Genesis 1:26 – “Then God said, Let us make humankind in our image, after our likeness, SO THAT they may RULE over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the cattle, AND over ALL the earth, AND over all the creatures that move on the earth.”

Today is beginning as a day when it feels like I am a step behind and catching up.   However, I reject the temptation to shortcut or cut short my needed routine of beginnings. I will honor God, not the clock.

As I read, prayed, and meditated on the Word of God today, I saw things I had never seen in the way I saw them.   I won’t address all of that, but what rose like a mountain before me was Eve’s encounter with the sneaky snake and God’s initial directive to Adam & Eve.

The directive was Genesis 1:26 – “Then God said, Let us make humankind in our image, after our likeness, SO THAT they may RULE over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the cattle, AND over ALL the earth, AND over all the creatures that move on the earth.”   Do you see the magnitude of that directive and objective?   It is Impossible without verses 27 and 28. Created, ordained, anointed, appointed, and blessed (empowered).

This creation (Eve) met the snake in the garden.  This one with rulership authority over all, including the snake, met the master manipulator.  God’s prohibition was one tree.  He said (verses 16-17) – “Eat from this prohibited tree and die.”   The Hebrew is “in dying you will die.”

Death was a foreign concept, but if we consider or understand death as separation, not extinction, we see that they could understand.  Physical death is separation from the earth.  Spiritual death is separation from God. Not extinction but separation.

The snake subtly asked, “Did God really say you can’t eat from any tree in the Garden?”  He knew that was not what God said but was planting the seed of a question of being deprived of something good.

He was partially truthful in describing what would happen. Separation from God’s peace, purpose, and presence occurred, resulting in real death.  Death that would be in the DNA of their lineage. Death that would require a Redeemer to restore us.

A break in fellowship through disobedience is a kind of death. In dying, you will die!  We, too, will succumb to the deception and manipulation of the snake if we fail to keep our focus on God and our assignment.

The early chapters of the Book of Acts give us a pattern and pathway to perseverance and peace.  Acts 2:42-47 should be studied and adopted as a lifestyle.  They became The Body of Christ. It was not a ritual but a relationship!

Lord, help us realize the purpose, power, and authority we have IN Jesus by the Holy Spirit. Help us to be and do that!

Malachi 2:17 – “You have wearied the Lord with your words. But you say, “How have we wearied him?” Because you say, “Everyone who does evil is good in the Lord’s opinion, and he delights in them,” or, “Where is the God of justice?”

Each day has its challenges and opportunities.  Each day is an adventure or an adversity. Each day is a gift, and its value is in our response to it. We do not face the day alone.  We have others, and more importantly, we have God. His love guides and provides.

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, I was moved by one word in Malachi 2:17. God said, “You have wearied me…”  What?  How is it possible, and what is the danger of wearying God?

The weariness stemmed from a perversion of Grace.  Read the verse and realize that it is present today!   Cheap Grace.   Grace is abundant and freely bestowed, but never to be presumed upon.

God desires and demands our Whole Heart!   Anything less is to be guilty of offering Him second-rate offerings.   If we want God’s best, we must give Him ours.   It is not a good exchange for God, but He takes our gifts and transforms them.   Only as we are fully surrendered can we enter God’s rest through His peace.

In John 20:19, Jesus said, “Peace be with you.”   That suggests or reveals that Peace is a Presence!  It is a supernatural presence, not a gift but a presence!   It is a divine empowerment enabling us to endure any trial or test and secure His promised provision.

In verse 21, Jesus said, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”   We go with that presence working its divine purpose in our lives.   Then He said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”   There is a connection between the presence (peace) and the infilling of the Holy Spirit.

In verse 26, He said, “Peace be with you.”   Peace is not an emotion; it is a presence!   It guides.   It enables one to stand.   It assures.   It encourages. It is the divine power and person of Jesus with and in us.   It transforms.

Having done all to stand, we stand in peace.   When Jesus said, “My peace I give unto you…” He was offering divine enablement!   The pathway to peace is surrender and pressing into the presence of Jesus.   If God has my whole heart, I am In Him, and He is In me.   If that condition exists, Peace is the prevailing presence.  In peace, we can love and live like Jesus because there is no fear, and there is complete assurance and confidence.

Do you want Peace?  Give Jesus everything and seek Him above all else.

Hosea 8:4 – “They have set up kings, but not by Me.”

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, something stirred in me about the Kingdom we seek.   Hosea 8:4 – “They have set up kings, but not by Me.”   That is the beginning of destruction.   God’s plea is seen in Hosea 10:12 – “Break up the fallow ground of the heart.”   Setting up kings or seeking kingdoms for those kings leads to barrenness and destruction.

In Luke 15, we find the story of the Prodigal Son.   We tend to focus on the Prodigal and miss the bigger picture directed to the church.  The angry, jealous, wounded Elder Brother.  Both had received their portions.  (Luke 15:12). The elder brother was jealous and felt slighted and underappreciated. He complained in a poor-me pity party. He represents much of the church today.

The church often endures what it shouldn’t be enjoying and celebrating. Waiting for the elusive “someday will be” rather than living today!  We are looking for that future time or that time when all will fall into place, our ship will come in, and our dreams will be realized.  We are looking for the coming of the kingdom from a flawed view.

Jesus said, Luke 17:20-21 – “The kingdom of God IS NOT COMING with signs to be observed…Behold, the Kingdom of God is in your midst.” The KJV renders it “within you.”  Thus, we see that the kingdom with its king is Christ IN us, Christ Through us, and Christ BY us.

If He has our hearts, we have the Kingdom and begin to live the kingdom life Jesus came to give.    Luke 12:32 – “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.”

If we set up any king, focusing on some unfulfilled event as our launching event, we are seeking a kingdom not by or from God.   If nothing is impossible with God, then what we thought was required to launch us is not required.  GOD is required.   Total surrender is required.   Total confidence is required.  He is not interested in our acts; He is interested in our hearts.

When God is in charge within us, the Kingdom is manifested through us.   Don’t wait for fantasy run to reality – Christ in us! God has no lack, but we often lack because we are seeking a king and kingdom, not by Him.

It is not that we give up things for Him.  It is that we give Him all things, and in return, we get Him who is and has all things. The kingdom is within us! Today is the day to be in the kingdom and see the fruit of the kingdom. The world needs Jesus, and He is IN us! Such as I have, I give!

LORD, help us to have no kings but You!

Luke 12:7 –  “In fact, even the hairs on your head are all numbered.   Do not be afraid; you are more valuable than many sparrows.”

As I prayed, read, and pondered the Word of God today, I was awed by God’s attention to the smallest detail.  There are no secrets with God. We may fool others and hide behind masks, but God sees, hears, and knows. That is either comforting or tormenting.

I thought about the words of Luke 12:7 and laughed, then cried, and rejoiced. “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered.”   I envisioned a scene in heaven’s computer room where the data keeper said, “Alert, hair number 121 just fell out.”  

Am I being silly?   Yes, but the minute details of our lives and bodies are recorded by God.   That is how much He cares for us.   That is revelatory of the Omniscience of God.   That is so inspiring and challenging that I can barely breathe.   This All-Knowing One is My God! He is my guardian! He is my Shepherd!

We fret over stuff without realizing who we serve.  If we knew Him for who He really is, we would live without fear, doubt, or any thought of lack. 

Luke 14:33 crushed my heart. “So therefore, no one of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.”  Don’t take that as a call to poverty, but as a surrender of ownership!  Everything we possess must come under His Lordship, including ourselves.  What is the worth of our souls? What is the worth of our relationship with Him?

Luke 13:23-24 contains a deeply disturbing question and answer.  Are there just a few being saved? The narrow door, few find.  I surrender all! Lord, take all I have, and all I am or can be, and own it.   I want no will of my own but to do your will.  I understand (in part) how demanding and consuming that can be. I trust You. Therefore, I surrender to You.

LORD, thank You that You care so much, You even number the hairs on my head!

Luke 9:1-2 – “After Jesus called the twelve together, he gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, ² and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.”

As I read, prayed, and meditated on the Word of God today, the power of commitment gripped my consciousness.  Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were men of Total Commitment.  They weathered all attacks, facing death through the strength of commitment.

Commitment cannot be maintained without trust, and trust is learned. Learned via demonstrated reliability. The need supplied, the trial weathered, and the storm calmed all demonstrate reliability. Trust enables us to remain faithful.

Luke 9:1-2 speaks of bequeathed authority backed up by power.  Jesus gave the disciples authority.  That authority was worthless and powerless until they received it and acted upon it.  Authority given must be received and believed to function. Many hear the words of authorization but never act on them, rendering their authority impotent.   What we truly believe we do!

If we believe Jesus, we act upon His words.  If we are not acting on His words, do we truly believe?  If He is who the Bible declares, why are we not manifesting Him?   He is, but are we?   It is time to become who He says we are.   Our commitment to Him will open the door to His Commitment to us.

LORD, help us to make the required commitment and learn to trust You completely!