Don't Know What To Do, Pray!

Good Morning!! I like James,...he doesn't have a flowery style or a theoretical bent; he is interested only in getting clear, candid counsel into the hands and hearts of believers. His entire letter is full of practical instruction, and direct admonition. And when he comes to the matter of suffering,...gut-wrenching, spirit-pounding, heart-crushing suffering,...this practical pastor gives his guidance in only three words: "Let him pray."

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. ...—James 5:13 (KJV)

That's it. Not formulating an exit strategy, not checking all our options for circumventing the pain. Not running and gathering a support group to cheer us up and cheer us on. He instructs; the greatest therapy, the surest solution, the sweetest healing that we will ever find,...is in fervent and honest and faithful conversation with God.

Don't stop with the blessing of our meals, as the answer to affliction. The verb James uses is in the present tense: let him,...in other words, continually be praying.

It is my prayer whether your affliction is earth-shattering or hardly-worth-mentioning, that you remember to always take your trial to God in prayer,...and out of the fountain of close communion with our Father, will flow the calming, refreshing, restoring waters of spiritual renewal,...that we all are so in need of. Amen.

"I pray, that your rejoicing be made more abundant in Jesus Christ." 

Power Of God's Word

Good Morning!! The first thing you notice about today's scripture, in any version, is that the Word of God is quick, or alive,...it always is (present tense) alive. God's Word will always be true; it is alive forever. And therefore God's Word is always relevant, never just a dead carcass,...a used up and empty vessel from the past. It is the Living, Breathing Truth of God. And, as Psalm 100:5 extols, "His truth endures to all generations."

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.—Hebrews 4:12 (KJV)

The Word of God is also powerful. It is, in other words, energetic. You can feet the moving, slicing, energetic operation of God’s Word on your heart as you read, or listen to, or meditate on its truth. And it's compared to a sword, here and elsewhere, because we are in a war. We daily battle, whether courageously or pathetically, the ever-present foes of sin, self, and Satan. Finally, God’s Word is called a discerner. The truth of God’s Word sifts through and analyzes the myriad of ideas, aspirations, and desires with which we are enticed and, as a qualified and a skilled judge, discerns truth from error, good from bad.

The question is asked in Jeremiah 17:9, of the deceptive human heart, "who can know it?" The answer from Hebrews is: "the Word of God can."

Sweet and Holy Spirit of God, remind us always, that whatever we're in need of can be found in God's Word. Amen.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  

No Condemnation?

Good Morning!! Because God is completely holy, even our greatest deeds and thoughts are sin-soaked, filthy rags in His perfect sight. We stand guilty before a virtuous and fair judge; justice will be served (He will not compromise His own righteousness in order to have mercy on us) and so we must be condemned.

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.—Romans 8:1 (KJV)

But those who are in Christ have their punishment transferred to Jesus, so that they are without condemnation. We who believe on Jesus Christ have the assurance that He has taken our place,...acted as our substitute,...and so, in spite of our great and many shortcomings, we are seen without condemnation. Christ’s perfect sacrifice on all our behalves, has wiped our criminal records clean. 

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. (Romans 8:5 NIV)

Lord, help us to follow the promptings and leadership of Your Spirit,...because as the bible teaches; "as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God". (v.14 KJV) Amen.

 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

 

God's Gift

Good Morning!! How was the earth formed out of nothing? It was the power of God (Jeremiah 51:15). How does God have His way in the hurricane or the tsunami? By His great power (Nahum 1:3). What holds our planet, our solar system, our universe together? It is the power of God (Hebrews 1:3). How is our faith sustained through the challenges of this life? We are kept by the power of God.

who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.—1 Peter 1:5 (NIV)

Isn't it a wonderful comfort to know that our faith, which did not originate in us, to begin with (Ephesians 2:8), is upheld by the strength of God Himself? Our may faith certainly have its ups and downs,...but what a great blessing to know that the One who has begun this good work of salvation in our hearts through faith, will continue the work He has begun. As Augustine reverently observed; "God is not a deceiver, that He should offer to support us, and then, when we lean upon Him, should slip away from us."

The same force that makes the mountains continue, is continually working in our hearts and souls,...by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Father in Heaven, it is only by Your power that we are kept through faith,...and it is Your faithfulness which continues this work of salvation in us until the very end. At times our faith may be weak,...but it is planted in the ability of the Almighty God. Amen.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."   

 

A Time Of Repentance

Good Morning, My Friend!! Repentance means forsaking sinful and rebellious ways in order to please our Creator God. But Jesus here takes it yet a step further. Repent,...and believe in the gospel. Jesus is warning that time is marching forward, to a definite and purposeful conclusion. He calls us to repent and to believe,...because repentance not only loosens our selfish hold on the things of this world,...it also embraces the good news of another world.

"The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."—Mark 1:15 (NKJV)

The good news that Jesus brings is actually true, that the God of Heaven really has disdained to give His only Son on behalf of sinners. We are called to believe what might otherwise seem too good to be true. We are called to trust the God Who cannot lie,...to rest in the perfect work of a perfect Savior. What about you? Will you see repentance as some sort of straitjacket to keep you from the good things in life,...or have you begun to understand that repentance is embracing the source of Life itself?

Repentance involves a change of heart, that leads to a change in action.

Holy Spirit, help us today, as we stop running from God,...and begin to truly reveling in Him. Amen. 

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Sin Is Death

Good Morning!! In a nutshell, the scene of Adam and Eve’s sin in the Garden of Eden provides a perspective of many vital truths, that are further explored and expanded upon throughout the remainder of Scripture,...we see the devil's desire to undermine our faith in God. We've even allowed him to convince us that God’s protections are little more than restrictive buzz-kills.

but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die."—Genesis 2:17 (NIV)

As we gaze at the sickening sight of perfection being seduced into rebellion, the most poignant reminder, is the fact that even the seemingly smallest sins have enormous and eternal and horrific consequences. There is no such thing as "getting away" with sin,...every sin has its own built-in, unavoidable calamity. And the greatest tragedy of every sin is that it leads to separation from God.

Each sin leads to death, a separation from the Truth and the Life that is only found in Jesus.

Each time we are faced with temptation, we have the opportunity to stand firm and nurture our fellowship with Christ, or to waiver and wreck our relationship with Him.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."   

 

Jesus, Our Model

Good Morning!! On the cross, Jesus was not only suffering from the wounds of scourging, beating, slapping, and crucifixion,...He was also bearing all the sins of all His people,...and the wrath of God, for them. If there are any words to describe, or parallel experiences, to illustrate the misery this must have been, it would literally be " hell on earth ". So who could have ever expected, to see one of the thieves crucified next to Him turn to Him,...and ask for a place in His kingdom. But, what was even more striking, more shocking, was to see the One who was suffering so much,...turn to the thief and speak words of comfort.

Jesus answered him, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise."—Luke 23:43 (NIV)

If Jesus can think of others at a time like this,...what possible excuse could we offer, for ever being self-centered or self-absorbed, in our so called times of struggle, or affliction. If Jesus can help and encourage and comfort while hanging on the cross, then we can certainly minister to others in the midst of our own pain or grief or loss,...can't we?

Jesus instructs us to,...expects us to,...moves us to, think of others even in the midst of our own suffering.

May looking to Jesus take our eyes off of ourselves, and inspire us to reach out to those around us, who are hurting and hopeless and just as needy. Amen.

"I pray that we become grace givers,...we ask that God allow us to see and accept others as He does."