Archive for March, 2010

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BRINGING SONS TO GLORY

Saturday, March 20th, 2010

Day 34

“When Christ, who is your life, appears,
then you also will appear with Him in glory”
Colossians 3:4

There is no romantic idealism in Christianity.

Jesus told us of this reality, that the kingdom of God is taken by violence and anyone who follows Jesus must deny himself and take up His cross. He that loves father, mother, brother and sister more than Christ is not worthy of Him.

We are chosen as His sons and daughters and will be glorified in Him. Bringing us to glory begins with our walk in Him. When we are born into His family, we must pass through stages of growth in the spirit as we do in the natural. Each of these stages has a direction, a destination, and problems along the way. At salvation we face not only leaving the world, but having the world taken out of our heart as well. When we begin growing in Christ, we reach the stage where we must lose our life to gain His life. Here, the self-life must die. When we come to maturity and the fullness of Christ, we must drive the enemies of our soul out.

But, the good news is that we did not choose Him, He chose us. It is His faithfulness that will see us through this journey and He will accomplish His purposes in us. God’s word says in Hebrews that He will save us to the uttermost. We will be glorified in Him!

“And so we will be with the Lord forever”
1 Thessalonians 4:17b

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UNEQUALED LOVE

Friday, March 19th, 2010

Day 33

“God demonstrates His own love toward us”
Romans 5:8

There is a great section in Ezekiel that gives a very graphic description of the natural man as a sinner and separated from God. The Lord said, “No eye looked with pity on you to do any of these things for you, to have compassion on you. Rather you were thrown out into the open field, for you were abhorred on the day you were born” [Ezekiel 16:5].

There is a total hopelessness and helplessness in the person separated from God. Have you ever looked into the eyes of people as you walked through your city or town? Everywhere you turn, you see empty eyes, depressed and sad. There is no hope in them. They cannot hear God. They cannot come to Christ. They cannot obey the law, or be good and pleasing to God.

Yet, when God passed by, “…and saw you squirming in your blood, I said to you while you were in your blood, ‘Live!’ … Then I bathed you with water, washed off your blood from you, and anointed you with oil” [Ezekiel 16:6]. Here is life; where there is hopelessness and helplessness, Christ offers life over death. He gives life because He gave His life and died for you.

Here is love: it is the care and affection that one has for another, which causes one to seek the other’s good and happiness through the sacrifice of himself for the ones whom he loves. Love cannot be proven but through demonstration. But “God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” [Romans 5:8]. This is the glory of the Lord.

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid
down His life for us. And we ought to lay down
our lives for our brothers”
1 John 3:16

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HE IS OUR CAPTAIN

Thursday, March 18th, 2010

DAY 32

“And everyone . . . gathered to him;
and he became captain over them”
1 Samuel 22:2

David was anointed king, but his time had not arrived. King Saul was still in office and in pursuit of David, making him a fugitive. At one point in his running, David had faked insanity to avoid King Achish possibly killing him. He then escaped to the cave Adullam where his brothers and father’s household came to him.

Another group of people also joined David in the cave. Everyone who was in distress, debt and discontent gathered to him. Approximately 400 of these people became David’s men, and he became captain over them. Although David had more than enough of his own problems, he took these people in and made them part of his company. He took on the accountability of leadership over them.

This paints a great picture of Jesus Christ as the Captain of our salvation. He said he didn’t come for the healthy, but the sick. As Shepherd and King, He searches out those who are in distress, debt, and discontent. He has come for those who are weary and burdened. Even He was born humbly, and when He ministered it was to sinners and the destitute. He knows our weaknesses and infirmities. Yes, He is our Captain, to the end.

“For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom
are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory,
to make the captain of their salvation
perfect through sufferings”
Hebrews 2:10

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THE BLIND MAN

Wednesday, March 17th, 2010

Day 29

“I am the man”
John 9:9

People wrestle with the question of pain, suffering and evil in their own lives and in the lives of those close to them. Even the disciples judged the blind man as one who had sinned. When they asked Jesus about it, He quickly replied that the man wasn’t a sinner; that it was an opportunity for Jesus to demonstrate God’s glory. He then restored the blind man’s sight.

The blind man obeyed Jesus and then saw. Those who had known him were unsure if he was the same man. The miracle was so significant that they could not understand it and began questioning him. Was he the same man? How did this happen? He finally declared, “I am the man.” Yet, he was pressed further by the crowd, and then by the Pharisees. He again declared that he was healed by Jesus and, although having been a beggar, made an articulate and powerful testimony of God’s work and glory.

We were once blind, and now see. The change in us should be so significant that it baffles those who knew us before. We should declare that it is so because Jesus Christ has called us as His own and we now reflect the glory of God.

“And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect
the Lord’s glory, are being transformed
into His likeness with ever-increasing
glory, which comes from the Lord”
2 Corinthians 3:18

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MAN OF WAR

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

Day 30

“The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he
shall stir up jealousy like a man of war:
he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall
prevail against his enemies. ”
Isaiah 42:13

God is a man of war and He battles for His people. When the Israelites left Egypt, they journeyed to the edge of the desert. The Lord had them turn back and camp at the Red Sea. Pharaoh thought he had them trapped and moved against them. The Israelites cried out to God and complained, but God had permitted this to demonstrate His protection for Israel. Then the Lord told Moses to hold his staff over the sea, and it was separated for their safe passage. God then closed the sea on their pursuers.

Moses and the Israelites sang a song and said, “The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name” [Exodus 15:3]. Many times after this, the Lord showed Himself as a protector of His people; a man of war, delivering them again and again. God will save His children, and they will not be lost. Even if the enemy comes and seizes you, the Lord will rise up and do battle to save you.

Do you live in bondage? Has your enemy overwhelmed you? Do you have a Goliath in your life? Goliath once had the whole army of Israel cowering in fear and God delivered them through a young teenager named David, who killed Goliath with one stone. So stand up, and declare who you are in Christ. Call upon your Lord and turn your face to Him. He will deliver you.

They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will
overcome them because He is the Lord of lords and
King of kings – and with Him will be his called,
chosen and faithful followers”
Revelation 17:14

Posted in Bondage, Fatherhood | No Comments »

THE GLORY OF THE LORD

Monday, March 15th, 2010

Day 31

“Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord rises upon you”
Isaiah 60:1

This verse is addressing those lost in darkness, and those responsible for putting themselves in darkness. Darkness brings despair and hopelessness. Yet, it is from that place that God will bring light out of darkness. He will cause the light to shine on the very people that put themselves in darkness. He will substitute freedom for the prison in which they shut themselves. He will cause shouts of joy to come out of humiliation. The crooked way will be made straight.

Yes, our God delivers even those who put themselves into darkness! And He not only delivers, but He also restores and makes wrongs right. All tears will be wiped away. God’s people will be the delight of the Lord. And those who have been in despair, distress, debt; the broken, forsaken, rejected, and abused will be the glory of the Lord. God Himself will be glorified by what they become.

This is the hope in our hopelessness. If darkness comes in our life, even by our own hands, we will not be lost. God says that His arm is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear us. He cares for us, and Christ is the hope of our glory. His mercy covers us, and His compassion is new every morning.

“Then you will look and be radiant,
your heart will throb and swell with joy”
Isaiah 60:5

Posted in Darkness, Forgiveness, Glory, God's glory | No Comments »

HE GOT IN THE BOAT

Sunday, March 14th, 2010

DAY 28

“Who comforts us in all our afflictions”
2 Corinthians 1:4

There is something extraordinary about God. The disciples took a boat journey that turned into a nightmare when a vicious storm hit them. Jesus saw them in distress and calmed the storm. Then He did something else, something extraordinary – He got in the boat to comfort them!

That is who God is – our Comforter. His name means “to come alongside; to strengthen”. Paul said that God comforts us in all our afflictions. His comfort is an assurance of His love and sovereign goodness in the midst of our suffering. It is His peace, hope, and joy in the midst of suffering. God strengthens us so that we can overcome hardship when we encounter it in our lives.

His comfort is for all kinds of suffering. It may be suffering the consequences of a fallen world, our own sins, or others’ sins against us, sickness, financial failure, marital problems, employment needs or suffering in serving Christ. We are not exempt from suffering, and there is a reason that God permits suffering in our lives. Paul tells us, “…this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead” (2 Corinthians 1:9).

His comfort is given so that we will learn and know Him, and then we may in turn comfort our brethren in their need.

“As a mother comforts her child,
so will I comfort you”
Isaiah 66:13

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POSSESSING THE LAND

Saturday, March 13th, 2010

Day 27

“I will give you every place
where you set your foot”
Joshua 1:3

Our journey in this life can be both exciting and challenging. Predestined to glory, we share and serve in His kingdom during our time on earth.

Serving in the kingdom is to take possession of what God has given us. Joshua is an example. Leading God’s people to the Promised Land, he received the promise that every place he set his feet, it would be given to him. He was a warrior, and was to drive the enemy out of the Promised Land. It was God’s land; set aside for His people and here they were promised they would find rest. God told Joshua that “no man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life . . . I will be with you: I will not fail or forsake you” (Joshua 1:5).

The same promise is ours today.

God has given us everything pertaining to life and godliness. If we seek the Kingdom of God first and His righteousness, then all these things shall be added to us (2 Peter 1:3; Matthew 6:33). Imagine, the whole Kingdom is before us, and everywhere we set our feet, we will possess it.

“Not one of all the Lord’s good promises
to the house of Israel failed;
everyone was fulfilled.”
Joshua 21:43

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LIKE HIM

Friday, March 12th, 2010

Day 26

“We shall be like Him”
1 John 3:2

One of the great promises and hope we have is the final outcome of our life. Christ, the hope of our glory, reaches all the way to our eternal state. Today we are children of God, and tomorrow there will be a full revelation of what the children of God will be. Today we are to reflect God, tomorrow the fullness and completion of that reflection will be seen for we shall be like Him.

The Son of God humbled Himself by taking on the likeness of man. Subject to temptation, trials and suffering, He demonstrated how to live a life pleasing to the Father. And by lowering Himself He has lifted us up. Through His death and resurrection He made us conquerors with Him. Through His ascension and sitting at the right hand of God, He made the way for our glorification.

When Jesus appears we will be transformed and we shall be like Him, for we shall see God as God is. Because no one has ever seen God except the Son, and the Son makes God known, we shall see God face to face as the Son. He went before us to prepare the way. This is our hope.

“And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit”

2 Corinthians 3:18

Posted in Eternity, Glorification, Transformed | No Comments »

THE IMPOSSIBLE

Thursday, March 11th, 2010

Day 25

“With men it is impossible, but not
with God; for all things are possible with God”
Mark 10:27

A sinner cannot change themselves into being saved. The Rich Young man sadly found this to be true. Man’s religions and philosophies all have a system that requires working to attain the promise of life. It is all wrapped up in our self-strength.

The Rich Young Man asked what he had to do to inherit eternal life and the answer was that he had to be perfect in every way. That is impossible for man. Neither works nor moral purity saves us. As much as we try, we cannot change ourselves. Our nature wants to desperately lay claim to self-sufficiency. We have to have a part in it. But, it isn’t to be so with God.

It is by grace we have been saved. We were chosen in Him and God has declared that He “will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion” (Romans 9:15-16). So then it does not depend on our will, but on the will of Him who has mercy on us. It is His choice. This is the greatness of our salvation – it is He who saved us, not by works, but by grace. All the glory goes to Him and Him alone, because man’s hand has not been in his own salvation.

“In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons
through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His
pleasure and will – to the praise of
His glorious grace”
Ephesians 1:5-6

Posted in Compassion, Mercy, Salvation, Sin, Works | No Comments »

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