Matthew 20:24-28 – “And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them.  26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.  27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave —   28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”   NKJV

James and John’s mother was ambitious for her sons and wanted to insure they had prominent cabinet positions in the coming kingdom so she went to Jesus to request that they be given the two most noticeable and prominent positions at his side.  What is often missed is that she did not come alone for it is clear that James and John were there and desired the same thing as is revealed in verse 22.  This caused no small stir among the other disciples and the dissension became so heated that Jesus stepped in and presented a principle of leadership that too many miss.

Jesus addressed the carnal desire for preeminence in the world and how those in power like to lord their position and authority over those under them.  He then told them that leadership in the Kingdom of God cannot and would not take that path.  The principle was simple but powerful and difficult:

• Desire a position of authority?

Then you must demonstrate not only a willingness to serve and follow but you must actually do it.  It is not enough to mentally ascribe to the principles and say all the right things about servant leadership you must BECOME a servant and serve.

That is something that few desiring to occupy position of leadership in or out of the church find palatable.  Me serve?  I was asked to mentor a young man once who wanted to become a pastor.  When I addressed this principle with him he immediately informed me that those menial tasks I was assigning him was not befitting his education or calling and he would not do them.  He could or would not accept the principle Jesus laid out and considered his seminary training an immediate qualification for leadership in the congregation.  He would not serve and I could not allow him to lead.

• Become like Jesus.

If Jesus was willing to and actually became a servant then anything less from us is unacceptable.  

In my years I have found both in the church and in secular business those who cannot or will not follow make terrible leaders.  A person with an entitlement or elitist mentality makes a horrific leader.  I served in the military with some who understood this principle and some who did not.  I would have charged hell with those who did and resented those who did not.  (Remember I was not serving God during that time).  In business or in the church an individual that knows how to follow understands authority and cooperation whereas one that either will not, has not or cannot follow only knows arbitrary power not leadership, community or teamwork and either fail or become dictatorial tyrants and both are tragic.

If you want to ascend to a position of authority in the church or life learn to be a servant.  God bless you as you go through your day!

Psalm 58:6 – “Break their teeth in their mouth, O God!  Break out the fangs of the young lions, O LORD!”  NKJV

They say that honest confession is good for the soul so let me confess; there have been times I wanted God to kick somebody’s behind for me but He didn’t physically.  I have even asked if He would let me do it and He wouldn’t.  Okay now that is out of the way let’s consider this verse and Psalm 58 as it relates to you and I as believers in the 21st century.

Is David really asking God to ‘break the teeth and fangs’ of the wicked?  We find something similar in Psalm 3:7 and again I ask, is he asking God to kick some booty?  I know people who believe that based on these passages and a few others in Scripture they can enlist God’s help in hurting those who hurt them and live wickedly.  These same people want the Grace of the New Testament and the license of “an eye for an eye” of the Old.  Sometimes people adapt scripture to fit their desire or belief rather than allowing scripture to guide their faith and conduct.

I would suggest that if you notice the beginning of this Psalm that David is addressing those in positions of political and/or spiritual authority and they are not presenting or promoting righteousness.  He suggests this is due to the wickedness of their heart and all they say and do is poison and destructive.  When people either religiously or politically see wrong and sit silent they are complicit and in a great sense guilty of that very evil.  I suggest that David is speaking metaphorically and asking God do ‘take away their power and authority’.  If God renders them powerless, without influence or authority they will no longer be able to do their destructive works.

In that sense I fully endorse praying this kind of prayer toward those who demonstrate wickedness in this world.  I believe as in Ezekiel 33 that we are charged to ‘warn the wicked’ to turn from wickedness and if we do not do so we are guilty of their sin and the innocent blood will be on our hands.  Therefore, I believe it fully in agreement with the Bible to ask God to render those desiring to do wickedness and destruction powerless.  In fact we Job declaring in Job 29 of ‘breaking the fangs’ of the wicked and snatching victims from their teeth and considered it honorable to do so.

I realize that the Bible instructs me to pray for those in positions of authority and I do but I also realize that the Bible instructs and permits me to pray against evil and I do.  I have no hesitation to ask God to forcefully intervene against ‘sex offenders, sex traffickers, abortionist, and child-molesters, terrorist and even oppressive government.’  How can I watch as evil is carried out and not do that which I know to do to stop and silence it?

Therefore while I do not expect God to, physically ‘break out the teeth’ of the wicked I do ask Him to expose them and strip them of power.  I have no qualms about asking God to intervene on behalf of His children when oppressed, targeted, bullied and abused and ask Him to silence those guilty of such acts.  I do not encourage anyone to view God as their bouncer or enforcer but rather as their shelter in the time of storm and wall of defense for He has declared He desires to be.

Please do not ask God to do physical violence to those who seek your hurt rather pray for their souls, pray against their works and always maintain a right attitude.  As you demonstrate His character, pray His promises and stand on His principles you will see God move on your behalf and while those doing the deed may not see or understand others will and lives will be touched.

            God bless you as you go through your day!

Proverbs10:8-12 – “The wise in heart will receive commands, but a prating fool will fall.  9 He who walks with integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will become known. 10 He who winks with the eye causes trouble, but a prating fool will fall. 11 The mouth of the righteous is a well of life, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked. 12 Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins.”  NKJV

The foolishness of the heart is often revealed in the incessant blabber of the lips whereas the wise person desires to gain knowledge and instruction.  Walking in one’s integrity is a walk that exudes from peace and security whereas the wicked seeks shortcuts and perverts justice and wisdom.  The words from the mouth of the righteous brings peace, hope and points to life whereas the mouth of the wicked propels toward destruction and often is accompanied by violence.

Sadly, I know some in Christendom who have taken what I call the ‘Three Money Approach’ to sin.  They refuse to see it, refuse to hear it and refuse to speak against it!  They pretend to see nothing, hear nothing and offer no rejection of or objection to wickedness in our present world.  That approach, in my view, expresses HATE not LOVE.  I know, I have made a very bold statement and desire to explain what I mean if you will afford me the opportunity.

If you recall the words of Solomon in Proverbs 13:24 we are told that the parent who refuses to discipline (the rod) HATES the child.  We also read in Proverbs 10:12 that HATRED stirs up strife, but LOVE covers offenses.  That is not a directive to ‘wink at sin’ but for forgiveness.  In Proverbs 8:13 we are told that the fear of the Lord is HATRED of evil.  I would ask, “If you saw a relative or friend destroying their life would it be a demonstration of love to remain silent and allow them to continue when you could give warning?”  I would suggest it could be argued that it is the opposite of LOVE for if I see you in mortal danger and remain silent how can I argue that I am doing so out of Love?

I know many quote the passage in Proverbs 13:24 as “spare the rod and spoil the child” but it is stronger than that as you can read.  It is spare the rod (refuse proper discipline) is an evidence of HATRED not LOVE and SPOILING the child is a minor thing compared to the destruction that awaits.  In Proverbs 23:13 we are told that in administering discipline to the child we prevent that child from death (spiritual and possibly natural).  This can be expanded to all relationships.

As a Christian and a minister I do not want to come across as all Hell Fire and Brimstone but there are times when I must sound the alarm and identify sin as sin and warn of its destruction.  If I ‘wink at sin’ and pretend it is not a big deal that sin, whatever it might be or however small, can grow into a deadly cancer in the soul and my ‘Three Monkey Approach’ only brings death and destruction.  The Bible says that ‘faithful are the wounds of a friend’  (Proverbs 27:6)  You may not like what I have to say or I may not like being called out when wrong but if the objective is life and restoration then wound me please!

The Three Money Approach creates a condition where the supposed pursuit of tolerance and acceptance becomes a death sentence and reduces the church to a social club rather than a spiritual hospital and rehab center.  If we truly LOVE one another we will not be abusive but we will not ‘wink at sin’ for the love that lives in us will overpower the desire to be accepted by all.  If you are my friend please NEVER ‘wink at my sin’ and let your love for me compel you to speak truth to my life whether I like it or not for if you love me you will help me see the fallacy of my ways and lead me to the place where sins are covered.  If you allow me to continue without objection you only bring me and possibly you trouble.

Oh God, please break our hearts over sin again!   May the Lord be with you as you go through your day!

Revelation 3:16 – “So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.”  NKJV

Through my years of serving as lead pastor I often met the objection or excuse from someone regarding a need in the church, “I would but I’m just too busy.”  I always opted to leave it at that and move on to someone who was less apathetic or self-absorbed.  Before you castigate me for that statement let me suggest that ‘busy people’ are often the ones who give the most time in volunteer work so is it busyness or something else that is the real issue?

I really cannot find any scriptures to support APATHY or SELF-CENTEREDNESS but if you have them feel free to enlighten me.  Now I must caution you they will need to be contextual not just an isolated passage such as the two I’ve heard used where a person angry at another quoted, “Judas went out and hanged himself… Go thou and do likewise.”  Two isolated partial passages used to convey a desired message.

The words of the LORD to the Church at Laodicea are arresting and I wonder how applicable they are to today’s church and Christians?  He addresses them identifying the fact of their lukewarmness and then declares, “I will spew you out of my mouth.”  He identified their attitude as totally unacceptable.  The Bible tells us that ‘whatever our hand finds to do to do it with our might’ and that would appear to be opposite of lukewarm.

If we are APATHETIC and our focus is SELF we will find that unless it directly impacts us we are largely disinterested.  Sin and man’s lost condition does not tug the heart as a daily rule and any conviction over that attitude is quickly dispelled with images of our selfish objectives.  We justify our inaction and apathy with the claim of BUSYNESS in the interest of caring for our own and fail to remember that our LORD declared that if we ‘seek first’ the Kingdom of God and His righteousness all these things will be added to us.  Therefore, from a biblical perspective the best approach to life is:

• God First and Foremost.
• Others Second.
• Self Last.

In every area of life I have encountered APATHY and when people are apathetic politically freedoms are lost.  When people are apathetic relationally relationships are destroyed.  When people are apathetic economically opportunity is lost.  When people are apathetic spiritually souls are lost and the abundant life promised eludes us.

I have long said that when speaking to a crowd I thrive on two kinds of crowds:  Those who are enthusiastically for me or enthusiastically against me.  The crowd or audience that drains me is the apathetic crowd.  I would rather watch grass grow than speak to that kind of audience.  I suspect God feels the same and thus the reason for the warning and plea to the church at Laodicea.

May God stir your heart so that you are HOT rather than COLD and press toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ.   Be blessed and walk in the power provided by the Spirit of God. 

Matthew 16:17-19 – “Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.  18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.  19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”  NKJV

Obviously there is much that can and should be said with regard to the truths revealed in this passage but my desire is to focus on the word CHURCH and think about that for this devotional.  I do not want to get into the debate of petros and petra regarding Peter or the foundation of Christ’s Church but about THE CHURCH.  There is far more to be examined that time or space will permit for a brief devotional but let’s embark on this brief journey.

The word used here is ‘ekklesia’ and in its simplest meaning is ‘a calling out’ or ‘those called out’ and the focus in its context is people not physical structures or organizations but PEOPLE.  Jesus did not come to save denominations or buildings but people and people make up the Body of Christ which is the Church.  Jesus promised to build His church and the idea of building is interesting 1 Corinthians 3 the apostle Paul specifically tells his listeners that they are God’s field and building and that he could be viewed as a wise master builder working to help them become that building of God.  In Ephesians 2 he speaks of them as being a building again and one that is ‘fitted together’ growing into a Holy Temple.  Peter declares in 1 Peter 2 that his listeners were a chosen people, royal priesthood and a holy nation who had been ‘called out’ for God’s purposes.   That is a beautiful picture of THE CHURCH of Jesus Christ.  We are a body, a priesthood, a people, a nation, a building, a family or THE CHURCH.

I upset some once when I declared that I did not go to church.  They took that as meaning I did not attend gatherings and after I let them stew a minute qualified my statement saying, “I cannot go to what I am for I and you are the church not this physical structure.”  Some still had difficulty with it and many pastors refer to the local congregation as “My Church” and if it is I’ll take a rain check on attending for I want to go where it is known and understood to be Christ’s Church.  I do not mean to split hairs or engage in semantics but the principle and truth that the Church (people) is Jesus’ and He is the one building it using people and other things as tools.

I had a group become incredibly upset once when someone brought a food substance into the local sanctuary.  They considered that a mortal sin and wanted the individuals to be publicly reprimanded for their great sin.  After all that was THE CHURCH.  They became even more upset with me when I stood in the pulpit and identified the structure we were worshiped as a SHEEP SHED and that the people sitting on the pews were THE CHURCH God’s Sheep.  Understand, I respect the sanctuary and want others to do the same for it is the place we have designated as a House of Worship and the name of Christ is associated with it so it should be respected but IT IS NOT the Church it is a building made by man’s hands.

I am troubled when I see ornate edifices so elaborate and find there is no real ministry, outreach or benevolence transpiring.  The focus is the SHEEP SHED not the PURPOSE and that is tragic, in my view.  Consider what Jesus said about this ‘called out’ group He is assembling.

• The Gates of Hell will not prevail against it.

If you see the gate as a physical structure or the church as a building this statement makes zero sense.  The gate represents the authority and the church represents believers and that makes it a powerful statement and is in harmony with the Lord’s words that we have “authority and power over all the power of the enemy.”

• This Church has the Keys of the Kingdom and Prevails.

A building cannot accomplish that only people empowered by the Spirit of God can.

Let me leave you with this:  The Church is people who are born again through the Blood of Jesus and Grace of God.  The Church belongs to Jesus and He is the Builder.  The Church has power over the power of the enemy and prevails.  WE are the Church and WE belong to Jesus!  Therefore instead of making a building the Church in your view become the Church and demonstrate His power to the world.

            God bless you as you go through this day!

Matthew 8:5-13 – “Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, 6 saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.” 

7 And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” 

8 The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

 10 When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!  11 And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.  12 But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”  13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.”  NKJV

This account is incredibly powerful as it speaks clearly to what I perceive as a problem in some of the modern church today.  Most believers testify to believing that GOD CAN, some declare they believe GOD DOES and others that GOD WILL.  Unfortunately there are those who believe God can, does and will are continually looking for a ‘magic touch’ to bring about the miracle.  If only… If only they can get to a particular preacher or church.  If only they could see a vision, get a prophetic word, receive a sign or something THEN…  What they are doing, in my view, is focusing on the wrong thing. 

In this particular account the centurion’s servant needed a miracle and the man asked the LORD to heal him.  Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.”  Then the centurion said something that is completely foreign to the mindset of many believers and told our LORD that he did not consider himself worthy of the presence of the LORD in his house and that all Jesus had to do was DECLARE IT DONE and it was done.  He understood AUTHORITY and Jesus saw his response as the true description of faith and the operation of faith.

If we understand that simple principle we will not need the visible outward magic touch that so many seem to be unable to believe without.  The danger in putting confidence in something outward is that it becomes the source rather than God and no ‘magic touch’ can produce the power of God in our lives only God.  I was called once and asked to pray for a woman and had numerous commitments that prevented me for physically going to her to pray and informed her I would pray but could not come.  She immediately became upset and said, “Well if you don’t come and bring the oil I won’t be healed.”  WHAT?  It is not my hands or the oil that would result in the miracle of healing or any other miracle IT IS THE POWER OF GOD.  That power knows no boundaries and does not require external stimuli to work.  If we understand authority and believe that if Jesus says DONE it is done then distance is no problem and humans are only important in adding our faith to your faith.

So if you need a miracle from the LORD please do not put your confidence in what I call a magic touch but in the TOUCH of the Master’s Hand.   May God be with you as you go through this day!  BLESSINGS!

Matthew 6:25-34 – “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?  26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?  27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 

31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.  34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”  NKJV

I used this text once and did something similar to what I want to do now and had a gentleman approach me afterward and informed me I had misnamed the message.  He felt my title should have said something about worry not focus.  He might have been correct but I knew then and now what was in my heart to convey and hopefully did so then and will accomplish that goal now.

Many in our present world are fixated on singular things and become so focused on those they miss LIFE.  I know some who are so focused on a healthy lifestyle they are miserable if they fall off their self-determined wagon of diet and exercise.  Some have become so focused on a particular diet and exercise regimen to AVOID deadly disease they spend much of their time fretting over and fearing they might somehow fail and open the door to disease and thereby miss LIFE.  I know some who are so focused on their financial future they spend endless hours strategizing, watching the stock market and other investment venues they cannot enjoy life and some have become so miserly they fail to enjoy the fruit of their labors and miss LIFE.  Tragically most of us have been guilty of WORRYING about something and in so doing we have shifted the focus from God and His provision and promise to this present world and our ability to produce.  Jesus’ words should resonate when He asked, “Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?”  

Jesus came that we might have LIFE and that MORE ABUNDANT!  However, abundant life is not possible if our focus and fixation is on THINGS.  I can’t become taller or shorter by worrying about it.  I can’t become healthier but can become less healthy by worrying about it.  I cannot determine the outcome of tomorrow by worrying but I can alter tomorrow’s potential outcome by shifting my focus from THINGS to God and place my confidence in Him.

Jesus made it clear that WORRY should not be a part of the mental, emotional or spiritual makeup of a believer for its roots are worldly.  He reminds us that The Father knows what we need and if we seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, ALL THESE THINGS will be ours.  He reminded us that each day has enough problems without adding to them with wrong focus and worry.  I actually had a woman tell me once that she had to worry because if she didn’t NO ONE WOULD.  I tried not to laugh and wanted to cry for it revealed a terrible flaw in her thinking and no matter how much I tried could not shake her from that sense of responsibility and duty to WORRY.  If worry could make you thinner many would be bean poles. If worry could make you taller or shorter millions would achieve that illusive perfect height.  If worry could make you more successful there would be an instantaneous addition of millions to the Forbes list.  BUT IT CANNOT and rather than making us thinner it may contribute to being heavier, less healthy, less successful and more strained in our personal and spiritual relationships.  Therefore let us carefully heed the directive of our LORD and CEASE WORRYING and begin SEEKING GOD first and foremost while LIVING the life He has given through His grace.  THE DIRECTIVE OF THE LORD IS – – F O C U S… Focus on Him!!!

            May the Lord be with you as you go through this day!

Deuteronomy 8:1 – “Every commandment which I command you today you must be careful to observe, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land of which the LORD swore to your fathers.”  NKJV

There is a wealth to be gleaned in this chapter with the key elements being Obedience and Faith.  There are a wealth of promises of blessing from the LORD and in virtually every case, as in this promise, there are conditions or qualifiers inserted by the LORD.  It is not that we earn it but we can disqualify ourselves through disobedience.  It is by grace that we have salvation or any of the blessings of God and through disobedience we separate ourselves from His blessings.

Notice the progression of directives:

• Every Commandment carefully observed (obeyed).

The result is life, multiplication and possession of the promise.  

• Obedience to God’s commandments.

We understand that to disobey or fail to keep God’s commandments was an evidence of forgetting God.  There is a warning of self-sufficiency and in a time of plenty to neglect our walk with the LORD.  There is the danger of attributing your success to your own efforts and abilities.

• Remember Who Gives You The Power and/or Ability to Succeed.

It is God!  He gives the power to produce or achieve wealth or success and His purpose in so blessing you is that He may establish His covenant and that will be a testimony of His love and grace.  The warning is, fail to keep his commandments and forget Him and He will stand against you and remove His hand of mercy.  The imagery of that is anything but pleasant.

             Therefore, always remember that you are what you are by the grace of God.  I am not saying if you are living vile you can blame Him but if you are walking in blessing it is because of His gifts, abilities and grace.  If you are alive it is because His sustaining hand is upon your life enabling you to draw another breath.  If you have any gifts or abilities although you may have honed them through hard work, education and experience always remember where the gift came from.

God’s desires to bless us richly.  Remember the Lord Jesus’ words in Luke 12:32 – “Do not fear, little flock, for it is y our Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”  God is more desirous to bless you and heap His abundance on you than you are to receive it.  However, His purpose is always the Kingdom not your ease.  He will always have the whole of man in mind and heart.

            God bless you as you go through this day!

Isaiah 45:11 – “Thus says the LORD, The Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: “Ask Me of things to come concerning My sons; And concerning the work of My hands, you command Me.”  NKJV

I realize that I’m going to potentially get into hot water with a lot of people but when I hear someone ORDER GOD to do something I cringe.  Most of the time this is the verse they use and declare that God instructed us to COMMAND Him and while a cursory reading might suggest that there are some things we MUST always remember.

• GOD is God and we are His Creation.

Nowhere in Scripture or life is it suggested that the servant or in this case the ‘creation’ rules the master or ‘creator.”  NOWHERE! 

             Sadly too many times Scripture is used as isolated standalone passages without consideration for the context, without valid support for the doctrine being advanced and failure to keep the big picture in perspective.  In fact, verse 9 of this very chapter should give us great trepidation for taking that approach.  “Woe to him who strives with his Maker!  Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth!  Shall the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’  Or shall your handiwork say, ‘He has no hands’?”  Then in verse 10 we note, “Woe to him who says to his father, ‘What are you begetting?’ Or to the woman, ‘What have you brought forth?'”

To take the position that we are allowed to GIVE GOD ORDERS is one that except for a failed attempt by the angelic creation no angel will take.  How did it work out for Adam and Eve to attempt to ‘fire God’ as God and assume the role as those in charge?  You may argue they did not do that but they did when the rebelled against His command and decided to believe THE LIE rather than follow God’s instructions.

Life and all that we have is by the Grace of God and while God gives us authority to STAND AGAINST the devil and authority and power over the evil one how dare we assume we can COMMAND GOD?  One of the most powerful passages of faith in the Bible, for me is 1 John 5:14-15 – “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ASK anything according to His will, He hears us.  And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have ASKED of Him.”  God gives us authority over much and the privilege to come boldly before Him to ASK.

God allowed Job to be placed in a very bad situation based on Job’s righteousness and integrity and then when Job begins to contend with God citing his own righteousness God stepped in and put Job in his place.  It was clear that God was bringing Job to face the reality that God was God and Job was God’s creation not vice versa.  If you attempt to GIVE GOD ORDERS what are you going to do if He fails to obey your COMMAND, fire Him?  I cannot imagine anyone who believes in God attempting to take that position.

We are allowed to REQUEST from God not give Him orders.  I can hear someone now recalling the wrestling of Jacob with God in Genesis 32 and saying, “I will not let you go, except you bless me” and claim that as validation for COMMANDING GOD.  Someone may cite Joshua in Joshua 10 where he said to the sun and moon, “Sun, stand still upon Gibeon; and Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.”  Although he spoke to created things he was not giving GOD ORDERS but declaring by faith that which he knew needed to transpire and placed his confidence in God to bring it to pass.

ALWAYS REMEMBER who is CREATOR and who is CREATION.  ALWAYS!  He invites us to come BOLDLY before the throne of Grace and ask what we will but can you truly imagine standing before God as you would a boss and DEMAND something?  I would contend that when we stand in the presence of the Almighty God we will have the same reaction as John in Revelation and FALL AT HIS FEET in fear and trembling.  Yes He loves us and dotes over us as a Father over His children but reversing the position of CREATOR and CREATION is a most dangerous position.

Lord, I ask you to forgive me for any and every time I have presumed upon you and help me to always keep in the forefront of my mind WHO YOU ARE.  God bless you as you go through your day!

Luke 17:20-21 – “Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation;  21 nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you. 32 Remember Lot’s wife.  33 Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.”  NKJV

I remember the first time I heard Amy Grant’s “I Have Decided” and was troubled by it but as I pondered it something came rushing into my spirit for which I have long been thankful.  The part that troubled me was not in the second stanza, “…being good is just a fable, I just can’t ’cause I’m not able…”  It was not that I thought I could be good without the help of the Lord but at first that struck me, as giving up and I didn’t like it.  Giving up has not been a part of my vocabulary or mentality for a long time.  As I mused on that thought I realized, “It is time to just give up.” 

Time to give up trying to produce the Christian Life and allow the Lord to Live it in and through me.  I already knew that and taught it in principle but it took this song to cause me to examine what I really believed and how what I believed was being manifest in my life.  The next portion of the song drove that truth home in a powerful way.  “There’s a wealth of things that I profess, I said that I believed, but deep inside I never changed; I guess I’d been deceived.”  Wow!  Think about that for a second.

If the enemy of our souls can get us to profess something without any real, significant and life changing alteration in our lifestyles he has ensnared us and no matter how hard we try we will never, in that state, enter into the Abundant Life Jesus offers.  The idea as presented in the next portion of the song is where millions of professing Christians seem to live, “…a voice inside kept telling me, That I’d change by and by, but the Spirit made it clear to me, that kind of life’s a lie.”  We are either in or out and hot or cold there is no lukewarm fence straddling position in the Christian Life.

Too many are struggling to PERFORM the Christian Life failing miserably and feeling miserable in the process.  Discouragement reigns, disappointment overshadows and until we realize that it just will not work we will continue in that dilemma enduring the walk rather than enjoying it.  Self-righteousness is a detriment not a benefit in serving God.  Consider what the apostle Paul tells us in Galatians 2:20.  We have been crucified with Jesus and it is no longer you and I PRODUCING this life it is JESUS.  The very life that we now live in the flesh is the result of Christ in us living His life through us manifesting Himself to the world.  We become that which Paul spoke of in Romans 12:1-2 where we present our bodies to the Lord and are transformed by the renewing of our minds.  The mind that is now in us is the mind of Christ and the thoughts we think are God’s thoughts therefore the Life we Live is the God Life ONLY if we GIVE UP and stop trying to do it ourselves.  If we seek to ‘save’ or ‘produce’ the life in our own strength we will never achieve the objective.  Therefore, it is Time to Just Give Up or as the song of old, “Let Go and Let God…”

I urge you to ‘cease striving’ and struggling to DO and just BE.  A friend of mine likes to say that we are not Human Doings we are Human Beings so Just BE.  Be who you are in and through Him.  Give up your struggle to produce that life in your own strength for it is not possible.  Run to Him, receive Him and allow Him to manifest Himself through you!

            God bless you as you go through your day!