October 31 - The Trial of Faith
WOW! I tell you what...today's devotion is just for me! As I read today's writings and Scriptures, I am praising God for His faithfulness! As I am writing this, I have tears in my eyes thinking about my blessed life (so many things, particularly Andrew) and the trial I endured exactly two years ago. On Halloween in 2006 I was having a D and C surgery to remove the life that was once inside of me. God was showing me, in a huge way, that I was putting my desire to have a child before my relationship with Him. I had to ask Him to help me have the faith to know that His ways are perfect and that all things work together for good. As O.C. says, "God frequently has to knock the bottom out of your experience as His saint to get you in direct contact with Himself". That is what He did...He knocked the bottom out of my experience and I am thankful that He did. I am continually learning from Him, although this was one of the toughest trials He has put me through. Praise be to Him! He is so faithful!
October 30 - Faith
"God brings us into particular circumstances to educate our faith, because the nature of faith is to make the object of our faith very real to us."
Some verses on FAITH:
Matthew 17:20
"He replied, 'Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.'"
Luke 12:28
"Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!"
Romans 5:1
"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we ow stand."
Hebrews 11:1
"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."
Hebrews 12:2
"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinfyl men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
2 Peter 1:5-9
"For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins."
Some verses on FAITH:
Matthew 17:20
"He replied, 'Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.'"
Luke 12:28
"Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!"
Romans 5:1
"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we ow stand."
Hebrews 11:1
"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."
Hebrews 12:2
"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinfyl men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
2 Peter 1:5-9
"For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins."
October 29 - Substitution
"Our sins are removed because of the death of Jesus, and the only explanation for His death is His obedience to his Father, not His sympathy for us. We are acceptable to God not because we have obeyed, nor because we have promised to give up things, but because of the death of Christ, and for no other reason."
As I study the book of John, one characteristic of Jesus that I continuously see is his focus on His Father. His main goal in all of His actions and His words was to do the will of the Father and to bring glory to Him. In John 4:34, Jesus says, "'My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work'". John 5:19 says, ""'I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does'". John 5:30 says, "'By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me'".
Jesus is the ultimate example.
As I study the book of John, one characteristic of Jesus that I continuously see is his focus on His Father. His main goal in all of His actions and His words was to do the will of the Father and to bring glory to Him. In John 4:34, Jesus says, "'My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work'". John 5:19 says, ""'I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does'". John 5:30 says, "'By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me'".
Jesus is the ultimate example.
October 28 - Justification by Faith
"Sinful men and women can be changed into new creations, not through their repentance or their belief, but through the wonderful work of God in Christ Jesus which preceded all of our experience."
God always has been and always will be. He is in charge of working in the hearts of His people to bring them to Himself. Although we are called to share our faith, there is nothing we can do to save our friends and family who don't believe. God is the one who has the power. As the Scripture O.C. uses today, Romans 5:10, says, "...We shall be saved by His life". "I am made right with God because, prior to all of that, Christ died."
God always has been and always will be. He is in charge of working in the hearts of His people to bring them to Himself. Although we are called to share our faith, there is nothing we can do to save our friends and family who don't believe. God is the one who has the power. As the Scripture O.C. uses today, Romans 5:10, says, "...We shall be saved by His life". "I am made right with God because, prior to all of that, Christ died."
October 27 - The Method of Missions
First of all, ladies...I am sorry that it's taken me until 8:30 PM to post!
Today's devotion goes along with the mission of our church: Making disciples. It should be what we are about! Knowing Him and telling others of that knowledge so that they too may know HIM.
O.C. warns us of how we can use this mission to benefit ourselves. He says, "Remember that there is a passion for souls that does not come from God, but from our desire to make converts to our point of view." The more we are in the Word, being obedient, and loving Him, the more we will keep it ALL ABOUT HIM and not about ourselves.
Today's devotion goes along with the mission of our church: Making disciples. It should be what we are about! Knowing Him and telling others of that knowledge so that they too may know HIM.
O.C. warns us of how we can use this mission to benefit ourselves. He says, "Remember that there is a passion for souls that does not come from God, but from our desire to make converts to our point of view." The more we are in the Word, being obedient, and loving Him, the more we will keep it ALL ABOUT HIM and not about ourselves.
October 24 - The Proper Perspective
Paul saw himself as part of God's triumphal procession. My Bible talks about this idea as being like a Roman triumphal procession where an ancient general would lead a victory parade when returning to his own city, with his captives following behind.
This, O.C. says, is the proper perspective to maintain: "That we are here for only one purpose - to be captives marching in the procession of Christ's triumphs." With that one goal in mind, it is to be my joy to be a captive of the Lord!
This, O.C. says, is the proper perspective to maintain: "That we are here for only one purpose - to be captives marching in the procession of Christ's triumphs." With that one goal in mind, it is to be my joy to be a captive of the Lord!
October 23 - Nothing of the Old Life
As O.C. points out today, the Holy Spirit begins to work in us when we are born again. Slowly we are transformed until there is nothing of the old life left in us. I love the verse O.C. uses today - 2 Corinthians 5:17.
Praise the Lord for what He accomplished on the cross! "God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them....God mad him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:19,21).
My study Bible has great notes on these verses. "Not only did God reckon our sin to Christ's account, he also reckoned Christ's perfect obedience to our account, so that we are counted as having kept the law flawlessly. This provides the basis for the progressive conforming of our moral character, thoughts and deeds to God's standard of justice, until we perfectly meet that standard when we enter into the presence of God in heaven." :)
Praise the Lord for what He accomplished on the cross! "God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them....God mad him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:19,21).
My study Bible has great notes on these verses. "Not only did God reckon our sin to Christ's account, he also reckoned Christ's perfect obedience to our account, so that we are counted as having kept the law flawlessly. This provides the basis for the progressive conforming of our moral character, thoughts and deeds to God's standard of justice, until we perfectly meet that standard when we enter into the presence of God in heaven." :)
October 22 - The Witness of the Spirit
OK, so I think that what O.C. says DIRECTLY to me today is my new favorite quote.
"Why doesn't God reveal Himself to you? He cannot. It is not that He will not, but He cannot, because you are in the way as long as you won't abandon yourself to Him in total surrender...As soon as you abandon your own reasoning and arguing, God witnesses to what He has done, and you are amazed at your total disrespect in having kept Him waiting."
Wow! It comes down to this...We are to love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our strength. (Deut. 6:5) If I am loving Him, I am obeying Him and vice versa. He calls us to put ourselves aside and come to Him (Matthew 11:28). We cannot do it in our own strength. We have to ask Him for help daily.
"Why doesn't God reveal Himself to you? He cannot. It is not that He will not, but He cannot, because you are in the way as long as you won't abandon yourself to Him in total surrender...As soon as you abandon your own reasoning and arguing, God witnesses to what He has done, and you are amazed at your total disrespect in having kept Him waiting."
Wow! It comes down to this...We are to love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our strength. (Deut. 6:5) If I am loving Him, I am obeying Him and vice versa. He calls us to put ourselves aside and come to Him (Matthew 11:28). We cannot do it in our own strength. We have to ask Him for help daily.
October 21 - Impulsiveness or Discipleship?
I like the end of the devotion today where O.C. talks about discipleship being "built entirely on the supernatural grace of God". Being a disciple of Jesus means leaning on the grace of God, not only in crises, but to "live twenty-four hours of every day as a saint, going through drudgery, and living an ordinary, unnoticed, and ignored existence as a disciple of Jesus".
O.C. points out that we do not have to live our lives doing exceptional things for God, although He may be calling some to that. But, not doing exceptional things does not mean that we don't have to BE exceptional! Whatever we are doing, staying at home with our children, taking care of our husbands, etc. These things are to be done exceptionally, to the glory of the Father.
O.C. points out that we do not have to live our lives doing exceptional things for God, although He may be calling some to that. But, not doing exceptional things does not mean that we don't have to BE exceptional! Whatever we are doing, staying at home with our children, taking care of our husbands, etc. These things are to be done exceptionally, to the glory of the Father.
October 20 - Is God's Will My Will?
"Am I willing to let Jesus become sanctification to me, and to let His life be exhibited in my human flesh?"
"Am I willing to let God do in me everything that has been made possible through the atonement of the Cross of Christ?"
He is so fulfilling! Yet I settle for so much less. He is always there. Yet I am not always willing.
"Am I willing to let God do in me everything that has been made possible through the atonement of the Cross of Christ?"
He is so fulfilling! Yet I settle for so much less. He is always there. Yet I am not always willing.
October 17 - The Key of the Greater Work
Today, I decided to do a word study on prayer. Here are several of the verses that God used in my devotion today.
What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to him?
Deuteronomy 4:7
As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you.
1 Samuel 12:23a
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land
2 Chronicles 7:14
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you
Matthew 5:44
And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
Matthew 6:5
This, then, is how you should pray:
"Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
Matthew 6:9
Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."
Matthew 26:36
On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation."
Luke 22:40
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise.
James 5:13
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous man is powerful and effective.
James 5:16
What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to him?
Deuteronomy 4:7
As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you.
1 Samuel 12:23a
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land
2 Chronicles 7:14
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you
Matthew 5:44
And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
Matthew 6:5
This, then, is how you should pray:
"Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
Matthew 6:9
Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."
Matthew 26:36
On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation."
Luke 22:40
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise.
James 5:13
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous man is powerful and effective.
James 5:16
October 16 - The Key to the Master's Orders
Today's devotion brought me to the passage in Scripture (John 17) where Jesus prays for Himself. Jesus is all about His Father's work and every facet of His life reflected that. He is the ultimate example.
John 17:1-5: "After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: 'Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.'"
Jesus lived on earth to glorify the Father. He was, as said before, all about His Father's work. His actions, His relationships, His thoughts, and His prayers were so focused. I like when O.C. says, at the end of the devotion, "Our Lord calls us to no special work - He calls us to Himself". That is what I am to be about.
John 17:1-5: "After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: 'Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.'"
Jesus lived on earth to glorify the Father. He was, as said before, all about His Father's work. His actions, His relationships, His thoughts, and His prayers were so focused. I like when O.C. says, at the end of the devotion, "Our Lord calls us to no special work - He calls us to Himself". That is what I am to be about.
October 15 - The Key to the Missionary's Message
"The missionary's message is the limitless importance of Jesus Christ as the propitiation for our sins (1 John 2:2), and a missionary is someone who is immersed in the truth of that revelation...A missionary is someone who is bound by marriage to the stated mission and purpose of his Lord and Master."
I am a missionary. This is what I am to be about. How short I fall. Lord, I desperately need your help in living out this message!
I am a missionary. This is what I am to be about. How short I fall. Lord, I desperately need your help in living out this message!
October 10th - Proverb of the Day
OK, I'm totally deviating from plan today... Vikki- I think you are probably the only one reading, so I hope you don't mind.
The world's economy is in a giant mess. Many, many people have seen over 40% of their retirement savings vanish in the past 30 days. Wow.
I found today's Proverb (#10) to have some good words on the topic:
"Ill-gotten gains do not profit, But righteousness delivers from death. "
"The Lord will not allow the righteous to hunger, But He will thrust aside the craving of the wicked. "
" Poor is he who works with a negligent hand, But the hand of the diligent makes rich.
He who gathers in summer is a son who acts wisely, But he who sleeps in harvest is a son who acts shamefully."
"He who walks in integrity walks securely, But he who perverts his ways will be found out."
"The rich man's wealth is his fortress, The ruin of the poor is their poverty." (so, somewhere in the middle must be good)
"The wages of the righteous is life, the income of the wicked, punishment."
"IIt is the blessing of the Lord that makes rich, And He adds no sorrow to it."
And, finally:
"What the wicked fears will come upon him, and the desire of the righteous will be granted."
"When the whirlwind passs, the wicked is no more, But the righteous has an everlasting foundation."
I heard two young children talking about the economic crisis this week. One of them commented that "they" (whoever "they" is) should go to jail for all of this mess. The other commented that perhaps God was using this to turn people toward Himself. Perhaps He will use this to turn His own people back toward Himself.
The world's economy is in a giant mess. Many, many people have seen over 40% of their retirement savings vanish in the past 30 days. Wow.
I found today's Proverb (#10) to have some good words on the topic:
"Ill-gotten gains do not profit, But righteousness delivers from death. "
"The Lord will not allow the righteous to hunger, But He will thrust aside the craving of the wicked. "
" Poor is he who works with a negligent hand, But the hand of the diligent makes rich.
He who gathers in summer is a son who acts wisely, But he who sleeps in harvest is a son who acts shamefully."
"He who walks in integrity walks securely, But he who perverts his ways will be found out."
"The rich man's wealth is his fortress, The ruin of the poor is their poverty." (so, somewhere in the middle must be good)
"The wages of the righteous is life, the income of the wicked, punishment."
"IIt is the blessing of the Lord that makes rich, And He adds no sorrow to it."
And, finally:
"What the wicked fears will come upon him, and the desire of the righteous will be granted."
"When the whirlwind passs, the wicked is no more, But the righteous has an everlasting foundation."
I heard two young children talking about the economic crisis this week. One of them commented that "they" (whoever "they" is) should go to jail for all of this mess. The other commented that perhaps God was using this to turn people toward Himself. Perhaps He will use this to turn His own people back toward Himself.
October 8 - The Exclusiveness of Christ
OK, I really like good gut check material. In this world (or at least our culture) we can hustle and bustle so fast that we really can fast forward right through life. Gut check stuff helps me pause and evaluate. O.C. writes "If you want to know how real you are, test yourself... in every degree in which you are not real, you will dispute rather than come...quibble rather than come...go through sorrow rather than come...anything rather than come (unto Jesus)..."
He also writes that "something must happen in you before you can come." For me, it is usually as simple as slowing down. When I slow down, my priorities shift (away from myself) and I let go of whatever it is onto which I've been holding.
He also writes that "something must happen in you before you can come." For me, it is usually as simple as slowing down. When I slow down, my priorities shift (away from myself) and I let go of whatever it is onto which I've been holding.
October 7 - Reconciliation
"Jesus Christ rehabilitated the human race; He put it back to where God designed it to be..." Christ alone has the capacity to redeem us - by identifying with our situation and transforming the nature of our existence. Sin is usually viewed as wrong doing. Here, O.C. reminds us that it is actually wrong "being" and is impossible to change, absent Christ's work in our hearts.
October 6 - The Bent of Regeneration
"I have a heredity I had no say in; I am not holy, nor likely to be; and if all Jesus Christ can do is tell me I must be holy, His teaching plants despair."
I think an awful lot of Christians are living here - at the edge of despair --woefully aware of exactly where and how they are falling short of the standard. Herculean attempts are made to act like a good Christian, but it is tatamount to a tree grunting and groaning in an effort to "pop out" good fruit. John 15 tells us that abiding or remaining in Christ is the only true source of joy for our soul.
Nevertheless, as O.C. points out "I have to get there. God cannot put into me...the disposition that was in Jesus unless I am conscious I need it." I'm curious as to examples of people becoming conscious of the need. At what point in a Christian's life does this realization of limitations usually occur?
I think an awful lot of Christians are living here - at the edge of despair --woefully aware of exactly where and how they are falling short of the standard. Herculean attempts are made to act like a good Christian, but it is tatamount to a tree grunting and groaning in an effort to "pop out" good fruit. John 15 tells us that abiding or remaining in Christ is the only true source of joy for our soul.
Nevertheless, as O.C. points out "I have to get there. God cannot put into me...the disposition that was in Jesus unless I am conscious I need it." I'm curious as to examples of people becoming conscious of the need. At what point in a Christian's life does this realization of limitations usually occur?
October 2 - The Sphere of Humiliation
I think it is neat how O.C. says that the valley is the place where the meaning of the vision is explained. I kind of had a "mountain top" experience a few years back where God revealed some things to me that I had not previously comprehended. Since then, it has been a challenge sometimes to hold to that vision, especially when going through the valley of the common place. As O.C. says "When you were on the mount, you could believe anything, but what about the time when you were up against facts in the valley?" At those times, I hold on to John 6:29 and remember that my #1 responsibility is to BELIEVE in Him who He has sent!!
October 1- The Sphere of Exaltation
I have really come to believe that we are "built for the valley, for the ordinary stuff we are in." I am convinced that, for some reason, God is glorified the most when we bring Him in to the earthy, fleshy aspects our lives. Otherwise, I can conceive of no reason for Him to have created us in the first place.
Everyone wants to live on the mount - the times on the mount make us know that there is a heaven and give us a hint of what life there will be like. Our hearts should (and do) long for that time. Nevertheless, we need to be content in the here and now, knowing that there is a greater purpose for the circumstances in which we find our selves. 1 Peter 5:10
Everyone wants to live on the mount - the times on the mount make us know that there is a heaven and give us a hint of what life there will be like. Our hearts should (and do) long for that time. Nevertheless, we need to be content in the here and now, knowing that there is a greater purpose for the circumstances in which we find our selves. 1 Peter 5:10
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