Author: rbeaird

THE IMPORTANCE OF GODLY PARENTS…


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1 Samuel 1:24-28 – “Now when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls, one ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the LORD in Shiloh. And the child was young. 25 Then they slaughtered a bull, and brought the child to Eli. 26 And she said, “O my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to the LORD. 27 For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition which I asked of Him. 28 Therefore I also have lent him to the LORD; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the LORD.” So they worshiped the LORD there.”  NKJV

  

The words leap off the page at me when I read, “…as long as he lives he shall be lent to the LORD.”  Imagine a mother whose heart was so heavy because she had no children and her fervent prayer resulted in a prophetic word and a miraculous work of God to provide her that child, a son, she had so desired?  Now, imagine that mother being willing to totally dedicate that son, to God physically as well as spiritually.  I have had people tell me they thought less of Hannah because she gave up the child but remember her vow in v.11, “…O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.”   Her vow was her covenant with God and the life that was produced in Samuel is nothing short of extraordinary.

She kept him in the formative years of his life before taking him to Eli, the priest.  That calls to mind the words of Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”  Her vow indicated that Samuel would act and serve as a Levite but would be raised as a Nazarite or one who willing dedicates himself to God. This was signifying that he would be totally dedicated to God and I am convinced that was the message she conveyed to him in those formative years.  She taught him God’s covenant and instilled in him the importance of keeping vows made to God and in pursuing God’s purposes in life. She taught him through her words and actions that God was supreme above all things.  Then when she took him to Eli he had been saturated with the Word of God, bathed in Prayer, and was shaped positively by the impact of the teachings and character of his godly mother.  His life’s directions were charted in those early years and would be a rudder for the rest of his days.

Of course, that is only one side of the equation for we dare not omit personal responsibility and personal commitment.  Samuel could have resisted and rebelled but he didn’t.  He didn’t because the method and message of his mother resonated in his heart.  She had kindled in him a desire to serve God and while I’m sure that her leaving him with the priest was somewhat traumatic or would have been for most children.  I’m sure her heart was torn from her chest as she walked away.  I’m equally sure that God saw both their hearts and through His Spirit, Power and Love provided a balm of peace in their hearts.  Samuel had to decide to fulfill the vow of his mother and he did.

Would Samuel have become the mighty prophet of God and man of the hour had she not made that vow and kept it?  Probably not!  Would Samuel have become a strong pillar in Israel had his mother not instilled in him from his birth the purpose of his life and the purpose of God?  Probably not!  I cannot emphasize the value and importance of godly parents in raising children.  One of the most significant problems in our world today, especially in America, is the lack of two-parent homes and the lack of godly parenting.  Thank God for those who view their role and responsibility as parents as a ministry and mandate from God to fulfill the first part of Proverbs 22:6 so that the latter part can become a sure reality.

If you have children, they are your responsibility and you are accountable to God for the training and example they receive.  You are their role model, not Hollywood, athletes, or entertainers.  YOU ARE!  Your value in the shaping of their lives is almost incalculable.

            God bless you as you fulfill your purposes for this day in Jesus!

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THE VALUE OF COVENANT…


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Ruth 1:16-17 – “16 But Ruth said: 

“Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you; for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.  17 Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. The LORD do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me.”  NKJV

 

The incredible power of devotion and faithfulness is seen in the Book of Ruth in both Ruth and Boaz.  However, for it to have reached the place that Boaz could take Ruth as a wife, there had to be the commitment of Ruth in making Covenant with Naomi.  Ruth’s husband was dead and Naomi had no other sons and no prospect of having sons that could marry Ruth and raise up seed in the name of his brother.  Ruth was released by Naomi as was Orpah but Ruth refused to desert her mother-in-law and her covenant vows are seen in these verses.

Naomi was moved by Ruth’s commitment and selflessness but more importantly, God took note of her heart which produced her actions.  When they returned to Bethlehem they were destitute and among their relatives was a rich man named Boaz.  Ruth requested Naomi’s permission to go to his field to glean so they could eat.  There is no evidence that Ruth had a plan to get Boaz to marry her simply she was seeking to care for her mother-in-law.  It was the custom of the Jews to allow strangers to gather the corners of the fields and even glean the trampled down grain so when Ruth came to the field the workers honored the custom and allowed her to glean.  Boaz took note of her and upon inquiry realized who she was and was, no doubt, moved by her devotion to Naomi.  He invited her to continue day by day gleaning in his fields and instructed the workers to drop handfuls on purpose for her so that she would be sure to have a goodly amount to sell and for Naomi and her to eat.

When Ruth reported what had transpired to Naomi, her mother-in-law sensed the heart of God and knew the Law of the Kinsman-Redeemer so she encouraged Ruth to return with specific instructions.  Her willingness to comply and her demonstrated virtue moved the heart of Boaz as God worked His plan looking down the road to the Christ being born.  Boaz sought to protect her reputation and took action to approach the Near Kinsman to enact the Kinsman-Redeemer rights.  The Near Kinsman declined for personal reasons allowing Boaz to fulfill the role and duty required by the Law.

Ruth and Boaz had a son.  The child was named Obed, the father of Jesse, the father of David from whose line the Christ was born.  In the life of Ruth and Boaz we get a picture of the Kinsman-Redeemer Jesus and in the Book of Revelation Five, we find one of the elders telling John that there is one that has earned the right to open the scroll in heaven and that one is Jesus our Kinsman-Redeemer. He, Jesus, has redeemed us, is redeeming us, and will redeem us in the Last Days and seal forever our eternal place with Him in glory.

Two thoughts I want to leave you with.  One, the heart of a servant can clearly be seen in Ruth and the servant’s heart was rewarded by God.  Two, it was not enough just to serve but Ruth cut a covenant with Naomi and God is a Covenant Making and Covenant Keeping God and honors His covenant forever.  Ruth, in my mind, gives us a picture of what we should be and can be in Christ!

            God bless you as you embark on today’s leg of your life’s journey!

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THE VALUE OF PERSONAL EXPERIENCE…


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Judges 2:7 – “So the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD which He had done for Israel.”  NKJV

 

There was an old country preacher that I knew who often said regarding the presence of God, “It is better felt than telt…”  I love feeling the presence of God and basking in the sunlight of His presence, power, and love.  And, as I reflect on that preacher’s words I find there is something in it worthy of consideration regarding experience.  I personally, do not want to ever reach the place that I base my relationship with God on an emotional experience but I never want to discount or discontinue that either.  I long to make my permeant residence IN HIS PRESENCE here and in eternity.

In this particular passage, there is a realization of the importance of personal experience in life.  I have heard about some of the great revivals of days gone by but did not experience them.  However, I have been in the presence of God and had some incredible experiences and witnessed some powerful moves of God’s Spirit that lasted long in churches, communities, and people.  I treasure those wonderful and powerful experiences.  However, who among us is not cognizant of the fact that historical experiences we did not participate in do not captivate us as those we did?  This passage reveals that so long as Joshua the Moses mentored leader who led the nation into the Promised Land and the elders who were also eyewitnesses lived GOD REIGNED in the hearts of people.  When they died, there were no longer those who had experiential first-hand knowledge of God’s mighty deliverance and fulfilling His promise to bring them to the Land of Milk and Honey.  When experience died there was a gradual erosion of commitment and a turning away or growing cold in dedication.

Every revival of the church lasted until the generation that witnessed and experienced it died and then it began to wane.  The fervor and fire of that revival kept the Church on track pursuing the truth that revival revealed and/or restored but when there were none who had experienced it around those who had heard about it could not embrace it with the same devotion nor feel the same compulsion to comply with the directives of the Spirit of God.  It was, to them, theoretical rather than experiential.  Sadly, many identify themselves as Christians in much the same way, theoretical rather than experiential.  We talk about God being able to “do all things” but if we have not witnessed or experienced His miraculous it is, to us, theory and when the chips are down we cannot stand on the promise with confidence.

I know some who grew up in Church and in homes where there was a fervent dedication to God, prayer was a staple, and the Bible was the guide.  They heard about it from their parents and grandparents but never truly experienced it for themselves and as those who had the experience received their eternal promotion the devotion and practices that kept the fire burning waned and diminished.  That reminds me of the truth that “You cannot get to heaven on Mama or Papas faith or experience.”  Christianity is a personal experience and relationship, not something that is inherited like property.  Growing up going to church may help you establish some important moral principles and ethics but will not save your soul.  The fact that Mama or Papa have their names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life does not automatically inscribe yours there.  It is an individual and personal experience.  “If we (each individual) confess our sins, He (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.” 

Experience or having a spiritual encounter with God personally is incredibly valuable in helping us to resist temptation, and maintain our dedication as we “seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.”   If you do not personally know Jesus I urge you to go into your prayer closet and call upon Him in repentance and receive His pardon and grace transforming you from darkness unto light.  Jesus has promised that if ANYONE will call upon Him He will not reject us.  Today is the day of salvation and now is the accepted time.  Experience God for yourself and the Bible will no longer be a theory but reality.

God bless you as you open the door to today with all its problems, promises, and potential.  Have a Great Day!

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THE CHRISTIAN’S QUEST…


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Philippians 3:7-11 – “But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ  9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.”  NKJV 

 

There is enough here to preach for months and to write and entire book on but one particular phrase leaps off the page for me.  The beginning words of v.10 scream for my attention, “…that I may know Him…”  Of course, there is more but where better to begin, for without this reality none of the other has meaning.  That I may know Him is the cry of my heart and there is a hunger ever growing in my heart and spirit to KNOW Him.  I don’t mean know about Him but to KNOW Him.  I have experienced the new birth but I am talking about something that goes beyond that entrance or adoption into the Family of God, I am speaking of the intimacy found in the biblical word KNOW.  In Genesis 4:1 we read, “…Adam knew Eve…”  The full meaning of the word KNEW is revealed in the following words, “and she conceived…”  He KNEW her in an intimacy that transcends knowing about but in becoming one in flesh and in spirit.

I want to KNOW Christ in an intimacy where we are so completely one there is no distinction between Him and me.  I want to KNOW Him so intimately that His thoughts become my thoughts and the mind that is in Him becomes my mind.  In the natural, it is impossible to KNOW someone on that kind of level without spending time with them and investing yourself in them and in the pursuit of KNOWING them.  But can we KNOW Christ on that level?  We know Him through the Holy Spirit.  We know Him through prayer.  We know Him through His word.  We know Him through obedience.  We know Him through service.  We know Him through His suffering.  We know Him through His resurrection power.  We know Him by being transformed and having done all to stand, stand and following the prescription Jesus gave in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…”  We know Him by making Matthew 5:6 our life pursuit, “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” 

If we want something badly enough we will make the time to pursue it, invest whatever it takes to achieve it, and devote our energy to realize it.  In relationships where love is deep and true, it is a small thing to invest energy in learning the object of our devotion and affection.  In our spiritual relationship, too often, we seem to want to KNOW Jesus as this passage describes without the investment or divestment of ourselves as is required.  He must become LORD of All if He is to be LORD at all.  Those who have trained in the martial arts tell me that it required and requires a total commitment for them to master the discipline and techniques to become proficient in their art.  Those who are successful in business tell me that it requires a singular devotion and commitment to the pursuit of that business to succeed.  Those who have successful marriages and relations declare that they have invested themselves totally in the pursuit of KNOWING their mates and although it was an easy decision it was and is a continual process and requires a total commitment.  KNOWING does not just happen and there is no shortcut to the process of coming to KNOW.

If you are hungry to KNOW Him, you can KNOW Him on that level of intimacy but it will not be easy nor will it be without pain.  No one in their right mind would desire suffering but in KNOWING Him fully we must KNOW His suffering for it reveals His heart.  His suffering pulls back the veil of the WHY of the Cross and the Power of the Resurrection.  May there be birthed in each of our hearts a craving and commitment to KNOW HIM.

            God bless you richly as you embark on today’s journey.

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WHAT IS HOLDING YOU BACK SPIRITUALLY???


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Joshua 1:1-9 – “After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, it came to pass that the LORD spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying: 2 “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them — the children of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory. 5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”   NKJV

 

My title question is worthy of consideration even if you do not feel you are being held back from the pursuit of your dreams and purposes in God.  I have to ask a follow-up question, “Are you reaching your full potential?”  Then, “If not, why not?”  Is there anything holding you back, spiritually or in any other way?  I hope to use this account regarding Joshua to help us see some possible hindrances personally.  God placed within us the ability to be ‘extraordinary ‘ so let’s be just that!

Moses, Joshua’s mentor, was dead.  Joshua had inherited the mantle of leadership and was responsible for leading the nation of Israel.  Even with his experience of watching Moses and learning the positives and negatives in his role, he was clearly filled with trepidation.  It is one thing to know you are going to become the person occupying the decision-making chair and another to actually put on that hat.  Now, God came to Joshua and said, “Joshua, Moses is Dead!”  Have you ever wondered why God said that?  Joshua clearly knew that Moses was dead but God reminded him of that reality.  In my mind, it was to identify something that was potentially or actually holding Joshua back.  He may have been intimidated by the leadership style of Moses.  He may have had trepidation fearing that the people would not respect his authority and follow his directives.  He may have questioned his own ability and even questioned his ability to clearly and truly hear God.  I don’t know what was truly involved but God first reminded him that “Moses is gone and now it is up to you.” 

God made some powerful promises and commitments to Joshua IF he would do what God directed and promised to be with him in all things and at all times.  Then God said, “Be strong and of good courage…”  Okay, that could be a simple statement of encouragement but it might identify the seedbed of fear that was budding in his heart and mind.  Then, in the next sentence, God says, “…be strong and very courageous…”  This emphasized the need for courage.  But to make matters worse, in a sense, God says in verse 9, “Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”  Three times in a very short span, God addressed his fear and the need of courage.  Clearly, something was coming which would be frightening and the need for courageous action would be required.

I am convinced God was not simply speaking of enemies from the outside but also the unwillingness, at times, of his own people to cooperate.  Yet, I believe there was an even greater issue involved, Joshua’s own heart and mind.  Thus, God said, “Moses is dead…”  Joshua could no longer rely on Moses but he must now rely on God and hear God for himself.  Joshua must not step out in obedience and faith.

Many if not most of us need to have our Moses die so that we can move out from under the shadow and the safety of that which we have relied on and place our trust and confidence in God and God alone.  It is in that position and condition that we will shake off the shackles that now bind us and allow us to become that which God has designed and desires!

God bless you richly is my prayer!

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HOW MANY LAPS AROUND THE MOUNTAIN WILL YOU TAKE???


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Deuteronomy 2:1-7 – “Then we turned and journeyed into the wilderness of the Way of the Red Sea, as the LORD spoke to me, and we skirted Mount Seir for many days.   2 “And the LORD spoke to me, saying: 3’You have skirted this mountain long enough; turn northward. 4 And command the people, saying, “You are about to pass through the territory of your brethren, the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir; and they will be afraid of you. Therefore watch yourselves carefully. 5 Do not meddle with them, for I will not give you any of their land, no, not so much as one footstep, because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as a possession. 6 You shall buy food from them with money, that you may eat; and you shall also buy water from them with money, that you may drink.

 7 “For the LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hand. He knows your trudging through this great wilderness. These forty years the LORD your God has been with you; you have lacked nothing.”‘ NKJV

 

When Israel was wandering in the wilderness during their 40-year trek they came to a time when the LORD spoke to Moses and said, “You’ve taken enough laps around the mountain, now is the time to move to take the next step.”  I have discovered, in life, that if we experience a test or trial in life and we fail to learn the lesson, modify our attitude and/or actions we get to take another Lap around the Mountain.  Oh, it may not be exactly the same but it will become obvious that it is the same mountain, the same test, and the same demand.  In school, if we fail a course we have the distasteful task of retaking the course.  If we are trying to fix a problem and we take inappropriate steps or we fail, we have to repeat the repair.  In relationships we may not get a second chance with the person we have failed with but we will go through the same type situation giving us an opportunity to get it right.  That is one of the reasons some people find themselves in the same kind of relationship time after time.  They never learned the lesson and the same type of situations arise time and again.  If after a few times you face the same type situation you might want to reconsider what you are doing, your attitude, and allow the Holy Spirit to change you.  Sometimes, it is not a new partner that is needed but becoming a new partner.  Reminds me of the man who had been married ten times and complained that he hadn’t found a good woman yet.  The words of Pogo might apply, “we have found the enemy and it is us.”  Sometimes the change needs to come in us!

Even in their trudging through the wilderness learning God’s life lessons they were never lacking!  As we learn the life lessons God is teaching us and then begin the northward trek toward the Place of Promise and the Abundant Life God has designed and desired we will face enemies.  Not only will we face enemies but face them on an escalated scale.  Sometimes, we tend to think that our purpose is to force others to adopt our worldview and in that we begin to meddle with them.  There is a Place of Promise God has designed for us and what He has given another is not ours so HANDS OFF!  Never allow envy or jealousy to grip your heart.  What someone else has is not your concern.  Being who God desires you to be is.  If we are willing and obedient to the LORD we will eat the good of the land and God will be with us in all that we do and face.  That is a Position of Power and a Place of Promise!

God bless you as you enjoy today’s opportunities!

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THE PRIESTLY BLESSING…


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Numbers 6:22-27 – “And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 23 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them: 24 “The LORD bless you and keep you; 25 The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; 26 The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.” 27 “So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them.” NKJV

 

Tragically, this blessing is issued in Churches, at times, as a ritual rather than with the confidence that as it is issued God’s Spirit is moving to make it a reality in the lives of those upon whom it is pronounced.  That happens with many things in our religious gathers and that is terrible tragic.  This blessing was one that the priests would issue every morning after the daily sacrifice.  It could be given at other times but it was a daily action by the priests and the priests and people not only believed it would be a reality in their lives but expected it to be so.

We are told that priests would raise their hands, with their palms facing down and their thumbs stretched out and touching.  The four fingers of each hand were sometimes split into two sets of two fingers forming the letter Shin, an emblem for Shaddai.  Sometimes the fingers would overlap forming windows and the belief was that the Divine Presence of God would shine through the fingers and upon the people.  It must be noted that the priests were not to bless the people using their own words but this specific blessing, God’s Words!  The people were not allowed to look at the priest or anything except to look at the ground and concentrate on the blessings of the Lord.  There was Power in the Blessing and although it was a ritual it was not a ritual but a reality.

I often repeat this blessing and when I do I do it believing that there is a unique and specific power of God going out to those upon whom I am speaking the blessing to bring this to reality in their lives.  It is my desire that God not only blesses but to keep that which we have committed to Him for eternity.  It is my desire that God’s face shine on us in all that we do and in all that we are.  It is my desire that the grace of God flow freely to us and we have his grace revealed and demonstrated in our lives.  It is a cry of my heart that God will smile on us and the radiance of His countenance will light up the darkness and make our path clear and that the Peace of God will encourage and embolden us to stand no matter what the situation.

Truly this kind of blessing can only come from God but God has chosen to use people as vehicles and vessels through which those blessings are conveyed.  I can only bless what God has and does bless but since He has so blessed I desire to be a vehicle through which His blessings continue to flow.

May the LORD richly bless you on this wonderful day!

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GOD’S LEVITICAL PROMISES ARE APPLICABLE FOR US TODAY…


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Leviticus 26:3-8 – “If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments, and perform them, 4 then I will give you rain in its season, the land shall yield its produce, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit 5 Your threshing shall last till the time of vintage, and the vintage shall last till the time of sowing; you shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely.  6 I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none will make you afraid; I will rid the land of evil beasts, and the sword will not go through your land. 7 You will chase your enemies, and they shall fall by the sword before you. 8 Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight; your enemies shall fall by the sword before you.”  NKJV

 

As we begin in verse 6 we find a tripartite directive which results in some incredible blessings from God.  The directive is Walk in God’s statutes, Keep His commandments, and Perform them.  Sounds like a triple repeat of the same thing right?  Interestingly there are three Hebrew words used in those three descriptions or directives.  Walk is easily understood LIVE or carry the statutes of God.  Keep is HEDGING ABOUT, GUARDING, and PROTECTING, therefore, it clearly is referring to attending to and guarding the truths of God in our hearts.  Perform is DOING which is walking them out in daily life.  It is accomplishing the commandments and statutes of God.  Thus, it is repetitive but it each is an expansion of the other.  I believe God purposefully stated it in this tripartite manner for emphasis and to demonstrate His valuation of His statutes and commandments.

The Promise is powerful and what it touched on here is not the exhaustive list but sufficient for us to see the bountifulness of a life founded upon God’s word, principles, and walking in obedience.  I must state, this is not saying that we can earn God’s grace or even His blessings but He Promises that IF we will then HE will.  Imagine being a farmer and having the assurance that you will have rain at the time needed and land with the guarantee of fertility that harvest, is a given.  Imagine the trees of the forest and field (fruit trees) producing in abundance and the overflow of harvest would last from season to season with no lack.  Then, go beyond the farming to national security and peace where there is no fear of invasion and fear is dispelled from the land.  There would be no overrunning by evil beasts and no terrorism.  Then to emphasize the Power of the Promise to an even greater measure, God declares that if there is attack you will be victorious and 5 would defeat 100 and 100 would defeat 10,000.  That is incredible!

If you continue reading you find that there is the continued promise of God’s Presence.  Then comes the negative beginning in verse 14 where the warning is IF YOU DO NOT OBEY this is what will happen.  I encourage you to read the negatives found in the warning and while I never suggest we serve God for the blessings in the natural, they cannot be ignored.  We serve God because we love Him but a side benefit is found in His blessing.  I don’t know about you but if “Life and Death are set before me and I have the choice I will opt for LIFE every time!”  If I have the choice between blessings and curses, then give me blessings.  If the choice is to live in peace and enjoy productivity or live in turmoil and struggle to survive, is there really a choice?

There is something I want you to see.  If the Bible is true, and I believe it is, then God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  Our New Covenant is established on Better Promises and is a Better Covenant than the Old and this is in the Old.  Therefore, is it not reasonable to believe that what they received via obedience can be expected by us under the New Covenant?  I say it is without fear of being proved wrong!

God bless you as you embark on your pursuit of God and His Plan, Purpose, and Principles in this life! 

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GOD’S PLAN IS INTRICATE…


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Exodus 2:1-10 – “And a man of the house of Levi went and took as wife a daughter of Levi. 2 So the woman conceived and bore a son. And when she saw that he was a beautiful child, she hid him three months. 3 But when she could no longer hide him, she took an ark of bulrushes for him, daubed it with asphalt and pitch, put the child in it, and laid it in the reeds by the river’s bank. 4 And his sister stood afar off, to know what would be done to him. 

5 Then the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river. And her maidens walked along the riverside; and when she saw the ark among the reeds, she sent her maid to get it. 6 And when she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby wept. So she had compassion on him, and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.” 

7 Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call a nurse for you from the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for you?” 

8 And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Go.” So the maiden went and called the child’s mother. 9 Then Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed him. 10 And the child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. So she called his name Moses, saying, “Because I drew him out of the water.”  NKJV

 

The nation of Israel was in Egyptian bondage and the fear of the Pharaoh was that they would become so numerous and strong they would or could eventually overthrow his kingdom.  He decreed that all newborn males were to be killed.  God enabled the Hebrew woman to give birth before the government healthcare workers could arrive and Moses’ mother had him and hid him until it was impossible to continue without exposure.  So, the account in our text reveals the intricate detail with which God plans our lives and His purposes.  Moses, had he been found by any other, would have been slaughtered.  God knew the heart of the princess and knew the need to train Moses and give him prominence so he could become the deliverer of God’s people.  It was no accident that he was placed in the Nile when and where he was placed.  It was no accident that Pharaoh’s daughter would be there and her heart would be touched by this infant.  It was no an accident that he was raised as her son in the palace with the tutelage and opportunities afforded this child.  It was by design!  So when you think that things are just happening in your life, you might want to consider Moses and allow the Holy Spirit to take your circumstances, experiences, and situation to mold you into that which He has planned and purposed.  Remember the words of the apostle Paul, “All things WORK TOGETHER for the good…”  Not that every individual thing is good in itself but it is working to produce the finished product that is good.

Moses’ experience in the desert in the land of Midian was not by accident.  His connection to his father in law was not a happenstance occurrence.  It was part of God’s intricate plan to not only bring Moses to the place of trust but to teach him how to survive in a hostile natural environment as well as open the door for the future counsel Jethro would provide in establishing a chain of leadership and ministry.  God allowed Moses to spend 40 years learning what he learned in Egypt and 40 years eliminating the ways of Egypt from him in the desert so he could serve 40 years as the deliverer of Israel and lead them to the edge of the Place of Promise.  The plan of God is inspiring and the reality that Moses could have gotten off the track at any juncture and did, at times, should cause us to seek the face of God for guidance daily.  The further off track you get the harder it is to get back on track so if you only get off track one day it will not be as difficult to get back on track than if you are off track for years.

God has promised to never leave us and to guide us therefore, it is imperative that we believe His promise and receive His help in our daily walk.  May the Lord richly bless you as you embark on today’s portion of your journey.  Blessings!

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THE END IS DETERMINED BY THE BEGINNING…


spiritual-blog-beginning

Genesis 1:1 – “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”  NKJV

 

             Many people have questions and even doubts about how all that we see began and yet cling to a hope of an eternal heaven.  I find that a bit problematic on one hand and understandable on another.  I don’t know HOW God did what He did I simply believe and accept that HE DID.  I can understand the questions and debates as to the age of the earth based on interpretations of Genesis and scientific explanation and biblical possibilities.  I understand the concern and questions sometimes resulting from reading the ensuing verses in Genesis’ first few chapters but the bottom line, for me is I BELIEVE GOD DID IT.  He Created the heavens and the earth.  Without that, as my foundation, I have no basis for believing in an Eternal Heaven and Eternal Life.  That is my personal view, yours may differ.

I know in solving problems in life that beginning with a wrong or false premise will not produce a right result.  Oh, admittedly, we may change course in the middle of the stream and modify our initial presupposition and ultimate come to a right conclusion in many things.  However, in matters of God and the spiritual if we do not or cannot believe God’s first declaration as recorded in the first verse of the first chapter of the first book of the Bible how can we trust Him elsewhere?  How can I have faith and confidence in a person or being that presents a flawed or false premise or foundational basis?  How can I have confidence that God’s Word is Infallible, Inspired, and One who does not Fail if I question the beginning?  How can I trust the many declarations of the LORD regarding our Hope and Future, if I cannot believe His first declaration about the origin of it all?

It is impossible for me not to believe that what we see in the universe was the result of CREATION.  The almost incalculable number of required happenings for it to have just happened or evolved from nothingness to what we see would require more faith than I can muster in resting my faith in CHANCE.  I could rather believe that the book “Pilgrims Progress” was the result of John Bunyan securing a railroad car full of printer’s type and taking a shovel tossing those tiles into the air and them falling perfectly into alignment and arrangement producing the novel.  That would be beyond ludicrous and, for me, so is believing the human body simply evolved or the universe that is held perfectly in place somehow just happened with not thought or design.  That may cause someone to view me as Karl Marx viewed Christians and believe that my faith is simply the result of my religious opiate.  I BELIEVE GOD!

There are many things about God, creation, and life that I find impossible to explain but when I view the universe and the intricate and detailed systematic arrangement and function I BELIEVE.  When I view and examine the scientific and medical detailing of the incredibleness of the human body, the operation of the organs, the flow of blood, and so much more I find it impossible to believe that we are the result of some single-celled organism that crawled out of the sea, grew legs, and became a humans  No, when I review what is known about the human body and its function I BELIEVE.  When I reflect back on my personal experience on that eventful night at my sister’s kitchen table in Palestine, Texas and how my life was totally transformed I BELIEVE.  I refuse to allow the questions I cannot answer shipwreck my faith for I have enough evidence in nature, the universe, the Bible, Science, and experience to solidify my faith that IN THE BEGINNING GOD.

I pray that the LORD will help you move beyond the often unanswerable questions and anchor your hope and confidence in the truth of Genesis 1:1 that “IN THE BEGINNING GOD…”  May you walk in His grace, enjoy His peace, experience His fullness and faithfulness and receive his forgiveness.   God bless you richly as you embark on today’s leg of life’s journey!

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