Luke 18:21-22
21"All these things I have kept since I was a boy," he said.
22When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come follow me."
The rich young ruler bragged of how he kept all the commandments. Some of us wonder why Jesus would say what he said. He wasn't saying there was anything wrong with money. He wanted to show the ruler that he had indeed violated the first commandment which is to love the Lord our God with all our hearts and all our might and to have no other gods before Him. The ruler had made what he desired most more important than God. He never saw it that way but Jesus showed it to him by asking him to give it up. Now it doesn't have to be money but what in our lives have we desired more than God? It's not always material either. But it's an illustration that God wants ALL of us to love and worship Him first. The Lord blessed Abraham with a seed that would make the father of many nations. The Lord tested him though. He told him he'd have to sacrifice Isaac back to Him. The Lord only tested him to see if he would not only be faithful but if he would give up that which he most desired. Abraham passed the test. If the Lord came to you right now and said give up _____ (fill in the blank with what you desire most), would you do it? Would you be able to give it up? If your answer is no, then you have your answer to what it is that you love more than you love the Lord. He already knows but like the rich young ruler, he wants you to see it for yourself. Not to point a finger at you but to bring you to a place of repentance and deliverance from whatever it is your holding on to more than you hold on to Him. Will you let go? Are you willing to give it up?
Friday, August 26, 2011
Thursday, August 25, 2011
A Different Approach
Mark 1:40
40A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean."
Can you imagine being the man with leprosy and how much he endured? He approached Jesus with the faith that Jesus could heal him but unlike the others, he took a different approach. "If you are willing." The man with leprosy was willing to accept whatever Jesus determined should be his state. This approach, which is not seen as much in the ministry of Jesus, because those that approached Jesus either lacked faith when asking or just declared in their faith that what they desired would be done. But what about what He wants? Like the man with leprosy, he knew Jesus could do it but what if what you think is the path is not the Lord's path for you? What if you must be brought closer to him by your circumstances? Maybe prior to whatever you were or are enduring you didn't or don't talk to him often. What if what he wants from you He knows he can only get by you being in unpleasant circumstances just a little while longer? All He wants is for us to be willing to submit to whatever He wants for us. We don't like the word submit because we don't like not being in control. But based on whatever we're going through etc, He's showing that none of us are in as much control as we would like to believe. Yes, we can control our actions and reactions but that's about as much as we can control. Have you asked the Lord what He wants you to do? Have you asked Him what path He wants you to take? Have you asked Him if what you desire in your life is what He wants in your life? If you ask Him, you may be surprised with His response.
40A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean."
Can you imagine being the man with leprosy and how much he endured? He approached Jesus with the faith that Jesus could heal him but unlike the others, he took a different approach. "If you are willing." The man with leprosy was willing to accept whatever Jesus determined should be his state. This approach, which is not seen as much in the ministry of Jesus, because those that approached Jesus either lacked faith when asking or just declared in their faith that what they desired would be done. But what about what He wants? Like the man with leprosy, he knew Jesus could do it but what if what you think is the path is not the Lord's path for you? What if you must be brought closer to him by your circumstances? Maybe prior to whatever you were or are enduring you didn't or don't talk to him often. What if what he wants from you He knows he can only get by you being in unpleasant circumstances just a little while longer? All He wants is for us to be willing to submit to whatever He wants for us. We don't like the word submit because we don't like not being in control. But based on whatever we're going through etc, He's showing that none of us are in as much control as we would like to believe. Yes, we can control our actions and reactions but that's about as much as we can control. Have you asked the Lord what He wants you to do? Have you asked Him what path He wants you to take? Have you asked Him if what you desire in your life is what He wants in your life? If you ask Him, you may be surprised with His response.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
It's Bigger Than You
John 11:47b-48
"What are we accomplishing?" they asked. "Here is this man performing many miraculous signs. 48If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation."
The Pharisees believed that Jesus was making them look bad. Their plot to kill him was an effort to keep their status. Their positions were more important to them than the needs of the people. What Jesus was doing was never about the Pharisees. His mission was bigger than them. His mission was to bring all people to repentance and belief in Him so that they would not perish. Jesus was more concerned about saving lives, not about the reputation of the Pharisees. Whatever happened with them was a consequence of their own behaviors, mindset and lack of belief. Yet Jesus' work posed a threat to them because they were supposed to be "the chosen ones". When Jesus is working through the Holy Spirit, His concern is bigger than just you and me. He always has a plan that is greater than us but we can be part of the plan. His plan will always get accomplished with or without our assistance. If we allow him to use us then we can see great blessings in it but if we do not then we miss out on the joy and blessings that could be ours. We can easily forfeit blessings when we have the mindset of the Pharisees. The Pharisees represent "the crab in the barrel" experience. "I have to drag you down because you're moving too far ahead." Note to Pharisee mindset- these actions are not becoming.
"What are we accomplishing?" they asked. "Here is this man performing many miraculous signs. 48If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation."
The Pharisees believed that Jesus was making them look bad. Their plot to kill him was an effort to keep their status. Their positions were more important to them than the needs of the people. What Jesus was doing was never about the Pharisees. His mission was bigger than them. His mission was to bring all people to repentance and belief in Him so that they would not perish. Jesus was more concerned about saving lives, not about the reputation of the Pharisees. Whatever happened with them was a consequence of their own behaviors, mindset and lack of belief. Yet Jesus' work posed a threat to them because they were supposed to be "the chosen ones". When Jesus is working through the Holy Spirit, His concern is bigger than just you and me. He always has a plan that is greater than us but we can be part of the plan. His plan will always get accomplished with or without our assistance. If we allow him to use us then we can see great blessings in it but if we do not then we miss out on the joy and blessings that could be ours. We can easily forfeit blessings when we have the mindset of the Pharisees. The Pharisees represent "the crab in the barrel" experience. "I have to drag you down because you're moving too far ahead." Note to Pharisee mindset- these actions are not becoming.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Beware of Where Your Mouth Leads You
Proverbs 11:9
9With his mouth the godless destroys his neighbor,
but through knowledge the righteous escape.
The wise King Solomon spoke so candidly about one committing an offense against another. King Solomon talked of defaming. Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary defines defame:
In other words, King Solomon spoke of someone who slanders. But why? According to the dictionary definition it is to accuse someone of something but often done with false or misguided information. It's an attempt to make someone look bad. A slanderer usually attempts to make someone look bad so they can look better or justify themselves. But does that make one better? King Solomon said the righteous escape such actions through knowledge. We know that applied knowledge is power. In this case it's the power to defeat those who slander. The Lord is the ultimate provider of knowledge and wisdom so it is by His doing and His alone that one will escape such assaults. People may talk about others but it's being done in the presence of the Lord. The Lord knows everything even the thoughts of men whether true or false. It is the Lord that vindicates those who have been defamed unjustly. And it is the Lord that heaps coals on the heads of those who speak against those he loves. Let us beware of where our mouths lead us?
9With his mouth the godless destroys his neighbor,
but through knowledge the righteous escape.
The wise King Solomon spoke so candidly about one committing an offense against another. King Solomon talked of defaming. Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary defines defame:
1:archaic : disgrace
2: to harm the reputation of by libel or slander
3:archaic : accuse
In other words, King Solomon spoke of someone who slanders. But why? According to the dictionary definition it is to accuse someone of something but often done with false or misguided information. It's an attempt to make someone look bad. A slanderer usually attempts to make someone look bad so they can look better or justify themselves. But does that make one better? King Solomon said the righteous escape such actions through knowledge. We know that applied knowledge is power. In this case it's the power to defeat those who slander. The Lord is the ultimate provider of knowledge and wisdom so it is by His doing and His alone that one will escape such assaults. People may talk about others but it's being done in the presence of the Lord. The Lord knows everything even the thoughts of men whether true or false. It is the Lord that vindicates those who have been defamed unjustly. And it is the Lord that heaps coals on the heads of those who speak against those he loves. Let us beware of where our mouths lead us?
Monday, August 22, 2011
Restored Vision
Mark 8:25
25Once more Jesus put his hands on the man's eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.
How awesome that even Jesus' spit had a great anointing power!! Jesus spit on a man's eyes and touched them and he could see!! That's miraculous! But what's not emphasized is that man's sight was "restored". Restoration means to return something to its original state. For the blind man, it meant that he could once see. Something happened that caused him to be blind. But Jesus came to restore his sight. What about us? Have we been walking around blind? All of us have been blind at some point or even right now. It all depends on where we are. It's not hard to lose our way when we become blinded by the world's standards. But what about in our every day trials and tribulations? Some of us don't know we're walking around blind until Jesus comes to shed light on our situations. All he has to do is touch our spiritual eyes with the Holy Spirit and we have restored vision. It could mean seeing our circumstances from a different light with a new sense of positivity or it could mean to see a situation for what it is, the way we didn't want to see it before but Jesus has deemed we see it as He sees it. Whatever it is, there's nothing like having clear vision. It may not always be pleasant at first because things may appear 3D, but it's only because we haven't bee using our eyes. We must learn to ask Jesus for restored spiritual sight. If we never had it then it's time to ask him for new sight-new eyes so we can see what he sees. We'll never travel the right path if we can't see.
P.S. I want to give a great BIG THANK YOU to Stubbs of the Leap of Faith Show!! Now you can catch the Get Your JOY In The Morning segment on her Sunday Morning show every hour on the hour from 6-10am ET. You can also listen to Stubbs Monday-Wednesday from 6-9am ET at www.leapoffaithshow.com.
25Once more Jesus put his hands on the man's eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.
How awesome that even Jesus' spit had a great anointing power!! Jesus spit on a man's eyes and touched them and he could see!! That's miraculous! But what's not emphasized is that man's sight was "restored". Restoration means to return something to its original state. For the blind man, it meant that he could once see. Something happened that caused him to be blind. But Jesus came to restore his sight. What about us? Have we been walking around blind? All of us have been blind at some point or even right now. It all depends on where we are. It's not hard to lose our way when we become blinded by the world's standards. But what about in our every day trials and tribulations? Some of us don't know we're walking around blind until Jesus comes to shed light on our situations. All he has to do is touch our spiritual eyes with the Holy Spirit and we have restored vision. It could mean seeing our circumstances from a different light with a new sense of positivity or it could mean to see a situation for what it is, the way we didn't want to see it before but Jesus has deemed we see it as He sees it. Whatever it is, there's nothing like having clear vision. It may not always be pleasant at first because things may appear 3D, but it's only because we haven't bee using our eyes. We must learn to ask Jesus for restored spiritual sight. If we never had it then it's time to ask him for new sight-new eyes so we can see what he sees. We'll never travel the right path if we can't see.
P.S. I want to give a great BIG THANK YOU to Stubbs of the Leap of Faith Show!! Now you can catch the Get Your JOY In The Morning segment on her Sunday Morning show every hour on the hour from 6-10am ET. You can also listen to Stubbs Monday-Wednesday from 6-9am ET at www.leapoffaithshow.com.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Stop Going Back!
Jeremiah 2:18-19
18Now why go to Egypt to drink water from the Shihor?
And why go to Assyria
to drink water from the River?
19Your wickedness will punish you;
your backsliding will rebuke you.
The prophet Jeremiah rebuked the people of Israel for their constant desire to go back to enemy. To the Lord, it was backsliding. Who would willing go back to the enemy? In the case of the people of Israel, they didn't trust God enough so they went back to what and who they were used to though they knew the Lord wanted better for them. The result was not only that Israel went backward, but they went to the very countries that would enslave them again. Hmmm. Does this sound familiar? Sure it does. We, like the people of Israel, go backwards. We go right back to the enemy though the Lord has said no. We go back because like the people of Israel, we want the familiar. We want what we know because it's easier than trusting God for the unknown. If the Lord has said leave it alone, then leave it. We become a slave to whatever it is that we trust more than God. We become the prey willingly. The enemy makes it look real good too, especially when we are thirsty for something. What have you become enslaved by? Why have you gone back to the enemy? Do you know that if the enemy offers you something it's for a price greater than what you can pay? Does it not hurt enough?
P.S. View my interview with personal development blogger Sharman J. Monroe at http://www.youtube.com/watch?
18Now why go to Egypt to drink water from the Shihor?
And why go to Assyria
to drink water from the River?
19Your wickedness will punish you;
your backsliding will rebuke you.
The prophet Jeremiah rebuked the people of Israel for their constant desire to go back to enemy. To the Lord, it was backsliding. Who would willing go back to the enemy? In the case of the people of Israel, they didn't trust God enough so they went back to what and who they were used to though they knew the Lord wanted better for them. The result was not only that Israel went backward, but they went to the very countries that would enslave them again. Hmmm. Does this sound familiar? Sure it does. We, like the people of Israel, go backwards. We go right back to the enemy though the Lord has said no. We go back because like the people of Israel, we want the familiar. We want what we know because it's easier than trusting God for the unknown. If the Lord has said leave it alone, then leave it. We become a slave to whatever it is that we trust more than God. We become the prey willingly. The enemy makes it look real good too, especially when we are thirsty for something. What have you become enslaved by? Why have you gone back to the enemy? Do you know that if the enemy offers you something it's for a price greater than what you can pay? Does it not hurt enough?
P.S. View my interview with personal development blogger Sharman J. Monroe at http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Thursday, August 18, 2011
There is Life in Christ
Amos 5:4-5
4This is what the Lord says to the house of Israel:
"Seek me and live;
5do not seek Bethel,
do not go to Gilgal,
do not journey to Beersheba,
For Gilgal will surely go into exile and Bethel will be reduced to nothing."
The people of Israel were caught up in idolatry and had abused places that were considered sacred to the Lord. The Lord wanted so much to spare the people of Israel from punishment. He wanted to give them one last chance to repent before he issued judgement. And so it is today. The Lord does not delight in punishing just as any natural parent does not delight in punishing yet it's necessary for teaching and bringing one to maturity. Our God has not changed. He still wants to be first in our lives and he delights in our smiles and laughter like a natural parent. But we often make the Lord last on our list though we claim He is first. How many times has the Lord asked each of us to seek Him first? How many times has the Lord asked that we go to him before moving on anything? How many times has the Lord said through the Holy Spirit, "this isn't for you"? Like the people of Israel, many of us do not listen and continue to seek others instead of seeking Him. When we are too caught up, the Lord will snatch the security blankets that we use for comfort instead of seeking Him. What have you been using for comfort? What has been your security blanket? Is it really working or do you feel worse when it's all over?
There is life in Jesus Christ! Seek Him first!!
P.S. Thank you to Sharman J. Monroe, personal development and women's ministry blogger for the awesome video interview on My Journey To Me-The Discovery!!
4This is what the Lord says to the house of Israel:
"Seek me and live;
5do not seek Bethel,
do not go to Gilgal,
do not journey to Beersheba,
For Gilgal will surely go into exile and Bethel will be reduced to nothing."
The people of Israel were caught up in idolatry and had abused places that were considered sacred to the Lord. The Lord wanted so much to spare the people of Israel from punishment. He wanted to give them one last chance to repent before he issued judgement. And so it is today. The Lord does not delight in punishing just as any natural parent does not delight in punishing yet it's necessary for teaching and bringing one to maturity. Our God has not changed. He still wants to be first in our lives and he delights in our smiles and laughter like a natural parent. But we often make the Lord last on our list though we claim He is first. How many times has the Lord asked each of us to seek Him first? How many times has the Lord asked that we go to him before moving on anything? How many times has the Lord said through the Holy Spirit, "this isn't for you"? Like the people of Israel, many of us do not listen and continue to seek others instead of seeking Him. When we are too caught up, the Lord will snatch the security blankets that we use for comfort instead of seeking Him. What have you been using for comfort? What has been your security blanket? Is it really working or do you feel worse when it's all over?
There is life in Jesus Christ! Seek Him first!!
P.S. Thank you to Sharman J. Monroe, personal development and women's ministry blogger for the awesome video interview on My Journey To Me-The Discovery!!
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