| ............ | A Word In Due Season July 2023 7/3/23 TRUTH BRINGS FREEDOM Scripture: John 8:32 "You will know the truth and the truth will make you free." The devil desires to hold us in bondage by deception so he works on our minds like he did with Adam and Eve in the garden and with Jesus in the wilderness. He deceived Adam and Eve by telling them that they would become wise like God if they ate the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Satan also attempted to deceive Jesus by offering Him the kingdoms of the world if He would just bow down and worship him. In this same way, the devil tries every tactic to destroy our faith and lure us away from God's truth by telling us that we need to be free. He points out that the grass is greener on the other side and entices us to step over. He makes promises, but never tells us the true consequences of our responses. He tempts us in the areas that we are most vulnerable, trying to destroy our trust in God's laws and boundaries. At some point, the door opens, a grand temptation presents itself, and we have a choice to make, God's way or our way. This story illustrates the problems that we face when we get out from under God's laws and boundaries. A family was crossing the Atlantic on an ocean liner. They took their bird with them and secured him in a cage for a safe voyage where he was sheltered, fed, and cared for. Along the way he was even petted and loved because he was precious to the family. However, the bird desired to be free and wanted to enjoy a more exciting life. He felt that he could explore the ocean on his own and when the opportunity presented itself, he left his cage. He began to soar away from all that he thought was bondage. He enjoyed his release for a season, but after a while, he began to experience the consequences of his choice. The winds became stronger the further that he flew from his cage. There was no place to rest, no food, no shelter, and no one to hold and love him. He found himself overcome with fear and anxiety as he tried to figure out how to solve his problems. He discovered that the boundaries of his master were not so bad after all. He made his way back to the ship, his cage, and the love of a family. Like this example, the laws and boundaries of God are not meant to deprive us of any good thing. They are given to us for our benefit and for reasons that we may not understand. God's boundaries separate us from sin and death and give us life (Romans 8:2). When we step out of God's boundaries, we leave His covering, and we forfeit our promise of provision, protection, and rest. We step into the area where the law of sin and death rule. Like the bird that left his cage, we too are attacked with anxiety and fear and our problems begin to overwhelm us. Yet, even in our darkness, our Heavenly Father never stops loving us and continually waits and watches for our return. We must understand that the world has no true freedom to offer. It is God's truth that sets us free and when the Son makes us free, we are free indeed (John 8:36). +++ 7/4/23 BLESSED NATION Scripture: Psalms 33:12 "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord." The fifty-six men who signed our Declaration of Independence, which was approved on July 4, 1776, committed an act of treason against the British Crown. As they signed this incredible Declaration, they mutually pledged to each other their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. Of those who signed, two became Presidents of the United States, three became Vice Presidents, and several others became either State Governors or U. S. Senators. However, there were many signers who suffered greatly. Four died of wounds from the war and five were imprisoned. Several lost their wives and children as their homes were attacked. The oldest signer of the Declaration was 70 year old Benjamin Franklin, whose faith was strong in God. Speaking of God, He said: "Have we now forgotten this powerful Friend? Or do we imagine we no longer need His assistance? I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth -- that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings, that 'except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.' I firmly believe this." Benjamin Franklin was convinced that all was vain unless the Lord was God and Builder of this nation. The freedom we enjoy has been purchased with tears and blood. We have reaped the noble sacrifice of these brave men, and every American life has been touched by the document they signed. Because of their sacrifice, we have experienced a "Blessed nation whose God is the Lord ... And we are STILL one nation, under God. +++ 7/5/23 REST IN HIS PRESENCE Scripture: Exodus 33:14 "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." True peace and rest do not come from our surroundings but from the Holy One who lives within us. In the midst of every kind of adversity and the clamor of the voices of this world, we can always slip away in our spirit to hide in the Lord's awesome presence, because He is always available. He is our Holy Mountain where we can find solitude and He is our Mighty Fortress in the time of trouble. There is no price to be paid for this wonderful privilege except that we must seek Him and yield our being to His Person. Then as we simply acknowledge His Presence, He will quiet all the thoughts within our mind, dispel all the anxieties in our heart, and give rest to our spirit. Jesus is the Prince of Peace and His presence is supernatural. Yet, He does not bring an end to all the conflict in our life. He simply tells us not to allow our heart to be troubled as He offers us His peace. He says, "My peace I give to you" (John 14:27). It is up to us to receive the peace that He is offering. Friends may try to comfort us, but only Jesus can exchange peace for confusion, hope for despair, security for fear, and fill our heart with love when we have been rejected. Jesus walks on the water to rescue us when we are tossed about by the waves and contrary winds. He is the Shepherd who leads us through the rugged and dangerous paths and protects us from all harm. He is our Light in the darkness and He is the Living Water that causes us to never thirst again. We can have rest because of who Jesus is. The Lord is waiting for us like the loving father who waited for his prodigal son to return to His Presence. Jesus said, "Come unto Me, all you that are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). He is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent; that is all knowing, all powerful, and always present. True peace will come to us when we understand that God is in control and believe that there is nothing that can happen to us that He cannot take care of. We must rest in the knowledge of His Presence so that we can experience the wonder of His peace. +++ 7/6/23 MEASURE OF CHRIST Scripture: Ephesians 4:13 "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." The Apostle Paul exhorts us to come up to the measure of the fullness of Christ and he also gives us some words to guide us in the direction to achieve this state. He says come together in the unity of faith, gain knowledge about the Son of God, and become perfect, meaning mature. Three simple words; unity, knowledge, and maturity. Without these attributes, our lives will fall short of the measure of the fullness of Christ. There is a story about a town that had a factory with a whistle, which blew three times a day to let the workers know that it was time to start work, time for the noon break, and time to quit. The factory confirmed their time periodically by calling the local phone company. One day the power went out in the entire city. Once the power was restored, the clock that governed the whistle at the factory needed to be reset. The factory supervisor called the phone company because it had always had the correct time in the past. This turned out to be a fruitless effort because the factory supervisor discovered that the phone company had always set their clocks by the whistle at the factory. Both the factory and the phone company had been depending upon each other to set their clocks and possibly neither one of them had been correct for a long time. This is what happens in our lives. Rather than measuring ourselves with Jesus, we measure ourselves against the standards of someone else, and instead of coming up to the fullness of Christ, we fall short. Our whistles are sounding but they are incorrect. We are like the blind leading the blind or the deaf trying to hear for the deaf. There is no vision and the sounds we hear are unclear. There is no faith because we have set our hearts by those who are full of doubt and unbelief. There is no joy and peace because those we mingle with are frustrated and confused. Psalms chapter one declares that we have walked with those who have given us ungodly counsel, and we have become ungodly. We have stood in the way of sinners and became sinful, and we have sat with the scornful and learned to be scornful. Our values have become corrupt, and we did not realize it because we are measuring ourselves according to the standards of those around us. We must come to understand that the only precise measurement is the Lord, Himself. We must examine our lives and determine to live not by the world's standards but by the character of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Word of the Almighty God. We will only come into the fullness of Christ by finding the unity of faith, the knowledge of Jesus, and experiencing the maturity that is in Him. +++ 7/7/23 GOD'S GIFTS OF POWER, LOVE, AND A SOUND MIND Scripture: II Timothy 1:7 "God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and a sound mind." God is our loving Heavenly Father and He will not give His children anything that is evil or harmful to them in any way. His gifts are only good. He never intended for us to be overburdened, troubled, or fearful in our hearts concerning the matters of life. He does not even want us to be concerned about what we are going to wear or eat (Matthew 6:25). Throughout the scriptures God said, "Do not fear" and He assured us that He was with us at all times and that He would take care of us. Jesus also said, "Let not your heart be troubled and neither let it be afraid." He gave us personal responsibility to not allow the devil to torment us with fear. The Apostle Paul referred to fear as a spirit and James 4:7 instructed the believer to resist the devil and that the devil would have to flee. This includes the devil's evil spirit of fear. We do not have to have the power within our own natural being to conquer evil, we just have to use the authority that has been given to us. We were told that we could use the Name of Jesus and the power of His blood. No weapon that has been formed against us can prosper against those two weapons. We have the right to condemn every tongue, including the voice of fear that rises against us. We do not have to listen to the devil or his torments, for God has not given us a spirit of fear. God does not give us gifts that are foreign to Himself. Instead, He imparts the qualities that are of His own nature, which are love, power, and a sound mind. These three entities represent the God Head. Acts 1:8 says that you will receive Power after the Holy Ghost comes upon you. John 4:24 tells us that God is a Spirit and I John 4:8 says that God is Love. If we have the Spirit of God within us, we have His Spirit of Love. And I Corinthians 2:16 says, "We have the Mind of Christ." When we have the mind of Christ, we will have a sound mind. This trinity of power, love, and a sound mind is a mighty force against the devil and his strategies. The devil goes about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour and one of his greatest weapons is fear. His roar is loud and ferocious, and it comes with many threats, but a roar has no power within itself, except to bring fear. A roar cannot hurt you. It can only harass and torment. We cannot allow ourselves to be taken in by the spirit of fear, for it will drive us to disappointment, depression, defeat, and even death. We must resist anything that God did not give to us, which includes the spirit of fear, and we must rise above the clamor of the world's many voices. God's voice is bigger than the roar of the lion and His power is greater than any force that can come against us. We must turn our hearts toward God and rely on His Holy Spirit to enable us and strengthen us with His gift of power, His gift of love, and His gift of a sound mind. Fear is only a spiritual voice, and it will flee in the presence of these powerful forces of God. +++ 7/10/23 SERVANT OF JESUS CHRIST Scripture: Romans 1:1 "Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God." The Apostle Paul was called and separated by God to be a minister of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. His ministry to this day is considered to be one of the greatest and we look to him as an example of the highest degree. He went on many missionary journeys, had great revelations, was well educated, and wrote much of the New Testament. God even worked through Paul's life and performed miracles. Yet, Paul did not hold himself, his qualifications, or his position in great personal esteem. Instead, he laid all of it aside and humbly considered himself to be a simple servant of Jesus Christ. Paul voluntarily took the position of a servant or a slave who held no rights before his Master. He reserved no portion of his life for himself, but totally submitted himself to the will of Jesus Christ. He was willing to live or die for the cause. It made no difference to him for he was simply here to serve Jesus and others and he was joyful in that state. He went through many trials and tribulations because of his determination to fulfill the call of God that was upon his life, yet he never failed or faltered. The call upon his life to be an Apostle caused him to walk as a servant before the Lord and the people. Paul declared himself to be a debtor to all people, whether they be wise or unwise, and his goal was to impart spiritual gifts to them to establish them in their faith. He was not ashamed of the gospel and was ready to go anywhere at any time to proclaim it. He remained true to God's call upon his life even when he was cast into prison. No walls or bars could stifle Paul’s message. He endured to the end and finished his course as a servant and as an Apostle. Every call of God starts and finishes with being a servant. There is no "big me" in the ministry. Once you answer the call, you simply serve God, and you serve others. You do the work of the ministry and many times become, as it were, a slave. You discover that ministry is no picnic and offers few material rewards. Yet, true ministers will go anywhere and do anything without regard of rewards or for benefits. They just love God and others and have the same mindset that Paul had. They are first servants. At one point in my life, I became overwhelmed with life and the responsibility of the ministry. As I became weary of the various duties that I needed to do, I began to say, "Obadiah." Those words or that name just came out of my spirit. I knew that "Obadiah" was a prophet in the Old Testament and that one of the books of the Bible was named after him, but I had no idea what his name meant or why I was repeating it. For a season, I would say his name when I felt burdened. Finally, one day, I wondered why I was repeating the name "Obadiah." God prompted me to look in the scriptures and I found that the name Obadiah meant "servant of the Lord." Obadiah was a great prophet, but he was first a servant of the Lord, which means that he was also called to be a servant of the people. At this point, I realized that God wanted me to be an “Obadiah” in my spirit and attitude. He wanted me to simply be a servant. I encourage you to yield to this same ultimate call. As born-again believers, we are supposed to be “servants,” and “serving” is what we are supposed to do. +++ 7/11/23 MIGHTY MAN OF VALOR Scripture: Judges 6:12 "The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor." Gideon was so afraid of his enemies, the Midianites, that he hid himself behind the winepress. He was there sifting his wheat in secret behind the winepress rather than in the open field. Yet regardless of his apparent fear, God saw Gideon's inner strength and knew what he could become. God saw Gideon as a man of valor and envisioned him to be brave, courageous, and full of worth. Even though God, Himself, spoke positive words to Gideon, Gideon still could not believe that he was capable of fulfilling God's call on his life. He asked God to confirm His words through various signs and fleeces. Sometimes we are like Gideon. God calls upon us to do something that really stretches our faith and goes beyond our natural abilities. We cannot imagine that God wants to use us in a certain capacity when there are others who are more capable. As we look at ourselves in the natural, we fail to see what God sees because we are looking at our past and our present, while God is seeing our potential and our future. We see our failures and insufficiencies, but God looks at the gifts and callings within us that are lying dormant. He knows the strengths that are within us because He planted them within us long ago so that He could call them forth at the right season. When God calls upon us, we often exhibit the same attitude and answer Him in the same tone as Gideon did in verse thirteen. Gideon said to God, "If the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us? And where are all His miracles?" In other words, Gideon was saying, "Lord, I have not seen you work in my life, yet. If I am such a mighty man and have so much valor, why haven't I noticed it before now?” He was not even sure that it was God speaking to him. In verse seventeen he said, "Show me a sign that You are the one that is talking with me." Yet God saw Gideon's heart and very patiently and faithfully answered all of his questions and strengthened his faith by meeting his request. God is doing mighty things in your life right now and preparing you for the season that He has for you. He has a good plan and has placed you in His Kingdom for such a time as this. You may not be conscious of this fact, but He is implanting His Word and His vision on the inside of you. In the time of your greatest fear and most hopeless situation, God's Words of strength will speak to your heart. When you least expect it, He will call you forth and proclaim you as a mighty person of valor, for He is not looking at who you were or even who you are right now. He is looking at your potential and who you can be in the future. The Lord is with you. Do not be afraid, for as you yield to Him, He will give you courage to complete His will and be a mighty person of valor. +++ 7/12/23 MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE Scripture: Psalms 98:4 "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.” Throughout the Psalms we are exhorted to "Make A Joyful Noise" unto the Lord. It seems that God is trying to get a message to us and is not being shy about the fact that He wants us to express our love and appreciation to Him in an exuberant way. Joyful in the original text means, "shout or make a triumphal proclamation with a thundering voice." Loud shouts and sounds seem to be okay for open air ball games, but for many of us it almost seems too wild for the quiet worship services that we are accustomed to. Yet, the psalmist encouraged us to praise God in this manner and even said that our expressions should be accompanied with loud instruments such as the trumpets, coronets, and drums. By definition, noise is sound that is loud, disagreeable, and unwanted. It is also described as commotion or random disturbance that obscures or reduces clarity. We have all heard the noise that children make, which in most cases fits the definition of noise very well. However, when my two young grandchildren were visiting me, one sat down at the piano and began to bang and the other one picked up an old out of tune banjo and began to play with it. As they both were making noise with their particular instruments, they also began to sing individual songs. Nothing was flowing together and there was no real beauty about the noise they were making. Their music would have been deemed a pitiful sounding concert by anyone else's standards. However, the joyful noise they were making was a joy to my ears and beautiful music to my heart because my granddaughter told me that they were singing just for me. Their special intent had suddenly caused the noise to be very precious music to my heart. As I thought about my reaction to my granddaughter and grandson's expression of love, I realized that God our Father is much the same, for when we praise the Lord, He does not hear as the world hears. The world may hear the noise of missed notes and ill timing, but God hears as a Father who is listening to His child. God's ears are turned towards our hearts and He hears a melody of love. Skill and perfection are not as important to Him as a joyful noise that is filled with the content of thanksgiving, praise, and adoration. Deep is calling unto deep and He is listening for the praise that comes from deep within our soul. We must never be afraid to express ourselves to the Lord, for we are precious in His sight. Let us remember that the most perfect praise that we can offer to God is a joyful noise that comes from our heart. +++ 7/13/23 RELATIONSHIPS CEASE, THE LORD REMAINS Scripture: II Timothy 4:16-17 "No man stood with me, but all men forsook me ... But the Lord stood with me, and strengthen me." Earlier in this chapter, the Apostle Paul says that he fought a good fight, he finished his course, and he kept the faith. He had a determination not to let anything or anyone deter him from preaching the gospel and fulfilling God's plan for his life. Paul goes on to explain that Demas deserted him and that a coppersmith by the name of Alexander did much evil toward him. Not only that but Paul also faced other disappointments. When he had his court hearing, no one defended him. Instead, Paul found himself standing alone, but he took comfort in his situation because he knew that the Lord was with him and would strengthen him. There are seasons in life when relationships become strained or cease to be. Those who were with you suddenly turn and leave with no decent explanations. And those who have conflicting opinions stir up confusion, and fight against you. For one reason or another, you are abandoned by those whom you loved and trusted and by those whom you thought loved you. Like Paul’s situation, there seems to be no help even though you are endeavoring to serve the Lord. In your darkest hour, you are left alone in the arena of life to manage your disappointments and your discouragement. However, you can always take comfort in knowing that God will always be there for you. Even though others desert you, He will never leave you or forsake you. Each new door will present the opportunity to fail or succeed, to win or lose, to continue or to quit. The actions and opinions of others do not fit into this equation. It remains your choice to fulfill God's will and purposes for your own life. As with the Apostle Paul, he fought a good fight, he finished his course, and he kept the faith. Regardless of his hardships and the disappointments of his relationships, Paul did not quit, and his battle scars won him a crown of righteousness. God also has a crown for you. Trust in Him when all others forsake you. The Lord will stand with you and give you strength to endure the present and He will empower you for the future task that is set before you. +++ 7/14/23 FAITH HAS ACTION Scripture: James 2:18 "I will show you my faith by my works." A quote from God's Little Devotional Book says, "He who wants milk should not sit on a stool in the middle of the pasture expecting the cow to back up to him." We could say the same thing about the finished work of faith. It is not just a thought in the mind or a dream in the heart. Faith is substance and acts in obedience to God's Word. It does not sit and wait for the thing hoped for to come to it. The farmer who wants milk takes action. And the man who wants to see his vision from God come to pass must also take action. Our action is the demonstration of our faith. However, action without God's instruction is presumption. Romans 10:17 tells us that "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." True faith hears a Word from God, believes it, and then acts as if God spoke the truth. At the same time that faith is acting, it is also resting in a faithful God. Faith never struggles. Look at some of the actions and results of the actions that took place when God spoke and caused faith to come alive in the hearts of men: Noah built an ark and saved his household. Abraham journeyed throughout the land and claimed it as an inheritance for his descendants. Moses stretched forth his rod and parted the Red Sea, delivering Israel from the hands of the Egyptians. The widow of Zarephath baked a cake for the prophet Elijah, and her provisions were sustained throughout the famine. The Apostle Peter launched out into the deep water at Jesus' command and took in so many fish that his boat began to sink. The young lad sacrificed his five loaves and two fish to Jesus and then saw a multitude of 5000 fed and a twelve-basket return. The servants at the wedding of Cana filled pots with water, and Jesus turned the water into wine. What if Noah had not built the ark or Moses had not lifted his rod in obedience to God's Word? And what if Abraham had been too fearful to leave his homeland? Or what if Peter had refused to go back out into the water after he had fished all night and caught nothing? What would have happened to the multitude if the young boy had not sacrificed his lunch? Without obedient action, none of these would have received the manifestation of God's promise. Faith requires action. So, when God speaks and whatever He says to you, you must do it if you want to see the promised results (John 2:5). +++ 7/17/23 LOOKING UNTO JESUS Scripture: Hebrews 12:2 "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith ..." It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words because our thoughts flee but images linger in our mind. When we think about fine works of art, we can recall their clear image and details in our mind. Yet when we think about a wonderful sermon that we heard just a few hours before, we fail to remember most of it. Written and spoken words are easily forgotten unless diligent effort is made to memorize them. Even though we may retain the thought, many, if not most, of the exact words will escape our memory. God knew the importance of the visual senses, so throughout the scriptures He allowed men to see things so they could hold His promise in their hearts until His work was completed. These images were their fortress against the hardships they were compelled to face in their journey of faith. With Abraham, it was a sky full of stars, which represented his future descendants that could not be numbered. For Joseph, it was a dream showing forth his future honor and authority. For Moses, it was a burning bush, and for the wise men who sought for the Messiah, it was the star of Bethlehem. With Paul, it was a blinding vision of the Son of God on the road to Damascus. Like Jesus, who was able to endure the cross because of the joy that was set before Him, all these men were able to endure their crosses because of their visions. Their hearts held a vision of the final outcome, which enabled them to press forward until they reached their goal and captured their prize. Like these men of old, God wants "our heart flooded with light so that we can see the future that He has called us to share" (Ephesians 1:18 NIV). Without a vision of the plan the Lord has ordained for us, our purpose may perish. However, with a clear vision of the future there will be hope in the middle of discouragement, and this hope will create a strength that will help us endure the struggles and hardships of the present moment. There must be a clear picture in our mind of the Lamb of God and what He has accomplished for us. Jesus became flesh and dwelt among men so that we could behold His glory and understand His completed work on the cross. We must see the blood that He shed for us as He paid the price to redeem us from our sin. We must get a glimpse of the stripes that were laid upon His back for our healing and see His bleeding brow where the crown of thorns was placed so that our minds could be free. We must behold Him as our risen Savior, the One that death could not hold. We must envision Him as the Messiah, the Son of the Living God, who now sits at the right hand of the Father. We must realize that Jesus is always praying and interceding for us and recognize that He is our friend who is closer to us than a brother. We must always see Him at our side, for He said that He would never leave us or forsake us. We must keep our eyes on Jesus, for He is the author and finisher of our faith, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and end. With these visions of Jesus in our heart and mind, we will walk in victory. +++ 7/18/23 BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU HEAR Scripture: Mark 4:23-24 Jesus said, "If any man have ears to hear, let him hear ... And be careful what you are hearing." Our ears are very important in the natural as well as the spiritual realm. Natural ears are organs of hearing and balance. When our natural inner ears are affected, our whole body is disturbed and out of balance. Nothing seems quite right around us and we may become dizzy and even stagger around as though we are drunk. Like the natural, our spiritual ears are not only organs of hearing but also of balance. What we hear with our spiritual ears affects our spiritual balance and determines our walk with the Lord. Depending upon what we take in with our spiritual ears, we will either walk in faith and boldness or stagger around in wavering doubt and unbelief. Jesus taught us to be very careful of what we listen to because the things we hear will establish our faith. Romans 10:17 says, "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word." Whether positive or negative, we will begin to believe what we hear and we will trust those things that we give our attention to. If we choose to listen to negative words and believe the negative thoughts of our circumstances, the words of others, and our own mind, we will develop negative faith, which is doubt. We will find ourselves out of balance and in a state of discouragement. Our faith will be tossed to and fro like the waves of the seas. When our faith is challenged, we will stagger as a drunken man, totally out of balance. James 1:7-8 says, “the double minded man is unstable in all of his ways, and he will not be able to receive anything from the Lord.” On the other hand, if we choose to listen to God's Word and meditate on it day and night, Psalms 1:2-3 says. “we will be like a tree that is planted by the water and everything that we do will prosper.” Our walk will be established because God's Word will cause faith to come alive in our heart. When we take heed to what we are hearing, we will be like Abraham. He did not stagger in unbelief at the promises of God because he refused to consider the age of his own body or the deadness of Sarah's womb (Romans 4:19-20). Abraham believed what God had told him and his faith allowed him to take action to bring that Word to a place of victory. Like Abraham's choice, hearing and listening is an act of our own will and a personal decision on our part. What we choose to hear will become a part of our being and will cause us to grow in either a negative or a positive direction. So, we must take heed to what we decide to hear because it will determine our future. +++ 7/19/23 PAUSE AND THINK ON GOD’S WORD Scripture: Psalms 68:19 "Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits; even the God of our salvation. Selah." The word "Selah" at the end of this verse of scripture is used seventy-one times in the Psalms. It means to "pause, and calmly think about that." In other words, when we read God's Word we should stop and think about what He is saying to us as an individual, for these words are personal messages from our personal God. Many times, we forget that these are the very same words that God breathed into the hearts of the men who recorded them, and that the truth of these words has lived for centuries. They have proven themselves to be true. Every Word from God is a powerful living organism that will create life within us when we allow it to rule our hearts. We must not allow God's Words to become routine. Instead, we must pause and take time to reflect upon them and realize that His Words are spirit and life. In Mark chapter four, Jesus compared the Word of God to a tiny seed and explained that the heart of man was like the soil. Seeds have life within themselves, but Jesus said that the growth of the seed depended upon the condition of the heart. He said, "Take heed how you hear." We must read the scriptures with the intent to hear God's still small voice. In the words of the psalmist, we must, "Selah," or pause and calmly think on God's Word. When we read God's Word, we must meditate upon it. We must roll His Words around in our heart until revelation comes and the Word begins to take root and grow. The tiny seed of His Word will eventually become like a tree in our life. As we hear God’s Word, faith will arise in our heart. Psalms 1:2-3 says that as we meditate on His Word day and night, we will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water. Our leaves will not wither, we will bring forth fruit, and all that we do will prosper. II Timothy 3:16 says, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable ..." God inspired each scripture and intended that we profit from them. When we listen to what God is saying through the scriptures, we should expect to find the answers that we need for our current situation and come to understand what His will is for our life. God is our salvation, and He wants to load us up daily with His blessings. He wants us to search His Word for our answers and then pause and calmly think about what He is saying to us personally. Selah! +++ 7/21/23 COVENANT KEEPING GOD Scripture: Deuteronomy 7:9 "Know therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, which keeps covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep His commandments to a thousand generations." Moses made this statement about 3500 years ago and things still remain the same. First, the Lord God is still God and His position has not changed. He is still the Creator of Heaven and Earth and the Ruler over all. He is sovereign and has supreme authority over all creation, including the personal affairs of men. Second, God is not only God, but He is also a faithful God. There is no changing with God. God is still the same as he was when Moses declared that He was faithful. And finally, God will keep His covenant with us as He did with Moses. Numbers 23:19 declares that "God is not a man that He should lie; neither the son of man that He should repent. If He has spoken it, it will come to pass." A covenant is a contract or an agreement between two or more people. It is a giving and receiving relationship between the parties involved and requires a total commitment from both sides. We cannot have a covenant with someone we do not know and trust. It just will not work, for covenants are established and developed through and upon relationships. We may have found ourselves in a relationship that was based upon what we could and would do for the other person. There was conversation when they wanted to talk, affection on their terms, but all the serving and giving was on our part. It was all about them and their needs. Our needs and desires were never considered, much less met, for we carried the entire load of the relationship. Things are different when we have a covenant with God. He respects our needs and responds to our desires. We can say, "If you need me, God, you can count on me. And God, when I need You, I know that I can count on You." We both make ourselves accessible and available to each other. God is faithful to the faithful and He will keep His Word with those who will obey His Word. God obligates Himself to those who are in a covenant relationship with Him and He watches over His Word to perform it. In fact, His eyes continually roam the earth looking for those who love Him and who are diligently seeking to trust His Word and obey His commandants. God is not a politician who says things so that He can be voted into your life. Neither is God an actor who portrays himself to be someone that he is not. God is real and His Word is truth. Our covenant with God is completely thorough and exhaustive. If we honor and respect God as our Heavenly Father, He will treat us as His child. If we recognize Him as the Lord God our Healer, He will heal our diseases. If we look to Him as our Source of supply, He will meet our needs. If we see God as our Deliverer, He will come to our rescue and deliver us. If we ask Him for forgiveness, He will be faithful to forgive. If we allow Him to be our Comforter, He will be with us always. Men will continue to fail us in our time of need, but God's grace will always be sufficient. His mercy will never cease, for He is a covenant keeping God. +++ 7/24/23 WE ARE A VOICE Scripture: John 1:23 "John said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord." It is said, “There are two groups of people: Those who have something to say. And those who feel they just have to say something.” John the Baptist was one of those who had something to say, for his message was one of great importance. When John was asked, "Who are you, and what do you say about yourself?” He did not speak of himself. Instead, he used his voice to prepare and make the way straight for Jesus to come. John made it very plain that he was not the Christ but just a voice preparing the way for the coming of the Lord. John was doing in the spiritual what the custom of the land called for in the natural. It was the custom in the East to send a group of men before a king or prince to physically clear the way for his coming. They took away the stones, cleared out the thorns and bushes, and leveled the ground as much as possible. They would build bridges and find places in the streams or rivers that were more passable. They did whatever was necessary to make it easier for the king's travel. John was doing the same spiritually. He was reaching out to the hearts of men to prepare them to receive the Messiah. As we consider the calling of God in our lives, we may feel we are insignificant compared to others. We may think that we cannot do much in this battle for the Lord because we may not have the education or abilities that we think we need. Yet like John the Baptist, we have a voice that God can use to prepare the way for the Lord Jesus to come into someone else's life. Our voices may be their only bridge to Heaven’s eternity. Our assignment is to simply clear the way by speaking God's Word in love to those whom we encounter. Our words are to minister to their needs and our voices to be the witness they need to hear. When we speak for the Lord, we have something important to say because His Word through our voice is bread to their souls, water to their spirit, and light and life to their eternal being. We are a voice. God can use our simple witness and testimony to remove the stones and thorns or build a bridge in the lives of others. If we allow Him, the Lord will use us to prepare the way for the Holy Spirit to save, bless, and encourage those about us. +++ 7/25/23 THAT WHICH COST ME NOTHING Scripture: II Samuel 24:24 "Neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God which cost me nothing." The scriptures describe King David as a man after God's own heart, but even though David worshipped and loved God, there were still times that he failed God. Yet, he was always quick to repent of his transgressions. David had grieved the Lord and brought judgment upon Israel by taking a census and numbering the people, and this act caused a great plague to come upon the people and the land. David cried out to the Lord and took full responsibility for his actions. He confessed to God that he was the one that had sinned, and he asked God to spare the people. He told God, "What have these people done? Let your hand be against me and my father's house." When God heard his cry, He instructed David to build an altar in the land that belonged to Ornan, the Jebusite. Ornan was very willing to let David come and set up an altar on his land. In fact, Oman offered to give the land, the oxen, the instruments, and the wheat that were needed for the sacrifice. Ornan was as anxious as anyone to stop the plague, but David refused his offer because David knew the heart of God and knew that God required something of him personally. He told Ornan, "Give me the land for the full price." David did not want any discounts, for there was no place in his heart to offer God something that cost him nothing. We are also asked to make sacrifices. It seems that whatever we have the least of at the time is what God wants. For instance, it is at the time when our finances are lowest that He challenges us to give a little extra. When our energies are spent, He calls us to go minister to someone in need. If we are sick in our bodies, He sends someone who needs the prayer of healing spoken over them. When we are at the end of our patience, He allows another challenge which may be the one that can break us. When we are facing a full day ahead and need our rest, He wakes us in the middle of the night to intercede in prayer for His people. He says if someone hits you on the cheek, turn the other cheek, and if they take away your coat, give them your cloak, also. God always calls on us to give something that has personal value to us. King David refused to give an offering to God that cost him nothing because he loved Him. Jesus, who was a King, gave a gift that cost Him everything. Philippians 2:7-8 says, "He (Jesus) took on the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men: and He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." Think about these two sacrifices and their examples to us. God wants a special sacrifice from us. The Apostle Paul tells us to "present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God which is our reasonable service" (Romans 12:1). It may cost us something to present ourselves to God and to walk in obedience to Him, but He deserves no less than our best. Like King David and Jesus’ sacrifice, God deserves from us that which cost us something. +++ 7/26/23 GOD KNOWS OUR NAME Scripture: Psalms 147:4 (Amplified) "He determines and counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by their names." One of my biggest weaknesses is not being able to remember people's names. When I meet a person for the first time, I give them my undivided attention and think surely. I will be able to remember their name. I concentrate, make a conscious effort, and even write their name on a list to try to enhance my memory. Yet regardless of how diligently I try, when I meet them again their name often escapes me. Our Father God, who is eternal and has no beginning or end, does not have this problem. Even though He manages the entire world and universe, nothing escapes Him. He is omniscient and His knowledge is not only vast, but also specific and personal. The psalmist declared that the Lord's memory is so inexhaustible and boundless that He can remember the names of all the stars. God knows exactly how many He has created and calls each star by their own individual and personal name. Even though there are billions of stars in the sky, the Lord does not need a list as His mind never goes blank when He tries to recall their names. As far as we are concerned, God knows everything about us. He not only knows our name, but He also knows the exact number of hairs that we have on our heads (Matthew 10:30). He knew us before we were ever formed in our mother's womb, and He also knows what our eternity will be. We do not have to worry about our future because God has already been there and seen the end before our beginning. Neither do we have to worry about the present, for if God keeps track of the number of hairs on our head, He is surely watching every other detail of our life. He knows every triumph and every discouraging thing that is happening in our lives, and He is there to celebrate with us as well as to comfort us. Whatever our challenges are today, we can be encouraged because God knew this day was coming and He has been working on the solution to our problem before it ever started. The Lord has made a covenant with us and just as He knows the names of the stars, He knows our name and He will never forget it. We can trust Him to take care of us. +++ Copyright © 2023 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved www.widsonline.com |
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