Prone to Wander

My people are determined to turn from me.  Even though they call me God Most High, I will by no means exalt them.  Hosea 11:7

What is it that makes a brother or sister in Christ, prone to wander?  Why do we wander away from our Savior and LORD, the one who gave His life to save our souls?  Study throughout Scripture and we see times when the Israelites wandered far from God.  There was no faithfulness to their Heavenly Father, no love or acknowledgement of Almighty God and His faithfulness towards them.  Hosea 4:1 - Hear the word of the LORD, you Israelites, because the LORD has charge to bring against you who live in the land:  There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land.  We too, when we wander, lack faith and love towards our Savior and LORD.  

Often when we become satisfied in what we have obtained and accomplished, we might find ourselves wandering from our LORD.  We begin to think that what we have obtained, what we have accomplished, is all because of what we have done.  We choose not to acknowledge our LORD as the giver of all good things.  James 1:17 - Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.  We often forget it is God who has given us the blessing of accomplishment.  Let's guard our heart from pride and acknowledge all the blessings our LORD has bestowed upon us. 

We wander from our Savior and LORD when we look to others for approval or acceptance.  We wander from God when we seek to find our identity in our jobs or relationships.  The Israelites wandered away from their true identity - people chosen and loved by Almighty God.  They turned to idols to try to gain an identity.  Prayerfully search your heart.  Where are you trying to gain your identity?  If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior and LORD, you are a child of Almighty God.  You are chosen and loved by Him; that my friend is your true identity.  When we wander away from our Savior and LORD, we wonder who we are.  Our identity will never be found in this world and worldly things.  Turn to Almighty God and allow Him to reveal to you your true identify. 

We wander from our Savior and LORD when we allow the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life to consume our heart and mind.  When our focus is on the lust of the flesh, we become consumed with gratifying our physical desires.  Our thoughts are far from our LORD.  We become a very selfish person.  Our world revolves around us. 

We wander from God when our primary focus is on accumulating things.  We are bowing to the god of materialism.  The things we own become our idols.  We begin to worship our things other than the only One worthy of worship - Almighty God.  The lust of the eyes will carry us down a dangerous road far away from God where we are attempting to gain contentment and satisfaction in things that were never meant to provide us with contentment and satisfaction. 

We wander from our Savior and LORD when we become obsessed with our status or our importance.  Pride is sneaky.  It will sneak into our hearts before we realize what has taken place.  Our daily prayer must be for Almighty God to guard our hearts from the pride of life. 

The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life will cause us to wander away from the Savior of our souls.  1 John 2:16 - For everything in the world - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life - comes not from the Father but from the world. 

Let us remember, we are chosen and loved by Almighty God.  Jesus Christ shed His precious blood to save our souls.  Prayerfully ask Him to help you be aware of times when you are prone to wander.  Stay in a close intimate relationship with your Savior and LORD.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the beautiful gift of salvation.  Forgive us LORD because we are prone to wander.  Help us to always seek You through prayer and the study of Your Holy Word.  In Jesus Name I Pray.....Amen.

A Poor Man Becomes Rich

Do not be overawed when others grow rich, when the splendor of their houses increases;  for they will take nothing with them when they die, their splendor will not descend with them.  

Psalm 49:16-17

Many people think they are rich.  They consider themselves wealthy because they have money to spare and possessions that others envy.  They are considered rich in the eyes of the world.  But if they have no relationship with Jesus Christ, they are poor.  Money and possessions will have no baring on where a person will spend eternity.  A person's money and possessions will not follow them into eternity.  1 Timothy 6:7 - For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 

Zacchaeus was a man who had great wealth - "he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy" - Luke 19:2.  He was a chief tax collector who worked for the Roman government and gained his wealth by gouging the Jews.  He was a Jew by birth and chose to work for Rome and thus he was considered a traitor.  But on this day this traitor, this rich man despised by many, heard that Jesus was passing through Jericho.  Scripture tells us Zacchaeus wanted to see who Jesus was but because he was short he could not see over the crowd.  So what did he do?  He climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see Jesus.  What are we willing to do to get a better glimpse of Jesus? 

Zacchaeus considered himself wealthy and by the worlds standards, he was wealthy.   By Almighty God's standards he was poor - a lost soul without a personal relationship with Jesus headed to an eternal hell.  On this day Zacchaeus truly became rich.  Jesus called out to Him.  Luke 19:5 - When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately, I must stay at your house today."  Jesus is calling out to many today seeking to save their souls.  God desires all to be saved.  He sent His Son to save sinners.  1 Timothy 2:3-4 - This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 

No one is outside of God's grace and mercy and beyond the reach of His offer of salvation.  Zacchaeus was wealthy and was considered a cheater, but Jesus loved Him.  Jesus called out to Him, and on this day the life of Zacchaeus forever changed.  He accepted the precious gift of salvation that Jesus offered.  Luke 19:9-10 - Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.  For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." 

In our world, certain groups of people are considered beneath others - untouchable.  The cause of this could be their political views, their immoral behavior, or their lifestyle.  Then there are others we may consider above us because of their financial wealth or their status in life.  We must remember that Jesus loves them, all people, and desires us to carry the Gospel Message to their lost souls.  Regardless of a person's background or their previous way of life, Jesus loves them and desires to save their soul.  We must take our God given responsibility seriously and take the Good News - the Gospel Message to the world. 

On this day Zacchaeus truly became rich. 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the free gift of salvation.  I pray that no matter the earthly status of others, we as Christians willingly share with them the Gospel Message.  Help the lost world to see that they need a Savior and that You Jesus are standing their with open arms.  In Jesus Name I pray.....Amen

Our Friends Need Jesus

“Actions, not words, are the true criterion of the attachment of friends.”

  George Washington

What are we doing to bring our friends to Jesus?  We can't make our friends accept Jesus as their Savior and LORD, but we can do much with our words and through our actions to introduce them to the love of Christ.  As Christians, we must look for opportunities to bring our friends to the living Christ.

In Luke 5:17-26, we read about a group of friends that had a great desire to bring their ill friend to Jesus.  These friends knew that Jesus completely changed the lives of those He met.  A relationship with Jesus Christ is life changing.  These men were determined to bring their paralyzed friend to Jesus.  They carried him to the roof top of a house, tore apart the tiles, and lowered him into the presence of Jesus.  When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus - Luke 5:19.  What persistence and concern they had for their friend.  How fortunate this man was to have friends that ministered to his needs and had a great desire to bring him to Jesus. 

We have lost friends and family members.  How are we ministering to them and leading them to Jesus Christ?  He is truly our only hope.  1 Peter 1:3-4 - Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.  This inheritance is kept in heaven for you.  Maybe you had friends who led you to Jesus.  Thank Almighty God for blessing you with friends who cared about your spiritual condition.  We need to have an urgency about us in regards to bring our friends and family members to the saving grace of Jesus Christ. 

We notice in Scripture that these friends had faith that Jesus would heal their paralyzed friend.  They had faith in Jesus Christ.  Luke 5:20 - When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgive."  In addition, their love for their ill friend united these men to work together to bring him to Jesus.  They did not allow the crowd at the door to discourage them.  It is a sad situation when people stand in the way of others who want to meet Jesus Christ.  Let's never allow ourselves to be a stumbling block to those coming to meet Jesus. 

On this day, Jesus healed the man’s physical body but also the man received spiritual healing.  His sins were forgiven, his soul was saved. 

We are living in the last days.  We do not know when Christ will say, "Come home my child."  Let's be concerned for our friends and for their eternal souls.  Bring your friends to Jesus. 

Dear Heavenly Father, place in our hearts an urgency to bring our friends to Jesus.  Guide us in our actions and our words, Father.  I pray we never become a stumbling block to those without Christ.  In Jesus Name I Pray.....Amen.

Stilling Ourselves in the Presence of Almighty God

I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." 

Lamentations 3:24

 

Activity, activity, activity.  Our lives are filled with activity.  What are we striving to gain when we fill our lives with so much activity that we wear ourselves out?  God is calling out for us to still ourselves in His presence.  Our busyness and the things which we strive to gain through our busyness, draw our attention away from Almighty God.  It is time for us to step back and rest in the presence of our Savior and LORD. 

When we rest in the presence of God, we are able recognize and accept His sovereignty.  Deuteronomy 4:35 - You were shown these things so that you might know that the LORD is God; besides him there is no other.  We are able to focus on His character and His past faithfulness, which helps us to place our hope in His future faithfulness.  Deuteronomy 7:9 - Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. 

Stilling ourselves in the presence of our Savior and LORD allows us to reflect on how thankful we are to our Heavenly Father.  Our hearts should be filled with gratitude because our LORD has set us free.  We are free from the bondage of sin.  We have been given the gift of eternal life.  God sent Jesus to die to for us, "while we were still sinner."  God loved us before we turned to Him.  Romans 5:8 - But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:  While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Our hearts should be overflowing with gratitude for the precious gift given to us by Almighty God.

Let's never forget to worship our Heavenly Father with a heart of gratitude. 

In the Book of Genesis, we see that when Adam and Eve accepted the sovereignty of Almighty God they experienced no worry, no selfishness, and no shame.  No violence, lies, or discord surrounded their lives.  They were in an obedient, grateful relationship with God and His authority over their lives.  God showered them with His blessings and His favor.  There came a time when they began to question God's authority and stepped out in disobedience to His sovereignty.  Because of their disobedience, they had to work harder in every area of their lives.  Our LORD honors humility.  James 4:6 - But he gives us more grace.  That is why Scripture says:  "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble."  Humbly sit still in the presence of Almighty God.  Let's humbly submit to the boundaries our sovereign LORD has placed over our lives.  Priscilla Shirer states in her Bible study titled Breathe, "When God is honored, when His authority is kept in proper perspective, all the blessing and favor He intends to give His children become a part of their experience."  Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time - 1 Peter 5:6

Still yourself in the presence of God.  Set aside space and time in your life to foster a holy intimacy with your Savior and LORD.  We will never regret spending time in the presence of Almighty God.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your saving grace.  I pray that we will still ourselves in Your presence.  Refresh us precious LORD.  In Jesus Name I Pray.....Amen.

Teaching the Next Generation

After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the LORD nor what he had done for Israel.  Judges 2:1

 

It is alarming to think that there may come a day when a generation of people will not know Jesus Christ or even have heard His name.  Our nation has strayed far from God.  We may blame this on many things, but we as Christians have failed to teach the younger generation to love God.  We have failed to teach God’s Word.  Christian families must rise up and teach their children to love and follow Almighty God.  Churches have the responsibility to teach God’s Holy Word instead of offering entertainment.

Someone will teach the younger generation.  If we do not take upon ourselves our God given responsibility of teaching our children in the ways of the LORD, the world will.  The world will teach them that forms of ungodliness are acceptable.  The world will teach them that the ways of God are too strict and unacceptable today.  The world will teach them, as they walk straight into the fiery pit of hell. 

As Christians living in an ungodly world, we must teach the younger generation to love God and to live each day by the guidelines and principles found in His Holy Word.  We have to teach His Word, not our opinions or what we believe or feel.  God’s Word is filled with eternal truths that our children and grandchildren need to hear from someone who loves them dearly.  How often do you read and share God’s Word with those you love, with those in your sphere of influence?  If you want your children to follow God, you must make God a part of your everyday life.  You must teach your children diligently to see God in all aspects of life, not just those that are church related.  Deuteronomy 6:5-7 – Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.  Impress them on your children.  Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 

 

Believing in Jesus Christ as our Savior and LORD is the only way to Heaven.  He alone died for our sins and will make us right before God.  Living this way may not be popular, but it is true and right.  The world will teach our children that there are many ways to Heaven, just choose one.  Rise up parents, rise up churches.  Let’s get back to teaching God’s Holy Word and the truth found in Scripture.  John 14:6 – Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”

 

Let’s choose today to teach and share God’s Word.  Let’s teach this generation the importance of prayer.  Let’s raise up a generation to be spiritual warriors for Almighty God. 

 

Dear Heavenly Father, forgive us for neglecting to teach the younger generation about You.  Help us teach Your Holy Word.  Empower us to teach our children and grandchildren to love You LORD and to follow Your ways. 

 

 

 

 

The Multiplication Factor

Remember this:  Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.  2 Corinthians 9:6

 

We often feel as if we don't have much to give God, to offer to our Heavenly Father.  God is not looking at the amount we have to give, to offer.  He is looking at our heart, our willingness to give what we possess.  When we give all we have, God will multiply our gift and He will receive all honor, glory, and praise.  Are you willing to freely give to God today? 

 

We read in John 6 about a young boy who gave to Jesus five small barely loaves and two small fish.  When placed in the hands of Jesus Christ, these five loaves of bread and two small fish fed the five thousand.  The boy willingly gave what little he had that day.  Are you willing to give what little you have and allow God to take what you consider a little gift and turn it into something great? 

 

The task of feeding the five thousand seemed impossible with such a small amount of food, but God did the impossible.  He took the small gift and multiplied the food so that the five thousand were feed and there were also twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish left over.  God desires for us to give willingly and allow Him to provide the results.  We are called to be obedient to our LORD, not successful. 

 

What we give to our Savior and LORD may seem insufficient, but in His hands it is more than enough.  Jesus can use and multiply whatever we give Him.  Choose today to give your talent, time, and your treasure to Almighty God and watch and see the multiplication miracle take place as the Gospel Message is shared and lost souls are saved. 

 

God calls us to give generously.  We are called to respond to the needs of others.  Are we willing to give without a grudging heart and allow Him to multiply whatever it is we give and meet the needs of others.  Deuteronomy 15:10 - Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. 

 

When we choose to freely give to our God our time, possessions, and energy, we will be blessed.  Everything we have was given to us by our God to be used to help others.  Whether a little or a lot, freely give it back to God.  Proverbs 11:24-25 - One person gives freely; yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.  A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. 

 

God desires for us to freely give.  Let's choose today to give whatever we have to our God and allow Him to multiply our gift to be used for His eternal glory. 

 

Dear Heavenly Father, help us to truly understand that what we have belongs to You.  Whether we have a little or a lot, place a desire in us to give generously.  Multiply our gift and allow us to see You perform miracles.  In Jesus Name I Pray.....Amen.

 

 

 

Lessons from the Life of Noah

This is the account of Noah and his family.  Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God.  Genesis 6:9

 

God's Word is filled with men and women of faith.  We can take a look at their lives and glean how we can live a life that will bring honor and glory to our Savior and LORD.  They leave us an example that we can find encouraging and applicable as we journey towards our Heavenly Home.  Just as their lives had an eternal impact, so will our lives have an eternal impact.  Let's take a look in the Book of Genesis and see what we can learn from Noah.

 

Noah lived in a time of great wickedness.  Genesis 6:5 - The LORD saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.  The earth Almighty God had created was no longer the perfect paradise that God intended.  I think we can all agree, we too are living in times where there is great corruption and violence.  Our world is filled with wickedness and evil. 

 

Reading in Genesis 6, we see only one man and his family who worshiped God.  That man was Noah.  The study of Scripture reveals that Noah was a man of patience, consistency, and obedience.  Genesis 6:9 tells us that Noah "walked faithfully with God."   Even surrounded by wickedness, Noah walked step by step in faith as a living example to his generation.  Like Noah, you and I live in a world surrounded by evil and unbelief.  Are we walking faithfully with our Savior and LORD or have we allowed this evil world to influence us?  Choose today to be a godly influence in this world.  You will stand out, as Noah did, and Almighty God will receive all the honor, glory, and praise. 

 

Genesis 6:9 tells us that Noah was "blameless among the people of his time."  Noah was a man of integrity.  He refused to enter into the excesses of his contemporaries.  As children of Almighty God, we must be people of integrity.

 

Scripture also reveals to us that Noah was obedient to Almighty God.  When God revealed to Noah what He was going to do (Genesis 6:13 – So God said to Noah, “I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them.  I am surely gong to destroy both them and the earth.”) and gave instructions to Noah in regards to building the ark, Noah was obedient.  Genesis 6:22 - Noah did everything just as God commanded Him.  He may not have fully understood - an ark had never been built before, rain had never fallen upon the earth, but Noah chose to obey God.  There will be times when God does not give us the whole picture.  We are still called to step out in obedience just as Noah did. 

 

Noah's obedience to God didn't benefit just him.  It also saved his family.  Genesis 7:1 - Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation.  When we live a life of obedience to Almighty God, it always has potential to positively impact others. 

 

Let's choose today to follow Noah's example.  Be faithful to your Savior and LORD and the calling He has placed upon your life.  Live a life of integrity.  And be obedient to Almighty God.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, I pray we strive to live lives that will bring You honor, glory, and praise.  Empower us LORD to be faithful and obedient.  In Jesus Name I Pray.....Amen.