1 Samuel 2:35
Then I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who shall do according to what is in My heart and in My mind. I will build him a sure house, and he shall walk before My anointed forever.
Oh that I might be called a faithful priest, that I might be established and sure and that I might walk before the Lord forever! What a promise! What a covenant!
My role in this promise is simple - to DO according to the heart and mind of Christ. It's not enough to just know the Word of God or obey His law - my heart, mind, actions and attitudes must all conform to His nature.
1 Corinthians 2:15-16 says, "The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment: "For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ." This means to start that I can truly know the mind and will of God. In Ephesians 3:16-17a paul writes, "I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith." I have the power and presence of Christ within me, I have His heart!
The big question is whether or not I will let His mind and His heart live through me to do and act like Jesus. I have no excuses for not... and in the end, I have no room for boasting. "For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose," (Philippians 2:13).
Father - fill me with Your Spirit to know and to do all that is according to Your heart and mind. Make me more obedient and strengthen my resolve to honor You. Let me walk faithfully before You forever. Amen.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Pointing to Jesus
Luke 24:17
And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
Four times in this chapter Luke states that Jesus opened or explained the Old Testament Scriptures concerning Himself. It's as if, after thirty-three years of fulfilling prophesy, He was trying to say it couldn't you see it?... it's unmistakable, I'm unmistakable! God is not in the business of hiding from those who seek Him diligently (Matthew 7:8). But for those whose faith is shaken, who have lost some passion, Jesus goes the extra mile (figuratively and literally) and expounds to them in ALL the Scriptures, what was written concerning himself. He didn't just quote some easy proof texts or camp out in the prophets, He went end to end beginning with Moses and the Law, through the prophets and even the Psalms! According to Luke (and Jesus for that matter) everything written in the Old Testament points to Jesus!
I can't even imagine how awesome it would have been to walk with Jesus through the Old Testament and hear Him say, "Oh, and here too, this story is all about me!... There I am again!... And this is one of my favorites!... My greatx7 grandfather David wrote this one about me!" How awesome to hear the vary Word of God explained by the Son of God and illuminated by the Spirit of God!
Father - open my eyes to see Your Son Jesus on every page of my Bible. Open my heart to receive Your will for my life as I read. Deepen my hunger and thirst for Your truth and make me crave my time walking with You each day. Amen.
And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
Four times in this chapter Luke states that Jesus opened or explained the Old Testament Scriptures concerning Himself. It's as if, after thirty-three years of fulfilling prophesy, He was trying to say it couldn't you see it?... it's unmistakable, I'm unmistakable! God is not in the business of hiding from those who seek Him diligently (Matthew 7:8). But for those whose faith is shaken, who have lost some passion, Jesus goes the extra mile (figuratively and literally) and expounds to them in ALL the Scriptures, what was written concerning himself. He didn't just quote some easy proof texts or camp out in the prophets, He went end to end beginning with Moses and the Law, through the prophets and even the Psalms! According to Luke (and Jesus for that matter) everything written in the Old Testament points to Jesus!
I can't even imagine how awesome it would have been to walk with Jesus through the Old Testament and hear Him say, "Oh, and here too, this story is all about me!... There I am again!... And this is one of my favorites!... My greatx7 grandfather David wrote this one about me!" How awesome to hear the vary Word of God explained by the Son of God and illuminated by the Spirit of God!
Father - open my eyes to see Your Son Jesus on every page of my Bible. Open my heart to receive Your will for my life as I read. Deepen my hunger and thirst for Your truth and make me crave my time walking with You each day. Amen.
Monday, April 13, 2009
My Cross
Luke 23:26
Now as they led Him away, they laid hold of a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, who was coming from the country, and on him they laid the cross that he might bear it after Jesus.
I wonder what Simon was feeling and thinking as he was forced to carry the cross of Jesus? Did he follow out of knowledge of Jesus or was he just swept up in the frenzy of the crowd? Was he embarrassed to be associated (even if by mistake) with this rejected and condemned man? Was he compassionate enough to carry this suffering man's cross willingly or did he carry out of fear or compulsion? Was he afraid?... of whom? Was he angry?... at whom? How did it feel to bear the vary cross of Christ? Did Simon stick around Golgotha, even at a distance, to see how the story would end or how this man would respond? Did Simon take with him and splinters, literal or figurative, from carrying the cross of Christ?
What does it mean for me to carry the cross of Christ? Am I willing to be publicly associated with a rejected man? Do I stick close to Him even in fear, anger or insecurity? Do I follow all the way to Golgotha? Do I bear the splinters of the cross of Christ? Has my life been lost for, even wrecked by, the cross?
Luke 9:22-24
And he said, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life."
23Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.
Do I boldly identify with the cross of Christ, not just his love or good teaching? Do I willingly bear the suffering of my Savior and not just his victory? Like Simon, unless I willingly bear the cross of Christ, I will never find His victory.
Father - give me the courage to publicly identify with Your cross, Your sacrifice for mankind, Your atonement for sin; not just Your love, blessings and good teachings. Let me bear the splinters of the cross and the testimony of the Lamb of God. Amen.
Now as they led Him away, they laid hold of a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, who was coming from the country, and on him they laid the cross that he might bear it after Jesus.
I wonder what Simon was feeling and thinking as he was forced to carry the cross of Jesus? Did he follow out of knowledge of Jesus or was he just swept up in the frenzy of the crowd? Was he embarrassed to be associated (even if by mistake) with this rejected and condemned man? Was he compassionate enough to carry this suffering man's cross willingly or did he carry out of fear or compulsion? Was he afraid?... of whom? Was he angry?... at whom? How did it feel to bear the vary cross of Christ? Did Simon stick around Golgotha, even at a distance, to see how the story would end or how this man would respond? Did Simon take with him and splinters, literal or figurative, from carrying the cross of Christ?
What does it mean for me to carry the cross of Christ? Am I willing to be publicly associated with a rejected man? Do I stick close to Him even in fear, anger or insecurity? Do I follow all the way to Golgotha? Do I bear the splinters of the cross of Christ? Has my life been lost for, even wrecked by, the cross?
Luke 9:22-24
And he said, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life."
23Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.
Do I boldly identify with the cross of Christ, not just his love or good teaching? Do I willingly bear the suffering of my Savior and not just his victory? Like Simon, unless I willingly bear the cross of Christ, I will never find His victory.
Father - give me the courage to publicly identify with Your cross, Your sacrifice for mankind, Your atonement for sin; not just Your love, blessings and good teachings. Let me bear the splinters of the cross and the testimony of the Lamb of God. Amen.
Friday, April 10, 2009
serving
Luke 22:25-26
And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves.
Authority and position most often puff up. With titles and power come fear and corruption. These often lead to self-preservation and self-exaltation. However Jesus commanded and even demonstrated just the opposite. The means to true (not self) preservation and exaltation is not by authority but humility. When we put our agenda aside and place others before ourselves God becomes our defender and gives us His approval. In servanthood there is no fear. I don't have to worry of being demoted or being humiliated. When I serve I can only move up. As it says in James 4:10, "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."
Father - humble me. Make me more content to serve. Help me put my agenda aside and make others my priority. Let my preservation and honor come only from You. Make me more like Jesus. Amen.
And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves.
Authority and position most often puff up. With titles and power come fear and corruption. These often lead to self-preservation and self-exaltation. However Jesus commanded and even demonstrated just the opposite. The means to true (not self) preservation and exaltation is not by authority but humility. When we put our agenda aside and place others before ourselves God becomes our defender and gives us His approval. In servanthood there is no fear. I don't have to worry of being demoted or being humiliated. When I serve I can only move up. As it says in James 4:10, "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."
Father - humble me. Make me more content to serve. Help me put my agenda aside and make others my priority. Let my preservation and honor come only from You. Make me more like Jesus. Amen.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
For HIS NAME Sake
Luke 21:12b-15
You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake. But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.
When given the chance to speak, I often worry about what to say, how to say it, how I sound, how my words are woven together, etc... I even get a bit nervous when I am asked to stand up for my faith. Why?
I should feel excited to be found worthy of such an opportunity! I should feel proud for whose name I speak. I should feel vindicated because it is for His Name sake and not my own. I should feel honored to speak on behalf of the Name of Jesus.
I should not worry about my words because God created my mouth and He will fill it with His wisdom; after all, I speak for His Name sake. And when I speak I should feel somewhat glad to sound foolish, for the foolishness of God is greater than even the wisdom of man (1 Corinthians 1:18-31). His wisdom will confound, confuse, convict and even convert my adversaries. I don't have to worry about being cleaver or eloquent or profound for it's not even my words that take effect but His. Ultimately, I don't have to worry because it's not about me... it's about Him. It's about His Name. What an honor to speak up for the Name of Jesus.
Father - humble me. Take away my pride that causes me to worry about what to say, how to say it and how I will come across. Fill me with Your wisdom that all would know that it is not I who speak but You. Let all my actions and words point to Jesus. Let me not rob Him of even one word of credit or one ray of glory. Draw others wholly to You through me. Amen.
You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake. But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.
When given the chance to speak, I often worry about what to say, how to say it, how I sound, how my words are woven together, etc... I even get a bit nervous when I am asked to stand up for my faith. Why?
I should feel excited to be found worthy of such an opportunity! I should feel proud for whose name I speak. I should feel vindicated because it is for His Name sake and not my own. I should feel honored to speak on behalf of the Name of Jesus.
I should not worry about my words because God created my mouth and He will fill it with His wisdom; after all, I speak for His Name sake. And when I speak I should feel somewhat glad to sound foolish, for the foolishness of God is greater than even the wisdom of man (1 Corinthians 1:18-31). His wisdom will confound, confuse, convict and even convert my adversaries. I don't have to worry about being cleaver or eloquent or profound for it's not even my words that take effect but His. Ultimately, I don't have to worry because it's not about me... it's about Him. It's about His Name. What an honor to speak up for the Name of Jesus.
Father - humble me. Take away my pride that causes me to worry about what to say, how to say it and how I will come across. Fill me with Your wisdom that all would know that it is not I who speak but You. Let all my actions and words point to Jesus. Let me not rob Him of even one word of credit or one ray of glory. Draw others wholly to You through me. Amen.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
render to God...
Luke 20:25
And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
What brilliance! I wonder if the spies to asked about taxes ever asked the logical follow-up to Jesus answer? Verse 26 says that "they marveled" and "kept silent." But did they ever ask, "then what is made in God's image that we ought to render to God?" God is not interested in the stuff of earth but in that which is eternal - His glory and His image stamped on the hearts of men. I am made in the image of God and I rightfully belong to Him.
Far too often I am willing to give God my earthly things; my worries, my problems, my job, my finances, my relationships, time, etc.... However I withhold from Him my heart. Like taxes unto Caesar, God is due my whole life and heart daily. So what would it look like to render to God what is made in His image?
I should daily conform more and more to the image of God in me. I should daily point others to God and His Glory. I should invest my life in the things that God values - the souls of men. I should lay aside and leverage the things of this earth for the sake of the kingdom. I should reflect His glory in all that I do and say.
Father - I give You my heart and my life. Conform me to the image of Your Son Jesus Christ. Use me for Your will, for the glory of Your kingdom. Remind me daily to give back to You what is rightfully Yours. Amen.
And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
What brilliance! I wonder if the spies to asked about taxes ever asked the logical follow-up to Jesus answer? Verse 26 says that "they marveled" and "kept silent." But did they ever ask, "then what is made in God's image that we ought to render to God?" God is not interested in the stuff of earth but in that which is eternal - His glory and His image stamped on the hearts of men. I am made in the image of God and I rightfully belong to Him.
Far too often I am willing to give God my earthly things; my worries, my problems, my job, my finances, my relationships, time, etc.... However I withhold from Him my heart. Like taxes unto Caesar, God is due my whole life and heart daily. So what would it look like to render to God what is made in His image?
I should daily conform more and more to the image of God in me. I should daily point others to God and His Glory. I should invest my life in the things that God values - the souls of men. I should lay aside and leverage the things of this earth for the sake of the kingdom. I should reflect His glory in all that I do and say.
Father - I give You my heart and my life. Conform me to the image of Your Son Jesus Christ. Use me for Your will, for the glory of Your kingdom. Remind me daily to give back to You what is rightfully Yours. Amen.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
seeking out the lost
Luke 19:10
for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Luke 19:47-48
And He was teaching daily in the temple. But the chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people sought to destroy Him, and were unable to do anything; for all the people were very attentive to hear Him.
It would have been enough for Jesus to simply save us. I'm certain that the Jewish authorities would have gladly ended Jesus ministry years earlier (John 7:25). However Jesus was faithful and diligent to not only save that which was lost, but also to seek them out. He took time to pursue Zacchaeus. He boldly preached in the Temple even while they plotted to kill Him. Jesus invitation was not a generic offering but a targeted pursuit of His lost sheep.
Is it any different today? Isn't Jesus still pursuing His lost sheep through us? Shouldn't I then demonstrate the same fervor, boldness, dedication, courage and intentionality as Jesus? My invitation for the lost sheep in my life cannot be common, casual or generic. I must seek out that which is lost and proclaim boldly, publicly, daily that Good News until Jesus comes.
Father, give me the boldness and courage to seek out the lost. Help me to hear from the Holy Spirit and identify the lost sheep You are sending me to. Don't allow me to back down or be dissuaded by people or consequences or opposition. Make me more faithful to seek out the lost in my life. Amen
for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Luke 19:47-48
And He was teaching daily in the temple. But the chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people sought to destroy Him, and were unable to do anything; for all the people were very attentive to hear Him.
It would have been enough for Jesus to simply save us. I'm certain that the Jewish authorities would have gladly ended Jesus ministry years earlier (John 7:25). However Jesus was faithful and diligent to not only save that which was lost, but also to seek them out. He took time to pursue Zacchaeus. He boldly preached in the Temple even while they plotted to kill Him. Jesus invitation was not a generic offering but a targeted pursuit of His lost sheep.
Is it any different today? Isn't Jesus still pursuing His lost sheep through us? Shouldn't I then demonstrate the same fervor, boldness, dedication, courage and intentionality as Jesus? My invitation for the lost sheep in my life cannot be common, casual or generic. I must seek out that which is lost and proclaim boldly, publicly, daily that Good News until Jesus comes.
Father, give me the boldness and courage to seek out the lost. Help me to hear from the Holy Spirit and identify the lost sheep You are sending me to. Don't allow me to back down or be dissuaded by people or consequences or opposition. Make me more faithful to seek out the lost in my life. Amen
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