Month: October 2020

JESUS IS COMING FOR AN ABIDING Not A HIDING CHURCH…


John 9:4 – “We must work the works of Him who sent Me, as long as it is day; night is coming, when no man can work.”  NASB

I have become deeply concerned with the focus of many believers in the face of the troubles of this world.  I sense that many are simply waiting for the Lord Jesus to come on a rescue mission and take us out of this world and let the devil do his deed.  Jesus is going to come, and the devil is going to increase his activity and destruction but that is not the focus Jesus left us with. 

The apostle Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 4:18 that we are to take comfort in the reality of the return of Jesus.  As one man said, “That is a Fact, Jack!”  Jesus is going to come back just like He said.  That reality is incredibly comforting.  However, our LORD did not leave us as orphans or emaciated weak frail, and incapable creatures.  He left us with the Power of the Holy Spirit and the Assurance of His Promises. 

Jesus said in Matthew 24:14 that the Gospel would be preached to the WHOLE WORLD for a witness to ALL NATIONS, and then the End would Come.  He instructed us in Matthew 28:18-20 to GO into the world, preach, make disciples of ALL nations, baptizing them, and teach them to observe His commandments.  He promised that He would be there with us in the process.

In Mark 16:15-18 the writer amplified those instructions with even more detail, telling us to GO and preach to everyone everywhere.  Jesus said that as we do, “signs” will follow.  If we relegate that to the first century, we dismiss the rest of the New Testament and the words of Jesus to pray for laborers to be sent into the harvest field, which is the world. 

In Ephesians 4 the apostle under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit revealed that Jesus gave gifts for equipping and enabling believers to function in His purposes and that those would last (v.13) UNTIL the church attained the unity of the faith, and the knowledge of the Son of God, become mature.  In Hebrews 13:8 we read that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, yes, and forever.”  Therefore, if He is the same then whatever He did He does.  God does not change, and His word never fails.  In Romans 11:29 we discover that God’s gifts and callings are not rescinded.  He does not change His mind regarding His Purpose.

In Ephesians 2:6 we are informed that we (believers) are raised up with Jesus and seated with Him in the heavenly places. Don’t stop reading for the next verse informs us that it is “in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” 

In John 9:4 we read, “We must work the works of Him who sent Me (Jesus), as long as it is day, night is coming when no man can work.”  Jesus said that He was the light of the world and then Matthew 5:14-16 we discover that He has commissioned us to be the Light of the World as His representative and a manifestation of Him.  Then in Romans 8:37, we discover, “But in all these things we OVERWHELMINGLY conquer through Him (Jesus) who loved us.” 

Jesus is coming and things will get incredibly dark but until that second when He comes, we are to be “busy about the Master’s business.”  We are to Abide not Hide!  We are not waiting to be rescued we are charging the gates of hell and plucking souls from the jaws of destruction.  That is our mission and our commission.  We are more than conquerors. We are overcomers.  We are victors.  We are the ones who are to pray and manifest the Kingdom of God in this present world through faith.

Never, never, never, never focus on what is happening in the natural but rather listen to what God has said in His Word and what the Holy Spirit is witnessing to our hearts.  God reigns and we have power and authority over the devil.  We have a mission and a commission, so believers rather than letting fear grip our hearts or sit back and wait for our rescue, let’s take the fight to the enemy and reap the whitened harvest.  We are to ABIDE never HIDE!

I am praying for an awakening in the Body of Christ and a new spirit of daring to be infused in the hearts of pastors, leaders, and those we call the laity.  I am praying that the Spirit of God will descend upon us and anoint us to DO…  May the words of Jesus and the message resonate and challenge us. 

Luke 4:18-19 – “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor.  He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are downtrodden, 19 To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.” He quoted Isaiah 61 and it is time that we become Anointed to do…  Jesus said, in John 14:12, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to the Father.” 

My prayer: “Father forgive me for developing an attitude or desire for escape and instill in me the boldness of a spiritual lion and give me the vision to see and courage to do what you commissioned me to do.  Help me to win as many souls into your kingdom as is possible BEFORE I come home, or you return.  Help me to ABIDE and never let me HIDE.”

God bless you and Church, “Let’s Get to The Master’s Business.”  Have a Great Day! 

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WHY ASK THE QUESTION THREE TIMES, LORD?


John 21:15-17 – “So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My lambs.”  16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.”  17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Tend My sheep.” NASB

I’ve heard some powerful explanations and etymological explanations of this passage and the words or phrases used and although that is not what I want to focus on here, I do want to address it briefly.  In the first question, the original is a bit ambiguous and could have been referring to inanimate objects.  Jesus could have been asking Peter if he was willing to forsake all those things for Him (Jesus).  Possibly He was asking Peter if he loved Jesus more than the other disciples.  Peter had suffered the shame of his rejection of Jesus would make no pretense of loving more than others.  He rolled it all on the Lord’s Omniscience and said, “Lord You know.”

My focus is not what words Jesus used in either asking the question or in reference to caring for His church but in the heart and mind of Peter.  Peter had abandoned the Lord after making his bold claim that he would never do so and was willing and ready to die for the Lord.  Peter had decided to ‘go fishing’ not recreation but to return to his old life as a fisherman.  He felt unworthy and he was.  He felt the shame of his rejection and abandonment of Jesus and he should.  He had been quick to speak his grandiose claim of his bravery, commitment, and faith and it all came crashing down on him. 

I can only imagine how Peter felt as he now stood face to face with His Lord.  He needed to be reassured and needed to do some deep personal soul searching and that is what Jesus is doing, at least that is my view.  The Lord wanted to strip from Peter the brashness of making claims that he could not back up and bring him to an awareness of how much he must and should depend upon Jesus for everything. 

It is in this place and state of mind that Peter could become the mighty warrior for the kingdom that he became.  If you question what I’m saying about Peter’s mindset go back and read what the angel said in Mark 16 when the women came to the tomb and found it empty – “go tell His disciples and Peter.”  Why specifically identify Peter?  Because of what I’ve just said!  Peter was in such a dejected state of mind that he was in danger of being lost to the kingdom and the Lord did not want that and prepared to prevent that.

Peter moved from being brash, rash, and boastful to a committed and calculated disciple of Jesus.  He moved from dejection to a boldness of faith that caused him to stand before the crowd on the Day of Pentecost and proclaim a message that could possibly get him killed.  He stood before the Sanhedrin and was unmoved by their threats and he could face the lame man at the Gate Beautiful and with the risk of ridicule and charge of abusing a cripple, he declared his faith and acted upon it.  Peter became what Jesus saw in him when he called him to discipleship.  He saw a Rock and that Reed was now becoming a Rock in Jesus!

Know that the times of failing and stumbling that you have or may encounter are not indications that God has rejected you.  Realize that when He comes and turns up the heat and you squirm it is not to bring you pain but to enhance that which He has seen in you and make you what He declared you to be. 

God be with you as you go through your day!

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THE FINALE IS APPROACHING RAPIDLY…


Luke 21:25-28 – “There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves,  26 men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  27 “Then they will see THE SON OF MAN COMING IN A CLOUD with power and great glory.  28 “But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads because your redemption is drawing near.” NASB

Many of us have heard, most of our lives, that ‘this is the generation that will see the Lord return’.  Well, let me say, I believe that the finale is rapidly approaching and the predictions of the Bible are rapidly coming to pass.  The one thing that stands out in this passage in addition to the Return of Jesus, which is obviously the most important, is that there will be a time when men faint from fear due to what they see coming on the world. 

We have had it relatively easy in America compared to some parts of the world.  This is especially true with regard to our faith and freedom.  We have been able to worship as we desire with little hindrance from the government and have lived relatively free lives in comparison to many in other parts of the world.  That, I believe, is about to change, and everything that can be shaken will be shaken.  We are nearing a time when fear and dread of what is coming will be the prevailing mindset among multiplied millions.

The encouragement I can give is verse 28 – “But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads because your redemption is drawing near.”  The finale is coming and coming soon!  Things may get worse and I believe they will, but we have something upon which we base our confidence and hope that is not of this world.  We have hope and expectation beyond this life.  We have liberty and freedom that is not man given and cannot be taken by man.  They may place us in chains, restrict our physical movement but they cannot take our true freedom that comes from God!

Instead of dreading what might be coming, turn your eyes upon Jesus!  Instead of fearing what might happen, turn your eyes upon Jesus!  Instead of wringing your hands and contemplating throwing in the towel in concession of defeat turn your eyes upon Jesus!  He is the author and finisher of our faith and He will Never leave us or forsake us.  The finale is not a bad thing if you are in the family of God.  It is a promotion to the next and eternal phase of our lives.  It is simply relocation from this present world to that eternal world where we will spend eternity with the Lord!

So as you go through this day go in hope and confidence!  Banish fear Oh Lord, banish fear from our lives! 

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SECURE OR EXPOSED… Your Choice.


Proverbs 10:9 – “He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out.” NASB

The old saying, “Everything that goes around comes around,” is applicable here.  The writer of Proverbs is reassuring that if we maintain Integrity, we will find God’s defense, protection, and leading.  However, if we Do Not, we will be exposed for the entire world to see.  Which do you choose? 

I know that often we are perplexed as to how and why those who walk in wickedness and deception escape without any visible evidence that they are being penalized for their ways and often those who seek to walk uprightly suffer.  That is not ours to be concerned with as it will only lead to doubt, question, and anger.  Instead, we should walk knowing that there will be “Pay Day Someday” and that whatever is done in secret will be exposed to the light.  It may not be in this world, but it will happen.  I’ve observed that frequently those who walk a perverted path are exposed in time.  Sooner or later their deviousness is brought to light and they are exposed to the light of critical examination.

We should all desire to walk in the ‘Security that God affords’ and to do so we must always maintain Integrity and in all things.  There cannot be lapses or exceptions to that rule.  Tragically, I know people who believe that they have a business life, a social life, a personal life, a religious life, etc.  They compartmentalize their lives into segments as though they were totally separate and unconnected.   We do not have lives we have A LIFE!  

You cannot be lacking in integrity in business and be a person of integrity in Church.  It doesn’t work that way.  You either have integrity or you do not and if you do not in one place you do not in any place.  I can hear someone saying, “Wait, Roy, what about lapses or stumbling.”  I have no problem with the idea that a person might have a momentary lapse and fall short of walking in integrity but what they do after that lapse is what determines if they maintain Integrity or not. 

In those times of lapses the question is, do they excuse it, hide it, or do they immediately take it to the Cross confessing their sin and receiving the forgiveness of God?  If others were wounded do, they go to them and ask forgiveness?  Integrity is not whimsical or fleeting.  It is a rock-solid anchor of life and we either have it, demonstrate it or we do not.  If we do, then the Promise of God is that our way will be Secure.  If we do not God’s promise is, we will be exposed. 

So, as you face situations today that give you the opportunity to either manifest Integrity or not carefully weigh what is happening and choose the way of Security in Integrity. 

God bless you as you go through this day!

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GOD’S TREES ARE NOT ORNAMENTAL SHRUBS…


Luke 13:6-9 – “And He began telling this parable: “A man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any.  7 “And he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘Behold, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?’  8 “And he answered and said to him, ‘Let it alone, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer; 9 and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.'” NASB

This is somewhat of a difficult passage for most people to fully wrap their minds around and accept.  The reason I say that is if you fully examine the message it suggests that there can and will come a time when God through the Holy Spirit will deem that a person has become nothing more than an ornamental shrub rather than a fruit tree in the Kingdom. 

Two possibilities can be gleaned from that realization.  One is that if you fail to produce fruit in your life through relationship and obedience to God, He may choose to remove you from the earthly orchard and take you home.  The Second is that failure to produce fruit separates you from God and that is seen in ‘cut it down.’

No matter which interpretation you choose the fact is clear that God is not desirous of ornamental shrubs in his garden He wants trees that ‘bear fruit.’  The kingdom is not enhanced by fruitlessness.  Lives are not touched by fruitlessness.  If we are nothing more than an ornamental shrub in the garden of God, we have little functional value.  The reward of fruit bearing is pruning so that you can bear more fruit!

I do not mean to suggest that you must be a pulpit preacher or doing great exploits for the Kingdom simply that you are doing what the Holy Spirit has assigned you to do and being faithful in that.  If you do that you will bear fruit, the fruit God chooses not the fruit man deems valuable.  Our lives should be trees that the lost can come to and be introduced to the life-changing fruit of salvation.  Our lives should be trees that the saved can come to and receive the life-enhancing fruit of wisdom, knowledge, encouragement, and brotherhood.

We are to be Trees of Righteousness and those trees bear fruit.  If you want to know how Jesus feels about fruitlessness reexamine his reaction to the Fig Tree that had leaves indicating fruit but no figs.  That will move you to serious thought and hopefully such self-examination that you will turn to Him and call out for His mercy and pray like David, “Renew in me a right spirit, create in me a clean heart, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.” 

We have been equipped, commissioned, and commanded to Bear Fruit!  Examine your heart and life and if you are fruitless it is time to run to the Throne Room of prayer and cry out for renewal and restoration in an attitude of repentance.

God bless you as you go through your day!

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WHAT THE “THEREFORE” IS THERE FOR


Colossians 3:1-4 – “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”  NASB

I love it when the Bible says ‘therefore’ because if you will continue reading or read the previous you will find out what the ‘therefore’ is there for.  Here the apostle Paul is teaching about the ‘New Self’ and as he begins his discourse in this passage, he says, THEREFORE…Therefore what?

  • “IF” you have been RAISED up with Christ.

That is a conditional statement that renders the remainder null and void if the answer to that assertion is in the negative.  This Only Applies to those who have been Raised Up with Christ in the New Birth.  It only applies to those who have been grafted into the true vine, adopted into the Family of God, and have their names written in the Book of Life.  It is not speaking to everyone but has a specific audience in mind – Believers!

  • “IF” that is your condition “THEN” keep seeking the things above.

If you are ‘born again’ by the blood of Jesus then make it a daily and continual practice in your life to ‘Seek’ the things of God, those things where Jesus resides at the Right Hand of the Father. 

  • “IF” that is your condition SET your mind on the things above not on the things of the earth.

Your focus, loyalty, and desire are to be spiritual things not earthly things.  That should be the overriding characteristic of your life.

WHY? Because you have ‘died and your life is hidden with Christ’.  Because when Christ is revealed, you will be revealed with Him in glory.  You are just a sojourner in this world.  You are just passing through.  Your ultimate citizenship is not this world but the eternal world of God.  You are looking for the City whose builder and maker is God.  Your desire is God above all else.  You have been transferred or translated from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of God’s Light.  You are Born Again!  Therefore…

The ‘therefore’ is there for you to know what you have and where you are headed as well as to give you guidance on How to Live while you make your journey from this natural world to God’s eternal spiritual world, Heaven!  You have an assignment, responsibility, and opportunity but your ultimate objective and goal, Eternity! 

God bless you as you go through your day!

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IMPORTANT TO GOD, and IMPORTANT TO US…


Matthew 25:40 – “And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.”  NASB

I have a certain level of trepidation in putting the thoughts of my heart on paper and presenting them to a broad spectrum of readers.  I realize that, in some ways, what I am going to say may be misunderstood.  I have attempted to thoughtfully examine my heart and prayerfully present these thoughts for the purpose of bringing us all to a greater place of unity and understanding.  Will this do that?  That remains to be seen.

I want to begin by addressing prayer.  Yes, prayer!  I want to discuss specific situations and calls for prayer and how we assess different levels of importance to situations and people.  I have observed something in others and in myself that has been challenged by the Holy Spirit as I pray, study, and meditate on God’s Words and seek to know His heart. 

In the Body of Christ, I have observed intense calls for prayer and even fasting for people we deem important, valuable, and known.  That is good and biblical for us to unite in fervent prayer for the needs of people.  By the same token, if someone is lesser know or deemed to have a lesser ministry or importance, we offer a token prayer or even say, “Your will be done, Lord” and move on with little thought or concern.  That’s where the Holy Spirit arrested me and challenged my heart.

I see this as a condition that is revelatory as to what is happening in the world today.  I will get to that later, but first, let me continue in what my question is about the different weights and values we place on people.  Before you argue that you do not do that, do you feel compelled to join in united prayer for the well-known and not feel so compelled in the needs of someone lesser known?  Is the celebrity or person with the ministry deemed valuable more important to God than the little-known person in need?

When it is DEFCON 1 for some and Ho-Hum or Bless them Lord for others is that the heart of God?  Again, I am not questioning the massive and united prayer for those men and women we know are being used mightily of God.  That is good and I want it to continue.  But my heart is broken for that person who is little known, and a prayer request goes forth and elicits only token prayers.  Is that the heart of God? 

I’ve done it and recently I felt the Holy Spirit calling me to the witness stand and presented that reality to be and asked, “How Do You Plead?”  I wept and said, “Guilty.”  If God is no respecter of persons and desires that no soul be lost, how can we place more value on one than the other?  I realize that shutdown prayers for every need would shut down the church, our lives, and the world, so I am not saying we do that.  I am simply asking, “Are All Lives and All People Important to God?”  Is the life of that little-known person less valuable to them, their family, and God than the one with a measure of celebrity?  We know the answer but often seek to justify our response.

For years I have been troubled by a statement of Jesus in Matthew 10:37 and in this time of challenge, I came to a different understanding of it.  The KJV renders it “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”  Wow!  Could Jesus be telling us to hate our family in order to love Him?  NO! Ten thousand times no!

I ask that you consider Matthew 25:40, “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”  When I couple that with Matthew 7:21-23 something resonates in my spirit, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.”

We are the Body of Christ and individual members of that body.  We are individual parts like the hand, feet, eyes, ears, noses, mouths, lungs, hearts, etc.  Each part is important although some parts are far more visible.  I will even acknowledge that some parts are more vital for the life and function of that body than others, but all are part of the body and needed to make the body whole. 

I believe that Jesus was saying, “If you love me, truly love me, then you are to resist placing more value on certain people and deem them all part of the family of God and as you minister to and value them, you minister to and value Me.”  You may disagree.

I have sensed the LORD instructing me that the prayer requests that come my way were designed by Him with purpose.  I did not hear them by accident, and I am to value each need, especially when it is a prayer for life or death as equally valuable regardless of the status or celebrity of the individual.  As I value each person and allow each need to grip my heart I am valuing Him and therefore, I have determined to write down every prayer need that I become aware of and as I go through the day, take time to earnestly and urgently pray for that need.  They are part of the Body of Christ and I am part of the Body of Christ, therefore, in a sense, I am praying for Jesus’ Body and myself because I am part of the Body.

I believe that valuing anyone or anything more than another is to improperly discern the Body of the Lord and devalue Him.  That is true in the situations in our world today where we are told that this life or that life matters.  They do!  Every person who is a member of the human family matters and every soul is important to God. 

I have asked God to forgive me for unintentionally placing more value on some than others.  I do not know God’s ultimate purpose of those lives, but I do know His love for all of us.  Therefore, I am asking God to forgive me for being more moved for some whom I deem valuable than others that are lesser-known. 

I will urgently pray for the known and the unknown.  I will join in the DEFCON 1 calls for prayer for men and women who have been used of God powerfully and will make it DEFCON 1 in my heart for those needs God makes me aware of.  That will produce a lifestyle in which I truly begin to “Pray without ceasing.”  I will continue to do what I need to do and should do but will allow those needs to break my heart and in my broken heart cry out to God for their need. 

If this resonates with you, great.  If it does not and you deem me mistaken, then pray for me, I welcome the prayer!  

God bless you and have a fantastic day in Him!

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DO YOU KNOW HOW TO FIGHT?


2 Corinthians 10:1-6 – “Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ — who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you. 2 But I beg you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.” NKJV

It has been my experience in life both in practice and observation that too many people do not know how to fight.  They fight but as one ‘beating the air’ and ‘shadow boxing’ without really accomplishing anything except utter exhaustion and disappointment.  I’ve observed people try to fight spiritual battles with natural weapons and end up dividing and alienating other people rather than accomplishing the objective of God and the Spirit of God which is always ‘reconciliation and liberty.’

Paul makes it clear that we cannot divest ourselves of ‘the flesh’ because we live in an earthly tabernacle of clay called Flesh.  We will battle ‘fleshly tendencies’ as long as we remain on this planet or in this life.  However, he made it equally clear that our ‘battles’ are not to be fought in the natural but the spiritual.  The weapons of our warfare are given or supplied to us by God Himself.  Those weapons are ‘mighty’ able to pull down ‘strongholds’ and bring every thought into obedience to Christ.  That is powerful!

This leads to the thought that at least part of the battle is waged in the mind.  If we get our thinking right we will get our acting right, our living right, and our relationships right.  We are not what we think we are but we are what we think.  We are the product of what we allow to be planted, grow, and develop in our minds.  Our ‘thought life’ is incredibly important and a key part of our ‘spiritual weaponry’ and ‘spiritual warfare.’  Too many fail on this front and do not comprehend or seek the assistance of the Holy Spirit to control the Thoughts.  They let them run around unsupervised and unbridled.  That is not only dangerous it is destructive.

If we are to learn how to fight, we must learn how to bring our thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ and thereby pull-down strongholds.  We must be ready to bring rogue and destructive thoughts to the Cross and allow them to be crucified there with Jesus nailing them to the Cross and having the covered with the precious blood of Jesus. 

Our thoughts are far more important to our victory in our Christian walk than most are willing to acknowledge.  I say that because to acknowledge that would mean we must take responsibility for what they think.  That would mean that we can no longer argue, “I can’t help thoughts coming.”  That is true but you can prevent them from staying!  You can prevent them from being able to take root and grow.  You are responsible for What You Think!  Our entire person belongs to God, not just parts!

As you go through this day go with the realization that your thoughts are important, and you are responsible for what you think on. 

God bless you as you go through your day!

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CAN YOU MAKE THIS APPEAL?


1 Corinthians 11:1 – “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.” NASB

Of course, you can, but my real question is “Do you dare make this appeal?”  Dare you make it in light of the fact that the ‘all-knowing’ and ‘all-seeing’ God of the Universe observing?  Dare you make it knowing your own heart?  Dare you make it with the flaws in your own vessel?  I truly hope that you say YES but realize that many would probably be wise to take the path of caution.

Paul was telling those hearing him ‘imitate me’ because or just as I ‘imitate Jesus Christ.’  However, in keeping with the contextual interpretation of Scripture Paul is saying, ‘imitate me in the matter being discussed, just as I imitate Christ.’  

I’m pressing this further and saying, ‘Dare we appeal to be to imitate us in life based on the truth and reality that we imitate Christ in life?’  That’s the issue for me today.  That’s the question in my heart and mind today.  That is the goal and objective of my life today.  I want to be able to appeal to people to ‘follow’ and ‘imitate’ me because or as a result of my ‘complete dedication, following, and imitation of Jesus Christ.’  I want them to truly see Jesus when they see me.

I never want to be one that says, “Do as I say not as I do.”  I do not want my life to declare that.  I want to be able to appeal to people both in the church, the family of God, and the lost to ‘follow my life’ because you see a life that is following Christ without reservation or hesitation.  That should be the objective of each of our lives and thus we should be carefully examining our own hearts, lives, words, deeds, and actions daily to see if anything is wanting in our lives and if there is run to the Cross.

Paul’s complete commitment to God is more than commendable it is a genuine example and a target that each of us should adopt as our life’s goal.  We never want to be a stumbling block or hindrance to anyone, and it is imperative that we always remember ‘who we are’, ‘where we are’, and ‘whose we are.’  If we do that many of the conflicts in our life will become minor rather than major and we will win people to the LORD JESUS through our lives which present and demonstrate Christ in a very real tangible way in this present world.

So, as you go through your day go with the consciousness that God sees, and people see you so conduct yourself in that light. 

May God be with you as you go through your day!

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HANDFULS ON PURPOSE…


Ruth 2:15-16 – “And when she rose up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her. 16 Also let grain from the bundles fall purposely for her; leave it that she may glean, and do not rebuke her.” NKJV

  The story of Ruth, who is incorporated into the lineage of our Lord Jesus, is a most interesting one.  After the death of her father-in-law, brother-in-law, and husband, her mother-in-law Naomi decided to return to Israel this Moabite committed to going with her.  She told her mother-in-law “your people are my people” demonstrating amazing loyalty. 

Upon arrival in Israel, she and Naomi were struggling to survive.  Naomi sent her to the fields to gather grain so that they could live.  When the owner of the fields Boaz saw her, God touched his heart and after talking with her instructed his laborers to ‘purposefully leave handfuls’ of grain for her.  It was a custom in those days to leave the corners of the field for the hungry and needy but Boaz went far beyond that custom and his instruction while missed by Ruth was not to Naomi.

It was this act of kindness and godliness that prompted the counsel of Naomi to send Ruth to Boaz which would lead to her becoming his wife and from there the rest is history as she is listed in the genealogy of Jesus.  Matthew lists Jesus as the son of David although Abraham is listed as the first in the line.  It appears that Matthew wanted to introduce Jesus as the coming King.  Luke takes a little different approach and seems to have been prompted to show Jesus as both King and Priest and took his genealogy back to Adam. 

Matthew lists six very significant women in Jesus’ mother’s lineage. They were Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary all-powerful women that had an incredible influence on those of their generation and their children.  But the thing I want to focus on is the kindness of Boaz and the provision of God for us.

If we allow ‘handfuls on purpose’ to be distributed to the needy, God will open the door for an incredible return to us in the natural and spiritual.  If loyally serve those that God has placed in our lives He will open doors and bring to pass divine encounters that will position us for greatness in the kingdom.  Both are important!  Both require commitment, obedience, and faith.

If it is in your hand to leave ‘handfuls on purpose’ for the needy do so.  If you are the recipient of ‘handfuls on purpose’ realize that it is the hand of God that has engineered your situation to provide for you.  In both cases allow rejoicing to be the rule of your life and if you are the needy one, remember this when you become prosperous and do the same for others.  The principle or law of reciprocity comes to mind as I write.

Blessings as you go through your day!

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