Thursday, March 29, 2007

#56 Continue with Him in Love - 1st John 2:28&3:2-3

1st John 2:28&3:2-3 NLT - 28 And now, dear children, continue to live in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame.
2 Yes, dear friends, we are already God's children, and we can't even imagine what we will be like when Christ returns. But we do know that when he comes we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. 3 And all who believe this will keep themselves pure, just as Christ is pure.

Journal Entry #56

As we wait for our Lord’s return, we must keep in fellowship with Him through prayer and study of His word to us and by living our life with Him living and working in and through us. As we continue doing life with Him with us and in us, we will be certain of the welcome we will receive from Him and have no reason to fear finally meeting Him face to face. But if we keep Him out of most of our lives, we will know Him little and do little for Him and when we meet Him face to face we will see our error and be ashamed at how we have lived our life. For this is truly how we are meant to live, “not I but Christ living in me.”(Galatians 2:20) To live this way means absolute surrender to God of every part of who we are and all we do, to invite Him to take control of everything. Then let us long for the day that we shall see Him face to face as He really is. Let us long for the day when our conformity to Christ likeness will be complete and we will stand in the fullness of His presence holy and blameless, without a single fault (Colossians 1:22)– even as we stand now in His eyes if we have accepted His gift of righteousness.

May all of those who belong to God pray, “Lord Jesus, help us to live in constant fellowship with You. Lord, teach us how to, “pray without ceasing.”(1 Thessalonians 5:17), to every moment be aware that You are with us and in us – as we go to work, or run errands, or anything else we do in our daily lives. Lord, right now, may we invite You to take full possession of our live and help us to surrender all we are to You that You would fill all our lives with Your presence*. Work in and through us so that all we do is You living in us. As we draw close to You and submit all our selves to Your lordship, God, fill our hearts and souls with courage and certainty in the face of life and death. Fill us with assurance that we belong to You and that You take joy in us. May Your Spirit testify with out spirit that we are Your children (Romans 8:16). Father, we long for the fulfillment of Your promise of a new heaven and new earth where righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3:13) and the day when You come back to take us to be with You (John 14:2-3) forever (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) and there will be no more pain (Revelation 21:3-5). Purify our hearts, Lord, and make us holy. We thank You for the gift of forgiveness and righteousness You have given us and achieved for us through Your life, death, and resurrection. Stir our hearts with love, praise, thankfulness, worship, and adoration for all that You have done, are doing, and will do for us who love You and have been called according to Your purpose (Romans 8:28). You alone are worthy of all we can give and so we give it all to You for through You and to You are all things. To You be the glory forever! Amen (Romans 11:36).

*See the song Be Near to Me Always.

#55 The Home of Righteousness – 2nd Peter 3:13-14

2 Peter 3:13-14 NIV - 13 But in keeping with His promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. 14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with Him.

Journal Entry # 55

Every child of God should look forward to this promise – a new universe. Not one unrecognizably different from this one, but so much better in every way. There will be no more sin – this means that not only will no one and nothing tempt us, but also that there will be nothing in us that will incline us toward sin. Then there shall also no longer be a curse on anything (Revelation 22:3-4) – no more useless toil, no more pain or death, no more sadness or loneliness. If we really do look forward to this promise of perfection and perfect fellowship with God, then we will desire to move toward it now as well as we can. This means simply that we will do what we know to do to grow in Christ likeness and in our relationship with Him. This necessitates that we spend time in genuine / heartfelt prayer, in earnest and hungry study of His Word, and intentionally bringing the Lordship and conscious presence of God into every aspect of our lives. To live as though Jesus were every moment standing beside us, for there He truly is, if only we could see it. No matter the circumstances or our feelings, He is always with us (Matthew 28:20, Hebrews 13:5-6).

Therefore, let us pray, “Our great God, Lord of heaven and earth, maker and sustainer of all things, help us to remember that You are present in all places at all times – that You not only watch over us, but You stand beside us, You live inside us, and You hold us in Your hands. Remembering this, then, help us to live within this reality – desiring to please and serve You with our lives and being free from all fear and worry, trusting in You. Place before our eyes and make real to our hearts Your promise of the complete restoration of all things where we will live in Your full presence in absolute perfection and in the joy of unbroken fellowship with You. Help us to do everything all to the glory of Your name.* Amen.”

*See the song What I’m Here For.

#54 Patience for Repentance - 2nd Peter 3:9

2 Peter 3:9 NIV - 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Journal Entry # 54

God is neither early nor late, but He does everything at just the right time. And so His second coming and judgment of the world waits until all who will believe in Him have come to repentance so that they will not perish in judgment. In the meantime, He patiently endures those who rebel against Him, waiting till the day they repent or stand before Him in judgment. We must not give up our hope in His return, but watch, wait, and pray. For when the end comes, it will catch everyone by surprise “like a thief in the night (1 Thessalonians 5:2, Matthew 24:42-44)” but we ought to expect it not only any day, but every day. So then, keeping in mind that the days are short, we should live in hope and expectancy, doing the things He has called us to do. Let us not be caught sleeping or sitting idle.

May all God’s children pray, “Father, help us to be patient as we wait on You, may we keep in mind that in Your time, You will move* – whether we are waiting for a need to be met, a request answered, deliverance, or Christ’s return. Help us to trust You and to cling to Your promises. Among them is this promise that You are not being slow, but You wait for the moment You have chosen in the fullness of time by Your infinite wisdom to act in response to our prayers. As we wait on You, strengthen us by Your Spirit that we would be persistent in our prayers, firm in our faith, and not grow weary (Galatians 6:9, 2 Thessalonians 3:13, Hebrews 12:3). May we continue in the work that we know You have given us to do through all the waiting we will do in this life. For if we are waiting and looking for nothing else, we are looking toward Your return and the restoration of all things. Reach the world through us bringing all who will come to repentance and even so we pray – “Come, Lord Jesus! (Revelation 22:20)” Let it be! Amen.”

*See the song I'm Waiting on You.

#53 Christ Died Once for Our Sins – 1st Peter 3:18

1 Peter 3:18 NIV - 18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.

Journal Entry # 53

The fact that Christ died only once is very important. In the old testament, sin offerings were offered with astounding frequency. Not only were sacrifices offered every year by the priests (Exodus 30:10, Leviticus 4:21) for the sins of the people as a whole, but every time one sinned a sin offering was to be given to remove the offence (Leviticus 4:14). But Christ’s death as the sinless lamb and the Son of God is so powerful and transcendent that it needed only to be offered once and then Jesus sat down at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 1:3, Hebrews 10:11-13). And this sacrifice is on behalf of everyone who believes that they may have eternal life (John 3:14-16, John 6:40). Christ died not only for those living at that time, but also those who died before Him who trusted God and looked for the Messiah, and also for those of us who die after Him who trust God and believe in the One He sent. He did this to bring us into a right relationship with God. While we were still enemies, Christ died for us. We are now clothed with the righteousness of Christ (Philippians 3:9, 2 Peter 1:1) and have become children of God (John 1:12). Not only did He die for us, but He was raised to life – literal, physical life (Luke 24:39). This is important in two ways: first, His physical resurrection is proof of all He claimed to be or He would have remained dead just like everyone else who ever lived. Second, it proves that we can have confidence in God’s power and in His promise that though we die we will be raised to new life (John 11:25-26, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)*, an eternal life with God.

So let us pray, “Lord Jesus, we thank You for Your death on the cross which paid for our sins that You might bring us to You and through You to the Father. Thank You for Your promise of eternal life – to know You (John 17:3). You have done everything for us that we may know You.* your love, oh God, is far greater than we could ever imagine – it knows no bounds and has no end, for Your love is the forever kind. As we live our lives, help us to always remember what You have done for us, and in light of all You do for us, help us to live only for You – to Your glory. Help us to know You, make us desperate for You*, draw us close to You. May You be glorified in us and through us forever. For You alone are worthy. Your name be praised in all the earth! Amen.”

*
See the songs I Died – I am Alive, Just to Know You, and Desperate for You.

#52 Be a Living Testimony – 1st Peter 2:12

1 Peter 2:12 NLT - 12 Be careful how you live among your unbelieving neighbors. Even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will believe and give honor to God when He comes to judge the world.

Journal Entry # 52

As Christians, we are to be able to witness to the world through our lives, that they might see Christ through our actions. “If the only witness they ever see is my life and You living in me…I want to live it out…”* For our lives ought to be “Christ living in me (Galatians 2:20).” But if we live no differently than them – that is, caught up in the same sins and addiction as they are – then they will only see us to be hypocrites and would be right to say so. We are to live holy lives then, not merely before God who we say, “Sees my heart and knows that I am weak and forgives me.” Though this is certainly true, too often we use this as an excuse to not live a holy life, forgetting what Peter has said here and what Jesus has also said, “Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father (Matthew 5:16).” Let us pray, “Father, help us to live lives pleasing to You. May our lives be a testimony to the world, that through us and our lives, You might draw all peoples to You. Call Your children into a life of holiness, lived for You and seeking after You. Amen.”

*See the song Megaphone for Your Grace.

#51 Submit Yourself to God - James 4:7-8 & 10

James 4:7-8&10 NIV - 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.

Journal Entry #51

There is a certain progression to this verse that if we will first submit ourselves – that is our will and every part of our lives – to God, we will then we able to resist the devil and stop our constant sinning that keeps us from drawing close to a holy God. This then, among other things, is a call to repentance. To wash your hands means to turn away from your sins. To purify your heart is to set it on God alone – do not be divided between your sins and your God. Acknowledge your place before God as needing His grace, depending on His strength, and being under His authority – and He will pour out His grace and fill you with the courage and strength you need to stand up against the devil and to keep yourself from sin. Remember, “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. (1 Corinthians 10:13).” He will lift you up to walk blamelessly before Him*.

May we pray, “Our Father, help us to fully submit ourselves to You for You alone are God and we are Your children (John 1:12, Romans 8:15-17, 1 Corinthians 1:30, Galatians 3:26). Help us to wash ourselves in the blood of Christ and to turn from sin, to set aside those things that so easily entangle us (Hebrews 12:1-2). Give us the strength by Your Spirit to stand against the devil, remembering that He has already been defeated by You (John 16:33, Colossians 2:15, 2 Timothy 1:10). You are victorious over him and will give to us the victory (1 Corinthians 15:57, 1 John 5:4). In the midst of all the hurrying in this life, Lord, place in us a desire to draw near to You, the giver of every good thing* (James 1:17). For in You we find all we could ever need. May we long to know You, God, and to be close to You. May our hearts be pure and our passion single – for an intimate relationship with You, for the spreading of Your gospel, and for Your eternal glory. May we always remember that our place is on our knees at Your feet where You will pour Your grace out on us and lift us up to Your glory. May Your name be exalted in all the world! Amen.”

*See the song Every Day of Forever, Who You Are.

#50 Show Your Faith by Your Deeds - James 2:18-20

James 2:18-20 NLT - 18 Now someone may argue, "Some people have faith; others have good deeds." I say, "I can't see your faith if you don't have good deeds, but I will show you my faith through my good deeds." 19 Do you still think it's enough just to believe that there is one God? Well, even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror! 20 Fool! When will you ever learn that faith that does not result in good deeds is useless?

Journal Entry #50

A true faith will always show itself through good deeds. This is so because true saving faith desires to display the glory of God, and it is to God’s glory that we bear much fruit (John 15:8). A true faith in God leads to love for God and a desire to obey Him (Philippians 2:13 NLT). Good deeds are commanded all over both the old and new testaments. Jesus Himself gave many commands to do good to each other and to love one another. The epistles say things like, “Live such good lives among the pagans that they see your good deeds and glorify God.” (1 Peter 2:12) This must mean that we show ourselves to be different from them not simply by refraining from the evils that they engage in, but by doing as much good for others as we can. Our faith must be not only in our minds but in our hearts, souls, and lives, or we are no different from the demons who know of the truth of God as well or better than we do yet work in rebellion against God and His truth. Oh, let us pray, “Father, may our faith in Jesus Christ be manifested in our lives through the good deeds we do in Your name. help us to obey You and live lives consistent with Your word that in everything we do, we would be a witness to the world. By Your Spirit and strength, may we bear much fruit to Your glory (John 15:8). Unite us in You, Lord, and help us to love one another, then everyone will know we are Your disciples (John 13:35). Make us one in You so that the world will believe (John 17:20-23). Amen.”

Monday, March 26, 2007

#49 Be Doers of the Word – James 1:22-25

James 1:22-25 NLT - 22 And remember, it is a message to obey, not just to listen to. If you don't obey, you are only fooling yourself. 23 For if you just listen and don't obey, it is like looking at your face in a mirror but doing nothing to improve your appearance. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you keep looking steadily into God's perfect law—the law that sets you free—and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

02/16/07-02/18/07
Those who take the Word of God into their minds, either by reading or by listening, but never obey its commands, never put it to work in their lives or in their hearts – such people only fool themselves if they think that they get any benefit from this. God will not reward us for superficially receiving His Word by hearing and not obeying – rather, we are accountable to Him for knowing His Word and yet not obeying what we know. But if we will take in God’s Word and let it work in our hearts and be worked out in our lives, we will have the benefit of pure hearts, godly character, and transformed, righteous lives – this is what pleases God. He will bless our efforts, conforming us to the likeness of Christ, and He will pour many other blessings out on us. Oh, Let us all pray, “Lord God, may we be doers of Your Word and not hearers only. May we truly receive Your Word and hide it in our hearts that we would not sin against You (Psalm 119:11). Oh, Father, give us the desire to obey You and the power to do what pleases You (Philippians 2:13). God, move in our hearts and help us to follow You*. Let us not be conformed to this world but may we be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:1-2) by Your Spirit and through Your Word. Lord, You have set us apart as Yours, help us to surrender all our selves to You that we would live completely for You. May we seek to know You and to see Your will at work in our lives. Amen.”

*See the song Every Day of Forever

Thursday, March 08, 2007

#48 Never Abandoned - Hebrews 13:5-6

Hebrews 13:5-6 NIV - 5 God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." 6 So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"

02/13/07-02/15/07

Let us never forget that God is always with us no matter how we feel or if the circumstance try to tell us otherwise. For Jesus has promised us “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”(Mat. 28:20). There are times when we feel abandoned by God and we try to pray but it feels like He doesn’t hear and doesn’t answer*. It’s in these times that we must learn to trust Him and His promises. Let us trust in God for everything we need for scripture says, “Depend on the Lord; trust Him and He will take care of you.”(Psalm 37:4-5). The Lord is our help in times of need and if God is for us who can be against us? (Romans 8:31) Therefore, let us not be afraid when trouble comes, for God is working everything to the good of those who love Him and are called by Him (Romans 8:28). If we will seek our refuge in God, we will not be shaken. Let us pray, “Lord, help us to remember that You are always with us – every moment of every day and that if we will ask anything in line with Your will, You will hear and You will answer us (1 John 5:14). May we learn to trust You, depend on You (Psalm 37:3-5), and wait on You no matter the circumstances. You alone, Sovereign God, are worthy of all our love and trust. You have declared the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10) and numbered our days before one of them came to be (Psalm 139:16). You put the stars in the sky and You know them all by name (PSALM 147:4) - even the very hairs on our heads are numbered (Luke 12:7). May we find our delight, our joy, and our life in You alone. For Your love will never fail and if You are for us, oh God, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31) who in all creation has the strength to take us from Your hand*? Nothing can separate us from Your love (Romans 8:39). Amen.”

*See the songs Never Needed You so Much, I’m Waiting on You, and Help Me Trust in You.

#47 Pursuing God - Hebrews 12:1-3

Hebrews 12:1-3 NLT - 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on Whom our faith depends from start to finish. He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy He knew would be His afterward. Now He is seated in the place of highest honor beside God's throne in heaven. 3 Think about all He endured when sinful people did such terrible things to Him, so that you don't become weary and give up.

02/10/07-02/12/07

If we are going to pursue our relationship with God, He must be first priority. We may have to stop doing even “innocent” things that take time which could be spent with Him. We fill our lives with so many useless activities and valueless distractions. How much time do we spend being simply entertained? – TV, movies, video games – and very few of these are as innocent as we would like to think. The world’s values creep into all these things and as you allow them into your mind, these values creep into you too. Be careful of what you allow into your mind! I challenge everyone who reads this to fast for a month from all entertainment that is not completely God centered, and when you find yourself wondering what to do – talk to God, study His word, build your relationship with Him. Let us pray, “God, may You be so first in our lives that anything else is a far distant second. Help us to set aside time every day to spend time with You – to get to know You better. Show each of us what we should cut out of our schedules that we may spend more time with You. Lord Jesus, with our eyes fixed on You, as Your Spirit works in us, help us throw off everything that ever draws us away* that we may not stumble or stray but by Your strength, may we live completely for You. Amen.”

*See the song All Forsaken – Not Forsaken.