all your soul… (Matthew 22:37)
So the word for you today is (Proverbs 3:5-6) "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding".
(Psalm 37:5) "Commit your way unto Him and He will direct your path".
Pride says… “I can do this”.
God says “this day see the salvation of the Lord… for the battle is not yours… it is the Lords” (2nd Chronicles 20:15)
We are more than conquerors in this life… not by our ingenuity or skills or gifts… but by His Spirit alone as we dwell in the secret place of the most high (Psalm 91)
And we overcome and accomplish His will… “not by might and not by power… but by my Spirit sayeth the Lord” (Zachariah 4:6)…
Good Day!
(John 10:10) “I am come that you might have life and that more abundantly”
I have often been asked repeatedly… what is the message of the Bible?
And unfortunately I cannot give you just “one word” to describe that message.
However I think I can describe the message of the bible with four words.
The message of the bible is portrayed thru out the bible with these four little words… God, salvation, Jesus and you… and is summed up by what is called "the Romans Road" in the New Testament.
It’s a sweet and beautiful story of Gods love being poured out through Jesus upon mankind… in spite of man kinds ignorance, rebellion and sin.
The Romans Road is a way of explaining "the good news" of salvation... and a restored relationship with God... using verses from the Book of Romans.
It is a simple yet powerful method of explaining why we need salvation... how God provided
salvation... how we can receive salvation... and the results of salvation.
The first verse on the Romans Road to salvation is:
(Romans 3:23)… "For all have sinned, and fallen short of the glory of God."
We have all sinned!
We have all done things that are displeasing to God… there is no one who is innocent.
In fact, the Apostle Paul delivers a stinging indictment from Isaiah Chapter 59 in (Romans 3:10)…
The first verse on the Romans Road to salvation is:
(Romans 3:23)… "For all have sinned, and fallen short of the glory of God."
We have all sinned!
We have all done things that are displeasing to God… there is no one who is innocent.
In fact, the Apostle Paul delivers a stinging indictment from Isaiah Chapter 59 in (Romans 3:10)…
“There is no one righteous... not even one!
There is no one who understands and there is no one who seeks God.
All have turned away… they have together become worthless and ?there is no one who does good…? no not even one.
Their throats are open graves their tongues practice deceit, the poison of
vipers is on their lips.
Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.
Their feet are swift to shed blood… ruin and misery mark their ways,and the way of peace they
There is no one who understands and there is no one who seeks God.
All have turned away… they have together become worthless and ?there is no one who does good…? no not even one.
Their throats are open graves their tongues practice deceit, the poison of
vipers is on their lips.
Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.
Their feet are swift to shed blood… ruin and misery mark their ways,and the way of peace they
do not know.
There is no fear of God before their eyes”.
The second scripture on the Romans Road to salvation is (Romans 6:23)... that tells us about the consequences of our sin.
"For the wages of sin is death…
There is a judgment and a punishment for sin… punishment that we each are responsible for and should have to pay with our own death as the payment…
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 the penalty and the price for sin... for all people for all time!
Jesus' resurrection from the dead... 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 aspect of 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 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.
Finally, 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."
So now that you have walked the Romans Road with me this morning… why don’t you make the following prayer your prayer and tell 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!
Lets pray together…
“Heavenly Father… I know that I am a sinner… I was born a sinner… I have sinned personally… I have sinned against you and I am deserving of punishment.
But I understand that Jesus Christ took the punishment that I deserve … and that through faith in Him… according to your promise… I could be forgiven.
Father God I accept your conditions for my forgiveness of sin… my deliverance and redemption.
I place my trust in the work of Jesus Christ and His shed blood on the cross for my salvation and your forgiveness.
Thank You for Your wonderful gift of grace and forgiveness…
Thank you for the wonderful gift of eternal life!”
Amen!!!
There is no fear of God before their eyes”.
The second scripture on the Romans Road to salvation is (Romans 6:23)... that tells us about the consequences of our sin.
"For the wages of sin is death…
There is a judgment and a punishment for sin… punishment that we each are responsible for and should have to pay with our own death as the payment…
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 the penalty and the price for sin... for all people for all time!
Jesus' resurrection from the dead... 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 aspect of 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 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.
Finally, 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."
So now that you have walked the Romans Road with me this morning… why don’t you make the following prayer your prayer and tell 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!
Lets pray together…
“Heavenly Father… I know that I am a sinner… I was born a sinner… I have sinned personally… I have sinned against you and I am deserving of punishment.
But I understand that Jesus Christ took the punishment that I deserve … and that through faith in Him… according to your promise… I could be forgiven.
Father God I accept your conditions for my forgiveness of sin… my deliverance and redemption.
I place my trust in the work of Jesus Christ and His shed blood on the cross for my salvation and your forgiveness.
Thank You for Your wonderful gift of grace and forgiveness…
Thank you for the wonderful gift of eternal life!”
Amen!!!
(Psalm 85:6) “Will You not revive us again… that Your people may rejoice in You?”
A revival is a spiritual awakening and though we can’t bring about a revival in our own strength, we can prepare the way for one.
I found faith in Christ and a relationship with God at the latter end of the last great spiritual awakening that swept the world.
It was called the Jesus Revolution of the late 1960s and early 1970s.
It triggered a move of God around the world and changed the face of spiritual worship and religious service of many of the denominational and mainstream churches.
With the Jesus movement, there were five things that those touched by it did regularly.
(1) We went to church with a sense of expectancy.
In other words, no one ever came late to church, because we were there to meet with the Lord and worship Him.
Yes, we need anointed preaching today, but we also need anointed listening.
That means going to church and listening to God’s Word with an expectation.
(2) We participated in heartfelt worship.
Back then, contemporary Christian worship was effectively coming alive before our very eyes.
We sang simple choruses, usually Scripture set to music, and we engaged in genuine, whole-hearted worship.
Standing with hands raised, kneeling in brokenness and humbleness was common.
There was no "limit" or "time restrictions' as to how long the music worship would go on.
Often there would be a spontaneous move of God as people would step out of the pews or their seats and literally run to the alter where worship, singing, praying for one another could go on for extended periods of time… and seldom did people watching leave or get upset.
(3) We had a hunger for the Bible.
The Bible was taught in all of our church services, not merely referenced.
We studied it… and we consumed it.
Home bible studies became the rage.
Rather than getting together over coffee or having a beer together… people got together to sing, worship Jesus, and study His word together.
People hungered for spiritual nourishment.
There is a truth that when we’re doing well spiritually, we’ll be hungry for the Bible every day.
(4) People were invited to come to Christ in every service… and in every get together and they did… ultimately by the thousands.
When was the last time you invited someone to go to church with you.
When was the last time you went out of your way to pick someone up and take them to church.
When was the last time you asked someone if they would like to receive Jesus as their Savior and then lead them into the relationship.
(5) We believed that Jesus was coming back.
That was more than 50 years ago and I still believe that Jesus Christ is coming back… sooner than most people expect.
We’re just 50 years closer.
In fact, we’ve never been closer to the return of Christ than we are at this moment.
And the truth is… if we really believe that Jesus is coming back, then it will impact the way we live.
Thus my focus in life!
That’s why I make it a priority to write these daily devotionals.
That’s why I continue to reach out to people each week on Facebook, with our music and our Cowboy Church Services.
Jesus is coming soon!
Though there has been a lot of changes in our world over this past 50 years, the message has not changed,
Jesus is coming… soon!
Good day!
(Proverbs 2:6) “The Lord gives wisdom”
No doubt we have needed wisdom from above in days gone bye... but with the conflicts our world is facing today, we need it now more than ever.
Now… no doubt the world we live in has a lot of ideas opinions and knowledge.
However the wisdom of man, and the knowledge of men is not the answer.
(James 3:17) says “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere”.
Typical human philosophy is driven by envy and selfish ambition, and the result of humanistic wisdom... is all the disorder and evil we see in the world today.
You see the wisdom of man is based on selfishness.
Bottom line... if it feels good then do it.
Putting ourselves ahead of all others means creating billions of contradictory goals, and making excuses for hurting other people in order to get what we want.
From the scriptures however... James describes the characteristics of the true wisdom we need.
This is God's wisdom.
(James 1:17) says this is the wisdom of those who trust God to provide all they need… to continue to give them every good gift… and to fulfill every desire of their hearts for eternity with Him in heaven.
As a result… these believers willingly sacrifice opportunities for more money, pleasure, and power.
Instead… those who trust in God make themselves available to serve the needs of others.
The results of submission to God is very different than selfish, worldly ambition.
Translated from the Greek word "hagne"… James describes “Godly wisdom” as "pure"
This means "undivided, chaste, without ulterior motive.
This kind of wisdom is refined and focused on exactly one thing… and that is whatever God has called us to.
Godly wisdom is peaceable or peace loving… putting a high value on easing conflict.
His wisdom is gentle or considerate… not ready to fight… but ready to serve.
This wisdom is reasonable or submissive… ready to see things from another point of view and do it someone else's way.
True wisdom is full of mercy and all the good things that flow from living this way.
This wisdom is impartial, is sincere, with no need to fake anything or manipulate situations to get what it wants out of other people.
What are the people in your life telling you?
Putting ourselves ahead of all others means creating billions of contradictory goals, and making excuses for hurting other people in order to get what we want.
From the scriptures however... James describes the characteristics of the true wisdom we need.
This is God's wisdom.
(James 1:17) says this is the wisdom of those who trust God to provide all they need… to continue to give them every good gift… and to fulfill every desire of their hearts for eternity with Him in heaven.
As a result… these believers willingly sacrifice opportunities for more money, pleasure, and power.
Instead… those who trust in God make themselves available to serve the needs of others.
The results of submission to God is very different than selfish, worldly ambition.
Translated from the Greek word "hagne"… James describes “Godly wisdom” as "pure"
This means "undivided, chaste, without ulterior motive.
This kind of wisdom is refined and focused on exactly one thing… and that is whatever God has called us to.
Godly wisdom is peaceable or peace loving… putting a high value on easing conflict.
His wisdom is gentle or considerate… not ready to fight… but ready to serve.
This wisdom is reasonable or submissive… ready to see things from another point of view and do it someone else's way.
True wisdom is full of mercy and all the good things that flow from living this way.
This wisdom is impartial, is sincere, with no need to fake anything or manipulate situations to get what it wants out of other people.
What are the people in your life telling you?
Are they increasing your self-doubt or strengthening your faith?
Just because people tell you something… doesn’t make it so.
In 1492, the people surrounding Columbus thought the earth was flat.
The “experts” examined his travel plans and said his idea was impossible.
But Columbus didn’t fall off the end of the earth as they predicted… instead he discovered America!
Along the same lines… Thomas Edison tried to persuade Henry Ford to abandon his fledgling idea of a motorcar because he was convinced it would never work.
He told Ford, “Come work for me and do something worthwhile.”
Although Edison was a great inventor, it sounds like he was only positive about what he could do… and rather pessimistic about what others could do.
So the next time you get in your car to go somewhere… be glad Ford didn’t share Edison’s negative outlook about automobiles.
Don’t let someone else’s opinions or limited thinking limit you.
Don't let the wisdom of this world... deter you or hinder you from seeking and fulfilling the wisdom that comes from above
Negativity is contagious… you have to pay attention if you don’t want to catch it!
Even if you’re the only positive person in your family, be the one with an optimistic outlook in every situation.
What we call “common knowledge” can and is often commonly wrong!
(Proverbs 2:6) tells us “The Lord gives wisdom… from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.”
Have the people who are telling you “it can’t be done” factored God into the equation?
If not… pay no attention to them.
Instead of listening to people who increase your doubts… listen to the people to whom God has given wisdom, knowledge, and understanding.
It's amazing how much easier and more pleasant life becomes when a Christian gives up the requirement of getting what he or she wants at all costs.
Without that agenda… there's less and less need for conflict.
And yet, the only way to give up that agenda is to believe that our good God is providing all we need in every moment.
God says “My ways are not your ways, and My thoughts are higher than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9)
Yes we need wisdom right now.
We all need some answers right now!
But let it be the wisdom from above… that way we won’t waste time, effort, energy and money that is so elusive right now.
Jeremiah says “seek the Lord while He may be found”.
God says “for I know the plans I have for you saith the Lord… plans to prosper you and give you a future not plans for evil”.
Good Day
Negativity is contagious… you have to pay attention if you don’t want to catch it!
Even if you’re the only positive person in your family, be the one with an optimistic outlook in every situation.
What we call “common knowledge” can and is often commonly wrong!
(Proverbs 2:6) tells us “The Lord gives wisdom… from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.”
Have the people who are telling you “it can’t be done” factored God into the equation?
If not… pay no attention to them.
Instead of listening to people who increase your doubts… listen to the people to whom God has given wisdom, knowledge, and understanding.
It's amazing how much easier and more pleasant life becomes when a Christian gives up the requirement of getting what he or she wants at all costs.
Without that agenda… there's less and less need for conflict.
And yet, the only way to give up that agenda is to believe that our good God is providing all we need in every moment.
God says “My ways are not your ways, and My thoughts are higher than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9)
Yes we need wisdom right now.
We all need some answers right now!
But let it be the wisdom from above… that way we won’t waste time, effort, energy and money that is so elusive right now.
Jeremiah says “seek the Lord while He may be found”.
God says “for I know the plans I have for you saith the Lord… plans to prosper you and give you a future not plans for evil”.
Good Day