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05/15/2023

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12/26/2016

Morning devotion 12-26-16

Ezekiel 47:1,9,12 (NIV) 1 The man brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar.
9 Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live.
12 Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing."

There are two popular interpretations for this passage. In the coming Kingdom of God upon the earth, there will literally be a river that springs up from under the threshold of the temple We could say that the course of this river, defined so clearly in this passage, is an indication of its literal fulfillment. What a change that would make to Israel! The Jordan today is a muddy little creek. The Dead Sea level drops every year. The people were always dependent upon God bringing the rains early and late in the year. It was a part of their struggle between Jehovah and Baal. Baal was said to be the god of rain. Their survival depended on rain. In this coming day, there will be an abundance of provision. This is extraordinary water! It brings life wherever it goes. Trees on those shores bear fruit every month. Fisherman cast nets in it and harvest an abundance of fish. The Dead Sea will no longer be salt water. In that day, there will no longer be a struggle for provision for the people of God. There will be abundance.
We could also look at this passage in a figurative sense. Jesus is the chief cornerstone of the temple of living stones. Out from Him flows the Living Water. He told the woman at the well that she should ask Him for this amazing water. Wherever the water goes it does bring life! It brought life to her. It brought life to her village. Jesus probably took this route from Jerusalem to Jericho, after leaving one of the feasts in Jerusalem. Remember the man that was healed with the mud made from spit? He first said that he saw men walking as trees. Those who drink of the River of Life do bear fruit on a regular basis, because the water of the sanctuary flows to them. Their leaves are for the healing of the nations. What a description of lifestyle evangelism!

Consider: What is your fruit?

11/16/2016

Today's Devotion 11-16-16

Proverbs 30:4-5 (NIV) 4 Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands? Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and the name of his son? Tell me if you know! 5 "Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

Who? The Word of God, the flawless One! He is the One who has ascended into heaven, but He first descended into the earth to be one of us. He gathers the wind in the hollow of His hands. The Spirit goes from Him and you hear His sound but only He knows where He is going. He is the One who has wrapped up the waters in His cloak. It is the washing of the water of the Word that prepares us to be the bride of Christ. He is the One who established the ends of the earth.
What is His name? JHWH! And what is His Son's name? Jesus, the Christ, the one and only Son of God! Do you know His name? A thousand years before His birth God said, "This day have I begotten Thee". The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
Have you let Him become your shield? What better shield than the One who made it all. Have you taken refuge in Him? What safer place could be found than the Almighty, who loves you and gave Himself for you? Trust in Him at all times. Pour out your heart before Him, the flawless One.

Meditation: My eternal Savior is the Creator, the Word made flesh, the flawless One!

11/14/2016

Today's Devotion 11-14-16

Proverbs 18:19 (NIV) 19 An offended brother is more unyielding than a fortified city, and disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.
19:11 (NIV) 11 A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.

Jesus warned us that it would be impossible for offenses not to come. We can offend others with even a compliment. But when those offenses come our way, or we accidentally offend another, we have a difficult task before us. Jesus told us to love one another. Offense is one of the chief snares in keeping us from obeying that command. If we have offended someone, we will find they are more unyielding than a fortified city. They think you intentionally harmed them. To keep from being harmed again, they set up walls of distance, walls of distrust. Winning a fortified city was a long drawn out effort. That is what it takes to win someone we've offended. It is much easier to carefully guard our words than to win over someone who has been offended. Be prepared for the long haul and don't give up.
On the other hand, if you are the offended party, let wisdom give you patience. Often offense comes from misunderstanding. Clarify and understand the offender's words and motives. Give them time to see things differently. If it is pure animosity, be gracious enough to overlook it. You are more likely to win that person by refusing to be offended. Wisdom teaches us that to accept offense is to only harm our self. To receive an offense will only make the offender have a sense of justification. To overlook it, protects your heart from bitterness and from more damage from the words. That is easier said than done, but it helps to consider that it is the wise thing to do. It is to your glory. It is the example Jesus set for us.

Consider: Refuse to be offended. Endeavor not to offend.

11/12/2016

Today's Devotion 11-12-16

Proverbs 12:16 (NIV) 16 A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.
17:9-10 (NIV) 9 He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. 10 A rebuke impresses a man of discernment more than a hundred lashes a fool.

Julio Ruibal was one of the instrumental men in the revival of Cali, Columbia. He was a man of prayer and fasting. After coming to Cali to minister, he joined the association of pastors and met with them regularly. At one meeting, someone said something that offended him. He decided to quit going. After separating himself for some time, the Lord spoke to his heart and told him to refuse to be offended. He returned to the group with his apologies, a humbler man.
When we let the words that others speak to us repeat in our minds again and again we build up a hatred for that person. Bitterness poisons our heart. It affects our efforts to serve God and even to be at peace with others. The more we allow those words to hurt us, the more we seem to play them over in our minds. But what right do we have to be offended? If Jesus was not offended by those who crucified Him, who are we to hang onto offenses?
We actually put ourselves in a place of torment. The one who offended us is probably not losing any sleep over the matter. In many cases, he or she did not even know that those words cut so deeply. Who, then, is fanning the flames of those words into a fire that is consuming you?
The proverbs for today show us that we are prudent to overlook insults. To cover over an offense promotes love. Didn't our Lord command us to love one another? A rebuke gives us a chance to make sure that we are in sync with the Holy Spirit.

Consider: The rebuke of a friend is often a sincere expression of love, whereas flattery may be meant to destroy us.

11/11/2016

Today's Devotion 11-11-16

Proverbs 16:9 (NIV) 9 In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
16:25 (NIV) 25 There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

We often go through life guessing which way is best. A man who wants to please the LORD will ask for His direction and help in decisions. Sometimes the answer comes clearly, and at other times there seems to be no answer at all. Yet, because of our situation, we must make the choice we think is best. Scripture declares that the LORD has already planned our steps. He has ordained each day of our life to teach us and draw us closer. We often fret over our decisions, but what a peace to know that when we choose what we believe to be the LORD's will, we will either have His instruction that we have made a mistake or we will go on in the steps He has already ordered.
The other side of this coin is the second verse above, which is repeated in the proverbs. To merely go by what looks good or seems right, may end in disaster. Only God can see all the consequences from a decision. We need to take the time to seek God's direction. Just because it looks good to men, or even may be a success in the eyes of the world, doesn't mean it is good for you. So what are we to do?
Commit your way to the LORD. Seek to know His will. Get the counsel of godly people. Make your decision with a heart surrendered to God. Then, trust that if you have erred, the LORD will make it clear to you and show you how to correct your error. It is not as if God cannot get through to us. As long as we have a surrendered heart that is listening, He can make His will clear to us.

Consider: If I am seeking to know God's will, He can make it known to me. Until He does, keep going in the direction He has led me.

11/10/2016

Today's Devotion 11-10-16

Proverbs 11:24-25 (NIV) 24 One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. 25 A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.

This is very similar to Jesus' expression about the one who tries to save their life and ends up losing it. The one who loses his life finds it. It is the upside down world of the Kingdom of God. I once met a man who thought the Lord told him that he would one day be rich. I reminded him that he had true wealth already in his knowledge of the Lord and gifts of the Spirit. That is true wealth! He has a family that loves and respects him. What a wealthy man indeed! He freely gave of that spiritual wealth, and if you asked for the little finances he had, he would share that with you as well. The wealthiest man I knew lived completely upon the hand of God. He trusted God would provide his every need as he ministered to dying people in a hospital of a foreign land. God always met his need. These men gave freely and they gained even more.
On the other hand, I know some extremely wealthy people who begrudge giving any amount. They live in the poverty of their own spirit. They have never learned that it is more blessed to give than to receive. They never experienced the wonder that you cannot out give God. That is a sad thing, for they will give an account to God for hoarding their abundance.
God invests in us spiritual and physical wealth so that we can be His hands of mercy and grace in the world. If we stand at the judgment and declare that we buried it because we knew we would have to account for it all, He will say to us what he said to the unfaithful steward. "Wicked and slothful servant!" God help us to realize this Kingdom principle.

Meditation: To give is to be blessed and to increase, but to hoard in fear is to wither and die.

11/09/2016

Today's Devotion 11-9-16

Proverbs 9:8-10 (NIV) 8 Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you. 9 Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning. 10 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

It takes a humble heart to receive correction. You can almost gauge your spiritual growth by how well you take rebuke. When we are prideful and immature, our first response is to pick out the wrong in the one who has come to instruct us. We may even voice what we think is wrong with them, just to show them that they are not without fault.
As we grow and God deals with our pride, we tend to listen without responding, and we may even thank the one who has taken the effort to correct us. But later, behind their back, we tell others how arrogant they were to pick out our fault when they have so many of their own. We may acknowledge some truth to their statement, but we console ourselves with justifications for our weakness. "After all, who is perfect?" we ask.
When we have failed like this a number of times and the voice of the LORD begins to get through our walls of our pride, we begin to understand that the LORD and His love for us is what makes us of value. Then, when a voice of correction comes, we may still flinch with pain from the blow, but we no longer look at the messenger. We know God allowed the messenger to come for our good. We take the message to the LORD and examine our condition. As we discern how much of the rebuke is true, we ask the LORD to help us express His life in that area, and not self. We take that old nature to the cross and leave it there. Then we can rejoice that the LORD has drawn us closer to Himself. We may even sincerely thank the messenger and ask for their help.

Consider: What a difference in our reaction to rebuke as we mature in spirit! At what stage are you?

11/08/2016

Today's Devotion 11-8-16

Proverbs 8:34-36 (NIV) 34 Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. 35 For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD. 36 But whoever fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death."

Jesus is wisdom. To find Him is to find life. To hate Him is to love death. The one who listens to Him is blessed. What could be wiser than to listen to your Creator? He is the One who knows your every need and every choice you should make for your eternal good.
This is a passage that points directly to communion with Christ. Every day we have a choice. We can run into our day as if we knew what we are doing, or we can seek wisdom. To seek wisdom is to wait upon the LORD, to watch at His door, waiting there. It takes time to still our soul, and He does not come out to speak with us until we do.
You could think of the cover of your Bible as the doorway. Open up the door and let wisdom speak to you. The Word of God made flesh longs to speak wisdom into your spirit. Will you watch and wait until He appears? How much does it mean to you to receive His instruction? It may be only a few words, but those words will shape your day and direct your steps. Those words bring the favor of the LORD, for you have met with Life Himself.
The alternative is to avoid life, avoid wisdom, and walk without the favor of God upon us. None of us would intentionally choose that, but we do make that choice when we refuse to wait upon God. It is more than worth the time to wait until you are still enough to hear His voice. Don't be satisfied with just leaving a message for Him. Refuse to leave without a meeting in which you hear His words of life.

Consider: Wait on the LORD today. Watch at His door daily.

11/07/2016

Today's Devotion 11-7-16

Proverbs 4:23 (NIV) 23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

You can guard your wealth, your family, your friends, and many things, but if you do not guard your heart, you are in danger of losing everything valuable to you. The desires that you allow your heart to be set upon will direct the course of your life. If it is set upon the temporal, you will lose all that is eternal in the pursuit of the temporal. The things will end up enslaving you. Proverbs 5:22 (NIV) The evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare him; the cords of his sin hold him fast.
Lust for the physical will always demand more. The first satisfaction soon wears off, and a greater indulgence is then required to get that initial feeling. Eventually the world can see your enslavement, though you think you have hidden it from others. It is a meaningless existence.
But for those who have set their heart upon the eternal, life is always increasing in significance. Instead of being mastered, they are mastering their heart and going after the things that will end in blessing and peace. There is no need to hide what is in their heart. They share it freely with all, and others are blessed by it. Though they may not have the abundance of some, they thoroughly enjoy what they do have and share that enjoyment with genuine friends. Their life increases in richness and value as they grow spiritually. They look forward, with longing, to eternity with the God they have set their heart upon.
Here are two totally different ways of life decided by one thing, where the heart is set. Where is your heart set? Guard it with all diligence. The temptation to turn toward the temporal is ever present.

Meditation: Keep your eye on the goal and fix your heart there.

11/06/2016

Today's Devotion 11-6-16

Proverbs 3:5-7 (NIV) 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.

One of our greatest temptations is to trust our self. We say, "If you want it done right, do it yourself." We look to our own experiences, our own insights, our own intellect, when it is not even comparable with the infinite wisdom of God. Is it because we don't think God will answer us? Or perhaps we think He will not answer in a way that will please us. Why can't we trust Him to answer us in a way that is ultimately best for us? That is to place trust in His nature, in His heart. If I refuse to do that, I must ask myself why. Either I do not believe He is who the Word declares Him to be, or I prefer to make my own decisions and be my own lord. If I love Him with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength, I should trust Him with all my heart as well.
The LORD intricately plans all your ways. Do you see His hand? Can you see the abounding mercy? We should acknowledge His grace in our lives, and let Him reveal to us what He is doing. When we look to His direction, the crooked paths become straight. Life becomes a wonderful interaction with our Maker. He touches the world through us, and in the process, transforms our lives.
To be wise in our own eyes is to deceive our self. It is a refusal to acknowledge our frequent mistakes and our real condition. We desperately need the LORD for guidance and discernment. If we think we can do it on our own, we have no fear of a just God, who, like a father, will discipline us.

Consider: Shun evil by following His directions. Let each day be filled with the wonder of His presence guiding you, so that His ways become your ways.

11/05/2016

Today's Devotion 11-5-16

Psalms 141:3-5 (NIV) 3 Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips. 4 Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil, to take part in wicked deeds with men who are evildoers; let me not eat of their delicacies. 5 Let a righteous man strike me–it is a kindness; let him rebuke me–it is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it. Yet my prayer is ever against the deeds of evildoers,

This could be our daily prayer. Our mouth seems to be the most likely member to join in with the sin of others. It is most likely to express any evil in our own heart. Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. When we hear someone slandering a person who has caused us harm, or whose ideas and goals are different from ours, we have a tendency to jump right in and join in the slander. James teaches that if we can control our tongue, we can control our whole body. We need the Holy Spirit to be the guard over our mouths, to keep the door of our lips sealed, unless we can speak words that build up and encourage. (Ephesians 4:29) Our world is full of slander and complaints. Let us be a voice of encouragement and praise.
David prayed his heart would not be drawn toward evil. After his fall with Bathsheba, he no longer trusted his own heart. Do you realize how easily your heart can be drawn after evil? It is always there to entice us with a lie. It offers us a delicacy, but that delicacy will take us further than we wanted to go and cost us more than we wanted to pay. This is similar to the LORD's prayer when He prayed, "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the Evil One."
We need the blows of a friend to wake us up when our mouth or desires are out of control. True friends love you enough to warn and correct you. Fair weather friends will never confront you. A true friend will risk the friendship to tell you the truth. Receive it like anointing oil. Don't be offended! In the last line David does not pray against the people, but against their evil deeds. Those deeds cause pain and suffering in other's lives. Our battle is not against people who have fallen for the delicacies offered by Satan, or we may find ourselves praying against ourselves. It is against the actions that lead to destruction.

Prayer: Lord, guard our mouths; keep our hearts from evil, and help us to accept a righteous rebuke.

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