Psalm 127:1-2 – “Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. 2 It is vain for you to rise up early, To sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; For so He gives His beloved sleep.”  NKJV

Through my years of Christian ministry and service I have heard the statement, “doing a work for God” used and even “growing a church for Jesus” as though we were the ones building the church or doing the work independently of God.  I know that was not the heart of what was being said but in a very real way, it detracts from the reality of the roles of man and God in the Kingdom Purposes.

If you remember in Matthew 16 when Jesus questioned the disciples as to who the people thought He (Jesus) was and Peter’s response when He asked, “Who do you say I am?” you find a powerful truth. Peter said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”  Jesus responded to that revelation saying, “…upon this rock (truth) I will build My church; and the gates (powers) of hell will not overpower it.”  The thing we must always keep in mind is it is HIS CHURCH and HE IS THE BUILDER! 

That makes the statement of the Psalmist even more powerful when He declares that UNLESS the Lord builds the house it is an exercise in futility to attempt to do so.  That UNLESS the Lord guards the city the watchmen waste their time watching and warning of danger.  It is futile to worry and fret over life’s problems and obstacles because UNLESS God is on the Throne of our lives, we can change nothing.  But, when we know He is building, watching, guarding, and guiding we can sleep the sleep of peace.

Many have become frustrated over the lack of growth in a local congregation and pastors have resigned or been shown the door thinking that if they just had the right program or personality, they would have the dynamic growth equated with success.  Could it be that they were not allowing God to build the house in His way and time?  Could it be that the purpose of God was not or is not to make every local church a mega-church?  Could it be that our definition of success, often defined in numbers and dollars is not God’s definition?

I truly believe that God has called me to be a “Watchman on the Walls.”  I believe that I am to speak spiritually to and for our nation.  However, I am wasting my time if that conviction is not coupled with the confidence that God is the one truly watching.  If I am not echoing what He is saying and seeing I am nothing more than a clanging noise and without value.

I truly believe that God calls people to lead congregations and far too often that individual departs that local community before the time of God’s choosing.  One of the most significant reasons, I believe, is because of a conceptual failure.  That failure is the failure to truly understand and believe that building the church is not man’s responsibility but is the work of Christ Jesus our Lord through the Holy Spirit.  Yes, He inspires men and women, programs, pathways, and endeavors but at the end of the day IT IS HIS CHURCH and He is the BUILDER!

Our nation is experiencing dark days and will likely experience even darker days in the months to come and we can lament over the problems, conditions, attitudes, and direction and we should be grieved and pray.  But, unless we couple our lamentations with confidence that God is the one truly guarding the city or nation we err and become troubled in heart, mind, and soul needlessly.  

Without God, we can do nothing but with God, we can do all things!  There is no mountain too high, no river too wide no problem too great, or an enemy too powerful that He cannot handle.  Therefore, if we can come to grips with our role as messengers, representatives, and manifestations of Him and His purposes and His as the Builder and Guard we will find the peace that passes understanding and enjoy the success He has purposed.  Never deem success in number, noses, or dollars but look for the depth of spiritual commitment in lives being impacted for God’s Kingdom.  I am not making an excuse for times of little or no progress, but suggesting that we look to the source rather than trying to be the source.

God bless you as you go through this day in Him!

Proverbs 18:9 – “He who is slothful in his work is a brother to him who is a great destroyer.” NKJV

Proverbs 18:9 – “A lazy person is as bad as someone who destroys things.”  NLT

The Bible has much to say about LAZINESS and frankly, I have not heard anyone mention it from the pulpit in decades.  In 2 Thessalonians 3:10 the apostle Paul made a declaration that would have certainly drawn the ire of today’s modernist and politically correct crowd saying:  “…if anyone is will not work, neither shall he eat.”  That would not go over very well in a society that wants to please, tolerate and excuse bad behavior.  Churches that seek to please people would run from that as though it were the plague, but it is biblical.

There are numerous passages in scripture that refer to laziness and how God views that character trait.  Let me list a few of them:

Proverbs 13:4 – “The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.”

Colossians 3:23 – “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as unto the Lord and not to me…”

Proverbs 10:4 – “A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.”

1 Timothy 5:8 – “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially those of his household, he had denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

Proverbs 20:13 – “Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes and you will have plenty of bread.”

Proverbs 12:24 – “The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor.”

2 Thessalonians 3:11-12 – “For we hear that some among in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies.  Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly.”

Proverbs 14:23 – “In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.”

James 4:17 – “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.”

Colossians 3:17 – “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father through Him.”

This is not an exhaustive list of verses regarding work and laziness but enough to demonstrate that IDLENESS and LAZINESS are not quality character traits and should NEVER be rewarded, justified, or excused. 

We live in a world that has poverty and lack and when we can help those less fortunate than ourselves, we should do so.  However, there is one caveat if they are LAZY then we SHOULD NOT HELP THEM REMAIN LAZY!  You may think me calloused and uncaring, but I care very deeply and know that if we allow a person to continue on a destructive path without intervention, we are harming them and become complicit in their destruction.  We should seek to rescue the perishing rather than help them perish!

It is no wonder that the Bible tells us in Proverbs 22:6 to “train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”  If we fail to discipline and tolerate laziness in our children, they will become non-productive members of society.  Every person should be expected to WORK where possible and when possible and if a person demonstrates LAZINESS, we should allow them to experience the pain of laziness.  That, to me, is a greater demonstration of love than enabling them to continue in that destructiveness.

God bless you as you go through this day!

John 6:61-69 – “When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you?  62 What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before?  63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.  64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. 65 And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”  66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. 67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”  68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”   NKJV

James B. Coats of Summerland, Mississippi wrote a number of Gospel songs including the classic, “Where Could I Go But to the Lord.”  As with many of the timeless songs of faith, Coats captures a truth that resonates with hungry hearts and people desiring to find true spiritual freedom.

The song begins with the plight of man in the midst of a sinful world and the neediness of human beings.  The first verse also captures the visual that often we are facing the temptations and tempest of life with a sense of aloneness.  In that time of desperation, many realize there is only one place to turn and that is God.  If we are needing a refuge for our soul, a friend to stand with us in all things, and at all times what other source can we turn but God?

He continues to tug at our heartstrings in the verse, “Neighbors are fun I love ’em, everyone.  We get along in sweet accord, but when I face the chilling hand of death…”  In that time of facing eternity there is only one real source of comfort and strength and that is God.  He draws out of our emotions the joy of life with friends and the wonderful fellowship we have together but when the chips are down, and the clouds roll in there is only one true source of strength and that is God.

In our text, Jesus presented some difficult truths that caused many to realize the commitment was more than they were willing to make.  After he and the disciples witnessed the multitude turning away Jesus asked the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”  It is here that Peter uttered the words that are captured in this song.  Peter said, “Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life.  Also, we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”  Simply, “Where Could We Go But To You Lord?”

Life is sometimes like a peaceful sea and at other times like a raging tempest with the waves billowing ready to crush our vessel in its anger.  In those times of terror, we realize that outside God there is no safety, but we are sheltered in His arms, and in Him, there is the peace that transcends human comprehension.

God bless you and be with you as you enjoy this wonderful day in Him!

Ephesians 3:20-21 – “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”  NKJV

The Gospel Song written by Stuart Hamblen, “It Is No Secret What God Can Do” was recorded by almost every major recording artist and has been a favorite of those who love Gospel music for years.

Stuart Hamblen captured the hearts of many when he wrote this tune and the first verse identifies the reality of human failure.  It seems that with each passing day we are reminded again and again of our inability to hit the mark and how often we stumble in our walk.  In our own strength living the Christian life are an impossibility and something we should never forget.

In the second verse, Hamblen reminded us of how often we long for strength and courage to face the daunting task of life that is before us and how easily we become discouraged.  His words are an encouragement as he declares, “Do not be disheartened for I have news for you.”   It is here that he begins the incredible reminder and source of powerful encouragement as he writes:  “It is no secret what God can do.  What He’s done for others He’ll do for you.  With arms wide open, He’ll pardon you.”  This reminder of God’s incredible longsuffering and tender mercy is so refreshing in our daily struggle to walk before Him and be perfect.

I love how Hamblen continues, as he declares that in God there is no night because He is light, and we are Never alone.  The comfort that no matter where we are, we are at home because we are In Him.  He then reminds us that we are more than conquerors through Jesus as he pens the words, “There is no power can conquer you while God is on your side.  Take Him at His promise, don’t run away and hide.”  Why?  Because it is no secret what God can do!  What He’s done for others He will do for you.  He stands before us with His arms of love and mercy wide open calling for us to “Come unto Unto Me.”

As Paul declared in our text, God is able to do Exceedingly Abundantly Above ALL that we can think or ask!  Think about that!  Exceedingly abundantly Above ALL, not some, but ALL that we can think, imagine, or even dare to ask.  That is the God we serve, and His power is immeasurable beyond all human comprehension.  That God does not operate in secret but has openly declared through the words of Jesus in Luke 12:32, “Fear not little flock, for it is My Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom…”   God is more desirous to bless us than we are to be blessed.

Remember God openly showers His love, mercy, grace, peace, protection, and provision upon His children.  Stop living in fear and walk into His arms and receive from Him Life and that more abundantly!

God bless you richly is my prayer!

Psalm 56:8 – “You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book?”  NKJV

The imagery is powerful regarding God’s response to our tears, hurts, heartaches, and/or sorrows.  He puts them in His bottle.  The suggestion is that your tears are so important to God that he keeps them as a constant reminder and then records them in His book.  That is such a powerful statement my heart melts when I read it and I tremble at the knowledge that God not only sees and hears but is taking steps to deal with our difficulties.

Someone said, “Laugh, and the world laughs with you, cry and you cry alone.”  That is not true for the Child of God for as this passage records, God takes note of our tears, so we are never alone.  We may feel that everyone on earth has forsaken us and no one cares or understands what we are facing and that might be true, but God does.  He is carefully recording each tear, the cause, and the remedy.

The wording of the Psalm suggests that God has a bottle, and in that bottle, He keeps the tears we cry as well as the tears of Jesus.  He lists them individually in his book and in due time will respond to wipe away our tears and bring us into his incredible joy.  The Psalmist tells us that “weeping last for the night but joy comes in the morning.”  Then we read in Psalm 116 – “For you, O LORD, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before the LORD in the land of the living.”   Wow! 

Remember what the writer of Hebrews declared about our LORD in 4:15, “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”  We are then encouraged to “come boldly to the throne of grace”.  That place of grace is where we find mercy in the time of need.  Hallelujah!

The Isaacs sing a song entitled, “He Understands My Tears” that I will conclude with.

            “It’s hard to believe He still loves me

             Knowing how wrong I have been

             When all I can say is, I’m sorry

             When all I can feel is my sin.

             He understands when all I do is cry

             He feels the hurt that no one can see down inside

             And when the words get in the way I know He still hears

             For He understands my tears.

             You may not believe that I’m broken

             For all, you can see is my smile

             Oh, but He hears the heart that’s unspoken

             And He gives me strength through each trial.

             He understands when all I do is cry

             He feels the hurt that no one can see down inside

             And when the words get in the way I know He still hears

             For He understands my tears.

             Oh, when the words get in the way I know He still hears

             For He understands when no one else can

             He understands my tears.”

As you go through this day go knowing that no matter what you encounter you are never alone!   

God bless you richly as you enjoy His day of salvation!

Psalm 51:1-2 – “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.  2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.”  NKJV

One of the reasons I love the Psalms is their directness and connectivity to the human heart.  This is recorded as possibly being written after Nathan the prophet went to David and confronted him over his sin with Bathsheba.  David did not hide from his sin for he knew that God knew, and the weight of his guilt came crashing down upon him.  He recognized that without Mercy he was doomed and therefore he cries out to God.

• Have MERCY upon me.

He does not attempt to justify his actions or blame anyone or anything else.  His simple request and plea were Mercy.

• According to God’s lovingkindness and mercy.

David understood that God was and is a loving God more willing to forgive than condemn when genuine repentance was offered.

• Forgive, Blot Out and Wash Me.

His prayer was forgiveness, cleansing, and restoration.

In the next verses, the Psalmist cried, “I acknowledge my transgression, and my sin is always before me.”  He further stated that his sin was, at its very foundation, a sin against God.  Yes, we sin toward others, but the root of our sin is missing the mark and in so doing we hurl darts into our Lord’s heart.  The Psalmist went further and reflected upon the depravity of man, not as a justification for sin but a realization of his humanity and that without God’s mercy and help he could not walk uprightly before God.

In verses 10-11 we find the powerful cry that we should all pray:  “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.”

If that were not powerful enough in verses 12-13, he declares, “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and uphold me by Your generous Spirit.  Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted to You.”

He never asked for Justice.  We hear of that much today with everybody wanting justice.  David asked for Mercy.  I do not want what I deserve I want what the Mercy and Grace of God will afford. 

May God be with you as you live the beautiful day in Him!

2 Corinthians 3:1-6 – “Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some others, epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you? 2 You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; 3 clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.  4. And we have such trust through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”  NKJV

There is a teaching in Christendom today that suggests man is and has everything he needs to be complete in himself.  I can agree with that definition only with the qualifier that it is IN Christ that we have sufficiency.  In my own flesh, I am powerless against the forces of hell but IN Christ I am more than a conqueror.

The apostle Paul addressed this very thing numerous times but especially in Philippians 4 when he spoke of the various states or conditions, he found himself.  He had known plenty and poverty.  He had been hungry and full.  He had flourished and floundered and declared that he had learned the secret of contentment and that secret was his confidence in God and God’s ability to keep him.  He said in verse 13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” 

In the text in Corinthians Paul is reminding his hearers of the biblical truth that we have been weighed in God’s scales and been found deficient in ourselves.  However, those same scales when used In Christ we rise to the top and excel being more than conquerors through Christ.  We are In Him and it is In Him that we live and move and have our being.  It is In Him that we are sufficient.  It is In Him that we can break free from the bondage of the doctrines of man and move into the gloriousness of Him and His life!

I am sufficient In Christ and that sufficiency is not mine but His.  It is Him living His life through me for the life that I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of and faith in the Son of God.  When the Blood of Jesus is applied there is no deficiency. When we are translated from the kingdom of darkness into His marvelous light there is no deficiency.  When, In Him, we live and move and have our being there is no deficiency.  We are often tempted to fall into the trap that enslaved Adam and Eve.  That trap was making self the center of their universe, firing God as the center and elevating self to that position.  They went from beings that would and could live forever in their natural state to beings filled with death, dying, and decay.  In a sense, they were born again backward believing The Lie of hell.

They did not house in themselves sufficiency, for that comes from God and God alone! They moved from His keeping and care to their own strength and enslaved the race to the devil.  However, when Jesus went to the Cross as a sinless sacrifice for the race, shed His blood, rose again, and ascended to the Right Hand of the Father that curse was broken.  Now man, IN Christ has the sufficiency to not only survive but thrive.  Now, man can enter into the Life that Jesus came to bring – Abundant Life!  Now, man has the potential to be more than a conqueror In Christ!

What is your condition and what is your position? If you are IN Christ then rise up and be who God declared you to be IN Christ! 

God bless you as you go through this day!

Psalm 34:18 – “The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.”    NKJV

In the natural world, broken things are despised and thrown out.  Sometimes there is an effort to fix that which is broken but in much of today’s world, it is deemed more desirable to replace rather than repair.  Damaged goods are rejected and that includes people.  We see it frequently.

In marriage when difficulty arises, and relationships become strained it is a far too common tendency to “walk away” rather than go through the incredibly difficult and often painful process of reconciliation.  The world is filled with broken people, broken hearts, broken relationships, and broken lives.  We “walk away” but God comes in and “restores.”  David, a man after God’s own heart, was a broken man at one point.  He cried in Psalm 51 for God to create in him a clean/pure heart and in verse 17 declared, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart – These, O God, You will not despise.”   God is near the brokenhearted and His compassion opens the door to His Grace.

We toss broken things aside, but God restores and renews making the repaired better than the original.  A man or a woman that walks with a limp from brokenness will be mightier than someone who has never been broken.  They will walk in humility for they understand firsthand that their gift, ability, talent, and/or success is not based on them but God’s incredible Grace!  Without the broken body of our Lord Jesus, we could not be restored and healed.

It is in brokenness that we realize how much we need Him.  It was not until I realized and admitted my sin that God could come in and rescue me from the darkness.  It was not until I found myself hopeless (broken) that He could come in and infuse hope into my being.  When we come to that place of brokenness that we no longer strive to do it ourselves but are totally dependent upon His grace we will live beneath that life He came to bring.

My friend, Dennis Davis from San Antonio, Texas says, “I don’t trust a man who doesn’t walk with a limp.”  He was referring to brokenness spiritually as with Jacob who wrestled with God and forever walked with a limp from God’s touch.  His brokenness transformed him from a supplanter to a prince with God.  Had he never been broken he would never have been the patriarch of the twelve tribes of Israel.  His greatness came through His brokenness.  The same can be said of David, Job, Paul, Samson, Gideon, Moses, Abraham, and the heroes of faith of the Bible.  We are broken but never discarded by the Father.

May the Lord transform your brokenness into victory and strength in Him! 

Blessings as you go through this day in Him!

John 4:46-54 – “So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.” 49 The nobleman said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies!” 50 Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your son lives.” So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way. 51 And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, “Your son lives!” 52 Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better. And they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” 53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives.” And he himself, believed, and his whole household. 54 This again is the second sign Jesus did when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.”  NKJV

I realize that the title of this devotional may invite questions especially after you read the text. Therefore, I ask that you let me explain my thought and hopefully, it will be both a blessing and benefit in your daily walk.  I find it interesting to note that John was careful to remind his readers that this was a return to Cana of Galilee where Jesus had turned the water into wine.  Some have suggested that this nobleman had been in attendance at the wedding I do not know but that is not the point.  There are some things about this passage that should inspire our confidence in God’s Promises.

The man was not faithless, else he would not have come to Jesus to heal his child.  The response of Jesus to this man’s request to come and heal his son is intriguing.  Jesus responded to his plea for the healing of a child with, “Unless you see signs and wonders, you will be no means believe.”  If, as some have suggested, this was an indication of the absence of faith on the nobleman’s part then the rest of the passage would be negated.  I believe that Jesus was challenging him and stretching him in that statement. 

It was not the absence of faith but a human condition in conjunction with his faith that many of us have experienced.  He had total confidence that “if” Jesus personally went to the child healing was guaranteed.  He likely had no knowledge or understanding of how healing could transpire otherwise.  He did not have a long history of miracles in his memory banks or experience to draw from.  He believed Jesus could and therefore made his impassioned plea not once but twice.

Jesus, after the second plea, said, “Go your way; your son lives.”  The next statement demonstrates the heart of the nobleman and should be our hearts.  It says, “So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way.”  He did not continue to plea, pray, or attempt to persuade Jesus to do what he thought necessary He Believed!  He not only believed in his heart but demonstrated the accompanying sign of obedience and departed from the physical presence of the LORD! 

This is Faith not Faith in Faith!  He simply believed what Jesus said and demonstrated corresponding actions to accompany that belief.  That is faith in action!  Had he simply had faith in faith he would not have been able to believe the word of Jesus and obey that word he would have continued to insist that Jesus come to his house and perform whatever ritual to bring about the healing.  He had faith that demonstrated the response of obedience. As he went back home his servants met him and informed him the child was healed.  His inquiry into the timing only further solidified his confidence in the Words of Jesus.

The key for us in receiving the promises of God is:  Believe the word of Jesus and Act upon that word.  Once we have Heard His Promise, we can Go Out in confidence that we have the petition we asked for.   I encourage you to read 1 John 5:14-15 at this point.

God bless you as you go through your day and walk, in faith!  May the Blessings of God be abundant for you is my prayer and desire!