Romans 2:1 – “Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.”

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God, I was challenged by the value of the body.   The human body and, more importantly, the Body of Christ.

I was challenged by the valuation we place on both.   Actions speak louder than words.  In a measure, we are all guilty of not properly or rightly discerning the Lord’s body and valuing it.

In Paul’s recounting of his Damascus road experience, the words of Jesus grip my heart.   Paul asked who it was that was speaking to him.  He saw nothing, but he heard the voice.  Jesus identified Himself and added, “I’m the one you are persecuting.”    Wait!   Paul probably never met Jesus in the flesh.   Jesus had already been crucified.    So, how was Paul persecuting Jesus?   How?

If you touch others, you touch Jesus.   If you judge others, you judge Jesus. If you talk about or gossip about others, you do it to Jesus.   He is “in” them, and they are “in” Him.   We would never speak evil of Jesus, but have no hesitation in doing so about others.

Romans 2:1 should send chill bumps down our spines.  We proclaim love for Jesus but express hate, distrust, animosity, and disrespect toward people He died for.   That very fact places us in the same boat we are accusing them of being in.   They do something we disagree with and believe violates scripture, and our actions make us guilty as well.  Remember, God is no respecter of persons (no partiality).

Lord, help us to value your body, even when we disagree!  Help us to embrace you in others who don’t look, think, speak, or act like us.  Help us resist the temptation to be God and pray earnestly for others with Your heart and love. Help us to give grace as we have been given grace.

Father, help us to embrace your valuation of each of us!

Ezra 6:14 – “And the elders of the Jews were successful in building through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they finished building according to the command of the God of Israel and the decree of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes, king of Persia.”

As I read, prayed, and meditated on the Word of God, I heard two words echoing in my consciousness (Listen and Trust).  In the Book of Ezra 6:14, this is manifested. It says that they were Successful through the prophesying of Haggai and Zechariah.

They listened and heard the Word from the LORD for that moment.  How we need a Word from God for this moment and any moment.  Not only did they listen to the prophecy, but they also trusted.  They trusted that the words were God’s words. They trusted God to fulfill His words.

Faith came to them through hearing the present speaking of God.  The prophecies were a Rhema to them, and they trusted the word with their lives. They acted upon what they heard. Actionless faith is doubt and dead.

In Nehemiah 3, that is magnified.  About 30 times, the words “next to him or them” and “after him” or them are used.   They listened to the words, trusted, and set their hearts and minds to do what they heard.

Today, we need a Word from God!  Today, we need to listen to the voice of God inside and trust Him completely.   We can succeed through God’s revelation!

Ezra 7:10 is a key. “For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD, and it Practice it, and to Teach His statutes and ordinances to Israel.”   Notice the order: Study first, Practice second, and then Teach. His life validated his teaching. He taught what he was living, not theory.  If we are determined to obey God’s Word, we will discover God’s pathway to success!

LORD, help us to learn to listen and to Trust You!

Jeremiah 37:17 – “Now King Zedekiah sent and took him out; and in his palace the king secretly asked him and said, “Is there a word from the Lord?” And Jeremiah said, “There is!” Then he said, “You will be given into the hand of the king of Babylon!”

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, I was consumed with the question, “Is there any Word from the LORD?”  The Bible and history are filled with examples of the power and importance of hearing a Word from God!

In 2 Chronicles 19:2-4, a Word from God changed Jehoshaphat’s trajectory and life! It altered the course of the nation. We need a Sure Word today!  2 Chronicles 20:1 reveals that reality.  It begins, “After this…”   After what? The Word Jehoshaphat received.

Jehoshaphat faced the problem by going into the Temple to pray.  He got the bad report, and rather than allowing it to consume him, he sought God.  His reaction to a bad report was to seek God’s report.   His response was prayer! He made his Request to God.   His prayer was not to cause God to remember or instruct or enlighten God, but to remind himself of God’s covenant promises.

In 2 Chronicles 20:20 (perfect vision), he responded to the Rhema he had received.   A Rhema is not a formula to get God to move; it is a call to action on our part.   He Heard God.    He believed what He heard.  He rejoiced in what he heard and believed. Then, He Received the promise and provision.

His response to the Rhema should be ours. He received with Reverence, then worshipped, with rejoicing, and waited!  That’s the hard part. When the Rhema does not happen immediately or in our time frame, we reject it. That shipwrecks the purpose and prevents the provision, stripping us of the power.

Is there a Word from God?  YES! Will we hear it?  That depends on us.  Will we listen? Will we obey? Will we live as if it is a present reality?   Does God have a Now Word for Us?   We need to receive it, believe it, rejoice in it, and wait for it!  God has a plan and purpose for you!

LORD, give us your Word and the courage to act upon it!

1 Kings 18:38 – “Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.”

As I read, prayed, and mused on the Word of God today, Elijah and the prophets of Baal came to my attention. Then, the Gospel of Luke completed the musing.

On Mt. Carmel, the confrontation between Elijah and Jezebel’s spiritual army offers powerful insight and encouragement.   In 1 Kings 18:38, we read, “Then the fire of the LORD fell…”  The fire is important, but don’t miss the “then.”  What led up to the Fire Falling! What brought the Fire?

The first thing Elijah did was challenge the people about their commitment. The second was to rebuild God’s altar.   Not just any altar but the altar of sacrifice and commitment to God.  This signifies giving God a place in the heart.  The third thing was to saturate the altar and sacrifice with water (prayer).   The fourth thing was a recommitment and review of the Covenant. The fifth thing was a simple prayer – Then the Fire Fell!  The sixth thing was the removal of the evil. If we want the Fire, we must restore the altar!

In Luke 17, we have a powerful message on restoring the altar and having the Fire!  You will say, “What?”    I contend that is the message.   Jesus taught about forgiveness!  I suggest that forgiveness is rebuilding the altar.

The disciples were stunned by the message of constant perpetual forgiveness from us to others (the same forgiveness we get from God).   Then in verses 7-10, what seems unrelated is germane.  The doing of responsibility is tied to forgiveness and rebuilding the altar.

It is a message that we dare not think we are super saints if we practice forgiveness.   No, it is simply doing what is expected and required.  It is normal Christianity.  It’s impossible for the flesh, but possible through God.

We want the Fire, but we fail to rebuild the altar, soak it with prayer, and then follow through.   Fire!   Where is the Fire?

LORD, help us to have the Fire of God!