JUNE ARCHIVES
June 1st
E – Economics
GETTING PEOPLE INTO THE WORD OF GOD:
Job 6:5-7 Doth
the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder? Can that
which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of
an egg? The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful meat.
GETTING THE WORD OF GOD INTO PEOPLE:
People can put on a front when everything is ok, but when things get terribly
out of hand and God allows life to deal a horrible blow, the real you will often
come through. Job has had some horrible situations all come at him at one time.
Now to add to his problems his three friends decide to play psychologist and
figure out where the problems originated from and Jobs brokenhearted. The first
guy says, things like this normally happen to someone who is doing wrong. He
says in chapter four verse eight if you plow in a sinful area and sow terrible
things you can expect to reap that reward. And he is not wrong in saying that.
In fact Paul says the same thing to the church in Galatians six verses seven and
eight when he said Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a
man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of
the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit
reap life everlasting. And this is always true. Had Job sewn to the
flesh, he would have reaped what the flesh had to offer. We always get back from
the world what we sew in the world. If you sew sin you reap the rewards of it.
But even though Job had lost it all, we see that his sewing to God with constant
faith in Him will give Job a more abundant life here and an eternal home in
heaven. Not that he worked for his salvation, but his faith was evident in his
works. Job uses the same what goes around comes around logic with his friends.
He says will farm animals being continually fed cry for hunger? Saying, my
complaining is not without reason. Things here are not normal here. He says food
and salt are a great combination and egg whites taste better with a little
seasoning. These things just naturally go together. So does wailing when you
have lost everything. It does not mean he was wicked, not saved or never saved.
It’s human response. But in everything, Job believes God will see him through.
And God does.
LETTING THE WORD AFFECT OUR LIVES:
People may get a bit discouraged when situations get bad. That’s not sinful, that’s normal. What is sinful is to blame God. Know that in your darkest times, God is still there with you if you know Jesus as your personal Saviour. Praise Him always.
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June 2nd
R – Romance and Relationships
GETTING PEOPLE INTO THE WORD OF GOD:
Job 7:1 Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?
GETTING THE WORD OF GOD INTO PEOPLE:
Some things in life are meant to be joyous and you might ask the question, when
is this going to be over? Meaning, how much longer do we have before this fun is
done? And some things in life are not so fun. Like having a cavity filled with
no Novocain. Again you might ask the same question, when is this going to be
over? But this time what is meant is when will I get some relief? Job’s second
friend had now told him he must be guilty of something and was getting what God
thought he deserved. And in chapter seven verse one Job is asking, is it almost
over? Almost to say, no matter what has to happen, let’s get on with it I can
not take any more of this. Little did he know that the suffering he was enduring
would be spoken of for thousands of years. In fact we talk about the patience of
Job still today. Nor did he know of the blessing of God that waited him in just
a short while. At that moment he was wishing it was done, over, and that God
would fix it or kill him. Either would be a relief. Too often we find our lives
not exactly where we had hoped they might be. Immediately we look at our self
and wonder in our heart where did I go wrong. Or we may even look at those
around us and ask have they somehow caused this in my life. Jobs friends were
looking at everything they could see and Job was thinking of everything he had
done and neither could find the answer to this situation. It was God who allowed
this in his life for us to see today that sometimes God allows bad things in
good lives to help others later. If things are not as good as you would like
them to be in your relationships, why not go to the Master of all relationships
and ask for help. Ask God to use you as a testimony of his love and grace even
in the bad times. If people outside the home see this sacrificial love they will
be amazed. And if people inside the home see this type of love they will be in
love. In love with the God you serve as He sees you through the roughest of
times. In love with you for loving as God does when it was hard to do.
LETTING THE WORD AFFECT OUR LIVES:
Love is a funny thing. It’s not just an emotion but an activity. Love when you don’t feel like it and you may very well be loved back when you need it.
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June 3rd
F - Foundation
GETTING PEOPLE INTO THE WORD OF GOD:
Job 10:
11-13 Thou
hast clothed me with skin and flesh, and hast fenced me with bones and
sinews. Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation hath
preserved my spirit. And these things hast thou hid in thine heart: I know
that this is with thee.
GETTING THE WORD OF GOD INTO PEOPLE:
Amazing is all we can say when reading the account that Job gives of his
creation. Only God in heaven could have given him such foresight. As you
read the verse you see that he first mentions that fact that he is clothed
with skin. Next the flesh and organs were added to his forming life. And all
this is fenced in then by the bones that structure the body. Why is this so
amazing? The book of Job is considered to be one of the oldest, if not the
oldest book in the Bible and maybe the world. There were no X-rays back
then. No MRIs or scanning machinery. No way of knowing the order in which an
embryo is formed. It would almost make sense for a person to believe that
God may begin with the skeletal structure that would house all the internal
organs and then cover it with skin. But according to science and modern
technology we know that Job has described in the exact order in the creation
of a baby. First there is the outer membrane that develops into the skin as
the pregnancy progresses. Next the nervous system, heart and organs begin to
develop. Next the muscles and skeletal frame surrounding the organs begin to
move the limbs that have grown. And over the next few months the organs and
the bones become stronger, the membrane that housed this life becomes less
transparent and the miracle of life comes forth. And Job knew all this
thousands of years ago. How? A wonderful creator named God gave him that
wisdom. And Job is saying to God, you created me, you gave me life, you have
given to me all things, and you have sustained me to this day. Why God would
you go though all that to make me and then destroy me this way? Little did
Job know that God allowed Satan to torment him, but told the old Devil you
may not take his life. God had something more in store for Job. And later
Job saw God is the foundation to build a life and home on.
LETTING THE WORD AFFECT OUR LIVES:
Isn’t it wonderful to know that the creator of the entire universe, meticulously created every single part of you. Thank Him today for your most wonderful gift. YOU!
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June 4th
O - Openness
GETTING PEOPLE INTO THE WORD OF GOD:
GETTING THE WORD OF GOD INTO PEOPLE:
There is a man in our
church that has repeated an old phrase several times. It is this; “It is
better not to say anything and let people think that your stupid, than it is
to open your mouth and give them evidence that you are.” That is sort of
what Job is saying to his friends here in today’s verses. He says, I have
asked God about this, I am not any less wise than you are. You are like
doctors that do not help. Please do not say any more so you won’t sound any
more foolish than you already have. Please, please, listen to me, and hear
that I know all these things you are saying. You’re not helping with this so
please just sit with me and be quiet. What Job desired were friends to be
around, but not for them to try and figure out his situation. Just let God
do what God was going to do. I heard almost the same thing in my work as a
volunteer On-call Chaplain. When I first began I felt awkward at times. I
would go in and really not know what to say or do. I did not know the
injured or the family. I had no idea of their religious affiliation or if
they had any type of faith belief at all. I made that comment one time in a
group meeting with other chaplains. Another chaplain that had been doing
this for sometime said something I never will forget. He said “Pastor you
are ministering to these people with just the ministry of presence. Your
just being there will bring comfort to them.” WOW. We do need to realize
that our greatest communications sometimes do not come from our lips. It
will often say volumes if we are just willing to be there with them. When
things get rough in a persons life, even if it is someone you love so
dearly, they do not always need you to figure out for them what to do, they
just need to know your there for them.
LETTING THE WORD AFFECT OUR LIVES:
Be willing to be there for someone as they go through hard time. The hardest thing you might do is not give them advice. If they want it, they will usually ask for it. Don’t give unwanted advice, give them much needed love. That’s what Jesus does. He does not take away your ability to decide on your own, but through it all He said I will never leave you nor forsake you. Sometimes we just need to be there.
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June 5th
R – Roles and Responsibilities
GETTING PEOPLE INTO THE WORD OF GOD:
Job 19:14-18 My
kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me. They that
dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an alien in
their sight. I called my servant, and he gave me no answer; I entreated him
with my mouth. My breath is strange to my wife, though I entreated for the
children’s sake of mine own body. Yea, young children despised me; I arose,
and they spake against me. All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom
I loved are turned against me.
GETTING THE WORD OF GOD INTO PEOPLE:
Remember the last time you were sick. Maybe the flu or a bad cold that had you down. Who did you want around? You want your family to see you through it. Do the words chicken soup remind you of anyone? What if your life was turned upside down by a catastrophe? Who would you want around to support you then? Again you would want your family and real close friends. What if a loved one that was close passes away? Who would you want around then? Do you see a pattern here? In all these areas of our lives when something bad happens, we want our loved ones around most. Now for the sake of this devotion, imagine all of those things happening at once. You’re very sick, several people close to you have passed away and a catastrophe has taken everything you have. The only thing left of value is your family and friends. But your friends don’t say much in the way of encouragement. Your wife does not want to be around you because of your illness. Even the children that should respect you because you are their elder ridicule you. How hopeless would you feel? You thought I was talking about Job right? The sad thing is this is how we have treated thousands of elderly in our lives. Age has often taken their health and the catastrophe is that often age also takes their ability to care for themselves and they forfeit everything for daily care. Most of their loved ones have already gone and the ones that they thought would be there for them seem too busy for an old person like them. Our role as children and Christians is to honor our mothers, fathers and elderly until God calls them home. They were responsible in their day to raise us and keep our nation free and God fearing. Let’s do them the honor of treating them with the dignity they deserve. Loneliness is one of life’s greatest tragedies.
LETTING THE WORD AFFECT OUR LIVES:
Respect the elderly with a visit and give them the gift of your time. If you have the chance to teach children this today, you may benefit from it when you get older.
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June 6th
E – Each Other
GETTING PEOPLE INTO THE WORD OF GOD:
Job 22:29 When
men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall
save the humble person.
GETTING THE WORD OF GOD INTO PEOPLE:
The Bible is so very clear in that every problem we have is not always there because of our own sin or even for the sin of others. The life of Job is one case where this is so obviously true. In the New Testament in John chapter nine in verse two you also have the incident with a young man that is blind and the disciples ask is it for his sin or the sin of his parents that he is blind. Jesus answers and says it is for neither, but that the works of God should be made manifest. Too often today people are bombarded with false teaching about why they may be sick. Faith healers would have you believe that if you come to them they can heal you. But if it’s not God’s will for you to be better at that moment all the faith healers lined up back to back slapping you up and down from here around the globe and back again will not heal you. Did you ever think about all those years this young man had to live blind, just so God could be magnified at that moment? The Bible does not say how old he was just that his parents said he was of age, or old enough to answer for himself. God will sometimes use our worst situations to help another in life see that He is God and He is able to help them also. Little did Eliphaz know that what he had told Job would come true. Don’t misunderstand here, Job did not need to repent of a sin he had not committed to be healed as Eliphaz sort of suggested. But what Job went through has helped hundreds of thousands of people since then be encouraged in their faith in God. Seeing Job continually hold God up in the midst of these great trials has been an encouragement to an untold multitude. How about you? Is God using you to be an encouragement to someone else? Are the pains and sufferings that you have gone through able to encourage someone else that God will see them through? When people are feeling low and defeated can you say like this verse, there is a lifting up, or in other words, God will see you through. And if they will humble themselves to the Lord and allow Him too work in their lives, He will.
LETTING THE WORD AFFECT OUR LIVES:
God will not waste your life. He will use it to honor and glorify Himself if we will let Him. We are the only ones guilty of wasting a life that could have been used for Him. How can God use you today? Ask Him today and offer yourself as a living sacrifice.
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June 7th
V - Vision
GETTING PEOPLE
INTO THE WORD OF GOD:
GETTING THE WORD OF GOD INTO PEOPLE:
I have watched some very scary movies in the past. It almost always seems the reason for the fear is something that seems unstoppable. It might be a super villain from another galaxy or a terrible meteor heading toward earth. It may be a tidal wave taller than any sky scraper or a monster that crawled up out of the ooze bent on destroying everything in its path. Some of the scariest movies are the ones that seem more believable. Like an individual that has been emotionally hurt going on some rampage to try and soothe their broken heart. No matter what the situation the fear is that this terror unleashed on society seems completely unstoppable. That no matter what is tried there appears no way of making this terrible activity cease. And then what makes the hero a hero is that they come up with a plan that stops the cause of fear and all of life goes back to normal. In our verses today Job says what he fears is that there is never going to be anything that will stop God from doing as God sees fit. But the term he uses for fear does not always mean frightened. It is used in the sense of a reverent respect. And when you sit to think of the awesomeness of God you must look at Him with a complete and overwhelming sense of wonder. The unknown to us that are simply human will always carry with it a bit of wonderment. That feeling of uncertainty that comes with the unseen and uncontrollable path we must walk day by day. God never seems to show us more than what is just before us. But if we follow Him He never leaves us completely in the dark. Knowing who is in control gives us ease of mind if we only trust Him. God is good, and if our vision for the future will fall in line with His vision for the future life will seem a lot less fearful even in the hard times. The scary movies usually have a good ending, but a lot of scary stuff happens first. Life is no different. As we read the Bible we see that there is a lot of scary stuff coming for those that do not know Christ. But for those of us that do know Him, we will end up living happily ever after.
LETTING THE WORD AFFECT OUR LIVES:
Having a vision for the future is important. Making sure God is central in it is vital.
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June 8th
E - Economics
GETTING PEOPLE INTO THE WORD OF GOD:
GETTING THE WORD OF GOD INTO PEOPLE:
There use to be a TV show where people would come out and an occupation would be displayed for everyone to see. A panel of questioners would ask questions trying to figure out which one really did that job. Their ability to stump the Questioners could earn them money. Sometimes by looking at them it was hard to know which one was really who they said they were. The more that was known about a profession, the easier it seemed by deduction to find out who was real and who was not. Knowing intimate details about a job allowed them to ask more to the point questions narrowing it down to the one who really knew about the occupation. Job uses this same type of reasoning in narrowing down what he thought about God. Knowing God and having an intimate relationship with Him allowed Job to see past the lies that Satan is still deceiving people with today. Gold really offers no hope for eternal happiness. The amount of possessions he had obtained could not change one thing that was happening to him at the moment. If he could have found some way to own the moon and sun or his hands had created wonderful things, even that could not alter what was happening to him. In fact, he says, if I did worship these things, I would deserve everything that has happened to me because I have denied that God is above it all. Now think for a minute, was Job wealthy before all this happened? Absolutely. He had money, property, family, friends, and popularity. Did God count him a sinner and punish him? NO! In fact God told Satan look at faithful Job. Job was a wise man who had planned well for his future. But above it all he knew God personally. None of those things could persuade him. He knew gold was gold and God was God and there is a difference.
LETTING THE WORD AFFECT OUR LIVES:
It’s not a sin to plan financially for the future. It is when those plans and that wealth becomes everything to you that sin has crept in. Your real future is in God.
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June 9th
R – Romance and Relationships
GETTING PEOPLE INTO THE WORD OF GOD:
Job 32:1 So
these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own
eyes.
GETTING THE WORD OF GOD INTO PEOPLE:
They finally shut up. We have all been there before. Almost feeling stuck listening to someone go on and on about something that they really seem to know little about. That is how Job felt. These three friends of his kept trying to convince him that there must be some sin in his life for God to allow or cause this to happen. But Job says no. He keeps telling them there is nothing that I have done that should have caused this. So his three elder friends give up. And they sound almost disgusted with Job, calling him righteous in his own eyes or self-righteous. But wait a minute. Did Job sin to cause this? We all know the answer is no. Did any of the things that these men have accused Job of begin the process of terrible incidences that befell Job? Again the answer is no. So even though these men thought of Job as being self righteous the truth of the matter is, Job knew where he was in relation to God at that moment. His sin had been forgiven and he knew where he stood with God. There was no way anyone was going to cause him to doubt his relationship. In the midst of what everyone would consider the worst of all situations, Job knew that he was right with God. Knowing where we are in our earthly relationships brings peace in the home and our life. Knowing where you are in your heavenly relationship brings peace in your heart. Job knew where he stood with God. Do you?
LETTING THE WORD AFFECT OUR LIVES:
Is there anything that is standing between you and God today? 1 John 1:9 says that if we will confess our sins to Him that He will be faithful and just to be willing to forgive us all our sins. Meaning if we are serious in our repentance of our sins He will always forgive us, that is being faithful. And He will forgive anyone that is sincere, that is being just. But He does not stop there the verse also says He will cleanse from all unrighteousness. That means He makes it like it never ever happened. We can be as Job, secure in our righteousness in Christ. So I ask again, is everything all right between you and God today? If not He has made a way for you to fix that. But you have to go to Him. Wouldn’t be nice to have the peace of Job in your heart today?
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June 10th
F - Foundation
GETTING PEOPLE INTO THE WORD OF GOD:
Job 23:8-10 Behold,
I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:
On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth
himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: But he knoweth the way
that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
GETTING THE WORD OF GOD INTO PEOPLE:
“Ninety-seven, Ninety-eight, ninety-nine, One hundred, ready or not here I come.” Famous words that any five year old child would know. It was the game of Hide and Go seek. While one person hides their eye (or are suppose to) everyone else goes and hides. And there always seemed to be that one person that could really hide well. No matter who was it, we would never be able to find them. And they would not tell anyone where their secret favorite all time best hiding place was. Frustrating would be a good word to describe that situation. And sure as you go and look for someone and turn around, there they were at the home safety zone sitting there just smiling and laughing. Not only did you not know where they were and could not see them, but it seemed as if they knew exactly where you were all the time. It was like they could see you and get back to home without you ever noticing. Aggravating, suspicious and just plain nosy about where that place was would be a few more good descriptive words for that person’s way of playing the game. Job kind of felt this way with God right about now. No matter where he looked he could not find God, and no matter where he went he could not escape Him. So Job did what was the wise and right thing to do. Quit trying. He reasoned with himself, what is the purpose anyway? Why should I try and find God or hide from Him. Everything He does He does for my good anyway. Everything, no matter what it is, makes me a better person. It refines me as fine gold. Oh friend, that we would have a heart more like that of Job. That we quit trying to play hide and go seek with God. Instead we enjoy just presenting ourselves to the creator of all heaven and earth daily and marvel at what He is causing us to become. The Bride fit for His Son, Christ.
LETTING THE WORD AFFECT OUR LIVES:
David was another man that realized He could not escape God. He said in Psalm 139:8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. This truth is still true today. God is everywhere, even with you right there, right now. Welcome His presence with thanksgiving and praise.
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June 11th
O - Openness
GETTING PEOPLE INTO THE WORD OF GOD:
Job 38:1-3 Then
the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Who is this that
darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up now thy loins like a
man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
GETTING THE WORD OF GOD INTO PEOPLE:
We have all seen or heard the actor Jack Nicholson, playing the role of a Col. in the movie “A Few Good Men”, answer the question of “I want the truth” by saying “you can’t handle the truth.” He goes on to say that this Lt could not possibly handle the truth because he had the luxury of not knowing all the details that are necessary to make decisions that put men in harms way. That while one mans death was tragic; these men that were crying foul had no idea how many other men that one life had saved. Now please don’t get me wrong, I am in no way comparing God to Jack Nicolson, but I kind of get that impression of what God is about to say. I find it interesting that God finally decides to speak after Elihu piped off in Chapter thirty six verse two and said “Suffer me a little and I will show thee that I have yet to speak on God’s behalf.” Some have even said that God might have been referring to Elihu when He makes the comment of “who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?” But it is just a likely that He is speaking to Job as God continues with a barrage of about 70 questions that Job must answer. I don’t think God’s intention was to embarrass Job, but to make him realize that you can not speak for God if you don’t know what God is thinking. God sort of says; let me cause you to face the truth. All too often, we just like Job, Elihu and the other men in this book think we have things all figured out, when really we have not received all the information surrounding a matter. So we like them, form an opinion on what may be the truth. But we really don’t have the truth until we gather all the information. So many family and church arguments can and could have been avoided if we would have waited to gather all the truth before we voiced our opinion. Openness in communication is important. But being sure you’re giving it to the right party and that they will handle it properly is just as important. The Bible also tells us to speak the truth in love. It is not only important for us to deal with the truth, but is just as important how we deal with it.
LETTING THE WORD AFFECT OUR LIVES:
Often in communicating the truth it is not so much what we say as how and when we say it. Pray carefully that God might fill your mouth with just what needs to be said.
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June 12th
R – Roles and Relationships
GETTING PEOPLE INTO THE WORD OF GOD:
Job 40:1-5 Moreover
the LORD answered Job, and said, Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty
instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it. Then Job answered
the LORD, and said, Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay
mine hand upon my mouth. Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea,
twice; but I will proceed no further.
GETTING THE WORD OF GOD INTO PEOPLE:
Have you ever
been lost while driving? OK if you answered yes I know that you are either a
male or answering for a male. It’s seems to primarily be a guy thing. “I
know where I’m going.” Famous lost words. The reason I know may be that I
have driven around the same five blocks now five times, but at least I do
know these blocks real well. So how do you stop going around those blocks
for a sixth time? JUST STOP IT! Get off and ask for (here it come guys)
directions. It only hurts for a little while. And really the pain of
humbling yourself asking for directions is no where near the pain of
listening to the co-pilot on your journey yell at you for being stubborn and
pig headed and, well, you know all those pretty names they have for us,
right? In these verses today Job decides to STOP IT. He had been saying in
earlier chapters that he wished God would just come down and talk with him;
give him a chance to plead his case. Now he’s faced with God right there
asking him, Job, do you have anything you want to say? And Job says I am
going to put my hand over my mouth. I opened my mouth once and said
something really dumb. And now that I think of it, I did it twice. And the
second time was just as goofy as the first. God I am humbled by what you
have said and I am not going to keep opening my mouth and saying thoughtless
things to or about you. Job had realized that he had made a wrong turn in
challenging God. When presented with God’s Holiness, the righteousness Job
spoke of earlier did not look so good. When presented with God’s wisdom,
Jobs logic in chapters before sounds like child’s babble. Job says I am not
going to make myself look even dumber by trying to argue with you about
anything. That is the relationship we are to have with our God. I’ll do what
you say, the way you say it, because any other way truly will not make any
sense at all. And that goes for being the spouse I am suppose to be too.
What you say Lord is right.
LETTING THE WORD AFFECT OUR LIVES:
Oh Lord, help me commit my life, my home, my family, my all to you again today.
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June 13th
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June 14th
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June 15th
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June 16th
R – Romance and Relationships
GETTING PEOPLE INTO THE WORD OF GOD:
Psalm 26:3 For
thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.
GETTING THE WORD OF GOD INTO PEOPLE:
Who would you rather be around? A leader that continually tells you how terrible you are or one that tells you how wonderful you can be? Who would you be more apt to follow? Someone that helped you when you made a mistake and taught you how not to do that again or one that had a fit over every single mistake you make? Which leader would have your loyalty? The one that told you the truth and displayed the character they desired or one that continually deceived you and said do as I say, not as I do? Well the answer seems so obvious. And that is our God. Lovingkindness is a theme that runs throughout all of the Psalms. Often the word for lovingkindness and mercy are interchanged. It is the difference between the Lord God Jehovah and the false gods of the world and Satan. Our God displays His love for us and draws us to Himself. Our love for Him is what should compel us to desire to please Him. False gods of the world are demanding gods. Demanding that you do for them with nothing given in return. Our God sent His son to die for us. False gods demand we die for them. The Lord God Almighty has provided for our every need while false gods demand that you provide for them in order to receive their blessings. Lovingkindness is what draws us to our God. If that is what draws us to God, then what would draw us to one another? You’ve got it, lovingkindness and mercy toward each other. A love that would rather give to someone else and by doing so finds the real joy of life seeing others happy. A love that desires to provide for the other. A love and mercy that overlooks the flaws we each have. Lovingkindness always draws others.
LETTING THE WORD AFFECT OUR LIVES:
Think today of how you might be more like Him. How can you show lovingkindness to those that you desire to love you? There has been a great commercial on television for the last few Christmas seasons that says, love is not love until you give it away. God’s love gives. Does ours? Oh God, help us be more like you everyday.
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June 17th
F - Foundation
GETTING PEOPLE INTO THE WORD OF GOD:
Psalm 5:3
My
voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O
LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look
up.
GETTING THE WORD OF GOD INTO PEOPLE:
I saw this glass blower on TV one time and became fascinated with what he was doing. He would take a glass tube and place it over a hot heat and then after a few minutes he would look at it and if it did not look right he took a tool and cut it off and began again. He repeated this several times and the commentator asked him why he kept rejecting all those pieces. The artist said something like, “I am preparing to make a very special and unique piece of artwork and if I do not begin well there is no way I can end well, so I am very selective about what I use to start this project. How true that is of every single day that God give us here on this earth. We are creating a very special and unique piece of artwork with our lives every single day. No one can duplicate who we are or our interaction with all those we come in contact with. If we do not begin well with the right materials in our heart and mind, how on earth can we ever hope to end well? This is true of our days and also true of our relationships. If we do not begin well how can we hope to end well. This glass artist had several pieces of work on a shelf for a few dollars each, but the best was behind glass with price tags of thousands. To the untrained eye they may have looked the same. But to the master artist the differences made some more valuable than others. In the hand of God He can make a masterpiece of each of us. But we should try and give Him the best materials to work with. Yielding to Him a heart and mind that is focused on Him and His word. A willing servant that is ready to be molded into what He wants to make of us. Starting each day by looking and listening to Him.
LETTING THE WORD AFFECT OUR LIVES:
Today
my prayer is that God would find me suitable to be used by Him.
Beginning my day with the expectation of God’s hand
molding my life.
Daily
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June 18th
O - Openness
GETTING PEOPLE INTO THE WORD OF GOD:
Psalm 29:4 The
voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.
GETTING THE WORD OF GOD INTO PEOPLE:
When you think of God speaking, what do you think of? Here in the twenty ninth Psalm David refers to the voice of God as thunder. Thunder! That rolling booming sound that often accompanies a storm. Thunder! It can not been seen but the vibrations of its sound can shake and rattle the walls of any home. Thunder! Causing a playful child to suddenly run to the protective care of mother’s arms. It sounds scary, powerful and destructive. David in describing the power in the voice of God as he tells of the flood that destroyed all but a few on the earth. Seven times David uses the term the voice of the Lord, which is also the number of times God spoke to Noah in Genesis. In each verse in this Psalm the power of God to do with and to alter nature as He sees fit is displayed by the thunder of His voice. But wait a moment and think of this also. This was the same voice that created all we know today as earth and home. It was the same voice of God that gave warning to Noah and his family. And the same voice of the Lord that told them to get safely into the ark. Moses heard the voice of God from a burning bush. In first Kings Chapter nineteen we hear of Elijah listening for the voice of God. We read of a strong wind, an earthquake and fire and Elijah listening to hear the voice of the Lord in each of them did not hear from God at all. But following all the catastrophic events, there was the still small voice of God that spoke to Elijah in the mouth of a cave. Paul was blinded by a bright light and heard the voice of God speak to him in the air. It was the loving voice of God that called your heart to repentance. And it is the voice of a Holy God through the Spirit of God that speaks to you daily. The power of God is displayed in the picture of thunder, but only those that will not listen need fear. The love of God is shown in a still small voice, but only those that are listening will hear. What will God need to do to speak to you today? Thunder or Whisper? Either way the verse for today is true. “The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.”
LETTING THE WORD AFFECT OUR LIVES:
Pray that today you may seek His still small voice while it may be heard.
Daily
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June 19th
R – Roles and Responsibilities
GETTING PEOPLE INTO THE WORD OF GOD:
Psalm 37:25 I
have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken,
nor his seed begging bread.
GETTING THE WORD OF GOD
INTO PEOPLE:
When I was
younger I heard the phrase “If you work hard and keep your nose clean you’ll
do alright in this world.” I never could figure out how blowing my nose fit
into that but I did understand the hard work part. (I’m joking about the
nose blowing; I know my dad meant to stay out of trouble.) I think today we
have the same truths available even if it seems harder in this day and age.
I do realize taxes have risen and the cost of living is continually going
up. I have seen the wages of hard working people lowered instead of the
expected raises you would have seen twenty years ago. I have watched as Oil
Companies claim record breaking profits and yet continue to raise the price
of gas on the consumers because they just don’t seem to have enough. I even
saw the housing market that had been a safe investment for as long as I can
remember take a dive and several properties that were well maintained go
down in value rather than up. But with all this happening, there is still
God’s word. God says if a man does not work he should not eat in
LETTING THE WORD AFFECT OUR LIVES:
How good to know that we have a God that watches out for our every need.
Daily
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June 20th
E – Each Other
GETTING PEOPLE INTO THE WORD OF GOD:
Psalm 40:1-3a
I waited patiently for the LORD; and he
inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible
pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my
goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God:
………
GETTING THE WORD OF GOD INTO PEOPLE:
The church has been referred to in scripture as the Bride of Christ. In Ephesians Paul likens the church as being subject to Christ. If we just stopped there and thought about being subject to someone we might get a negative impression of what that means. Hollywood and cartoons have given us a picture of the king and his loyal subjects that must bow and grovel. Those that are not loyal are treated as slaves or killed. But that is not the image we should get of our Lord. We are subject to our Lord Jesus Christ because of what He