Spiritual

THE LAW OF DOUBLE PORTION – (Part 2)


Isaiah 61:1-3 – “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives, and freedom to prisoners; 2 To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, 3 To grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”  NASB

In Zechariah 9:9 we read, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”  Then in verse 10, it speaks of His Kingdom being a ‘peaceful kingdom’, and the weapons will cease, and He will speak peace to the heathen.  In verse 11 we see the ‘Blood of the Covenant.’  We also see that He has set the prisoners free from the pit of destruction.

That is a beautiful picture of the ministry of Jesus.  The ministry we are recipients of.  He did not come with a physical sword, but in humility going to the Cross as a sacrifice for our sin. He came to provide salvation so that the Gospel of Peace could spread to the ends of the earth.  Through His Blood, we have the New Covenant and those bound by sin are liberated.

In verse 12 we are instructed to ‘return to the stronghold’.  We are those who have Hope!  In the last part of that passage, we are informed that God would restore to us a “Double Portion.”  There it is again, ‘double.’  I hope you see this.  God’s promise is that even though we have been prisoners of the pit of darkness where there was no hope, no water, no life, no sustenance we have been released to HOPE!   Hope means to have a confident expectation of something that you are sure is going to come to you. 

I declare on the authority of God’s Word that there is more to come!  We do not have to be satisfied with the status quo, there is more.  There is going to be a glorious church that lives in the double portion of God’s blessings and exercises His authority on this earth.  There will be doubters, scoffers, and nay-sayers, but it is going to become a reality.  I believe that it will be in our lifetime.

THE LAW OF DOUBLE PORTION

The Law of Double Portion is a subject far too large to tackle in a devotional or even a series of devotionals, it is a life-time study but let’s see what we can discover.  I would like to offer seven examples of “Double Portion” in Scripture.  Each of the examples affords understanding and insight into different aspects of this Law.  Each of them reveals different responsibilities we have concerning double portion and identifies the pitfalls that must be avoided.

The Right of the Firstborn – Deuteronomy 21:17

When a man had several sons and it came time to divide the inheritance the Law demanded that a ‘double portion’ be given to the firstborn son.  That was not because he was the favorite or even the most deserving but because of his place in the line of succession.  It was automatic.

Is there an application to us, as New Testament believers?  I refer everyone to Hebrews 12:23 where we are informed that as the Church of Jesus Christ we are ‘the church of the firstborn.’  Through Jesus, we are God’s firstborn for the purpose of covenant.

Some will contend that we are not ‘firstborn’ because that distinction belongs to Jesus.  After all, God only has one firstborn and that is Jesus, right?  In Romans, Hebrews, Colossians, and Revelation Jesus is called God’s Firstborn.  Therefore, how can the church also be the firstborn?  Let me take you to several passages for clarity.

In James 1:18 we discover that God has begotten us, and we are the ‘first fruits’ of His creatures.  In 1 Peter 1:3-4 we are made to understand that when we are born again, we are born to receive an inheritance.  Additionally, Romans 8:16-17 identifies that the Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirits that we are God’s Children.  We are heirs of God and we are told ‘joint-heirs’ with Jesus.

Therefore, Jesus, as God’s ‘firstborn’ received the Double Portion, and because we are ‘in’ Him and He is ‘in’ us we also become God’s firstborn.  Jesus is the head and we are the body.  We are the One New Man and double portion heir of the Father, through Jesus.  That means we do not just receive a blessing we receive everything that Jesus gets.  We are IN Him and He is IN us.  We are one with Him.

I want to pursue this further but will pause here and ask that you begin to consider Who you are in Jesus and begin to expect to receive your Double Portion Blessing.

Have a Great Day in Jesus!

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THE LAW OF DOUBLE PORTION…


Isaiah 61:1-3 – “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives, and freedom to prisoners; 2 To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, 3 To grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”  NASB

I have taught and preached on “Double Portion” many times in my fifty plus years of Christian ministry.  It is an interesting and challenging project because of the incredible need for biblical balance.  The Bible has much to say about “Double Portion” and I believe it unfortunate that some believers never grasp this reality and thereby miss much of God’s intended blessing and power in their lives.

Life is not without change. Human history is not simply an ongoing cycle of continuous and often confusing events.  God is involved in history.  He is involved in our daily lives, at every level.  I believe there are going to be some significant and radical changes in the way we do business.  I mean that on every level and in every dimension.  I say that because God is moving and when God moves things change.  That reality makes it imperative that we never become willing to accept the status quo living and try to coast through life. 

Many things are happening in our world and the time has come when we are going to experience dramatic change at a very rapid pace.  I believe that the pace is going to escalate and things that took decades to become the ‘new normal’ will occur in days or weeks.  Therefore, it is time for every believer to ‘Wake Up’ and ask God, “What do you want me to do?”  We need to pray for clarity and the ability to discern the times and learn to follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  We have an opportunity, as no other generation, to achieve things for the Kingdom.  We dare not sleep through our window of opportunity and our day of visitation.

That brings me to the subject or focus of this devotional, “Double Portion.”  I believe that double portion will be a strategic part of the Last Days Generation.  Isaiah 61 is a powerful declaration of both the ministry of Jesus and what God intends for His Body in the Last Days.  We are in Him and through Him, we are to pull down strongholds.  We are to do the works that Jesus did and even greater works through the Power of the Holy Spirit.  We have been commissioned and empowered, therefore, it is high time that we begin to expect what He has promised.

I love the wonderful promise of this passage that we can trade ‘ashes’ for ‘beauty.’  We can swap our ‘mourning’ for ‘joy.’  We are called ‘trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD.’  God is glorified in the fruit we bear, therefore if we bear a ‘double portion’ we doubly glorify Him.

In verse 4 of Isaiah 61, we see a truth that is often missed, not discussed, misunderstood, or ignored – Restoration.  He promised to rebuild the waste places.  He promised to raise up the former desolations.  He declared that we would repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations.  What has been lost is going to be restored and we are going to reclaim the land for God.  That will happen, the only question is will we be a part of it.  My prayer is Yes!

Something that I have learned and deeply appreciate about God is that when things seem to go bad and are not working out, He Never Loses Hope!  He Never Gives Up!  He Never Quits!  God is not intimidated by the apparent hopelessness of the situation, He is the Sovereign God, the Living God, the Almighty God.  God made it and He can and will fix it.  In God, there is no such thing as Hopeless.  That is comforting!

In Isaiah 61:6 we are called priests of the Lord the ministers of God and the promise is that we will “eat the wealth of the nations.”  In verse 7 in the KJV reads, “For your shame, you shall have double…”  Wow!  That sounds like we will have ‘double shame’ but that is not what the LORD is declaring.  It does not mean, “We’ve had trouble up until now, but cheer up it will get worse and we will have double trouble.”  The last part of the verse informs us that “everlasting joy shall be unto them.”  That tells us what the double portion is.  It is not, shame or trouble but everlasting joy, and that will be the evidence that the double portion is in operation in our lives. 

In verse 8 we see the reference to an “Everlasting Covenant.”  In the Old Testament, the theme of double is tied to the idea of covenant.  Our Covenant, the New Covenant is a better covenant established on better promises and is anchored in the Blood of Jesus.  The reason that ‘double portion’ is connected to covenant is God’s means of reminding us just how committed He is to His children.  He declares to every believer that He is fully committed to us.  Jesus said, “It is My Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” 

We do not live in wishful hope, hoping that someday things will get a little better if we are lucky.  This is something that God has promised with an Everlasting Covenant.  It is a sure thing!  Somebody is going to receive it.  Somebody is going to operate in it and use it for the glory of God.  My question is, “Since God is no respecter of persons and never changes, Why Not Us?”

I want to deal with this more in the next devotional but will pause here and encourage everyone to ‘get your expectation up’.  What God promises He completes. 

God bless you, have a great day in Him!

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ONE DAY AT A TIME LIVING…


Matthew 6:33-34 – “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”  NASB

I have come to realize that too many of us live focused on what might be, what could have been, and the what-ifs of life.  I felt inspired several years ago to address that in a book entitled, “Too Busy With Busyness To Hear God.”  If we allow the noise of life to crowd out the voice of the Spirit of God, we live beneath our privilege and promise in God.

The words of our Lord, in this passage, are invaluable for living life one day at a time.  He is attempting to shift our focus from the important to the essential and from the temporal to the eternal.  In that, He is offering us a means whereby we can live this temporal life to the fullest and embrace the eternal.  In that sense, we get the best of both worlds.

His instruction is to focus on the essential – God, His Kingdom, and His Righteousness!  He gives the pattern for prayer in the earlier portion of this chapter and now at the end of this portion of His discourse, He brings to light how we can bring the focus of that prayer into reality.

Most of us are burdened with the necessary things of life.  Jesus is giving us a pathway to having our needs met and maintaining a healthy relationship with Him.  If God becomes the most important in our lives and is pursued before anything and everything else, He promises to supply our needs.  That is an incredible promise and one that we profess to believe but our practice indicates we do not.  We live busy bothered lives rather than in the calm assurance that He is in control and has everything under control.

Jesus’ last words in this discourse and instruction are, “There is no reason to fret over what might be, let things play out as they will.  There is enough to focus on in the immediate to fret over what might be tomorrow.”  We have the choice to live in a state of peace through trust or in worry out of a misguided idea that it is up to us to do it.

Please know I am not suggesting that we do not do what is needed as we realize it is needed.  What I am suggesting is that rather than fret over it, worry about it, lament over what might have been or might be, we look up and make Him the primary pursuit of our lives.  It is in His Presence that there is Peace.  It is in His Presence there is Provision.  It is in His Presence there is Fulfillment.

Therefore, my encouragement and His is, rather than worry about tomorrow learn to live today resting in His Grace, Goodness, and Guidance.  I would encourage everyone to read Psalm 91 again and again.  I would encourage everyone to read Philippians 4:13-19 again and again.  I would encourage everyone to read Romans 8:28 again and again.  He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us, and He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, therefore we have no reason to fear.  He is still God!

God bless you, have a great day in Him!

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WALKING WITH GOD – – Part 2


We talked about the agreement between man and God to establish the needed relationship and covenant to ‘walk together.’  We discussed agreement on man’s condition.  Now, we will move forward or further and consider additional agreements required to maintain a relationship with God that is fruitful and lasting.

  • There Must Be Agreement About the Sin Situation.

It is vital that we come into full agreement with God, His Word, and His Spirit as to sin.  We must define what sin is, how it is committed, it’s nature, and penalty.  God has not avoided this subject in scripture and made some clear and definitive declarations.

We know that sin is not acceptable to God.  If we seek to define sin, I’m quite sure that we would find the task impossible to fully satisfy every inquiring mind.  A room of 100 people would probably produce 100 different definitions or variations, so we need to stick to what God says as much as possible in our pursuit of understanding.

I suggest that sin involves motive, not just an action.  In fact, a good deed done for a devious purpose out of selfishness and self-aggrandizement would reveal an impure motive.  That violates the heart and character of God.  Sin involves selfishness and makes it all about me and what I can get out of the activity or action.  Sin, it could be argued is relative to the spiritual light we are walking in.  James 4:17 – “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” 

It is important and necessary that we see sin as God does.  God looks at the heart and examines the motive, not just the outward or the action.  (1 Samuel 16:7).  We, are to do ‘self-examination.’ (2 Corinthians 13:5).  God considers our understanding or spiritual light.  God views sin in light of true benevolence.  He looks at the condition or attitude of rebellion and selfishness. 

We are told in Matthew 6:24 that we cannot serve ‘two masters.’  In the Greek, the word master implies the one to whom a person or a thing belongs and over which the owner or master has the power of deciding.  God is the owner!  You are not your own, you have been bought with a price.  Sin must always be viewed by us as it is by God if we are to walk in agreement.  Otherwise, we will water down what it is and what it does.

  • There Must Be Agreement About the Right Way to Live.

Hebrews 12:14 directs that we are to, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness without which no man can see the LORD.”  That is interesting, we are told to ‘follow holiness’ a lost word and concept in the modern church.  I would contend this can be applied as saying we must agree with God as to Holy Living.  Let me offer a very simplistic definition of Holiness.  It is walking in all the light and understanding spiritually that you have and doing so with total honesty.

Following Holiness must include and involve:  Desiring to have more light or understanding from the Lord.  It must include an honest examination of all motives and actions.  It must include repentance whenever and wherever we fall short.  It includes the elimination from our lives of all motives and acts that are in disunity with the precepts of God’s Word and His moral law.  It involves manifesting, in our lives, true benevolence and allow the precepts of God’s word to shape our character, words, and deeds.

It is as we practice the known precepts of God’s Word and Moral Law that we become more like Him.  As we pursue Truth, studying to show ourselves approved we find that He reveals more and more of Himself to us and extends greater grace for us to live.  It is to walk in Agreement with God about Everything!

We agree as to our responsibility for our sin. We are guilty and have missed the mark.  We agree as to our need for redemption because of that sin.  We agree as to the right way to live and agree as to God’s Ultimate Authority.  That is to be our objective, Agreement with God.  We align ourselves by the aide of the Holy Spirit with God’s Word.

Here is my confession before God: “Lord, I am guilty of my sin.  There is no one to blame for it but me.  There is no one to share my guilt.  I have sinned.  I realize that sin is not and cannot be acceptable to You and if I am not doing what I know You want me to do, I stand guilty and confess.  I realize that to continue in rebellion will separate me from You and I desire to be one with You.  I recognize that you desire, and demand holiness and I ask that you transform me by the renewing of my mind and enable me to become one with You.  I give you my heart and my life.”

God bless you as you enjoy this day in Jesus!

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WALKING WITH GOD…


Amos 3:3 – “Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?”  NKJV

What a tremendous assertion in this verse.  The idea presented is that in order for there to be an abiding relationship, with permanence, there must be agreement.  In this particular case, the ‘two’ are the Judgment of God and the Words of the prophet.  These two do not coincide by mere chance, any more than two persons pursue (in-company) the same end unless there is a previous agreement.

We must realize that in order to maintain an honest walk with God we must have agreement.  Being a Christian is more than accepting a creed or even accepting a loving savior.  It means to walk with God day by day all the days of our lives. 

For two to walk together in a relationship there must be agreement.  Simply, both parties agree on the objective and desire the same end.  There has to be common ground.  That is true in all relationships but especially true in Covenant with God.  To walk with God there must be agreement.  I want us to consider some of the agreements that must be established and maintained.

  • There Must Be Agreement About the Natural Condition of Man.

We and God must come to full agreement as to the true nature of man.  I guess it would be better said, we must come into agreement with God and adopt His view of man.  He knows!  There must be agreement about man’s ability or inability regarding his actions, his transgressions, his life, attitude, and heart.  We must come into agreement as to the remedy for man’s dilemma or sinfulness.

There is the belief, shared by many, that man is born a sinner.  James 1:14-15 sheds a little different light on that subject, “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”   I would ask if man is born a sinner what about Adam?  Of course, one could argue Adam was innocent but fell and now we inherit his sin.  What of the angels?  Well, angels do not get saved is the objection.  What about the devil?  He was one of the angels of God and through rebellion (sin) fell from God’s favor and was evicted from heaven.

If we are born sinners, then is sin our fault?  That brings us to the opposing view that man becomes a sinner through an act of his will or through his missing the mark. 

Regardless of which view you hold, the one truth that we should all be able to agree upon is that without Christ man is lost, a sinner, and hopeless.

There are some biblical realities we need to interject here are:

All have sinned – (Romans 3:23).  The natural or carnal man and mind hates God. (Romans 8:7).  Those who have reached the age or mental state they know right from wrong and are accountable for their actions have sinned.  The natural mind (heart) is selfish and because the focus is on self, rejects God and His rightful rule.

Who does natural carnal sinful man blame for his condition?  If we are born sinners and cannot help sinning, then sin is not a crime against God it is a tragedy.  If I cannot help it and have no part in it, then it is not my fault but God’s for my condition.  If on the other hand I sin through an act of my will or in rebellion or choosing to disobey, as did Adam and Eve, then it is my fault and I am guilty.  I become fully accountable to God and in need of a Redeemer and Forgiveness. 

God says, “The soul that sins it shall die.”  Isaiah 53:6 declares, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way…”  God holds each of us accountable for our own sins, not the sins of Adam, our brothers or sisters, nor our parents.  It is my sin that separates me from God, not your sin.  Therefore, as the song we used to sing, “It’s not my brother, nor my sister, but it’s me O LORD standing in the need of prayer.”  I have sinned and come short of God’s Glory and I need forgiveness. 

I want to delve a little deeper into this subject in the next devotional but will pause here and allow you time to reflect upon the thoughts I have presented.  You can receive them, reject them, or be indifferent, but I ask that you consider them.

God bless you as you enjoy this wonderful day in Jesus!

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CORRECTION and DISCIPLINE – Love in Action…


2 Samuel 7:14-15 – “I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; when he commits iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and the strokes of the sons of men, 15 but My lovingkindness shall not depart from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you.”  NASB

In my lifetime I have witnessed the shift in the view of parenting and watched the development of a philosophy where discipline has been eliminated.  We are witnessing the terrible fruit of that view, but alas, some believe it is ‘child abuse’ to discipline a child, especially if you use a measure of corporal punishment. 

That view flies in the face of the biblical approach to bringing up children and has filtered its way into the church and spiritual discipline.  It is rooted in the belief that “love never punishes.”  It is rooted in the view that if you punish a child you have lost control and the problem is you not the behavior of the child.  I believe those are fallacious views and have produced a condition in our world where respect for others and self-discipline have been severely damaged. 

The writer of Proverbs, known as the wisest man of the Old Testament, said regarding the discipline of a child, “punish him with the rod and save his soul from death.” (23:14).  The previous verse admonishes, “Do not withhold discipline for a child; if you punish him with the rod, he will not die.”  In a previous chapter we are informed, “He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.”  (13:14).

In the New Testament, we are taught regarding parental discipline, “They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in His holiness.  11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.  Later, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”  (Hebrews 12:10-11).  In Psalms 94:12-14 we find the amazing declaration, “Blessed is the one you discipline, LORD, the one you teach from your law; 13 You grant them relief from days of trouble, till a pit is dug for the wicked. 14 For the LORD will not reject His people; He will never forsake His inheritance.”

In Hebrews 12 we are given some powerful information regarding correction and discipline and how it reflects Love in Action. 

  • Discipline is required to deter destruction (v.4). 

The context of that verse reveals that that haphazard living leads to destruction. The idea presented is, a disciplined life bears the fruit of God’s blessing and has great reward.

  • Discipline requires Action and Words (v.5).

As parents, we are to discipline with words and actions or warnings and consequences.  This is true in our relationship with God.  He warns and there are consequences for disobedience but blessing and benefit for obedience.

  • The Motive is always to Express and Demonstrate Love (vv. 6-9).
  • The Goal of Discipline as Parents or By God is to Teach Obedience (v.9).
  • The Result is Short-term Pain and Long-term Gain.  (vv. 10-11).

God does not discipline us to punish us. That is not a demonstration of love.  He disciplines us to bring us into conformance with His character, nature, and holiness and that preserves our lives and brings opens to us His incredible blessings.

It is time that we, once again, embrace, Discipline and show some Love in Action in our lives, families, and world.  The door to abundance is open to us. 

God bless you richly as you enjoy this day in Him!

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THE OLD PATHS…


Jeremiah 6:16 – “Thus says the LORD, “Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, Where the good way is, and walk in it; And you shall find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’”  NASB

Our modern society is possibly the most highly educated in human history.  With that education comes supposed sophistication and the influx of new and modern ideas regarding religion, God, humanity, morality, and the relevancy of the Bible.  Modern philosophy suggests that there are many roads that lead to heaven and sincerity is the key ingredient and all that truly matters.  It suggests that God is a God of Love and He would never condemn anyone to an Eternal Hell for if He did, he would no longer be a God of love. 

The spiritual pilgrim faces many crossroads in life, and it is vital to know the direction to travel.  Our spiritual GPS needs to be up to date and accurate.  If we are going to please God, we must walk in faith, and faith demands obedience to God’s principles and precepts. 

The passage here in Jeremiah gives the idea of a traveler who is traveling on foot and coming to a junction or fork in the road.  He must find the way, or he will be lost eternally and doomed.  God desires that we, do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly before Him. Solomon in Ecclesiastes said, “There is nothing new under the sun.”  Man thinks he has a “new revelation” but it is not new, at least not to God, only new to us.

There is a path to be discovered and it is what the Bible calls, “the old path” or the “sure way.”  If we still cannot see the way after consulting with our road map (the Word of God), then we must for guidance (the Holy Spirit) and follow His directions.  Once we discover the path, it is imperative that we walk in it.

Several things are worthy of consideration and I ask you to consider them with me. 

  • Why Ask for The Old Paths?

I contend and the Bible reveals that the new paths (man-made paths) are delusive and deceptive.  The Old Path is what the Bible calls the Highway of Holiness.  Man seeks to substitute an alternate, less constraining highway for the old path.  That way is formed out of the carnal need for a convenient religion.  Paul said in Galatians 1:8, “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!”  It is vital that we seek the Old Paths and Walk in them…  They lead to God.  Remember Jesus’ declaration in John 14:6, “I am the way the truth and the life.”  There no door but Jesus.  There are not many roads leading to heaven, there is a narrow way that leads to life.

  • What Are the Old Paths?

They are the paths trodden by the biblical patriarchs.  The Psalmist reminds us in Psalms 119:105, the Word of God is a lamp and a light guiding us.  The old paths reveal the will of God and are an unerring path that leads to peace and God’s provisions.  The old paths are sprinkled with the Blood of the Atonement, not the new Rose Water of man’s pleasing.  The Old Paths produce Christlikeness.

  • Why Should We Walk in the Old Paths?

Because it is there that we find the Blood of Jesus that cleanses, forgives, saves, and justifies.  Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission and it is the Blood of Jesus that atones for our sins.  That is only found on the Old Paths.  It is there that we discover the Word of God that fully satisfies.  The apostle Peter said, “For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.”  (2 Peter 2:16). 

Nothing can satisfy the longing soul but God.  There is no other Light that lights the world.  Jesus is the Truth and there are not many truths that lead to the Father.  He is the Door and there are not many doors leading to heaven.  He is the Way and there are not many ways that lead us to Peace.  The Broad Way may look good and inviting but in it is death, disappointment, and destruction.

  • Why Should We Seek the Old Paths?

Because in the Old Paths we find the Power of the Holy Spirit to Sanctify.  In the new modern convenient religious paths, there is no place for being set apart unto God and away from the world.  The Old Paths are paths of Peace, Provision, and Power because in them the Son of God still walks in the company of His followers.

Therefore, we should, “Ask for the Old Paths, where the good way is, and walk therein, and we will find rest for our souls.”   We should always test the paths as we do the spirits by the Word of God to ensure we are following the right paths and the paths that lead to life.

God bless you as you enjoy this wonderful day in Him!

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GOD’S COMPLAINT – – (Part 2)


Isaiah 1:3 – “The ox instinctively knows his owner, and the donkey his master’s crib; but Israel does not know or recognize Me (as Lord), My people do not consider or understand.”  Amplified.

Yesterday we came to the point of identifying some of the things the People of God fail to consider and then address the challenge of how those apply to each of us and what our response should be.  I ask you to consider them now.

  • We Fail to Consider the Pit Out of Which We Have Been Dug.  If we did, we would be More Humble.  It is disturbing to see in the Church or recognize in ourselves self-centeredness, self-righteousness, and how quickly we forget the bondage of our Egypt and look fondly on the world.  We fail to remember from whence we have come.
  • We Fail to Consider the Cost at Which We Have Been Redeemed.  If we truly took stock of the cost to God, we would always be much more thankful and careful to honor and please Him in all things. I am continually reminded that there is not one thing that I have ever done that was deserving of God’s Grace.  I am frequently reminded of the Peace I have and that it would not be possible without the Blood of Jesus.  His infinite Grace and Mercy is immeasurable and for His Love, I am eternally grateful.
  • We Fail to Consider Our Relationship with and To Him Who Has Saved Us.  If we did, we would be more at peace and experience the Rest wherein the weary are made to rest more than we do.  We need to constantly remind ourselves that the word of 1 Corinthians 6:20, “For you have been bought with a price…”  We are not our own, we belong to Jesus.  He bought and paid for us with His blood.  We are members of His Body and because we are, we have nothing to fear.  The words of Jesus are our comfort, “Let not your heart be troubled, you believe in God, believe also in Me…”  (John 14:1).
  • We Fail to Consider Our Privileges and Promises as Sons and Daughters.  If we did, we would overflow with Joy.  The powerful and comforting words of Galatians 4:6 echo in my spirit, “Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!”
  • We Fail to Consider Our Responsibility as Servants.  If we did, we would be much more watchful and diligent in our lives.
  • We Fail to Consider the Gift of the Holy Spirit.  If we did, we would be a Praising People far more than we are.  The glory of God that is yet to be revealed in and through the children of God, is the glory that belongs to the Son of God.    In 2 Corinthians 3:18, we read, “And we all, with unveiled face, continually seeing as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are progressively being transformed into His image from [one degree of] glory to [even more] glory, which comes from the Lord, [who is] the Spirit.”  Amplified.

Therefore, my plea and challenge for each of us is to Consider our way and Consider Him. I become excited when I read Malachi 3:16-18 – “Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and who esteem His name. 17 “And they will be Mine,” says the LORD of hosts, “on the day that I prepare My own possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.” 18 So you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.”  NASB

Let’s become people who Consider Him and Praise Him.  I pray that you will have a fantastic day as you walk in His fullness this day!

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GOD’S COMPLAINT…


Isaiah 1:3 – “The ox instinctively knows his owner, and the donkey his master’s crib; but Israel does not know or recognize Me (as Lord), My people do not consider or understand.”  Amplified.

I would recommend reading Psalms 103 as an addendum to this passage.  I have noticed through my years of Christian service that thoughtfulness about the things of the world and thoughtlessness about the things of God and Eternity is a very common problem among God’s people.  I have learned that “superficial thinking leads to superficial living.”

Notice the words of the verse: “The ox knows his owner, and the donkey his master’s crib but…”  But?  There should be no but when it comes to the condition of God’s people, but God said, “But…”  How tragic that too frequently and once is too frequent, God’s people fail to recognize their Owner or Lord.   We sometimes fail to recognize His blessings and fail to express our gratitude.  I have no doubt that breaks God’s heart as much as ingratitude does ours.

Inconsiderateness is a hindrance to spiritual growth, development, and usefulness.  I say that because, in matters spiritual, it dishonors God.  Talking the talk without walking the walk makes us mechanical and that can never be a substitute for honest reflection of the heart and thankfulness of the soul. 

I can only imagine how changed our lives would be and how thrilled our heavenly Father would be if we would take time to meditate on His word until the fire begins to burn within our hearts.  I don’t know how many others have felt powerless at some point in their Christian testimony.  I don’t know how many others have been disturbed over the lack of fruit in their Christian experience and wanted more.  If we would seek to abide in Him and His word abide in us, seeking Him first, I am convinced we would see more demonstration of the power of God and God and more souls born into the Family of God.  I want that!

When I read the word of the passage, “My people do not consider…”  In that, I hear the cry and complaint of wounded love.  God desires deeply to have fellowship with us, transform us by the renewing of our minds, and empower us with His Spirit.  However, when we are slothful and negligent, He cannot, therefore we give Him cause to complain against us. 

I would like us to consider some of the things God’s People Fail to Consider and decide if they apply to us and what our response should be.  I will pause here and do that in the next devotional.

God bless you as you enjoy this wonderful day in Him!

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UNBELIEF DOES NOT NEGATE TRUTH…


Romans 3:3 – “What then? If some did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it?”  NASB

I had a person tell me, “I don’t believe that, so it is not the truth.”  It does not matter what they were referring to, their premise was faulty and dangerous.  You can extrapolate that to any area of life and see the immense danger of that position.  I had a person tell me, “I don’t want to know about any underlying health conditions, because what I don’t know won’t hurt me.”  Well, it just might kill you.  Just because we do not believe something does not negate the truth.

There are things in life we refuse to believe or want to disbelieve.  In relationships, some refuse to believe that their spouse would cheat on them and adopt the position that if they don’t believe something is true it is not.  You may not believe that excessive drinking does spiritual, emotional, relational, psychological, financial, and physical problems.  Sadly, your disbelieve does not negate the damage done and the reality of the dangers.

I had a person tell me, “I don’t read the Bible because if I read it, I become responsible for what I know.”  I said, “Too late! You already know too much, so my suggestion is to study it and benefit from the truths contained therein.”  Later that person accepted Jesus and said, “Preacher, you were so right, and I was so wrong.  Thank you for speaking the truth to me.”

I find comfort in studying the life of Job, in the Bible, and how he faithfully held on to his belief that God is God and faithful.  He was devastated in life.  He lost his children, his possessions, and his health.  His wife told him to curse God and die.  His friends told him that he was suffering because of sin.  He could have abandoned his confidence, but he refused, and in the end, God’s faithfulness was displayed, and Job received a double portion.

God’s faithfulness is not dependent on my believing. He is faithful it is Who He Is!  A person may believe that God does not exist, but His existence is not negated because they do not believe.  He is!  God is watching over His word to perform it and no word of God is ever left unfulfilled.  I love the declaration in Ecclesiastes 3:14, “I know that everything God does will remain forever, and there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it…”  Hallelujah!

There was a time when men believed the earth was flat, but that did not make it flat.  When Pythagoras declared that the earth was round around 500 BC, he was considered a heretic.  It was around 350 BC that Aristotle declared that the Earth was a sphere over the next few hundred years, Aristarchus and Eratosthenes measured the size of the earth.  Their assertions and the disbelief of the naysayers did not make it reality or fallacy, it was because God made it that way!   The truth is the truth whether anyone believes it or not.  A lie is a lie even if everyone believes it.

When it comes to our relationship with God and our eternity and salvation, we must believe in order to receive the Grace of God through the work of Jesus on the Cross. However, it is more than just believing that Jesus died on the Cross and rose again.  It requires us acknowledging our rebellion against God and ‘missing the mark’ SIN! 

1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  Romans 10:9-12 – “…if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; 10 for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” 

Disbelieving a thing does not negate the truth.  The truth is always the truth regardless of whether anyone believes it or not.  The Laws of nature reveal that powerfully.  I encourage you to look around and see the design of God’s Creation and realize, He Is and since He is, we can come to Him for Salvation and have an Eternal Hope.

God bless you as you enjoy this wonderful day in Him!

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