Going Lower in Order To Go Higher

Proverbs 12


"The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice" (v.15)

This is a verse that jumped out at me above the rest as it again deals with confrontation and advice. We all have been confronted by someone either letting us know what we're doing wrong or giving us some advice. However, there are to different reactions to this situation as Solomon lays out for us. A fool thinks he is right in his own eyes even if he is told otherwise, whereas a wise man listens to advice and adjusts his lifestyle accordingly. The reason a fool thinks he is right even when told otherwise is because of too much pride. He is not able to admit to himself or others that he is wrong and another person is right. This can lead us astray if we are never able to humble ourselves enough to seek others advice and listen to their council. When we get told we are doing something wrong and do not listen to that then we begin to block out such advice and continue to live as we were. This can lead to becoming calloused in this area as we will never be able to admit we are wrong. However, a wise man will listen to what others have to say, filter it through God's Word and adjust accordingly. You must first lower in order to go higher. You must humble yourself before those who are more mature in their faith and learn from them. Only then once you have learned will you be able to teach.

If you only remember two things from this let it be:

"a wise man will listen to what others have to say, filter it through God's Word and adjust accordingly"

"You must first lower in order to go higher... only then once you have learned will you be able to teach"

Have a great spring break everyone!
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Walk Humbly

Proverbs 11

"When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom" (v.2)

This verse brings about a very interesting and challenging point when it comes to pride and humility. What is pride? Pride is a deep feeling of pleasure of one's own accomplishments. This is not what we would instinctively think. In fact we many of us would define pride as boasting and putting all attention on yourself. This is not wrong but there is so much more to pride then public boasting. Solomon is saying that when we seek pleasure in our own accomplishments we ignore God and how his power is the root of all success. When we focus on ourselves and what we can do we will be disgraced. However, with the humble comes wisdom. This Hebrew word is only used here and in Micah 6:8, it means to "walk humbly."  What this looks like in the context of this verse is to walk in a submissive, modest spirit before both God and man. This leads is leads to and is accompanied by wisdom. So this week focus on walking humbly before both God and man, not under your own power and strength, but God's.
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Integrity Brings Forth Security

Proverbs 10

"Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out" (v. 9)

Of the many things that we can take away from this chapter this verse stood out to me. When we as Christians walk in the way of integrity we are living the way we claim we live. Meaning that when we are alone we are still living the same way we do when others are around. We put up no fronts or are concerned about impressing others because we live as we claim to. However, those who make their ways crooked will be found out. Meaning those who wrongly when they think know one knows will eventually be found out for God is always watching and He is the judge. When we claim that we live by the Bible we ought to be doing exactly that, bring in the Word and applying it to our daily lives, living it out. When we say one thing yet do another it makes us a hypocrite which is the biggest turn off for unbelievers. When you walk in integrity you in the security of God's Word.
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The Fear of The LORD... Part II (followup from ch.1)

Proverbs 9

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight" (v. 10).

Many people confuse this verse with verse seven in chapter one. There are only two differences, one obvious the other not so much. In chapter one the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, whereas in chapter nine the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. The second difference is found in the word "beginning." Although this is the same english word used in each verse it is not the same Greek word. This means that each use of "beginning" has a different meaning. In chapter one the Greek can be translated "to start," meaning the fearing God is the starting point for true knowledge of God. In chapter nine the Greek word can be translated as "prerequisite." This means that fearing God is a prerequisite for wisdom. There is a huge difference now between these two verses and it is now easier to see why they have been placed where they are. Solomon beings the book of Proverbs saying in verse seven that in order to have a true knowledge of God and who He is you must first start with fearing the LORD. Then over the next eight chapters Solomon begins to talk about what wisdom is and its values. Now in chapter nine he says that in order to have wisdom you must first fear the LORD, meaning that a fear of the LORD is a prerequisite for wisdom. Now that Solomon has establish that fearing God is required for both knowledge of who God is and for wisdom he will spend the rest of the book giving us words of wisdom and instruction.
(refer back to last monday for what it means to fear the LORD).

Fear God.
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Seek Out Wisdom

Proverbs 8

This chapter discusses the call, virtues, rewards, promises of wisdom as well as its existence before creation. Solomon, speaking of wisdom writes, "I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me" (v. 17). Wisdom is not limited to only certain people, for anyone can obtain wisdom. However, it will only come to those who diligently seek it out. For those who dwell on the Word of God will have it impact them daily as will wisdom. Seek out wisdom and you will find it. Solomon also writes the wisdom is "better than gold, even fine gold" (v. 19a). Wisdom in itself is more profitable than even the finest gold. What lasting significance does gold have? Whereas wisdom will outlast even your own life. Wisdom will guide and protect you. Gold is a safety net, but only for material things. Wisdom will help guide you physically and spiritually.

Seek after wisdom.
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RUN!

Proverbs 7

This is the third chapter Solomon has written dealing with adultery. Solomon was one of the wisest men devoted more time to this topic then any other in the book of Proverbs. This is the only sin that we are not asked to fight against. We are called to run! Paul writes to the Corinthian church, "flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body" (1Cor. 6:18). Any sexual immorality no matter the level of severity is destructive to the their own body. We are not supposed to, able or called to fight against this because we cannot. We are told to flee. If you learn on thing from the past three chapters let it be to run whenever you are confronted that with anything that confronts your sexual integrity. Even if it is a simple as a movie that causes you to lust. RUN! Even a man after God's own heart, David, fell into this trap. He did not run. At a time when he was supposed to on the battle field he was confidently at home when we spotted a woman bathing. He did not run and not only did it lead to adultery, but also murder. Flee from sexual immorality!
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Don't Get Burned

Proverbs 6


This is the verse that jumped out at me today: "Can a man carry fire next to his chest and his clothes not be burned? Or can one walk on hot coals and his feet not be scorched? So is he who goes in to his neighbor's wife; none who touches her will go unpunished." v. 27-29

This verse applies to what we were talking about yesterday, but the principle applies to all sin and the principle is something that we can be applying daily in every confrontation with temptation. Solomon illustrates this first with a man carrying fire next to his chest. Solomon's literal image of carrying fire next to one chest is representing carrying sin next to ones heart. No one can do so without being burned. If we let any sin get close to our heart we will not go unburned. For the things we hold close to our heart are the things that begin to affect how we live. This is why if we hold God's Word close to our heart and treasure it  then it will begin to affect the way we live and the same with sin and things of this world. Solomon draws the same illustration with a man walking over hot coals. This can represent the lifestyle in which we walk. We cannot walk in the ways sin without it burning us. However, even though we can draw a principle from this Solomon does still relate this to one specific sin which is adultery. If you play with fire (sex outside of God's Law) you will get burned!

Remember: If we let any sin get close to our heart we will not go unburned
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Satan's Worm and Bobber

Proverbs 5

Looking at verses three and four: "For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil, but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword."

Solomon spends this entire chapter writing a warning against adultery. The words of a forbidden woman are deceptive and persuasive, yet they are a sweet as honey. Married or not all men are under the attack of Satan in the area of sexual immorality. The entire world screams sex mainly at men, but women also. Satan has taken something that God designed to be beautiful and distorted it to cause destruction. When we take what God intended for the ultimate intimacy between and man and his wife and use it for selfish lust we fall into the trap of Satan. Solomon is not just dealing with sex outside of marriage, he is talking about all levels of lust. For Matthew 5:28 says, "but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart." By Gods standard even looking at a woman with lust is adultery whether or not she is real, on a screen or a highway billboard. The lips of these women drip with honey and her speech is smoother than oil, meaning that she is very appealing at first. However, as Solomon continues he warns us that in the end she is as bitter as "wormwood" and as sharp as a "two-edged sword!" Satan intends to destroy us so he opposes what God says knowing it will harm us. In order for Satan to convince us to oppose God he must lure us in by making it look really tempting. It is important that we all (including women) are guarding ourselves against these temptations, we know that Satan will attack and we know generally how, yet everyone still continues to stumble at some point. Keep your head up and hold fast to the Word of God. Victory will only come with discipline. Verse twenty-three says, " he dies for lack of discipline, and because of his great folly he is led astray." Without discipline knowing how to avoid Satan's trap is useless. We need to discipline ourselves to honor and uphold God design for marriage.

Hold fast to God's Word and discipline yourself.
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Thursday: Straight Ahead

Proverbs 4

What stood out to me as I read this chapter is found in the final three verses. Solomon writes, "Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil" (4:25-27).

One of the first things I learned when I first got my drivers license was where you look is where you go. Naturally when a young driver first beings driving he or she will be driving down the road, as they begin to look at the passing scenery, stores or anything that catches their eye the car will slowly veer toward the shoulder in the direction they are looking. It is very difficult to drive straight if you are looking elsewhere. This is the same with our spiritual walk. We are able to stay on the path God has for our lives, but the moment we are distracted by what the world has to offer we begin to veer away from God's will and eventually if we don't catch ourselves we can veer into oncoming traffic or into a ditch, which spiritually is exactly where Satan wants us. Verses 26 and 27 instruct us to ponder the path of our feet, to think about the direction in which we are headed to be sure that we are walking in God's will. He also instructs us not to let our foot swerve to the left or to the right so that we may turn away from evil. We are to daily be checking to be sure that we are walking in the light of God's Word and not being distracted and caught up in the ways of Satan and the world around us. For he is trying to destroy us by leading us astray. Whereas God intends good for our lives. Out of this knowledge we are to be sure that we are following God and the moment we take our eyes off of Him we will being to veer away from His path. Keep your eyes on Him and never look down, never look back to what the world pretends to offer.

walk in the Word.
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Wednesday: All You Need Is...... God

Proverbs 3

This chapter, as do all chapters in Proverbs, has a lot of points in it, but I am only going to point out the one that stood out to me as I read it through this time. This is also the chapter that contains a very commonly used and well known verse, rightly so. Verses 5 and 6 are the verses that many people turn to in a time where they are seeking direction as it tells us to commit to God and acknowledge in all we do first, then He will direct us. This principle is paralleled in verses 9 and 10 where it says, "honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all you produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. This verse calls us to honor God with our wealth. Ironically it is not even our wealth in the first place because God is the one who has blessed us in the first place. To honor God with our wealth would be to hold nothing back from Him. It continues to also say honor God with the firstfruits of all you produce. Not only are we to hold nothing back to God but we are to offer our produce to Him first. We are to give unto God first, then budget. Not budget then give God what is left. This doesn't just deal with money, but also with our time, talents, everything. To honor God with our wealth and our firstfruits is to acknowledge His provision over us in an expression of gratitude. In return God has promised to fill our barns and vats. Metaphorically speaking of course, Solomon is saying that God will continue to supply all we need. If we give to God FIRST (yes that means our very best), then He will continue to bless us. For by trusting Him with all we have including our finances He will continue to watch over us. The moment we stop trusting God and think that we can supply for ourselves He will no longer bless us because we do not seek Him in our needs.

God is not an investment, He is all we need!
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Tuesday: What is Wisdom

Proverbs 2

Solomon has written a book on wisdom, but what exactly is wisdom? Is there a difference between wisdom and knowledge? Proverbs 2 points to this very issue explaining what in fact wisdom is. Solomon writes that God is the giver of wisdom (v.6), He gives us wisdom both through His Word and through His Spirit (the third part of the trinity). Wisdom is that which provides profitable morals, it keeps one from evil and produces holiness. Wisdom is not just intellect, but it is a matter of the heart. Knowledge is the ability to know, wisdom is the ability to know and properly apply to our daily lives. In v.7 Solomon makes reference to a shield, like a shield God's wisdom protects us and morality guards us for the evil ways of the world. Knowledge here would be to know what is moral and why, whereas wisdom is to carry out morality due to the outcome. Solomon also notes that wisdom is obtainable by everyone if they seek it out. Whoever strives for wisdom will find it enter his heart (v.10). Obtaining wisdom require a diligent pursuit after God's will, yet it is still God who gives wisdom (v.6). Solomon also writes how wisdom will guide you and guard against sin as it will keep you traveling on the straight and narrow (v. 11,12). When one is confronted with temptation, as good and harmless as it appears he will avoid it at all costs because he sees the big picture and where it will lead him in the end, destruction and corruption.

Seek after wisdom and let it guard your heart

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Monday: The Fear of The LORD...

Over the month of March we will be going through the book of Proverbs as there is 31 chapters in Proverbs and 31 days in March. My hope is that as you read along you will be able to easily dive into each days devotion. Feel free to leave comments on what you have learned each day even if it is from a different area of the chapter.
Enjoy!


"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction."         Proverbs 1:7

This is a very fitting way for Solomon to begin the book of Proverbs. "The fear of the LORD" occurs 11 eleven times in Proverbs. It is also important that we understand what is meant be the word "beginning"here. What does it mean for the fear of the LORD to be the beginning of knowledge? The Hebrew word for beginning is rê'shyth meaning "the start." What this means is that a person cannot gain knowledge of spiritual things if they do not start at the right place. Solomon says that the starting place for knowledge is fearing the God. To fear God means to recognize His character and responding in reverence, worship, obedience, trust and service. Fearing God is recognizing who He is a responding accordingly. Fearing God is the very essence of true knowledge as knowledge apart from God is foolishness. As we begin a campus wide dive into Proverbs throughout March we ought begin with fearing God if we hope to gain anything else from this book!


The second part of verse 7 contrasts the first. It says that "fools despise wisdom and instruction." What this means is that when a person corrects you or instructs you it is foolish not to listen or accept the instruction. If someone tells you that you are proud and arrogant then it would be foolish not to accept the criticism because to accept it would be to change accordingly resulting in improving your character. Solomon warns us not to despise wisdom or instruction because to do so is foolish, someone who cannot receive instruction does not believe they need instruction meaning that they think they have it all together which ultimately leads to not trusting God because you do not feel the need to.


Remember: To fear God means to recognize His character and responding in reverence, worship, obedience, trust and service.
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Friday: What it Means to Learn

This semester I am taking Acts (BIBL 364) with Dr. Fowler. One thing that he has challenged me with this semester is how to properly learn from the Bible. He said "In order to learn you must first unlearn." Meaning that we need to let go of all the tradition, baggage and bias view we have on various issues in order to properly study and learn what the Bible has to say in these areas. Is tradition wrong? Not always, but it is important that if we really want to understand what the Bible is saying on any issue we need unlearn the views we already have so that we may see both sides and then look into what the Word of God is says. From there we are able to really search for what the author was intending then just drawing out the verses that we think support our already established view. When are studying or referencing the Bible we need to ask ourselves, "am I looking to interpret what the Bible as a whole is saying or am I looking for verses that support my already established opinion?" Just a thought to keep in mind as you study the Word of God.
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Thursday: The Motions

"I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
without your all consuming passion
inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking
what if i had given everything
instead of going through the motions"
- matthew west


This song has been on my heart a lot lately as it challenges us whether or not we are giving God all we have or just going through the motions. This is something that we need to be asking ourselves on a daily basis.So often we are in church, convo, prayer groups/bible studies, etc., yet how often are we just mouthing the words to a song or nodding in agreement with a preacher but the truth is we are just going through the motions and all these actions are empty? We need to daily ask ourselves "why am I doing this?" Are our actions and works empty? We may "do" things that please God but if they with are with an empty heart then these things are meaningless. It's not always about what it is we are doing that pleases God, it is that we are serving Him through what we do. We are to serve God in how we live, not just go through motions. A man donating one million dollars to a charity can be less beneficial then a man who gives up five bucks to someone in need. God sees beyond the deed into the heart, if your heart's not in it then your actions are meaningless. We need to search within ourselves to figure whether or not we are giving God everything or merely going through the motions.

Wednesday: The Hardest Call

"For I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again."     Phillipians 1:19-26

Many times we read stories about people who have been asked whether or not they are a Christian while staring down the barrel of a gun. So many people have died because they would not deny Christ. Now these are stories that when we read we later put ourselves in their shoes and think about how we would respond. It is something that I feel would be difficult to do knowing I was going to die, but in all honesty, I having nothing to loose for there is a better life awaiting me in heave. The real question is not will you die for Christ, rather will you live for Christ? It is much harder for us to live for Christ, walking in His footsteps and pleasing God then it is to simply stand for Him at the end of a gun barrel. I'm not in any way diminishing the courage it takes to die for Christ, but in all honesty if you truly believe that God is your Savor, He is in control and you have eternal life then this should be a no brainer, think about it. What reason would you ever have to deny Christ other then you do not actually have faith in Him. Paul says in Phillipians 1:21 "for to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Death is not something Paul is worried about because to be absent from the body is to be present with God. The real challenge is living for Christ because we are constantly under trails, temptation and persecution. It is hard sometimes to remain faithful to what God has called you to do when times are tough. Just something to think about. Let me know your thoughts on this.
Is it harder to live or die for Christ? Why?

Remember: "The real question is not will you die for Christ, rather will you live for Christ?"
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Tuesday: Who Am I?

"When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?"   Psalm 8:3-4

This psalm puts God into perspective and allows us to see the vast difference between our "greatness"and His greatness. I challenge you to read this psalm in its entirety. It only has nine verses so it will take two minutes max, but I challenge you to read it over and over, and slower and slower, spending time dwelling on each word. When you have finished reading it just take some time to be SILENT, no distractions, dwell on what David has written here. Focus on who God is, then think about who man is, who you are. Next time you are outside after a clear, sunny day look up into the sky, take some time to appreciate God's handiwork. Even if you aren't outside take some time right now (as long as you can) to dwell on these thoughts...



... it put things into perspective doesn't it? Take some time to comment on this post and share what was going through your head during that time. It is crazy to think that a God so great and mighty could even be mindful of us let alone love us! God created the universe and the galaxies, he created the beautiful landscape on which we live. The stars in the sky, the leaves in the fall, was all created by a God who loves you and loves me. A God that cares and watches over us. A God who sent His ONLY son to pay the price for OUR sins. A God who walks with us each step of the way as we travel through life. A God who we often reject. A God who sometimes we don't even give Him a moment of our day. A God who we don't trust because we think we have things figured out. Yet He still loves us. To even think that we can come before Him in prayer in absurd. He loves us and sometimes we just need to get back to realizing how great He really is because we often forget this everyday.

Who am I that you are mindful of me?
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Monday: SILENCE!

When is the last time you have been all alone, no one people, no music, no homework, no media, nothing? Are you comfortable being by yourself? Meaning when you're waiting on someone, eating by yourself, waiting for class to start how long does it take for you to flip out you phone to "text" someone, check the time or shove some headphones into your ears? We are surrounded in a world of business, a world of efficiency, doing as much as you can in as little time possible. Not only do we have fast food restaurants so we can eat on the run but to make it even quicker we have made drive-thru's so you don't even have to get out of your car. Most students can hardly do fifteen minutes of homework without flipping to facebook, turning on some music or texting a friend. We are so busy and surrounded by both audio and visual noise.

What we don't realize is how much we need to get away in silence and solitude. In Psalm 46:10a the psalmist writes:

Be still and know that I am God

This is so important that we get away from the noise around us on a regular basis and just be still, know that God is God and that He loves and cares for us. It is in these times where we can hear God direct us and tell us His will for God does not always come in the obvious ways. Just as with Elijah God may come to us in a gentle breeze instead to the mighty fire or earthquake. We come to God daily with many prayers and requests but how often do we listen for an answer? It's good to be reading the Word and be praying, but we also need to take time just to be still in absolute silence thinking, listening and watching for God.

We spend more time complaining about things in our lives then we do praying about them. How many times have you told your friends about something you were concerned about this week? How much time did you spend bringing it before God? We thrive off noise, not many times can a group of people be quiet without someone quickly cracking a joke. Silence makes us uncomfortable and feel awkward. I think this is because silence causes us to think and many of us are afraid to think. We need to learn to thrive off solitude. Jesus spent so much time going off on His own to pray. If something like this was so important for Him then it certainly is important for us! Take some time this week, get away from your everyday routine, go somewhere quiet where you are all alone and spend time in prayer, meditation and just sitting still. It will be awkward at first but if you stay long enough you will begin to realize how much you need solitude and time alone. This is where your character and who you are is developed, when no one is around.

Challenge: Sometime over the next week find ONE HOUR where you can get away from everything around you (go for a walk on liberty mountain, go to the quiet study room in the clab with a coffee, even wake u an hour before your roommates or stay up an hour later) to be in solitude. After you have prayed about everything you can think of and thought about everything on your mind, stay. Be still.

Now go do it! You won't regret it!

Friday: Where's My Faith?

Today I don't have a scripture verse to dive into, instead I want to share with you something that I have been battling with lately and I hope you can learn something from this.

The past week has been an interesting experience for me to say the least. I was notified about a week ago that my uncle has bone marrow cancer and he was given six months to live. This has come as a huge shock to both me and my family. Something like this is hard in a very different way because at the moment it doesn't even seem like it's happening partly because I'm in a different country while this is all happening. I am certainly not a stranger when it comes to deaths in my extended family so I have been through this kind of thing several times before, yet each time is very different and each time God is able to teach me something new. With my first experience praying for someone who didn't have long to live, faith that God could heal them came easy. However, faith in God was in control whether or not He chose to heal them was there. This was something that was new to me, trusting God even though His plans don't always result in healing. However, many years later I have been able to grow and trust God in all areas in my life. Finding out that my uncle is sick and was given six months is definitely very hard, but I trust that God will somehow be glorified and He will see His will through even if it means death. I'm okay with that and I trust that God is in control. It took a friend to challenge me on whether or not I believed God could heal him. I mean I definitely believe God is capable of healing him, but do I really believe that God could do so if it be His will? It's embarrassing at the very least for me to say that no I didn't have the faith that if God chose to He could heal him. I guess I was just preparing myself according to what the doctors said. I have certainly been praying both for him and our family, but not for his actual healing. I'm not saying that God will heal him or that he won't. I believe that God is in control and whether he lives or dies I will be okay with it, certainly sad and devastated, but trusting God. However, that when it really came down to it I didn't really believe that God could heal him, I mean the doctors said there was nothing they could do. If God has power of death through the resurrection of Jesus and then He certainly has the power to heal my uncle. Maybe He will, maybe He won't, that's not up to me. My job is to trust God but also not to underestimate God.

God is in control and He has power over everything!
Do you REALLY believe that?
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Thursday: Wounds Better Than Kisses?

"Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy."     Proverbs 27:6

This verse seems backwards but it is very important that we understand what Solomon is saying. We often think that our friends are to encourage us and build us up. This is true, but it is even more important that our keep us humble and keep us accountable. If have sharp quick responses it is a friend who will confront you on these issues because they want to see you be the best you can be. An enemy in this case will just let it slip because they don't care how you act or who you become. Criticism from a friend is better then a complement from an enemy. The constructive criticism from a friend will build you up, whereas a complement from an enemy at most is thoughtful, but results meaningless. We must not be so unapproachable that when a friends try to help us we get all defensive and see them as trying to take us down. As friends we are to build each other up and confront one another. Think about who your friends are, who are merely people you hang out with. A true friend will lower themselves to build you up and they will confront you about anything.

Remember: "Criticism from a friend is better then a complement from an enemy"
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Wednesday: Daily Devotion or Daily Feeling?

When we being to talk about a daily devotion many of us cringe because we know that it is an area that we struggle with. We have all been there at one time or another. In fact even when we get into the practice to spending time in God's Word daily it could always be better. Your daily devotion can be very much compared to a workout routine. When starting out you need to set a time in which to do it or it will never get done, same with working out, if you never set a time in your schedule you will never get to the gym. We also need to figure out what it is we will do. If you decide to go at random with a random verse each day you will miss out, just as if you randomly workout on muscle in the gym then you may get one or two muscles developed, but many will be missed. This is why it is important to have a plan for your reading. If you pick random verses many times you will miss the context and therefore misinterpret what the author is saying. Next you need to do it. Some people with reason with themselves and say "I will only do it when I feel like it because I don't want it to become a chore, duty or homework. Yes, we shouldn't do it just to do it because that would be pointless. However, if we only do it when we want to we never will. If you only go to the gym when you want to you then you probably won't actually show up. First you need to be disciplined and create a habit, then you will begin to crave it and be adamant on not missing a day. The word devotion means dedication. We need to dedicate time to spending in God's Word and in prayer.

When we develop a devotion to time with God then we need to watch that we guard that time and not let it become just a chore, but that we commit our heart, soul and mind to it seeking what God has to teach us. Anyone who has spent time in a gym knows that you can't curl the same weight forever, if you do then you will reach a point when it is ineffective. With our devotion we need to be intently studying God's Word and digger deeper each day. This is something that we can talk about all day, but you need to do it. Not just a day here and there, but commit yourself  EVERY day where you are in God's Word and prayer. It takes dedication and perseverance but it is the key to living a fulfilled life in Christ Jesus.

Daily devotion or daily feeling?
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Tuesday: An Abundant Life

"The thief comes only to to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."     John 10:10

Jesus is talking to the Pharisees here as He explains to them that He is the Good Shepherd. He explains that anyone who comes in any way other then how the Old Testament prophets proclaimed are thieves and false prophets. Jesus explains that the intentions of thieves, whether it be Satan or false prophets, is to destroy us. Every temptation we are faced with, no matter how good it seems or pretty it looks will result in harming us. This is the only intention of the enemy. Satan wants to destroy all people, especially Christians there is no one that he wants to help. So often we can buy into these lies that look so appealing at first, but eventually turn out to harm us. Jesus says He has come so that we may have life, not just life, but an abundant life. Jesus came to die on the cross to pay for our sins and pay the price. He rose again to conquer  death so that we may have life through Him alone. He ascended into Heaven so that He may reign at the right-hand of God and that the Holy Spirit would come down to earth to empower us to complete His will. Jesus prepared not only a way for us to experience eternal life, but an abundant life through God's love. God is the one who blesses us and cares for us. Everything that is good comes from above. When we can submit ourselves to Him and abide in His ways we will experience such life because God does not intend to harm us in any way. God desires goodness for our lives, Satan desires pain and destruction for our lives. Why give into temptation when we know without a shadow of a doubt the it will harm us in the end?

Follow God, for He loves and cares for you.
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Monday: Strength Through Weakness

"I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have received your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any  and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me."     Philippians 4:10-13


"If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness."     2 Corinthians 11:30

One of my major goals in these devos is to provide you with context in each verse. It is extremely important that we understand what the writer intended and to whom it was written to. From this we can interpret the application to our own lives in the present day. In the verse above I want to focus on verse 13 ("I can do all things through him who strengthens me"), but understand it within the context in which Paul is writing. Immediately we assume that this verse applies to God strengthening us spiritually, not that this is false, but it is not what Paul intended. When you read the entire chapter, or book for that matter you begin to see that here Paul is talking about God strengthening him physically. Paul endured many things throughout his mission all over Europe. He was beaten five times with forty lashes less one, beaten three times with rods, he was stoned, shipwrecked three times, once being adrift for a full day and night and he was even bitten by a poisonous snake (2 Cor. 11:23-29). And in the end Paul says, "If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness" (2 Cor. 11:30). Paul boasts in his weakness because it is through his weakness that God makes him strong. In the same way God makes us strong when we are weak. If we think we have it all going on our own then we will fail because God is not our strength. Paul says to the Philippians that whether he is facing plenty or hunger, abundance or need, God is his strength. In the times of good and bad God is what gives strength to Paul. For if we put our strength in material possessions such as money we will have nothing when we face times of need. But God is with us always and He supplies for us both in the good times and the bad times. It's easy for us to run to God when we are in the depths of despair because we have no other option. We need to also run to Him when are are blessed with plenty. For if God is our strength nothing can bring us down, NOTHING. Everything we do should be through the strength of God. For Paul even says that everything he did was through the strength of God and Paul did a lot.

Through our weakness God makes us strong
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Sunday: Grumble Not

"Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me."     Philippians 2:14-18

This morning I attended Campus Church for the first time in a while. I found myself very challenged by the best sermon I have heard Johnnie preach in a while. For those of you that weren't there he talked about Philipians 2:14, explaining how we are to do all things without grumbling. This is such a simple topic, but oh so hard to live. For me, especially when it comes to theology. Today people tend to whine and complain about anything they do that is not for themselves. The thing that bothers me is that if someone asks another person to do something, most times they will try to get out of it and if they do it they will whine and complain. It's funny how it takes something tragic like and accident or death in the family for us to help others out. I'm not saying this is always the case, but many times it is. Why don't we offer to do things for other expecting nothing in return? When we do help others, we are not to do so kicking and screaming. Paul instructs the Philippians to do everything without grumbling or questioning. Why? That they may be blameless and innocent children of God in a twisted generation. Today everyone is living for themselves and feels that everyone else owes them something. In fact we deserve nothing and that in which we do have is a blessing. Through this Paul says we will be lights that shine in our generation as we are different, not living for ourselves but for God Almighty. Our wanting to please God should be what drives us, not our selfish ambitions. We are to make the best of the situations we are in instead of grumbling about where we could be.

Also, it is important that we aren't grumbling about theology as there are many things we will never know. Not that studying or discussing theology is wrong, I love doing that. But it becomes wrong when we become divided over issues that aren't of eternal significance.

In all you do, do so without grumbling
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Saturday: Where's My Direction?

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."     Proverbs 3:5-6

This is a verse that many people quote and often wonder why if God says He will direct our paths we still don't know our future. It is important to first understand that this promise is dependent on verse 5 and the beginning of verse 6. Solomon writes "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In ALL your ways acknowledge him,..." If does not happen then the rest of the verse can't happen either. Solomon continues, "AND he will make straight your paths." The important word here is "and." Without the beginning there is no end. If we do not trust God will all our hearts and we lean on our own understanding, if we do not acknowledge God in everything we do then He will not, can not direct our paths. If we aren't submitting to Him how is He to direct us? If we want to take part in this promise we must first do our part. If we want God to direct our paths we must let Him be in control of our life.

It is also important that we understand that God does not show us our entire future all at once. If He did this there would be no need to trust Him and rely on Him each day. God often only shows us His will one step at a time. God does not want us to worry about what is ahead, instead we must trust Him and follow Him one step at a time. In this we keep our focus on Him and not what is ahead. Not that we are following Him blindly as we do not ignore the future but we trust God with where He leads us.

Trust and Follow
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Friday: Train Like An Olympian

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercise self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wealth, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified."     1 Corinthians 9:24-27

The Olympics are beginning later tonight in me home country of Canada so I thought this verse would appropriate. However, it does have an important message. In fact the Olympics began in 776 BC so it is very possible that it was the Olympic Games that influenced Paul to compare what he had to say to an athlete. Paul compares our Christian lives to that of a race in which we run. Every runner runs in order to receive a material prize. Paul draws the connection that we as Christians also run a race but our prize is imperishable, eternal life. Just as an athlete trains and exercises self-control in order to be the best they can be, we also must exercise self-control as to not become distracted and influenced by earthly pleasures. Paul is not saying that only one receives prize as in a race, but he is saying that we all are running for the prize. No one enters a race without caring to win, just as we are not to run aimlessly (or beat the air) in our Christian lives. We do not follow God's Word just for the heck of it. We do so because we firmly believe He exists and we want to please Him with our lives as we long to be with Him in eternal life. This does not mean that works are the means of Salvation. Salvation is what gets us into the race in a sense. Then we are to run with the goal of pleasing God with our lives in order to exalt Him as we will be held accountable for our works and rewarded accordingly. Every athlete who stands on the podium these next two weeks did not just decide to be there. They each have dedicated their entire lives to training and developing their skills in their one sport. An appearance in the Olympics, let alone a podium finish, is evidence of a lot of discipline, self-control and hard work. It is the same with us, we need to dedicate our whole life to serving and glorifying God, exercising self-control, discipline and dedication.

Beat the air? I'd rather not

Thursday: What To Do With Grey Areas

"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."     Romans 14:17

Paul is addressing the issue of being a stumbling block to others. What Paul says earlier in the chapter is that we are not to pass judgment on others and we should not cause others to stumble. In the Jewish custom and the Mosaic Law there was a list of things that were considered unclean and were not to be eaten by the Israelites. However, now though Jesus nothing is unclean in itself (v.14). But Paul says that it is unclean for anyone who thinks it is unclean. This means that if you have a conviction it is wrong for you to give into that conviction even though it may not be scripturally wrong. We are not to do things, say things or consume things that may cause another to stumble. For example if you consume wine socially for formal dinners it is not wrong according to scripture. However, it is wrong to consume wine in front of a newly converted believer who has come from a rough alcoholic past. It is important that we understand that it is not about what we do or don't eat, but about pleasing God (righteousness) and living in peace and experiencing true joy. All of this comes from the Holy Spirit. What this means is that our purpose is to please God and not to debate what the Bible says we can or cannot do. Areas such as "is it okay to drink," the Bible is clear about not getting drunk, but it is not clear about social drinking. When we debate these issues we can become to legalistic and people will say "well the Bible doesn't say it's wrong to drink so I'm going to drink and no one can tell me otherwise," meanwhile they miss the entire principle. The question is are we pleasing God or not? I do not think there will ever be a time where I can drink without causing someone else to struggle unless in the future my wife and I have a romantic dinner with a bit of wine. Am I saying the consumption of alcohol alone is wrong? No, it is what alcohol does that is wrong and there is no one who can argue that alcohol pleases God. It causes people to act totally different. In all we do we are to please God not only with our actions but with our intensions. Is it wrong to have a good time? No. Is it wrong to have a good time that does not please God? Yes. If you aren't sure whether or not something is wrong, it is sin to go against your conviction. For example: American's I find say the word "pissed" a lot. Is this wrong? I don't know. I grew up where this was swearing and used for cursing. Therefore it is wrong for me to say this, but I don't judge those who do.

Just remember:
In all we do we are to please God not only with our actions but with our intensions
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Wednesday: Far From Home

"So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil."     2 Corinthians 5:6-10

Paul is writing to the Corinthian assembly explaining what it means to walk by faith. He explains that while we are at home in our earthly bodies we are absent from the Lord who is in Heaven. God is not here with us in the physical form that we can see Him. No, we are living a life of faith, not a blind faith because there is evidence that He exists and we know from past experiences that God is real. However, it is still faith because God is not here with us in the flesh, we cannot physically see God. There is some faith involved in believing that God exists because we have never physically seen Him. The reason Paul says we live by faith and not by sight is because if we lived by sight then we would become very quickly discouraged as we not only don't see God, but we don't always see how He is at work in us. Because we live by faith it does not matter whether or not we see the results of our work we continue with good courage because we a doing it solely to please God and for His glory alone.

Paul also says that he would rather be at home with the Lord and away from his body. However, whether we are in our bodies or with the Lord we still have the common purpose to please God. We live with a desire to be with the Lord but remain on earth as long as He has us be here to further His kingdom and complete His will until He calls us home. For one day we will all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ and receive what is due for everything we have done while in our bodies. This includes both good and evil. As Christians we have been forgiven of our sins and therefor they will not be brought up at judgment but we will be held accountable for what we did with our bodies and with what God had given us and we will be rewarded accordingly.

Live by faith
Further God's Kingdom
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Tuesday: Cheerful or Obligated?

"The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver... For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God."     2 Corinthians 9:6-7, 12

I encourage you once again to read this entire chapter in order to understand the context. What Paul is addressing here comes just before he is about to come to Corinth to collect their offering. Paul address something very important here that applies to all of us when it comes to giving, especially to God. Paul says that if someone sows sparingly (referring to a farmer planting his crop), then he will also reap sparingly. Like wise if we give little we will receive little. On the other hand he says when we sow bountifully we will also reap bountifully. The whole purpose of giving to God when it comes to tithing is not because God needs our money, for He has already given us everything thing we own. God doesn't need our help, but He wants our lives. When we are giving to God not only are we financially supporting those in ministry and others in need, but we are surrendering our money to God.

However, not only are we called to give as the Corinthian church was we are also called to give with a happy heart. This means that we are not to give under obligation or compulsion but to give because we want to. Yes, we are called to give, but to give with a willing, cheerful heart. Paul also points out that giving is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. Giving is also about pleasing God and thanking Him for blessing us with so much that we are giving a portion of it back for His use. I know it's hard to give as a college student, especially if you have to income during the year, but this shouldn't stop us. Think of how many times you eat out weekly, buy clothing, go see a movie, anything. We all do these things, and no it's not wrong, but we could sacrifice going out to eat once a week to eat at the rot or not buy that t-shirt that I don't really need and give that money to God. Think about it, we can still find ways to give back to God, but the important thing is that we do it willingly and not pridefully or under obligation!

God loves a cheerful giver
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Monday: The Greatest Commandment

"But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 'Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?' And he said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.'"
Matthew 22:34-40

The Pharisees were a group of people who made laws so they wouldn't break the Old Testament Law. In one sense they built a hedge around the OT Law in order to stay as far away from it as possible. So these men held the OT Law very closely and this is why they asked Jesus which law was the greatest because they believed they were all of the utmost importance and they could not break any of them. They missed the point of God creating the Law in Exodus 20. God made laws in order to protect His people and so they would follow Him alone and experience fulfillment in Him. The intension was not to create a religion to follow a law for the sake of following a law. Anyways, Jesus responds to their surprise with an answer that they didn't think existed. Jesus says, "you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." This is the greatest commandment because if you can follow this one then all the other commandments will naturally fall into place. The Pharisees were so focused on following the Law that they missed the entire point which is to love God with everything you are and have. The first four commandments deal with loving God, if you love God with your heart, soul and mind then these laws will fall into place. If you love God you will also love man (His creation), for He says, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." The last six commandments deal with loving people, if you love people these will never be broken.

The Pharisees had everything backwards. Everything they did including "love God", pray, etc. was to keep the laws. Instead God intended for us to love Him whole-heartedly and gave us the Law as a guide in which to do so. This means that it is not the Law that is important, but loving God with all your heart, soul and mind. However, not that we are to not pay attention to the Law because if we love God then the  Law will fall into place.

Today we are not given a Law as was given to Moses. Instead Jesus clarified the two greatest commandments, love God, love people. If we love God does that mean we are proud and arrogant? No because nothing is to be put above God. If we love people does that mean we curse and swear? No because we are cursing God's creation made in His image. Everything falls back to loving God. Not just loving Him, loving Him with ALL you heart, ALL your soul and ALL your mind! Love God with everything you have. In other words the whole purpose for your life should be for God's glory.

love God
love people
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Saturday: Jars of Clay

" For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' has shone in our hearts to give the light of the light of knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us."     2 Corinthians 4:5-7

We as humans, as Christians are not to proclaim ourselves to the world for we are to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. For Jesus is Lord and we are merely His servants. Everything that we do for God's glory is through the enablement of the Holy Spirit and not through our own strength. For we are a sinful people and God has allowed light to shine out of darkness, meaning the love of Jesus Christ to shine through us as Christian. The image that Paul uses here is the image of clay pots, he says that we have this treasure in jars of clay, meaning we are weak and easily broken, but all power that comes through us is from God who through is Spirit enables us to do His will. This is something that humbles us and we need to come to terms that we are nothing without God and all we do it through God's strength for His glory alone. God will lift up the humble and suppress the proud.

Friday: Just Something To Think About

"Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, "I am only joking!"     Psalm 26:18-19

Thursday: Faith, Works and the Gospel

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."     Ephesians 2:8-10

It is very clear that works are not a means by which we receive salvation, but are works to be ignored when it comes to the gospel? Earlier this week I had the privilege of sitting in on a lecture that Dr. Darrell Bock, a research professor of New Testament Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary, presented on the new perspective. He introduced me to the idea that the point of the gospel is not merely that Jesus died for our sin, the key part is the idea of the provision of the Spirit which gives us a capability of walking in a way that honors God. At first we think, he's wrong because Jesus' death and resurrection is entirely what the gospel is about. However, I ask you to continue to read this post a hear me out. The gospel is in not just about justification, but what justification enables us to do. Yes, the death and resurrection is important and I do not want to remove any focus from that, as it is the heart of the gospel. However, I believe there is more to it then that.

If you have ever had the privilege of leading someone to Christ you have probably followed something similar to the Roman's Road. If you've ever done this and simply rhymed off verses to someone and walked them through a prayer then you have probably thought to yourself afterwards, "I hope they get it." I mean so many Christians today believe in Jesus and that He died and they confessed some sins, prayed and they think they are saved. This is where I think we are missing the point. The gospel does not stop with the acceptance and confession of Jesus, it must continue to the person being born again. This is what Jesus was saying to Nicodemus in John 3. When we decide to acknowledge that Jesus is Lord, confess our sins and receive Him we must be born again. Not physically, but spiritually, start a new life in Christ separate from our old life. We are no longer sinners, but through Christ's blood we are saints, forgiven by God Almighty. This is when we receive the Holy Spirit who enables us to do good works, for this is the reason in which we have been created. We are God's workmanship, created to do good works for His glory. The gospel is not just the death and resurrection of Christ, but it is also the ennoblement by the Holy Spirit and becoming a new creation with a new life in Christ. This is the gospel we are to share, this is the gospel that is the Good News! Yes, the gospel is about justification, but also about what justification enables us to do!

What do you think? Do you understand what I am saying? Please let me know if you don't because this is something that we all need to hear and understand!

In Christ's love,

Jon

Wednesday: A Tongue of Praise or Cursing?

"For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water."     James 3:7-12

I encourage you to read this chapter in it entirety, but for the sake of length I only included the key verses. The tongues has so much potential both to uplift another and to put down another. There are so many people that tell me there is no where in the Bible that says you cannot swear. In fact what make those four letter words the bad ones? Why isn't "belt" a bad word, it has four letters? Well I believe that both these questions are answered here in James chapter three. James compares the tongue to a rudder that steers a ship. James uses the imagery of a spring. For a spring cannot produce both fresh and salt water. In fact if you have a glass of fresh water and add the smallest amount of salt then the whole glass is affected and all the water becomes salt water. In the same way our mouths cannot produce both blessing and cursing. This means that if we are able to praise God on Sunday's but Monday thru Saturday we swear then our praise is in vein for both cannot come from the same mouth. Therefore if you want to have a mouth that brings forth blessing and praise to God then there must be no cursing coming from your mouth or your praise and blessing will be in vein. For you cannot praise God yet curse others, which are His creation. For to love God is to also love people, for these are the two greatest commandments in the New Testament.

As far as what make those four letter words the bad words is not the actual word itself, but what these words mean and are used for. Each time these words are used are for cursing others or something. Now those who try to justify such words by saying they are only using them as an expression and not cursing it is important that you understand how these words are used in society. Anyone who hears someone say the F-bomb does not think, "oh he's just excited." These words are used for cursing and if you really want words for expression then why would you ever consider using the words that anyone who hears you would immediately assume you are not a Christian? For these words are associated in society as cursing, which in fact they are.

Tuesday: A Canadian Map is Useless in America!

Today I would like to talk about something that is very near and dear to my heart and something that I believe many people today miss this entirely. Many of you know what verse I am talking about when I say the God knows the plans He has for you, plan to give you a future and a hope. This is Jeremiah 29:11, right? Now what I could do is rhyme off a devotional about how this verse is saying that God has plans for you that will give you a future and a hope. However, I can't because that is not what this verse is saying. It hurts me to say this, but I need to because we cannot be talking verses out of context because in a sense we are adding to the Bible in our own minds and what we think the Bible says. It is very important that we do not take verses out of context when we refer to verses for comfort or council. I hear this verse referenced all the time and frankly what people usually say has nothing to do with what Jeremiah was saying.

I encourage you to read this book, or at the very least the chapter in its entirety before you make any judgment on what the verse is actually saying. See Jeremiah is talking about Judah when it was taken into exile by Babylon for 70 years. The restoration of the exiles to Judah would not be completed until God's 70 years of judgment was finished (Jer. 25:11-12). It was at that time when God would fulfill His promise to restore the exiles to Judah. This 70 Exile was all part of God's master plan and His plan to give Judah a future and hope. This judgment caused Judah to seek God wholeheartedly. Finally when they had turned back to God they were restored from Exile and returned to their land. The entire purpose of the Exile was to force Israel back to their God (Deut. 30:1-10).

Now this verse is in the context of the Babylonian Captivity just as a Canadian map is in the context of Canada. When this map is pulled out of it's context (Canada), it is no longer applies to me. When I come to the states I do not use a Canadian map because the Context is now America. So when we pull verse like this which is in the context of being written to Judah during the Exile we cannot literally apply it to our future career. However, we are still able to seek out the meaning behind how God was working in Judah and apply the principle to our lives that God may cause us to go through rough patches in order to rely on Him. So yes this verse may be used for council, but it may not be used to literally apply to our life by saying God has a plans for us that are not of disaster and we will not experience any disaster like bankruptcy or anything like this because God loves us and gives us a hope. Yes, God loves us, but no this does not mean we will never experience disaster and hardship. In fact the Exile of Judah at the time was a disaster in itself but God had a bigger plan in mind.

My goal was to really stress the importance of context so that we may fully understand what the Bible says and what the author was saying to whom he was writing and how it applies to us today.

In Christ.

J

Monday: Never Thought Loving Monday was Possible

I remember the days when I hated Monday's because it was the beginning of a new week meaning, no more sleeping in and it time to go back to school. Nothing ever seemed to go right every single Monday of the Gr. 11 year in high school. Monday's were the worst and I hated them before they even began. What ever happened to being a child and whining about having a bed time and anxiously awaiting a new day to come. I could never seem to burn all my energy before bedtime and always was pumped for the next new day, especially Monday's because that meant I would get to see all my friends at school. Oh the days of elementary school! What is it that changed, what happened. I grew up, thats what!

See not everyone, but many people dread Monday's as they are always the beginning of a new week and everything seems to go wrong on Monday, then slowly we adapt to the routine come Wednesday and by the time Friday rolls around we are anxious for the day to be over as it is the weekend! Then we go through the whole cycle again. What a life we live. Would it not be so much more beneficial if we would just take each day as it comes and live it to the fullest? See every new day that is born is a gift from God and He has handcrafted new mercies for us for this new day. He has developed a new grace (common grace) for us each and every day. As Christians we should see every day as new day to glorify God and further His Kingdom by spreading the gospel. If your outlook on each day is positive and you are looking for opportunity then your day will be much better. However, if you count it as a write-off before you even get out of bed then your day will be miserable and you will only dwell on the low points of your day. Let us make the best out of each day that is given to us and give God all the glory!

Sunday: Set Free By Truth

"So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, 'If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'"     John 8:31-32

These verses begin indicating that Jesus was talking with "Jews who had believed," in other words believers. The previous verse "as he was saying these things, many believed in him," follows Jesus proclaiming who He is to a group of people, then many believed in Him. The next verse is where we pick and Jesus is now talking to those who believed. Leon Morris seems to think that Jesus was talking to people who believed, yet did not believe. Meaning they were inclined to think what Jesus was saying was true, but were not prepared to submit their life to His teaching and trust his Word whole-heartedly. This is the most dangerous spiritual state for man! I think that Morris makes a valid point as we look into what Jesus says to these people.

Jesus states clearly, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples" (v.32b). It is very clear here that as "believers" in Jesus if we abide or act in accordance with His Word then we will TRULY be His disciples. If this is true then the opposite must be false because truth is not relative. Therefore, if we do NOT abide or act in accordance with His Word then we will NOT be His disciples. How can we say we believe the Bible if A: we do not read it, and B: we do not act in accordance with it? Today it is too easy for "Christians" to believe in God and be okay with that. Even the devil and his demons believe in God. James 2:19 says, "you believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe--and shudder!" Saving faith is not the faith in the existence of God but the faith in living according to His Word.

Secondly, by knowing the truth it will set you free. What this means is that by believing Jesus and being His TRUE disciple, living according to His Word you will know the truth. By knowing this truth and living according to it, it will set you free. For sin cannot bind truth.

I really hope these verses will impact you the same way they impacted me. It is so important that our faith in backed up by a lifestyle. Remember: Saving faith is not the faith in the existence of God but the faith in living according to His Word. Have a great week!

In God's strength,

Jon

Saturday: Speak Lord Your Servant is Listening

"And the LORD came and stood, calling as at other times, 'Samuel! Samuel!' And Samuel said, 'Speak, LORD, for your servant hears.'"  -1 Samuel 3:10

There is much more context to this story which is important that it isn't lost or this verse taken out of context. I encourage you to read this chapter in it's entirety, but I will try to represent what the Bible is saying to the best of my ability, well actually with what I believe God has revealed to me for I have no ability apart from God.

In this passage Samuel, a young boy working in the temple with Eli at this point, is called upon by God. Literally God calls out Samuel's name three times and three times Samuel goes to Eli thinking it was Eli who had called him. Finally, on the third time Eli realizes that it has been God calling Samuel and he instructed Samuel to go lie down and the next time God calls him to respond by saying "speak LORD, your servant hears." So Samuel did so and then God revealed to him a what was going to happen to Eli's family, which Samuel was frighten to tell Eli. This was the beginning of God continuously revealing His plan to Samuel. The important part here that I want us to grasp is the call of God and the response of Samuel. God called out to Samuel a total of four times and finally on the last one Samuel responded by telling God that he was listening.

God still calls us to various positions and directions in life today, however it is done very differently today as God communicates to us through His Spirit. God has a plan for each one of you as He does for me also. It is important that we ask God to reveal to us His plan for our lives. And God will tell you in His timing (this is not always exactly when you want Him to, but He will reveal it to you when you are ready). It is also important that we live in a way that there is no hindrance between us and God such as sin for this can hinder us from hearing is will as we will be distracted in sin. When I was decided where to go to school I asked God to show me and I asked Him to only let me get accepted into one school, that being the place in which I was to attend. However, God has a different way to reveal His will to me as I was accepted to every school I applied to including the Ontario College of Art and Design. This was the school that if I was to pursue art then it was a no brainer to go here because it is extremely hard to get accepted and their art program is head and shoulders above Liberty's. So it was getting close to the time where I need to make a decision so I resorted to my knees day in and day out asking God for direction. Only a couple days later God revealed Himself to me in a way that was unmistakable. He very heavily laid on my heart, "seek me and I will provide." That if I would fully seek God He would provide me with a job exactly where He wants me whatever education I get. Therefore, I came here to Liberty so that I might study graphic design, but above that study the Bible as I have felt a clear calling to ministry sometime in the future.

God will provide!
When in doubt resort to your knees!

God will direct you!
When in doubt seek Him alone!

God will call you!
When in doubt ASK!

Friday: Prayer Changes Everything

As Christians we need to be devoting time to prayer each day. Not simply because it's the "Christian thing to do" but because without prayer we are unable to communicate with God and our relationship with Him will be strained. Prayer is not an issue of trying to change God's mind because simply we as humans are unable to convince God of anything greater then that which He already has planned. Now you may ask then what is the point of praying if God already knows what going to happen? This is a very good question and something that needs to be asked. If we don't know why we pray then are we simply saying words for God to hear? See prayer is a method of communication in which we talk to God. God communicates to us through the Holy Spirit and through His Word. Without communication a relationship struggles for air and eventually stops breathing and living, not that you are no longer a Christian, but that your faith is no longer alive and active.

Prayer consists to not just of calling upon God for various requests, it is so much more then that. Prayer can be broken down into four parts which is commonly remembered by acronym ACTS

1: Adoration- praising, worshiping and uplifting God (worship is not only done in song! In fact corporate worship should reflect your personal worship otherwise you need to check your motives)

2: Confession: We need to be continuously confessing our sins to God not that we need to be "re-saved" but that we need to remove anything that may be hindering our relationship with God and His work within us

3: Thanksgiving: We also need to be daily thanking God for all that He has given to us. Just think you came into this world literally with nothing! Everything that you own God has given to you. He has given you a new day each time you wake up and He has blessed you with food and shelter. We have so much to be thankful for!

4: Supplication: Finally, we need to come to God when we are in need of something. However, when we come to God in asking for something it is important that we are seeking Gods will over our own so that He may be glorified. The Bible says "seek ye first the Kingdom of God and all these thing shall be added unto you" (   ). This does not mean God will give you anything you want. This does mean that if you seek God FIRST, then anything you ask for He will give you. Now in seeking God you are seeking to glorify Him and not yourself, therefore in all you ask for will be in line of His will and for His glory. Yes, there are times where we want things and it is not wrong to want things or ask God for them, but we need to be seeking Gods will in it all and be okay if He has other plans because we do not know the big picture as He does, many times He has something better in store for us.

Finally, we are to be in prayer daily in order to submit ourselves to God's will and ask Him to work through us, this is all a process of submitting to Him. God wants His relationship with you to be intimate meaning closely acquainted. To have an intimate relationship with God is to not hide anything from Him and fully rely on Him. Through prayer we become intimate with God. So in a way I guess praying is "the Christian thing to do" because that is what a Christian needs to do in order to have an intimate relationship with God.

"A non-praying Christian carries his or her Christianity, a praying Christian is carried by his or her Christianity" -Ravi Zacharias

Thursday: I Thought God Loved Everyone

If God really loves the world (Jn. 3:16) why doesn't He just fix everything and make it perfect? Why doesn't God just let everyone into Heaven if he truly loves the world?

The reason is that God cannot let everyone into Heaven is because darkness and light cannot coexist and the smallest amount of impurity put into something pure makes the whole unit impure. If the slightest bit of salt is added to fresh water then it is no longer fresh, the salt resulting in saltwater affects all the water. If God allowed sin into Heaven then Heaven would not be perfect and it would be the same as earth is today, full of darkness.

This is why God sent His only Son, Jesus to be a propitiation for our sins. Christ bore our punishment creating a way, the only way to God. This filled the gap that sin created between God and man. Christ did everything, we only need to accept this and be born into a new life with Christ. If not then God cannot allow us into Heaven. He initiated this relationship by providing a way because we alone cannot get to God. But if we do not receive the sanctification that is found in Christ then we cannot enter into Heaven.

Wednesday: A Shadow Proves the Sunshine

"And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” John 3:19-21

Many people wonder why in fact there is evil in this world. I mean if God says he loves the world (Jn. 3:16) then why does our world consist of war, violence and hatred? Why is there poverty and sickness?

These are all great questions and it something that you should not be content not knowing the answer to because God has revealed the answer to us in His word. Yes, there are many things that are unanswered and God has done that for reasons that we don't know, it may be to build unity, but all we know is that there are some aspects of God that we will never understand on earth because a finite mind cannot grasp the infinite God. Our heads would explode! However, we are to search and understand the answers in which God has revealed to us, these things that are critical to understanding God meaningfully even though we will never understand God exhaustively.

That being said, the fact is that darkness exists because of sin. Sin exists because of the fall of man in the garden, therefore we are  all born with a sinful nature. However, it is not completely Adam's fault that you sin! We sin on our own, by our own choice because that is all we know coming into this world. Sin is as natural to us as breathing, yet no one forces you to breathe. It's the same with sin. Sin is developed from desire and results in death (James 1:15). So we see that all of humanity lives in sin and the world is in darkness. But what makes sin, sin? I mean why are the things that we call sin wrong? The only way something can ever be wrong is when it does not meet a set standard in which make something right. If a 60% is the standard to pass a class then anything short of that is wrong or a fail. If 4 is the correct answer for 2+2 then anything else is wrong! God has set in place a standard in which is perfect and anything short of that is wrong or sin. When Jesus came to earth in the form of flesh He lived a perfect life living up to God's standard and provided a way for us as sinful creatures to be made righteous and be approved by God's standard. He died on the cross.

Now when John, in the above verse, writes about the light has come into the world he is talking about Jesus who is perfect (light) and stepping into a world of darkness (sin and death). When a light shines it always casts a shadow somewhere. The fact that there is evil in our world shows that there is a standard of some kind that makes evil, evil. John writes that people loved the darkness and turned away from the light. Darkness is the absence of light meaning that darkness hates the light because it with light it ceases to exist, therefore anyone in darkness turns from the light because they naturally hate the light because it would expose them. However, anyone who comes to the knowledge to truth and does what is right, John says that he comes into the light because he has been exposed in his darkness.

What I am getting at is that there will always be an opposition to the light, when a light is shining there is dark somewhere and there is always a shadow somewhere because the light exposes the darkness and creates a distinctive line between what is dark and what is light. When God created the heavens and the earth there was darkness over everything and that's all there was, but as soon as God created light there was a very clear difference between light and darkness. In the same way when Jesus came to the earth in light He made very clear what was right and wrong because in His perfect light He exposed the darkness and made clear that everything that was not in the light was wrong. Whenever a shadow is cast it is because it is the opposition of the light in which is shining, not creating the shadow but the shadow is the result of the light. When the sun shines on one side of a house on the opposite side there is a shadow because the darkness cannot coexist with light so it hide behind that which the light cannot reach. The sun doesn't create this shadow, the sun creates the light, but the shadow exists because of the light proving that there is a light shining. The fact that there is evil in this world proves the fact that there is truth that also exists.

A shadow proves the sunshine.

Monday: Another Day Given to Me

Thinking back on my day there was nothing that stood out as making it special, I attended class, did a bit of work, ate dinner with a couple friends, but all in all nothing exceptional happened today. Classes brought both learning and frustration, yet they were again just typical routine classes. Today was a day that I wouldn't say I wasted, yet I wouldn't say I will ever remember. The fact is, today was another day that was given to me by God Almighty. Almost everyday goes by and I forget to simply thank Him for waking up.

It rained hard last night as God watered Lynchburg and today the sun shined down to dry up much of the left over water. It was a beautiful day! Today was actually very special in its own way because God created it uniquely and He had me be apart of it. I just want each of you to stop and think about your day, whether it was great, terrible or of the norm and thank God for the day that has just past. Whether you accomplished something great, learned something new, copped with something tragic or even if the only notable thing was reading this post, causing you to see your day differently, God handcrafted the events and structure of your day for His will. He allowed you to open your eyes this morning once again to breath another breath, taste another meal and take another step. Take this moment to stop flying through life and reflect on what gifts God has given you today. We ought to be thanking God each day simply for another day among other things.

So now, how was your day?

Sunday: One Foot in Front of the Other

Well this year I actually decided to make a new years resolution, this is a new experience for me as I have never seen it as being something other then nonsense. However, this year I saw a need for it as a way to make a pact with myself and with God. I decided that each day I would take one step closer to being more like Christ . Although because God is perfect even if everyday I succeeded in moving one step closer to being more like him I will not be just as far away from perfection as the day I began. Simply this is because God is perfect and anything short of that is imperfect, and let me tell you I am certainly short of that mark!

With each passing day there are many stupid things that I do. Each night I go to bed I always remember those moments as I wish so dearly I could take back those words or actions. This year I have decided to make more then an effort to fix these issue and build up my character. See an image is who you are around others, but character is who you are when no one is around. For example: if we tend to pray a long prayer at meals for others to see yet our personal prayer life struggles then somethings wrong.

Ask yourself this: do I care more about the clothes I wear on Sunday or how much money I put in the offering plate?

There is an endless list of things we can improve upon each day and some things may even take weeks to conclude. But just think where you would be in your walk with Christ if you took one step closer to being like Christ 365 times! I mean it shouldn't stop there but it's a start. Thing seriously about taking this challenge with me.

Remember: "an image is who you are around others, but character is who you are when no one is around"

Saturday: Impressing a Perfect God

1 Peter 5:6-7: "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he care for you."

I was reminded yesterday at convocation of a very important truth, God is not looking to see how many mountains we can climb ourselves, he simply is looking for us to reach out for His hand. Many times I find myself trying to prove myself righteous before God, when it comes to theological issues I can often try to figure out what is right and how I can support and prove that what I believe is right. The fact is so many times I reach a conclusion and realize that I forgot to consult God personally. I figure I think I know what God is trying to say in scripture without actually asking Him to reveal this to me. God has not called us to do anything on our own because inevitably we are unable to. God has simply called us to reach out our hand and grab hold of His for He cares for us.

Deism is the belief that God created the world and then abandoned humans to fend for themselves. This goes completely against what Peter is saying in chapter five, verse seven. God wants us to look to Him in times of difficulty and cast our burdens on Him because He loves us. God never expects us to do anything on our own because we are simply unable to. The fact that man is totally deprived proves that we are unable to do any good without His intervention. As sinners there is not way we were able to initiate salvation because of our sinful nature, this is the job of the Holy Spirit through conviction (1Thess. 1:5). If this is true and we are unable to initiate a relationship with God, then how are we able to please Him under our own strength?

James writes that if anyone lack wisdom let him ask of God (Jms. 1:5). This is because any knowledge or wisdom gained apart from God is not of God, therefore it is foolishness. In no way will we ever please or glorify God on our own for our nature is sinful and anything we desire apart from God is sin, as saint who are renewed in Christ Jesus we desire righteousness through the blood of Christ under His power and His strength over sin. You cannot impress a perfect God, for He is perfect, what can you do that He cannot do infinite times greater? However, allowing Him to do things through you bring Him glory.

Remember this: "any knowledge or wisdom gained apart from God is not of God, therefore it is foolishness"

Back At It

Well it's a new year, a new semester and I have sufficient internet again!!! It is my goal and my desire to get back into a daily time of devotion over this blog site for anyone who cares to follow along. As busy as times get I will try my best to post daily.

Jon