Life
Don’t Give God the Left-Overs
Leviticus 22:21-22 – “If a man presents a peace-offering sacrifice to the Lord for a special votive offering or for a freewill offering from the herd or the flock, it must be flawless to be acceptable; it must have no flaw. 22 “‘You must not present to the Lord something blind, or with a broken bone, or mutilated, or with a running sore, or with a festering eruption, or with a feverish rash. You must not give any of these as a gift on the altar to the Lord.”
As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word, I was challenged regarding offerings to God. A less-than-perfect sacrifice was unacceptable. I heard the word in my heart, “Blind Sacrifices.” I pondered the question, “Do we sometimes give God blind sacrifices or flawed offerings? Do we give Him our leftovers or the unusable ones? “ That would reveal why many live in a constant state of lack and turmoil.
The Lord used that account to bring me to something in 1 Thessalonians that set my heart ablaze. It was a dual message. 1 Thessalonians 5:14 demanded my attention. One translation says, “We appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, to instruct those who are not in their place of battle. Be skilled at gently encouraging those who feel inadequate. Be faithful to stand your ground. Help the weak to stand against. Be quick to demonstrate patience with everyone. “
Not in their place of battle? The Greek word ‘atakos’ is often used for troops that are not in battle formation or unarranged, disorderly, or idle—those who are losing heart.
The ministry assigned to every leader and every believer is to encourage others. In 1 Thessalonians 1:3, Paul spoke of the reality that those believers were putting their faith into practice. Love motivated them to serve others, and they were unmovable in their hope in Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 gives life patterns to follow and details the benefits and fruit of that life. We are to live in a continual attitude of Joy that is so extravagant and encompassing that it is a continual feast.
- Make your life a prayer.
Pray unceasingly means to be in a constant state of communion with God, always open to dialogue. Prayer is not giving God our list of demands or desires; it is open dialogue. It means expressing our desires and listening for His response and directive.
- Live in a continual attitude of gratitude.
Then, he unveils a super serious danger that blocks the move of God in us. In verse 19 –“Never restrain or put out the fire of the Holy Spirit.” Wow! They were baptized with the Holy Spirit and fire! That fire is a source of divine energy that enables the Holy Spirit to work in us. It purges, purifies, and empowers.
1 Thessalonians 5:20 speaks of prophecy, both personal words and corporate universal words. Don’t scorn them. No matter how they sound, examine them by putting them to the test. How? The revealed written Word and the witness of the Spirit. Once tested, every prophecy that proves valid is to be embraced.
Remember Jeshophat’s instructions in 2 Chronicles 20, “Believe in the LORD your God, so you shall be established; believe in His prophets, and you shall be delivered.”
If we give God our best, fully surrender our hearts, hold fast to His Word, and always maintain an attitude of gratitude and patience seasoned with prayer, we will see victory beyond what we have experienced.
God seems to be saying, “Give Me blind sacrifices and fail. Give Me the best, and I will give you My best.”
Let us consider our lives and act accordingly, examining our hearts and actions. Victory is within our grasp! God desires for us to walk in fullness. It is up to us, so let’s seize the day!
Give God your best, and you will receive His best in return, which is far better than yours!
What Do You See?
1 Timothy 4:16 – “Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.”
Today, I am drawn to something from a question in my heart that arose from reading the report of the ten naysayers in the Book of Numbers. God had already told Moses to watch and see if His Word was true. The advanced recon scouts all agreed—the Land is All God said it was. BUT… Their buts got in the way of faith.
- They Saw the goodness of the land, but they failed to see God.
- They Saw the problem.
- They Saw the giants were the children of giants, the descendants of giants.
That’s All They Could See. Joshua and Caleb saw the land, the plenty, and embraced the promise. The promise was greater than the problem.
The question in my heart is: “What Are You Seeing?” Like most, I have times when I see the problem so clearly that I forget the demonstrated faithfulness of God. Their words were We Can’t! They were right; they couldn’t, not in their own power.
The victory was not dependent upon them to do it. Their responsibility was to Trust and Obey. God never asks us to “do” His job, but He “always” expects us to be available in obedience.
- Our focus determines our faith.
- Our focus shapes our confidence.
- Our focus is the doorway to transformation.
- What we focus on shapes in us who we become.
I love the rendering of 1 Timothy 1:13-16, “Mercy Kissed Me! I was ignorant, but God flooded me with such incredible grace it was like a river overflowing its banks and filled me to overflowing with faith and love for Jesus. I was captured by Grace! “ I love that. Many need to be kissed, captured, and overflowed by Grace. It is transforming. Too often, we live lives that do not reflect transformation.
What do we See? What we see is affected by the development of the Gifts and Grace in us. Too many minimize their gifts and call. Why? They see themselves in their inadequacy rather than God in His sufficiency. God says, “My Grace is made perfect in weakness.”
Let the gift and call drive you to fulfill God’s purpose. 1 Timothy 4:16b – “…for living what you preach or claim to believe will release salvation inside you and to all those who listen and observe.”
What do you see? It is manifested in what you say and do. It is reflected in your attitude, thoughts, and desires. What do you see? I cry that the words of the song become my testimony and yours – I See Jesus!
When we See Him, we see the Victory and become the Victory!
In Death, He Defeated Death
Hebrews 2:14-15 – “Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, he likewise shared in their humanity, so that through death he could destroy the one who holds the power of death (that is, the devil), 15 and set free those who were held in slavery all their lives by their fear of death.”
When I read Hebrews 12:11-12, my heart leaped for joy! “Jesus, the Holy One, makes us holy.” That is beyond incredible. It is not what we do but who He is. That is our position and our condition in the Eyes of the Father. When He looks at us, He sees the Blood, which makes us clean.
Hebrews 2:11-12 – “For indeed he who makes holy and those being made holy all have the same origin, and so he is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters, 12 saying, “I will proclaim your name to my brothers; in the midst of the assembly, I will praise you.”
Jesus became human so that He could experience death (Hebrews 2:14). He had to die to defeat death and satisfy the demands of divine justice. The second sentence in that verse is incredible. “He did this (became human) so that He could experience death AND annihilate the EFFECTS of the intimidating accuser who holds against us the power of death.” Then, verse 15 – “By embracing death, Jesus SET FREE those who live their entire lives in bondage to the tormenting dread of death.” [Emphasis mine]
Physical death is no longer a threat but a blessing. Death is not the end but a transition from one realm to another. Transition from the earthly (temporary) realm to the heavenly (eternal) realm. When believers die (naturally), they are not dead. They are in the greatest state of bliss and fullness one could ever be. They have No Sadness, only Joy!
Remember what Jesus said to the disciples when they became sad over His announcement that He would have to die and depart this earth. They became sad. He said (Roy’s paraphrase) – “Hey, if you love Me, you have to trust Me. Death is not the morbid end but the next step. When I return to the Father, I will complete one more needed task and send you the Holy Spirit, Who will enable you to live victoriously and apply The Truths I’ve given you. If you truly believe Me and understand that death is temporary, you would be Rejoicing!”
Death separates temporarily, but only temporarily. Life is the chasm between time and eternity.
God just spoke to my heart, reminding me that I honor Jesus’s death by living and being who He died for me to be. He impressed upon my heart to consider the great cloud of witnesses as encouragement and a basis of hope. I heard in my heart, “I am the healing you need. In Me, there is no death, only life.”
So, I desire to live in a way that honors Jesus and all who have preceded me in Him, filled with God’s joy, hope, and peace. By living and manifesting Him, I testify to the world the incredibleness of His love!
Lord, make me a witness and a testimony of Your Grace. I say, Death, you are not a threat and cannot steal my faith, hope, or joy Because Jesus defeated you!
One day soon, He is coming back. Soon, and Very Soon, we are going to SEE the king. Hallelujah!
Hebrews 2:18 brought great comfort to me today. “He suffered and endured EVERY test and temptation SO THAT He can help us EVERY TIME we pass through life’s ordeals.” That is AMAZING GRACE!
Today, the Holy Spirit is filling my heart with the desire to Live and live in total union with Him, embracing and manifesting His fullness.
Have a fantastic day in Jesus, knowing that He defeated what we call death in His Death! We are Alive, Always!
You Can’t Lose With The Stuff I Use
2 Timothy 3:14-17 – “You, however, must continue in the things you have learned and are confident about. You know who taught you 15 and how from infancy you have known the holy writings, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.”
As I read, prayed, and pondered what I was reading and hearing, my heart rejoiced and wept. I wept for the world and the too-frequent impotence, fear, and doubt living in God’s people. I rejoiced in God. I rejoiced in the possibilities He has provided. I rejoiced in His continual unveiling of Himself. I rejoiced in truth! I rejoiced in the fruit that obedience (explicit obedience) brings. I rejoiced in life!
Paul warned Timothy about the conditions of the last days. But he gave him something that reveals our anchor to keep us in ALL storms. 2 Timothy 3:15-17 is vital. Paul reminded Timothy of the value and power of truth leading to everlasting life. Remember that Jesus said, ‘You shall KNOW (intimacy with) the Truth, and that Truth will make you Free!” That truth penetrates and permeates your entire being. It is a place attainable but not always attained or maintained.
2 Timothy 3:16- “Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,”
The result – verse 17 – “Then you will be God’s servant, fully mature and perfectly prepared to fulfill any assignment God gives you.”
We must be careful not to make the Bible an idol but remember that in the Word is The Word! It is who is God! His very nature and essence oozes forth from the pages. That’s why every time we read it, something new is seen. It is living and powerful because God put Himself in every line.
As we see, we embrace and obey God’s directive. We make life about us, but it never has been. Many difficulties come because we seek ourselves more than Him.
2 Timothy 2:11-13 – “You can trust these words: if we were joined to Him in His death, then we are joined to Him in His life! If we are joined to Him in His sufferings, then we will reign together with Him in His triumph. But if we disregard Him, Then He will disregard us. But even if we are faithless, He will still be full of faith, for He Never wavers in His faithfulness to us!” Wow!
We have the Name, the Blood, the Spirit, and the Living Word; therefore, “How Can We Fail?”
Live each day knowing that you can’t lose with the stuff Jesus has provided, that’s the stuff I choose to use!
Unequaled Victory Is Ours
Hebrews 3:1-2 – “Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, partners in a heavenly calling, take note of Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess, 2 who is faithful to the one who appointed him, as Moses was also in God’s house.”
I pray that today will overflow with God’s supernatural help and blessings for each of you. I pray that new doors of opportunity will open, attitudes will change positively, and problems will be solved, turning mountains into molehills. Victory is today’s destiny. Believe it, embrace it, and step into it.
My heart exploded as I read, prayed, and meditated on the Word today! It would be impossible to adequately convey what was deposited in my heart in a short devotional. It would require hours of dialogue, which is not presently available. I will attempt to follow the Holy Spirit and highlight what I heard, saw, and sensed.
Today, as I began reading Hebrews 3, a repeat of a previous message gripped my heart. The writer (whom I believe to be Paul) repeats something from the previous chapter: “…you are NOW made holy, AND each of you is (not will be) invited to the feast of your heavenly calling.” [Emphasis mine].
I would love to expound on and delve into that, but the following sentence needs attention: “So fasten your thoughts fully onto Jesus, whom we embrace (become one with and surrender to).”
He advised that Moses was a model of faithfulness, but Jesus deserved more glory than Moses. He says, “…the one who builds the house deserves to be honored more than the house he builds. Every house is built by someone…” That someone is God. Later, he wrote, “AND NOW we are part of His house IF WE CONTINUE courageously to hold firmly to our bold confidence AND our victorious hope.” [Emphasis mine]
Consistency in commitment is reflected in faithfulness and obedience. He warns of unbelief and evil Hiding in the heart. Hiding is not visible and often undetected.
Hebrews 3:14 –“For we are mingled with the Messiah…” The (NET) renders it “partnered with.” The Aramaic likens it to leaven and total blending. The key is in the two-letter word “if.” If what he says is reality and if we continue unshaken in that confident assurance from the beginning until the end, Then…
Then, we have the disturbing reality that the people who had seen what God did in Egypt and the wilderness rebelled and turned back in their hearts. Verse 19 makes an alarming statement—“they wrapped their hearts in unbelief.” In Hebrews 4:6, we see that they didn’t enter into the realm of faith’s rest because they had unbelieving hearts.
When we become completely His, we cease trying to “do” or “perform” and start “being.” Hebrews 4:12 – “For we have the Living Word of God, which is full of energy (God’s Power), like a two-mouthed sword…” That is captivating. The Aramaic interpretation is that when God speaks, we, in agreement, also speak His Word, which becomes a two-mouthed sword.
The Promises of God are absolute. Hebrews 6:18 –“So it is impossible for God to lie for we know that His Promises will Never change! And now we have run Into His Heart and Arms to hide ourselves in His faithfulness.” It is here in this position and condition that we have comfort, strength, wisdom, authority, and power to seize what has already been established ahead of time. That is an Unshakable Hope!
So, in Christ, as we continue with surrendered hearts in faith-filled obedience, we are unconquerable! In Hebrews 7:25, we see that Jesus is able to save fully from now on throughout eternity.
That is a small deposit of what I saw today. In God’s eyes and plan, who we truly are is who Jesus is. We are Mingled or Partnered with Him “if” we give Him our whole being. Then, we are enabled to manifest Him Fully on earth. The question is, “Why Not Now? Why Not Us?”
My cry is, “Thank you, Jesus, for deliverance from blindness. Thank you for the revelation of Who You are and Who we are in You. Thank you for the courage to dare to BE…”
Today is a day of unequaled victory. Seize it.
