Dusty Grace

Eph. 2:8-9

It’s not what we can achieve, it’s what we can receive. Joseph Prince said this in his book, “Right Believing.” I’ve been chewing on that all day.

It’s not what we can achieve, it’s what we can receive.

It’s tricky in your Christian walk not to become puffed up and legalistic. There’s an inclination to stack up your righteous deeds and try to build your own stairway to Heaven.

• Go to church. Check!

• Read your Bible. Check!

• Pray. Check!

However church-y these things may be, these things don’t make you a Christian. These are only things that Christians do. Our “good deeds” are merely “filthy rags” to an absolutely Holy God anyways. What would you do with filthy rags?

What does make you a Christian is Grace, through Faith (Eph. 2:8-9). ”Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” is what Paul told the jailer in Acts 16:31.

It is our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is our faith that He is our Savior and the one and only Son of the Living God (Acts 4:12). That is what makes you a Christian; not what you do, but what’s been done for you!

It’s not about rules (what you can achieve), it’s about relationship (what you can receive). Let me say that again, because it’s sort of important: It’s not about rules, it’s about relationship. How is your relationship with Jesus? Is there even one? Or has your faith become separate… divorced from Jesus? That may sound unusual, but if you are not in a relationship with Jesus, then you are divorced from Him.

Sorry, I’m getting off point.

Grace is a gift. It’s unmerited favor. It’s something for nothing. Have you ever received a gift and just let it set there on the table unopened? Of course not! You ripped it open! You claimed it. Grace must be claimed. If not, it sits there unopened, unrealized, and unused.

Don’t let the gift of Grace set there unopened collecting dust. Dust it off and enjoy it!

May God’s Love be with you

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Impoverishing Jesus

Today’s Oswald Chambers* took me several reads to fully comprehend. To be honest, that’s pretty normal. His devotional is so deep, sometimes I don’t ever grasp it the first time around! Today’s was good, once I finally “got it.”

Think of the depths of human nature and human life. Do you have a deep “well” of hurt and trouble inside your heart?

You try to dig down and draw from the well, but it only makes the well deeper. Is the well so deep, that you think Jesus can’t help me? What could He possibly do in this situation? I’m stuck.

This happens far too often. The problem is we’re looking in the wrong direction. Instead of inward, we need to look upward. We need to look up to the only One that can help.

We think from our well, “Oh sure, read the Bible. How will reading the Bible help in this situation?” Subsequently

we impoverish or hinder the ministry of Jesus Christ. We can get to the point that He is unable to work in our lives. And that’s all He wants to do: get in our lives and help!

It’s not that Jesus can’t help, it’s that we won’t let Him. Our God is big and far too often we make Him small in our lives.

Look up from your well today and grab the hand that’s reaching down.

May God’s Love be with you

*My Utmost For His Highest, Oswald Chambers.

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Read, Re-read, and Read Again

There are some movies where the more you watch them, the better they get. Some have that special quality that makes repeat viewings more enjoyable. For me, “Office Space” comes to mind.

You would think that it would be boring to re-watch the same movie. I mean, you know what’s going to happen, right? But with a certain precious few, it’s the opposite. You end up noticing something new you didn’t see before, or you notice just how perfectly it’s casted. Whatever the nuance, it’s better than it was the first time you watched it. It’s sort of a phenomenon, really.

The Word of God is like that.

The more you get into it, the better it gets! You can read the same portion 10 times and get 10 different things out of it. You might notice one word that really stands out that you didn’t quite notice before. Then it takes on a whole other meaning to you!

Actually reading the Bible just once would be a tragic mistake. There is no way you could benefit from all the abundant wisdom or follow all the complex narratives in one viewing. The Bible is alive and it begs to be read, studied, meditated upon, and praised!

Have you ever thanked God for the Bible? Where would we be without that road map? You think society has gotten out of control? Well, this is a time when the Bible is readily available to absolutely anyone at anytime in any form. Imagine how out of control things would be without it to guide us through the dark places? I don’t even want to think about it!

So, read, re-read, and read again the Holy Word of God. It never gets old. It only keeps getting better and better and better! And take a minute in your quiet time with God today to offer a special thanks for the His Holy Divine Word. It truly is a gift.

May God’s Love be with you

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The Real Deal

Be alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. (1 Peter 5:8 HCSB)

Note that the enemy prowls around “like” or “as” a lion. He isn’t a lion. He’s faking it. He’s disguised himself as the King of the beasts, but he’s the furthest thing from that.

The real Lion is Jesus.

Then one of the elders said to me, “Stop crying. Look! The Lion from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has been victorious so that He may open the scroll and its seven seals.” (Revelation 5:5 HCSB)

The enemy wishes he was the Lion. He is only playing pretend.

Also note that he is looking for anyone he “can” devour. He can’t devour just anyone. He can’t devour a child of the King!

We know that everyone who has been born of God does not sin, but the One who is born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him. (1 John 5:18 HCSB)

So when you have negative thoughts or hurtful feelings, know that it’s from an impostor. It’s from an actor. It’s from a phony. Be alert, the devil is a wannabe.

Jesus is the real deal. He doesn’t parade around like anything. He doesn’t have to. He searches around for someone He can save!

May God’s Love be with you

Ref: Joseph Prince, “Right Believing”

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Your Shield

What would Captain America be without his shield? Well, he would still be pretty awesome, but he would be admittedly less awesome, that’s for sure.

The shield Paul mentions to the church at Ephesus was not a shield like the good Captain’s. No, it was much better. When listing the Armor of God, Paul says:

“in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” (Ephesians 6:16 NASB)

Paul was most likely talking about a roman shield; A large curved rectangle, almost cylindrical. The best surviving example, from Dura-Europos in Syria, is 42 inches in height with a distance around the curve of 34 inches. It was well made and extremely sturdy. The wielder of this shield could completely hide behind. It offered not only protection, but also confidence!

The shield of Faith is a vital weapon in our spiritual battles. It protects us from the enemy’s flaming arrows. These arrows can take the form of temptations, doubt, and insults. Our shield can extinguish these cruel arrows. But you have to have it! A shield doesn’t do any good laying with its maker.

So don’t forget your trusty shield when you clothe yourself every morning for your daily battle. You do pray God’s armor on yourself every morning, right? If not, start that practice immediately! I am not even kidding here, people.

Whats a soldier without his gear?

May God’s Love be with you

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John 3:16 Sign #God #Jesus #HolySpirit

Recently I was asked: What’s up with people at sporting events holding up a “John 3:16″ sign? To a Christian this verse is so fundamental that you assume everyone knows it, right? I mean, it’s only the most well known of all the scripture. But to some people, it may not be common knowledge. You would be surprised who doesn’t know what that sign even means!

So it goes like this:

You have one guy with a sign that says “DEFENSE” (sometimes two signs; one that is a “D” and the other that’s an actual little fence) and you have the one guy holding up a big-head cutout of the coach’s face or something. And then you see one guy with a curious little sign that reads, “John 3:16.” Is there a John on the team? Does he wear #316?

Of course not, the John in the sign refers to the Epistle of John in the Bible. And 3:16 are coordinates within that letter – third chapter and sixteenth verse. Which reads:

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:16 NASB)

Ok, but why? A professional football game hardly seems like the place to bring up religion.

Ask Tim Tebow. He famously wrote the verse on his black eye strips during games. You see, the Christian’s duty isn’t just to believe in Christ, it’s to share his faith. He is trying to spark your curiosity. Maybe you’ll write it down and look it up or ask your friend or something. Or he is trying to remind those who already know the verse. When else could he tell 80,000 people about Jesus (or if he gets on TV, millions!)

Why John 3:16?

If the Bible could be summed up in one verse, it would be John 3:16. It is the entire Christian faith in a nutshell. This guy is trying to get the most out of the little time he has. If I could only point someone to one verse, it would be John 3:16.

I assume I am writing to mainly Christians… but if I am not, and you always wondered what that sign meant, I hope you now have a better idea. Now, I’ve never gone to a game with a John 3:16 sign, but I’m not against them. If you are going to put up a sign for the whole world to see, why not one about God’s love for mankind? Sounds better than, “Go Team” to me!

May God’s Love be with you

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Luck

Proverbs 16:33

good luck • bad luck • lucky stars • lady luck • lucky break • lucky duck • lucky streak • happy-go-lucky • luck of the Irish • luck of the draw • tough luck

Think we may be obsessed with luck?

What’s that mean, luck? What is luck? One definition is: “Success brought by chance rather than by action.”

Luck? There is no such thing.

“One God and Father of all, WHO IS OVER ALL and through all and in all.” – Eph. 4:6 [emphasis added]

God rules over all things. He is through all and in all.

“For from Him and through Him and for Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.” – Romans 11:36

All things are:

• From Him.


• Through Him.


• For Him.

That doesn’t leave any room for chance or fortune. We are not floating through space without direction and purpose. God ordains every single microscopic event that happens. Life is not a gamble. Nothing is a fluke. Events in your life are not superfluous or arbitrary.

“The lot is cast into the lap, but it’s every decision is from the LORD.” – Prov. 16:33

Every decision is ordered from the LORD. Divine power trumps luck.

Saying something is “luck” or “lucky” may just be a habit. Start a new habit! Instead of saying “You are so lucky,” say, “You are so blessed!” That’s way more accurate anyways.

May God’s Love be with you.

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Real Medicine

Proverbs 4:20-22

My wife was telling me how she really enjoyed a message she heard from Joyce Meyer. In it, Joyce mentioned how wonderful medicine is. Got a headache? No problem. Tylenol can help. It knows where to go and what to do to help you.

But you have to put it in your body first.

It wouldn’t do any good to take that Tylenol and place it on top of your head. It activates once it’s inside you.

God’s Word can’t do any good for you until its in you. You must place it in your heart. Once inside, God’s Word knows where to go and what to do to help you. If The Bible remains just a book that you flip through here and there, it’s doing about as good as placing it on top of your head.

“My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your sight; Keep them in the midst of your heart. For they are life to those who find them and health to all their body.” Proverbs 4:20-22

The more you get into The Word, the more The Word gets into you! It is life and health to all your body.

God is the Great Physician and His Word is the the medicine your soul so desperately needs to be healed!

Take two and call me in the morning.

May God’s Love be with you

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Catapaulted

Sometimes you are going along in your Christian walk and something catapaults you. Something shoots you forward. It elevates you.

For me, it was, “Not a Fan.” Man, I was handed that book at just the right time. It took me to a whole other level.

It lit a fire.

Warning: The opposite can be true as well. You can going along in your Christian walk and something hinders you. Something sets you back. It sinks you.

We’ve all been there and it is guy-wrenching. So, be on the lookout… for both! Both are opportunities to grow and both are lessons to be learned.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says ” There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens.”

Whether it be something that lifts you up or something that brings you down, give thanks, praise, and love to God through these seasons. Because God has allowed it. Good or bad, nothing slips by without his say so.

May God’s Love be with you

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Sweet Sleep

Do you have trouble falling asleep at night? Sometimes it takes me forever. I toss and turn. My mind repeats all the stupid things I said and did throughout the day. I think about all the things I need to do tomorrow. Before I know it, it’s 3 in the morning and I still haven’t fallen asleep!

I heard the solution on “In Touch” with Charles Stanley today. That man is the real deal! Anyways, here’s the answer to getting a good night’s rest:

Ask yourself this – Did I serve God to the best of my ability today?

If yes; You will sleep like a baby.

If no: Better get some rest, because you’ve got a lot to do tomorrow!

“When you lie down, you will not be afraid: when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.” (Proverbs 3:24)

May God’s Love be with you

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Dungeon Songs #God #Jesus #HolySpirit #Christian

Acts 16:25

Ever get a song stuck in your head? Of course you have! The Belle Stars’, “Iko Iko” from the movie, “Rain Man” used to get it’s catchy claws on my brain and not let go.

Well, how about after you’ve been arrested… in a dungeon… at midnight? Still got a song rattling around up there? Kind of different, huh? Well, that’s exactly what Paul and Silas were doing when they were in prison in Philippi:

“But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them;” (Acts 16:25)

Nowadays, songs that get stuck in my head are Christian worship songs. That may sound weird to you, but to me it isn’t. A couple of years ago I took the K-Love “30-Day Challenge” of listening to only Christian music for a month… and I never looked back. That’s not my point, my point is this: we lay up things in our heart. They can either be things of God or things not of God. When you wake up with a Christian song or a Scripture verse in your head, then this is the “song in the night” that God has given you!

“The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime; And His song will be with me in the night, A prayer to the God of my life.” (Psalms 42:8)

Prison at midnight might not seem like a great place for singing. But in fact, it was ideal. Note that “the prisoners were listening to them.” What a witness! How many of Paul and Silas’s fellow inmates were converted that night? It’s hard to tell.

It’s also hard to tell who’s listening to you. And make no mistake, nonbelievers are listening. What are you singing? What songs are stuck in your head? God can give you songs in the night and it will be a prayer to the God of your life!

May God’s Love be with you

Re: Daily Devotion with Greg Laurie, “Songs in the Night”

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Secret to Success

Everyone wants to be successful, right? There are a million self-help books out there about how to be successful and what to do to be a success. But what is success? And is there a “secret” to it?

I don’t think it’s a secret at all. God gave Joshua the key to being successful way back in Joshua 1:7-9.

“Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.” (Joshua 1:7,8 NASB)

Meditate on God’s word and do what it says.

Simple. Too simple for some. But that doesn’t make it any less true.

Follow this simple step and you WILL find success. That’s a God Promise. It may not be what the world considers “success.” But it will be success in God’s eyes. And really who would you rather please?

May God’s Love be with you

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He Who Dwells

Psalms 91

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