Tag: God

Lord, this is my prayer; there is not a single moment of my life for which I don’t have a need for your Direction. Psalm 119:73-80

Psalm 119:73-80 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

73 Your hands have made and fashioned me;
    give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.
74 Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice,
    because I have hoped in your word.
75 I know, O Lord, that your judgments are right
    and that in faithfulness you have humbled me.
76 Let your steadfast love become my comfort
    according to your promise to your servant.
77 Let your mercy come to me, that I may live,
    for your law is my delight.
78 Let the arrogant be put to shame,
    for they have subverted me with guile;
    as for me, I will meditate on your precepts.
79 Let those who fear you turn to me,
    so that they may know your decrees.
80 May my heart be blameless in your statutes,
    so that I may not be put to shame.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

How Much More Knowledge Shall We Receive From the Lord?

God knows us so well that he knows the best way to teach us what he wants us to know. Let’s celebrate when we learn the lesson, believe the promise, obey the command or trust in faith. We are all learning how to selflessly follow our Lord.

Which verse or passage in the Bible – or maybe it’s an entire book – do you find too difficult to understand? What parts of the Bible do you feel you have to wade through every word trying figure out exactly what’s being said?

The reality is that there are some things that our human minds simply cannot grasp – such as the true grandeur of heaven – until we pass from this life and into eternity and we are able to see things as God sees them.

But the Bible is God’s letter to us and his instructions for how to live. He wants us to understand it.

The good news is that because God is the one that created us, he understands the limitations of our understanding.

So when we get frustrated with trying to understand something in the Bible, we can first remember God is our creator and already knows we are struggling. 

The same God that fashioned and created us with His own hands, paying attention to every minute little detail even to the point of every human being having different fingerprints, is the same God who understands our weaknesses and frailties.

But God did not leave us alone to figure things out.

At the moment we became a Christian, the Holy Spirit moved in and took up residence within us.

Part of the job of the Holy Spirit is to help us understand the Bible.

In Psalm 119:73, the psalmist is asking God to give him understanding so he could learn God’s commandments.

In essence, saying, “God you are the one you made me, now help me understand.”

Any time we open God’s Word, we should begin with a prayer before reading the first word – a prayer asking the Holy Spirit to help us understand.

1 John 2:27 says, “The anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you don’t need anyone to teach you. Instead, His anointing teaches you about all things and is true and is not a lie; just as He has taught you, remain in Him.”

1 Corinthians 2:10 “Now God has revealed these things to us by the Spirit, for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.”

So when you are having a difficult time understanding the Bible, stop where you are and ask the Holy Spirit to help you.

Another element to understanding God’s Word is that we must have a heart that is willing to do whatever God is saying to us.

We don’t just read it so we can check the box on our daily Bible reading plan.

We should be reading with the expectation that God will reveal something new to us – whether that is something about His character, the way He expects us to live as His children, or He uses His Word to convict us of sin.

Whatever He reveals, the purpose is to make us more and more like Christ and to grow us as Christians as He prepares us to do His will.

James 1:22 “Be doers of the word and not hearers only.”

John 7:17 says, “If anyone wants to do His will, he will understand whether the teaching is from God or if I am speaking on My own.”

So be sure you are willing to do whatever God might reveal to you as you are asking the Holy Spirit to help you understand.

We also have to be willing to give up our own ideas.

In Isaiah 53:6, we find that “we have all turned to our own way.”

We can’t take a single verse out of the Bible and make it say what we want it to say to fit what we want to do.

Proverbs 16:25 teaches, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”

Satan is called the “deceiver” in the Bible.

From the very beginning of the Bible we find Satan deceiving Eve and he continues to deceive all the way through to Revelation.

2 Corinthians 11:14 says, “And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.”

And in Revelation 12:9, the Bible tells us what will happen to Satan:

“The great dragon was hurled down – that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray.”

Satan knows that because you have been saved, that you do not belong to him.

But if he can insert a spike strip in your roadway, and trip you up so you don’t understand the Bible, then you may not live the abundant, victorious life God intends for you or perhaps it will keep you from winning someone else to Christ.

He wants to deceive us so we do not have a good understanding of the Bible.

Rather than bringing our own creative clever ideas to the table when we open God’s Word, we should initially have a desire, a passion, to understand God’s Word His way, digging into the context and depend on Him to reveal it to us.

If we expect to truly understand God’s Word, we can’t just sit down and read it – we have to study it.

You might say, I go to church on Sunday and listen to the preacher and I’m part of a small group too.

But how do you know if what they are teaching is Biblical truth if you are not studying it for yourself?

2 Timothy 2:15 teaches, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of the truth.”

If you want to truly understand the Bible, you have to study it in depth so that you can understand it accurately.

Don’t just depend on your pastor to do the study work.

Study it for yourself!

As we are studying God’s Word, we need to compare spiritual things with spiritual (1 Corinthians 2:13).

In other words we use the Bible to interpret the Bible.

Let’s say you wanted to put a complex puzzle together or a modeled car.

With all the pieces lying around you, how do you know what the finished product is supposed to look like?

You look at the picture on the box.

Studying God’s Word is much like that.

When we come to a part we don’t understand we need to take the main topic of what we are studying, search the entire Bible for everything it has to say about that topic.

There are many online helps for this.

One of the easiest ways to see verses all on a single topic is go to openbible.info.

https://www.openbible.info/

The search bar will say, “What does the Bible say about” and you type in the topic. The website will pull up all the verses that pertain to that topic.

You can then begin to study each verse in it’s own scriptural context. We can then get a full picture about what God has to say on the topic you are studying.

Sometimes, we just need a sounding board too so we can process the thoughts that are revealed as we study.

So we can maybe make an appointment with our pastors or another Godly saint more spiritually mature than us and talk with them about what we are studying.

God can use these people to help us connect all the dots so we can understand what He is saying to us. Again, we should not just rely on their understanding.

We have to do our own study work.

We need to follow the teaching in Proverbs 3:5-6,

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths. 

Understanding God’s Word requires us to trust God with all that we are, to set aside our own biased and faulty thinking as we acknowledge God and His truth. Then he alone will direct our paths and bring the understanding He wants to reveal to us.

Lastly, remember God’s Word is “living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Because it is living, each time we come to study it, we can learn something new from it.

Never think nor believe you will reach the maximum point of understanding the entirety of God’s Word.

As we live and move through life and face different problems or seasons of life, God will assuredly reveal to us just what we need for that moment – then in the next moment, He will certainly show us something new to ponder and reflect.

So, if you find yourself praying like the psalmist, “Give me understanding” remember:

Remember that God’s Word is living and active.

We can never stop studying His Word for each time we study it, he will reveal something new.

God is our creator, He understands all of the limitations of our human minds.

God didn’t leave us on our own to figure it out – He gave us the Holy Spirit to guide us into truth.

We must have the heart to do His will as He reveals His truth to us.

We must be willing to give up our ideas, trade them for understanding it God’s way

We must be willing to study it – in depth – not just read it and we need to study it for ourselves rather than only depend on what someone else is saying.

When trying to understand God’s Word we must compare spiritual things with spiritual by leaning hard into what the entire Bible has to say on a topic rather than a single verse.

We can discuss what we are studying with spiritually mature Christians who can help us process our thoughts – but not to depend on them to give us the answer.

We can utilize Bible study tools to help guide our study, but they should never replace the hard work of study or work of the Holy Spirit in our lives and they should not be our sole source of truth – only God can be our source of truth.

We need walk ourselves to that place from which to trust God to bring us to the understanding He wants for us rather than leaning on our own understanding.

in the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit …

Praying …

Psalm 119:105-112 The Message

105-112 By your words I can see where I’m going;
    they throw a beam of light on my dark path.
I’ve committed myself and I’ll never turn back
    from living by your righteous order.
Everything’s falling apart on me, God;
    put me together again with your Word.
Adorn me with your finest sayings, God;
    teach me your holy rules.
My life is as close as my own hands,
    but I don’t forget what you have revealed.
The wicked do their best to throw me off track,
    but I don’t swerve an inch from your course.
I inherited your book on living; it’s mine forever—
    what a gift! And how happy it makes me!
I concentrate on doing exactly what you say—
    I always have and always will.

* * *

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Serving our Sovereign God. Can we rightly discuss what ought to be the Christian’s relationship to authority? Isaiah 40:18-31

Isaiah 40:18-31 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

18 To whom, then, will you liken God,
    or what likeness compare with him?
19 An idol? A workman casts it,
    and a goldsmith overlays it with gold
    and casts for it silver chains.
20 As a gift one chooses mulberry wood[a]
    —wood that will not rot—
then seeks out a skilled artisan
    to set up an image that will not topple.

21 Have you not known? Have you not heard?
    Has it not been told you from the beginning?
    Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?
22 It is he who sits above the circle of the earth,
    and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers,
who stretches out the heavens like a curtain
    and spreads them like a tent to live in,
23 who brings princes to naught
    and makes the rulers of the earth as nothing.

24 Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown,
    scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth,
when he blows upon them, and they wither,
    and the tempest carries them off like stubble.

25 To whom, then, will you compare me,
    or who is my equal? says the Holy One.

28 Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
    his understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the faint
    and strengthens the powerless.
30 Even youths will faint and be weary,
    and the young will fall exhausted,
31 but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
    they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
    they shall walk and not faint.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

There is a beautiful song titled, “Where Could I Go?” sung by Elvis Presley. 

The first verse talks about the difficulty of facing temptations.

So then the question is asked, “Where could I go but to the Lord?”

The second verse speaks about having good neighbors.

But when my soul needs manna from above, where could I go but to the Lord?

The third verse talks about having good friends and receiving comfort from God’s Word.

But when I face death, where could I go but to the Lord?

The chorus repeats that when you are seeking a refuge for your soul, there is no where else you can go but to the Lord.

When you are needing a friend who can save you in the end, where can you go but to the Lord?

It is this kind of thinking that Isaiah wants his people to consider in Isaiah 40.

In Isaiah 40:27 the people are questioning God.

They are saying that God does not see what they are experiencing and that God does not care.

Isaiah has given two pictures about God through verse 17.

God is pictured as a saving shepherd, gathering his sheep into his arms.

God is also pictured as being so great in power and majesty that nothing is too hard or too big for him to handle.

The third picture of God that we are going to see begins in Isaiah 40:18.

The key question to this picture is asked twice. With whom will you compare God? (Isaiah 40:18,25). What Isaiah is going to tell us about God is so that we will draw the exact same conclusion as the song, “Where could I go but to the Lord?”

Trying To Compare God (Isaiah 40:18-20)

So Isaiah begins in verse 18 by asking us to try to figure out to whom you can compare your God.

What is an accurate comparison?

If we are trying to explain God to someone, what likeness will you use so that you can make this comparison?

As we think about God, who or what can we compare him to so that we can get a better understanding of him?

The expected answer to this rhetorical question is that you cannot compare God to anything or anyone.

There is no comparison.

Any attempt falls woefully short.

But, still, Isaiah tells us to try to make the comparison.

Look at verse 19.

Can we compare our God to an idol?

Can we have an idol before us to see if there are some kinds of comparisons we can make?

The first problem with an idol is that it is made.

Whatever we make cannot be compared to God.

Even if you overlay the idol with gold, put silver chains on it, you still made it.

You are the one trying to ascribe value to it.

Maybe you are able to make a contribution to this idol by choosing wood that stays durable and strong, will not rot or be consumed by insects. You know that we want to make absolutely sure that our idol(s) will not wear out over time.

Is this a good comparison for God?

Maybe we are so precise, so skillful, so Leonardo Da Vinci smart (IQ 180-200) that we set up the idol in such a way to make sure the idol does not fall over.

Is this a good comparison for God?

God wanted to even show the Philistines the silliness of such a comparison.

Turn to God’s word to 1 Samuel 5.

As a judgment on the people of Israel, the Philistines destroy the city of Shiloh and capture the ark of the covenant.

Look at 1 Samuel 5:2-5.

The Philistines took the ark of God, brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it beside Dagon.

Dagon was an important Canaanite god that was worship by the Philistines, Amorites, and other peoples in the area.

So notice how the Philistines are putting God and Dagon in comparison by placing the ark of the covenant next to the Dagon idol.

Look at 1 Samuel 5:3.

The people of Ashdod (a city of the Philistines) came in the next day, they saw the Dagon idol had fallen face down on the ground before the ark of the Lord.

Here is God saying that there is no possible comparison to be made here. Now here is how you know you do not have a true God: you pick up your idol, move it and/or put it back into place. The people think that this happened by accident.

But in verse 4 we read that the very next day they came into the temple and they found the Dagon statue yet again fallen on his face before the ark of the Lord.

But this time the head and both hands were broken off. You do not dare try to compare this God to anything anywhere in creation. There is no one like God.

Exodus 20:1-6 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

The Ten Commandments

20 Then God spoke all these words,

2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; 3 you shall have no other gods before[a] me.

4 “You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above or that is on the earth beneath or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me 6 but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation[b] of those who love me and keep my commandments.

In the Ten Commandments, God helps us identify the main relational barriers–the sins–that can get between us and him.

Thankfully the 1st commandment isn’t truthfully a big deal since almost everyone believes in God–or is it?

I suppose that depends on what God is asking of us here.

The first commandment is much more than simply a call to believe in the existence of a higher being.

This is a practical command.

The “other gods” of which this command speaks include any persons or things in my life to which I give an excessive amount of loyalty, or for which I have an excessive amount of affection.

My “god” is the person or thing highest in rank or authority in my life.

This command, then, isn’t simply about my abstract beliefs.

This command is about how I live and what I value most.

God isn’t just saying we need to believe he exists.

The God of the Bible wants to be the only God in our lives. If we follow some other crafted god, that will be a barrier to our relationship with the true God.

We need to look closely at our agendas for today, the people we spend time with, how I spend my money. How “god-like” are these activities in my life?

Is there some brick-smashing we need to do so our God will be first in our lives?

The Supremacy of God (Isaiah 40:21-24)

In verse 21 Isaiah returns to questioning his people.

These are things that his people should clearly know.

Do you not know?

Have you not heard?

Has this not been told to you from the beginning?

Do you not know this since the earth was founded?

God sits above the circle of the earth, the people of the earth like grasshoppers.

Have you ever had the opportunity to stand on a very high place and look down?

Maybe you have gone to the Empire State Building in New York City or Willis Tower in Chicago or the Space Needle in Seattle.

Perhaps you have been on top of a large Ferris wheel or sky rider.

When you look down you see how small people look.

Maybe you have stood at the rim of the Grand Canyon and looked down.

Or climbed up to the top of the highest mountains in your native countries.

You are standing on such an elevated place and so high up that everything looks small beneath you.

Isaiah 2:1-4 Lexham English Bible

The Mountain of Yahweh

2 The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:

2 And it shall happen in the future of the days
the mountain of the house[a] of Yahweh shall be established;
it will be among the highest[b] of the mountains,
    and it shall be raised from the hills.
All of the nations shall travel to him;
3     many peoples shall come.
And they shall say,
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of Yahweh,
    to the house[c] of the God of Jacob,
and may he teach us part of his ways,
    and let us walk in his paths.”
For instruction shall go out from Zion,
    and the word of Yahweh from Jerusalem.
4 He shall judge between the nations
    and he shall arbitrate for many peoples.
They shall beat their swords into ploughshares
    and their spears into pruning hooks.
A nation shall not lift up a sword against a nation,
    and they shall not learn war again.

This is the point Isaiah is making. Do you not know how high and exalted God is? Do you not understand his elevated state? How can you compare anything in creation to God when God is so much greater than anything that he has made? 

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit …

Praying …

Psalm 65 The Message

65 1-2 Silence is praise to you,
    Zion-dwelling God,
And also obedience.
    You hear the prayer in it all.

2-8 We all arrive at your doorstep sooner
    or later, loaded with guilt,
Our sins too much for us—
    but you get rid of them once and for all.
Blessed are the chosen! Blessed the guest
    at home in your place!
We expect our fill of good things
    in your house, your heavenly manse.
All your salvation wonders
    are on display in your trophy room.
Earth-Tamer, Ocean-Pourer,
    Mountain-Maker, Hill-Dresser,
Muzzler of sea storm and wave crash,
    of mobs in noisy riot—
Far and wide they’ll come to a stop,
    they’ll stare in awe, in wonder.
Dawn and dusk take turns
    calling, “Come and worship.”

9-13 Oh, visit the earth,
    ask her to join the dance!
Deck her out in spring showers,
    fill the God-River with living water.
Paint the wheat fields golden.
    Creation was made for this!
Drench the plowed fields,
    soak the dirt clods
With rainfall as harrow and rake
    bring her to blossom and fruit.
Snow-crown the peaks with splendor,
    scatter rose petals down your paths,
All through the wild meadows, rose petals.
    Set the hills to dancing,
Dress the canyon walls with live sheep,
    a drape of flax across the valleys.
Let them shout, and shout, and shout!
    Oh, oh, let them sing!

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Genuine Service Selfless Servanthood Bending, Bowing, our Spirits to “He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:27-30

John 3:27-30 Amplified Bible

27 John replied, “A man can receive nothing [he can claim nothing at all] unless it has been granted to him from heaven [for there is no other source than the sovereign will of God]. 28 You yourselves are my witnesses that I stated, ‘I am not the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed),’ but, ‘I have [only] been sent ahead of Him [as His appointed forerunner and messenger to announce and proclaim His coming].’ 29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands by and listens to him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this pleasure and joy of mine is now complete. 30 He must increase [in prominence], but I must decrease.

Word of God for the Children of God.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

There are people who claim to be experts at reading body language. They can discern what is being communicated in the ways others position their bodies and hands and by the facial expressions they make. This could be a useful skill, especially for knowing—or at least coming close to knowing—whether someone is being genuine or false.

There are ways, though, that Christians can conduct themselves with inauthenticity that cannot be read by people fluent in body language. It’s a sad fact that different motivations drive people to serve in the name of Christ. Some people serve not out of genuine interest in the well-being of others but with self-interest leading the way. They may want to be noticed. They may crave a pat on the back. They may be pursuing a good reputation. Such a motivation may lead to good things being done, but it doesn’t produce genuine service. Christian service, in other words, can be fake. From a distance, it looks like the real thing, but get up close and you find it to be wanting.

So how do we know what is authentic? Here are two signs of a genuine heart of service for us to look for in ourselves, as well as in others.

First is the willingness to serve in anonymity. This is the kind of service that delights in doing good regardless of any attention. “Among those born of women none is greater than John,” said Jesus Himself (Luke 7:28)—and yet the Baptist longed to see Christ glorified at his own expense, a passion articulated so memorably when he confessed, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

Second is the existence of sincerity. The apostle Paul affirmed that his friend Timothy, for example, was “genuinely concerned” for the Philippians’ welfare, unlike those who “seek their own interests” (Philippians 2:20-21). Epaphroditus, too, was “longing for” the good of the Philippian church (v 26). Such longing cannot be faked but arises out of genuine love.

What does John 3:27-30 mean?

In verse 27, God gives people to Jesus, and they leave John the Baptist and go to Jesus. This is God’s doing. This is part of the “must” of verse 30. And in verse 28, God sends John not to be the Christ but to go declare, go before and point to him. It’s God’s plan John gathers a people and then send them away to Jesus.

What is the meaning of John 3:28-30?

John 3:28-29 (NIV)

John had indeed confessed freely to them that he was definitely not the Christ.

Luke 1:12-17 Amplified Bible

12 When Zacharias saw the angel, he was troubled and overcome with fear. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, because your petition [in prayer] was heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him  [a] John.  14 You will have great joy and delight, and many will rejoice over his birth, 15 for he will be great and distinguished in the sight of the Lord; and will never drink wine or liquor, and he will be filled with and empowered to act by the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb. 16 He will turn many of the sons of Israel back [from sin] to [love and serve] the Lord their God. 17 It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous [which is to seek and submit to the will of God]—in order to make ready a people [perfectly] prepared [spiritually and morally] for the Lord.”

John was sent ahead as an ambassador to prepare the way for Jesus’ coming by calling people back to a proper relationship with God through the repentance of their sins.

What does the Bible verse John 3:30 mean?

It is interesting to know that just because Jesus is Lord, He only becomes Lord of your life when you allow Him to do so.

John the Baptist stated here, “He must become greater; I must become less.” If you allow Jesus to be Lord of your life, you are allowing Him to become greater.

Preacher DL Moody declared that he was “content to be God’s errand boy.”

Could you say that with integrity?

Would, should, could, do you, delight in decreasing in status if that means only Christ’s glory will increase?

Do you have real concern—longing, even—for the good of others?

Those around us may not be able to tell what motivates us, but we can be sure that the Savior we claim to serve most certainly can.

Perhaps this is a good opportunity to prayerfully consider the example of Paul, who said,

“I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus” (Acts 20:24).

Dare ourselves to ask God for .01% the grace to echo these words with sincerity.

Who knows what He will do with the life you have fully surrendered to Him?

Psalm 139:23-24 Complete Jewish Bible

23 Examine me, God, and know my heart;
test me, and know my thoughts.
24 See if there is in me any hurtful way,
and lead me along the eternal way.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Praying ….

Psalm 16 Complete Jewish Bible

16 (0) Mikhtam. By David:

(1) Protect me, God,
for you are my refuge.
2 I said to Adonai, “You are my Lord;
I have nothing good outside of you.”
3 The holy people in the land are the ones
who are worthy of honor; all my pleasure is in them.

4 Those who run after another god
multiply their sorrows;
To such gods I will not offer
drink offerings of blood
or take their names on my lips.

5 Adonai, my assigned portion, my cup:
you safeguard my share.
6 Pleasant places were measured out for me;
I am content with my heritage.

7 I bless Adonai, my counselor;
at night my inmost being instructs me.
8 I always set Adonai before me;
with him at my right hand, I can never be moved;
9 so my heart is glad, my glory rejoices,
and my body too rests in safety;
10 for you will not abandon me to Sh’ol,
you will not let your faithful one see the Abyss.
11 You make me know the path of life;
in your presence is unbounded joy,
in your right hand eternal delight.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Dare we to be the only ones who are eavesdropping? Jesus is saying unto Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be fishing for my people.” Luke 5:1-11

Luke 5:1-11 New Living Translation

The First Disciples

5 One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee,[a] great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. 2 He noticed two empty boats at the water’s edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. 3 Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon,[b] its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there.

4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.”

5 “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” 6 And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! 7 A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.

8 When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m such a sinful man.” 9 For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him. 10 His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed.

Jesus replied to Simon, “Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!” 11 And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

I like to think of fishing as something that is to be relaxing.

I want a folding chair and a book when I fish.

Cast out the line, sit down, and read a book until something bites.

When I was a child, I liked placing the red and white bobbers on the fishing line.

Then, when I saw the bobber go under the water, I knew to pull the line.

Most of us today also view fishing as something to do recreationally.

But being that fisherman in the first century was a tough life and required hard labor.

Casting out their boats into the Sea of Galilee, 1st century fisherman had to stand on the edge of the boat and cast large nets into the water and then haul the nets back in.

For hours and hours a fisherman would continue to cast nets into the water.

This was not a one-man job for the work was laborious. With a catch of fish, a few men would be required to lift and pull the weight of the fish into the boat.

One thing I hated about fishing is the prospect of catching nothing. Spending hours fishing only to come home empty-handed is a great disappointment.

Even worse is when you look around and see others catching fish.

So you decide to move to that spot and it dries up. So you keep moving, hoping to catch fish, but to no avail.

But a fisherman in the 1st century, a lack of fish was not only a disappointment but was the loss of a paycheck.

Working as a fisherman is what put money in their pockets, food on the table.

So, Do you still think you like fishing?

I do, although I would often return home with an empty bucket, a sunburn and far too many mosquito bites to count and scratch at. Unlike me, Simon Peter didn’t fish for fun; his life depended on it. In this dramatic story, Peter not only catches a boatload of fish, but he is called by Jesus the Messiah to follow him.

After an exhausting, unsuccessful night of fishing, Simon and his crew were washing out their nets when Jesus came by.

He asked if he could use their boat for speaking to the people by the lakeshore, and then later he told the fishermen to take their boat out for a big catch of fish.

Simon wearily complied.

He was soon overwhelmed, however, with hauling in a catch of so many fish that his nets nearly broke. Simon fell at Jesus’ feet. He knew he was in the presence of the Lord, whose authority over creation was overwhelmingly clear.

Simon’s encounter with Jesus that day echoed the call of prophets like Moses, Isaiah, and Ezekiel, who knew they were in the presence of the living God.

And, like the prophets, Simon Peter was called by the Lord to serve him.

And what would that service be?

Jesus told Peter that from now on he would “fish for people” by drawing people around him to the love of Jesus.

When we meet Jesus, the living God, we do well to fall to our knees too.

Jesus calls each of us to obediently follow him and to share, without any conditions or excuses, in the glorious task of drawing others to his love.

The real authentic message here are in the last few words:

‘without thinking about success or failure, life or death, sacrifice or reward, consequences, vast riches or abject poverty, salaries, contracts, labor unions or anything associated, they silently stopped, left everything and followed him’.

They left everything behind them; the money from their great catch, business responsibilities because they had been captivated instead by the person of Jesus.

It dos not look like they asked or consulted their families or their attorney’s!

They just walked away from everything – looking for the Kingdom of God.

We too are to ‘seek first the kingdom of God’ – to live in God’s world, carrying the message of the Good News of Savior Jesus Christ from that vantage point.

So, how much do you authentically think you would still love laboring for God?

Psalm 107:23-32 The Message

23-32 Some of you set sail in big ships;
    you put to sea to do business in faraway ports.
Out at sea you saw God in action,
    saw his breathtaking ways with the ocean:
With a word he called up the wind—
    an ocean storm, towering waves!
You shot high in the sky, then the bottom dropped out;
    your hearts were stuck in your throats.
You were spun like a top, you reeled like a drunk,
    you didn’t know which end was up.
Then you called out to God in your desperate condition;
    he got you out in the nick of time.
He quieted the wind down to a whisper,
    put a muzzle on all the big waves.
And you were so glad when the storm died down,
    and he led you safely back to harbor.
So thank God for his marvelous love,
    for his miracle mercy to the children he loves.
Lift high your praises when the people assemble,
    shout Hallelujah when the elders meet!

Fisherman’s Prayer

God grant that I may live to fish until my dying day, and when it comes to my last cast I then must humbly pray. When in the Lord’s safe landing net I’m peacefully asleep. That in His mercy, I be judged good enough to keep.

The Fisherman with His Savior

Surely Jesus loves fishermen for He chose them for His own, To be with Him and learn from Him and someday share His home. It must have been their trust in God and patience He found rare, That keeps them very near His heart and forever in His care.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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We humans will keep brainstorming options and plans, but God’s purpose will always prevail. Proverbs 19:21

Proverbs 19:21 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

21 The human mind may devise many plans,
    but it is the purpose of the Lord that will be established.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Life rarely follows the path we imagined.

We create timelines, set goals, and chase dreams — only to face unexpected setbacks, delays, and heartbreaks.

Whether it’s a lost opportunity, a closed door, or an unforeseen crisis, these detours can leave us questioning everything.

We may feel disoriented, disappointed, or even forgotten.

But even when our carefully crafted plans unravel, God’s purpose remains steady.

His sovereign hand is never shaken 

Proverbs 19:21 Amplified Bible

21 
Many plans are in a man’s mind,
But it is the Lord’s purpose for him that will stand (be carried out).

This powerful verse grounds us in truth: while it’s natural to dream and plan, it’s God’s overarching purpose that ultimately comes to pass.

And that’s good news.

Why? Because God sees and shapes the bigger picture.

He knows the end from the beginning.

While our plans may be well-intentioned, they are limited by what we can see and understand.

His purpose, however, is rooted in divine wisdom, love, and eternal perspective.

When life feels like it’s falling apart, God is often assembling something better — something aligned with His perfect will and timing.

If you’re feeling uncertain, behind, or heartbroken over dreams that haven’t come true, let this prayer guide you back unto God’s peace and perspective.

Proverbs 3:5-8 Amplified Bible

5 
Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart
And do not rely on your own insight or understanding.
6 
[a]In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him,
And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way].
7 
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord [with reverent awe and obedience] and turn [entirely] away from evil.
8 
It will be health to your body [your marrow, your nerves, your sinews, your muscles—all your inner parts]
And refreshment (physical well-being) to your bones.

The Bible is chock full of stories of people who have made plans for their lives but who never saw it come to pass because they did not sufficiently take into account the greatest outside influencer of their lives that being the will of God.

If we apply the same principles we learn from these stories, we can see the same thing in the lives of many from secular history as well. God is in control, not us.

In our lives, my wife and I have seen times that we thought we were headed one direction, only to find out that what seemed so sure and so secure (so good) to us was redirected into a dead end and life took us in a completely different way.

Sometimes it was because we made our plans without asking God and at other times, we just couldn’t contemplate nor understand what he had in store for us.

What makes this even more interesting is that some of the worst tragedies (at least it seemed it was to me at the time) turned out to be exactly just what we needed to redirect us and take us in an unseen but wonderful direction in life.

Seek his will for your life and he will lead you.

Seek his guidance and he will show you the way.

Follow his teaching and he opens doors for you that you never thought nor ever considered were possible. Trust God to lead you. Pray for him to guide you.

Open your heart to his response.

In absolute faith, give Jesus your life and he will use you in his way.

He has a place for every one of us in his plans.

Let him lead.

Let him guide.

Let him direct your steps.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Praying …

Thanksgiving for the Lord’s Favor.

A Psalm of David.

138 I will give You thanks with all my heart;
I sing praises to You before the [pagan] gods.
2 
I will bow down [in worship] toward Your holy temple
And give thanks to Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth;
For You have magnified Your word together with Your name.
3 
On the day I called, You answered me;
And You made me bold and confident with [renewed] strength in my life.

4 
All the kings of the land will give thanks and praise You, O Lord,
When they have heard of the promises of Your mouth [which were fulfilled].
5 
Yes, they will sing of the ways of the Lord [joyfully celebrating His wonderful acts],
For great is the glory and majesty of the Lord.
6 
Though the Lord is exalted,
He regards the lowly [and invites them into His fellowship];
But the proud and haughty He knows from a distance.

7 
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me;
You will stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies,
And Your right hand will save me.
8 
The Lord will accomplish that which concerns me;
Your [unwavering] lovingkindness, O Lord, endures forever—
Do not abandon the works of Your own hands.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Transformed by this Truth? “every person is as Close to God as they all think they want to be.” James 4:8

James 4:7-10 New American Standard Bible 1995

7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Today, we explore a profound, yet too often untouched truth:

“Every person is as close to God as they think they want to be.”

This statement challenges us to reflect on our personal relationship with God.

Our main text today is James 4:8 (NLT):

“Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.”

James addresses believers, urging them to draw near to God.

https://www.blueletterbible.org/esv/jas/4/7-10/t_conc_1150008

https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1448/esv/mgnt/0-1/

The Greek word for “come close” is “engizo”, which means to approach or draw near. This is a call to intimate fellowship with God.

James emphasizes the reciprocal nature of our relationship with God.

When we take steps towards Him, He responds by drawing closer to us.

This verse also highlights the need for repentance and purity, symbolized by washing hands and purifying hearts.

Evaluate your daily walk with God.

Are you taking intentional steps to draw nearer to Him?

This may involve prayer, reading the Bible, or worship.

As you do, you will experience His presence more profoundly.

Psalm 145:18 (NLT): “The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth.”

This verse reassures us God is near to those who earnestly seek Him in truth.

Commit to seeking God sincerely and truthfully.

Make calling upon Him a daily practice.

How to Get Close to God: Come

Dr. A.W. Tozer said, “The man who has God for his treasure has all things in One.”

It sounds so good on paper: all of God is exactly where all of who we are – are!

But what do you do when you can’t find God?

What if God doesn’t seem to be there for you?

Some Christians struggle with that question.

“What do you do when God seems far very away, and you’re praying to an empty chair, and you’re reading the Bible for your devotions, but you do it only because you know dad said you should, and it does not mean anything to you?”

What do you do if you feel like?

Here’s one idea: read and reread Psalm 139, and let it sink in.

Then come near to the God who loves you and knows everything about you.

That’s what James says: “Come near to God and he will come near to you.”

Throughout the Bible God invites us to come.

The Lord invites us to come and reason together (Isaiah 1:18).

Isaiah 55:1-3 New American Standard Bible 1995

The Free Offer of Mercy

55 “Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters;
And you who have no [a]money come, buy and eat.
Come, buy wine and milk
Without money and without cost.
2 “Why do you [b]spend money for what is not bread,
And your wages for what does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,
And delight yourself in abundance.
3 “Incline your ear and come to Me.
Listen, that [c]you may live;
And I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
According to the faithful mercies [d]shown to David.

Jesus invites the weary to come to him and find rest (Matthew 11:28-29), and he promises that he will never drive us away (John 6:37).

The only caveat is first, we have to come just exactly as we are–empty-handed.

Come and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, who died to save us from our sins.

Before you go to sleep tonight, pray, plead, for Jesus to draw near to your heart.

If you really want him to, he will respond.

The Turn of the Heart

James 4:1-4 New American Standard Bible 1995

Things to Avoid

4 [a]What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? [b]Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask [c]with wrong motives, so that you may spend it [d]on your pleasures. 4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Prayer connects our heart with God’s heart. For many people, the word heart represents only their emotions, especially feelings like love, sadness, and hope.

It’s in the mind that logic resides, many will say.

The heart is for feeling and the brain is for thinking, and the two are often too pitted against each other.

The Bible teaches, however, that the heart is the center of every aspect of being human: our reason, our emotions, and our will. The heart directs our affections, molds, shapes our decision making, and determines our ultimate allegiances.

This is why Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21).

Today’s Bible reading contains a harsh rebuke of people whose hearts have turned away from God.

It affects all their thinking, decision making, motives, emotions, and behaviors.

The spiritual fallout of a broken relationship with God is that prayer is rendered ineffective.

But nestled in this passage are words of hope.

No matter how far our hearts may wander from God, he promises to be near when we turn to him.

That’s because he is always near and caring for us (see Matthew 28:20;  Philippians 4:4-6).

One renewing encounter with God can change everything.

And it’s always just one prayer away.

The One who died for you will never drive you away.

In the name of God, the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Praying …

Psalm 113 New American Standard Bible 1995

The Lord Exalts the Humble.

113 [a]Praise [b]the Lord!
Praise, O servants of the Lord,
Praise the name of the Lord.
2 Blessed be the name of the Lord
From this time forth and forever.
3 From the rising of the sun to its setting
The name of the Lord is to be praised.
4 The Lord is high above all nations;
His glory is above the heavens.

5 Who is like the Lord our God,
Who is enthroned on high,
6 Who [c]humbles Himself to behold
The things that are in heaven and in the earth?
7 He raises the poor from the dust
And lifts the needy from the ash heap,
8 To make them sit with [d]princes,
With the [e]princes of His people.
9 He makes the barren woman abide in the house
As a joyful mother of children.
[f]Praise [g]the Lord!

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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When You Don’t Have the Words to Pray, when life is kicking your butt, God invites us to fly to Him to Rest. Psalm 55

Psalm 55 The Message

55 1-3 Open your ears, God, to my prayer;
    don’t pretend you don’t hear me knocking.
Come close and whisper your answer.
    I really need you.
I shudder at the mean voice,
    quail before the evil eye,
As they pile on the guilt,
    stockpile angry slander.

4-8 My insides are turned inside out;
    specters of death have me down.
I shake with fear,
    I shudder from head to foot.
“Who will give me wings,” I ask—
    “wings like a dove?”
Get me out of here on dove wings;
    I want some peace and quiet.
I want a walk in the country,
    I want a cabin in the woods.
I’m desperate for a change
    from rage and stormy weather.

9-11 Come down hard, Lord—slit their tongues.
    I’m appalled how they’ve split the city
Into rival gangs
    prowling the alleys
Day and night spoiling for a fight,
    trash piled in the streets,
Even shopkeepers gouging and cheating
    in broad daylight.

12-14 This isn’t the neighborhood bully
    mocking me—I could take that.
This isn’t a foreign devil spitting
    invective—I could tune that out.
It’s you! We grew up together!
    You! My best friend!
Those long hours of leisure as we walked
    arm in arm, God a third party to our conversation.

15 Haul my betrayers off alive to hell—let them
    experience the horror, let them
    feel every desolate detail of a damned life.

16-19 I call to God;
    God will help me.
At dusk, dawn, and noon I sigh
    deep sighs—he hears, he rescues.
My life is well and whole, secure
    in the middle of danger
Even while thousands
    are lined up against me.
God hears it all, and from his judge’s bench
    puts them in their place.
But, set in their ways, they won’t change;
    they pay him no mind.

20-21 And this, my best friend, betrayed his best friends;
    his life betrayed his word.
All my life I’ve been charmed by his speech,
    never dreaming he’d turn on me.
His words, which were music to my ears,
    turned to daggers in my heart.

22-23 Pile your troubles on God’s shoulders—
    he’ll carry your load, he’ll help you out.
He’ll never let good people
    topple into ruin.
But you, God, will throw the others
    into a muddy bog,
Cut the lifespan of assassins
    and traitors in half.

And I trust in you.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

REST!  Is it really a lost commodity in our culture? 

In our hurried, never-sitting-still-society-for-fear-of-being-run-over-by-society, you would think it is. 

That speaks of physical rest, but what of the rest of one’s soul? 

A time when one can enjoy a respite of peace and quiet on the inside instead of always feeling like their world is in turmoil.

I think many of us can really relate to that need for rest. 

Sometimes, we wish we could do like Jesus and stand before the storm and say, “Peace, be still,” and literally make every wave of adversity shut its mouth! 

I know you want to.  I do, too! 

It just becomes too much to deal with at times, and the need for space to breathe, to come out from under all this mess, becomes an overwhelming factor.

God bless you if you can’t relate to what I am saying here. 

For most of us, the challenge of dealing with daily schedules, mess, and problems leaves us feeling totally surrounded. 

As if, no matter what direction we turn, there is something there to prevent us from really enjoying that rest.

Oh, but if I had two wings! 

I would fly! 

The idea of rising above every problem and adverse circumstance is very tantalizing. 

Right there, I form a mental picture of myself soaring. 

Below me is everything that tries to come against me. 

All those problems and schedules are trying to reach up and grab hold of me, but they can’t! 

I have risen too high for them. 

I have learned how to fly above it all!

The problem with that is that it is a fantasy. 

Oh, that it was real. 

While we are living on this side of glory, we are always going to have something to deal with, but that still doesn’t mean we can’t fly. 

Isaiah 40:31 emphatically declares,

“They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles . . .”  

God never promised to remove every problem from our lives but, what He did say, is He will renew the strength of those who turn to Him in the midst of it all.

God is strong in power, and there is none like Him (Isaiah 40:25-26). 

We recognize today that though I may not have suddenly sprouted two wings out of my back, when I rely on God’s power, it is as if I am already soaring! 

And, that my friends, is real rest! 

It is a confidence that fills my heart and lets me know that I don’t have to feel beaten down and worn out. 

God’s got this! 

He sees what I am going through. 

Psalms 5:11-12  “Let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.  For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.” 

I may not have two physical wings on the outside, but on the inside, I’m flying higher than it all. 

Why? 

Because though it may seem at times I am totally surrounded, I serve the Lord God Almighty who is ready, willing able to “encompass” me “as with a shield.” 

Therefore, today, I can fly!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Praying …

Psalm 121 The Message

121 1-2 I look up to the mountains;
    does my strength come from mountains?
No, my strength comes from God,
    who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.

3-4 He won’t let you stumble,
    your Guardian God won’t fall asleep.
Not on your life! Israel’s
    Guardian will never doze or sleep.

5-6 God’s your Guardian,
    right at your side to protect you—
Shielding you from sunstroke,
    sheltering you from moonstroke.

7-8 God guards you from every evil,
    he guards your very life.
He guards you when you leave and when you return,
    he guards you now, he guards you always.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Growing together in Christ. Walking in Obedience, Learning how to walk in this world with obedience to our faith. Moving forward into the world we live in, Minister to. John 14:15-21

John 14:15-21 Lexham English Bible

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, in order that he may be with you forever[a]— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world is not able to receive, because it does not see him or know him.[b] You know him, because he resides with you and will be in you.

18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you. 19 Yet a little time and the world will see me no longer, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live.  20 On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 The one who has my commandments and keeps them—that one is the one who loves me. And the one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and will reveal myself to him.”

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Stand with me and lift your bible and repeat after me.

This is my Bible.

I can do what it says I can do.

I am what it says I am.

I am going to learn how to be what it says I can be.

Today I will learn more of the word of God.

The indestructible, never ending, living word Of God.

I will never be the same.

I will never be the same.

In Jesus Name

Amen?

Before you sit down, say good morning to your brothers and sisters.

“Growing in Christ: Walking in Obedience”

Turn with me in your Bibles to John 14:15-21.

Today, we’re going to look at the essential key to a deep, flourishing relationship with Jesus: obedience.

In John 14:15, Jesus says, “If you love me, keep my commandments.”

Obedience to God isn’t a mere duty; it’s an expression of love.

Obedience brings us closer to Christ, empowers us to live victoriously, and opens doors for the Holy Spirit to move in us in powerful ways.

1: Obedience Shows Our Love for Christ

In John 14:15, Jesus says, “If you love me, keep my commandments.”

Our love for Jesus is demonstrated in how we obey Him. Obedience isn’t about mere compliance; it’s about a much deep connection with the heart of God. We obey because we each love Him, and we want to live in alignment with His will.

Obedience to Jesus is always a response to His love for us. It is a way of saying, “Lord, I love You so much that I want to please You, no matter what it costs.”

– Obedience flows from love. If you love Jesus, you will want to follow His commands.

– Is there an area in your life where you are holding back from obeying Jesus?

Surrender that area today. Let your love for Him be your motivation to obey.

In John 14:16-17, Jesus tells His disciples that the Holy Spirit will come to those who obey and follow His commandments.

The Holy Spirit is not just any distant power, but the very presence of God that dwells within us. And the Holy Spirit is given to empower, inspire, us to obey.

– The Holy Spirit empowers you to obey.

– Obedience invites the Holy Spirit to work through you.

– If you are struggling with obedience, ask the Holy Spirit for the strength to follow God’s commands. He is there to help you.

2: Obedience Brings Blessing and Fruitfulness

In John 14:21, Jesus says,

“Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

Jesus is telling us, teaching us, that obedience brings intimacy with Him, and obedience opens the door to divine blessings and fruitfulness.

Let me share the powerful story of Abraham, the father of faith.

God called Abraham to leave his home, his family, and his comfort zone, and to go to a place God would show him.

It wasn’t a call that made sense. Abraham didn’t know where he was going or how it would all turn out. But Abraham obeyed. His obedience to God’s call was the **foundation** of God’s promise to make him the father of many nations.

Abraham’s obedience resulted in a blessing that reached far beyond his lifetime.

From his obedience, the nation of Israel was born, and ultimately, Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, came from Abraham’s line.

Through Abraham’s obedience, the world was blessed.

When we obey God, it may not always bring specific immediate rewards, but it will always bring fruitfulness. Our obedience positions us for God’s blessing, and we begin to see His hand move in our lives in ways we never expected.

– When you obey God, you position yourself for His blessings and for His fruitfulness.

– Your obedience doesn’t just impact your life—it impacts the lives of others. You may not see it immediately, but God is using our obedience for something far greater.

Church, obedience to Jesus is not a burden—it is key to growing in connecting with Savior Christ and experiencing His presence and His power in our lives.

It’s about trusting Him enough to follow His lead, even when the way is hard.

When we obey, we open wide the doorway for the Holy Spirit to move in us and through us, bringing freedom, blessing, and fruitfulness.

– Maybe you’ve been struggling with a particular area of obedience.

You’ve been hesitant to trust God or to take that step of faith.

Today is the day to surrender and obey.

– If you want the strength to walk in obedience, I invite you to come forward and ask the Holy Spirit to empower you.

– If you want to experience the blessing and fruitfulness that comes from our obeying Christ, come forward, make a fresh commitment to follow Him fully.

In the Name of God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit …

Praying …

Psalm 119:129-136 The Message

129-136 Every word you give me is a miracle word—
    how could I help but obey?
Break open your words, let the light shine out,
    let ordinary people see the meaning.
Mouth open and panting,
    I wanted your commands more than anything.
Turn my way, look kindly on me,
    as you always do to those who personally love you.
Steady my steps with your Word of promise
    so nothing malign gets the better of me.
Rescue me from the grip of bad men and women
    so I can live life your way.
Smile on me, your servant;
    teach me the right way to live.
I cry rivers of tears
    because nobody’s living by your book!

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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One Half Hope-filled Sheep or One Half Gloom and Doom Filled Sheep? Does Your Cup of Faith, Hope, and Love Look Half Full or Half Empty? Luke 24:28-35

Luke 24:28-35 Lexham English Bible

28 And they drew near to the village where they were going, and he acted as though he was going farther. 29 And they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is getting toward evening, and by this time the day is far spent.” And he went in to stay with them. 30 And it happened that when he reclined at the table with them, he took the bread and[a] gave thanks, and after[b]  breaking it,[c] he gave it[d] to them.  31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, and he became invisible to them. 32 And they said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was speaking with us on the road, while he was explaining the scriptures to us?” 33 And they got up that same hour and[e] returned to Jerusalem and found the eleven and those with them assembled, 34 saying, “The Lord has really been raised, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 And they began describing[f] what happened[g] on the road, and how he was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

During trying times, you may feel that your positive energies are dwindling—sometimes your cup may seem more empty than full.

When your cup feels diminished, or near empty, how do you refill it?

This devotion offers two strategies:

(1) Hope—a God sized pitcher you can pour from to help refill your cup; and (2) Reclaiming sacred time and space in your life to renew, reinvigorate yourself.

Begin with hope.

According to research, hope is one of the 24 character strengths common to humankind, offering meaning and helping us connect to the world around us.

Hope is composed of strategies—tools you can learn about and use in your day-to-day life.

During difficult, uncertain, or overwhelming times, hope strategies can help you notice that behind the shadows, there is light.

Recently, I wanted to get rid of a tripping hazard. I searched for the flat-head screwdriver and thought somehow my wife or I may have just misplaced it.

Then I spotted a corner of the elusive screwdriver’s black and yellow handle, hanging where it always is, but obscured by a baseball cap and other stuff.

I searched more carefully and saw the screwdriver had actually been there the whole time, but I hadn’t noticed it. If we stopped to consider looking a bit more carefully through all of the clutter our own lives, we can discover greater hope.

Ultimately, experiencing our cup as ether half full or half empty involves tactics we know, by praying and past experiences, we can choose a strategy. It is within our power to rally hope and call it forth—even during the most trying of times.

In The Book of Hope (2021), anthropologist Jane Goodall wrote,

“When we face adversity, it is hope that gives us the confidence to rally our indomitable spirit to overcome it.”

Put another way, when we can discern, envision, in the light of our mind or heart, a pathway to a future prayerfully better than the present, this is hope.

Romans 15:1-6 English Standard Version

The Example of Christ

15 We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” 4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

During difficult times, hope on some far horizon may invite seeking a middle ground, where both current truths and desire for a better future can co-exist.

Biblical study’s of hope consistently shows hope in God and optimism can benefit our emotional and physical well-being, positive relationships, and effectiveness in ministries and missions.

Aiming for faith, hope and love are always first and best choices we can make and actions we can take, even during those most unrelenting and trying times.

https://www.coachtrainingedu.com/blog/what-is-hope-theory/

Hope theory posits we can all generate the capacities, pathways, and resolve to reach toward our goals.

These behavior choices can shift hope from wishful thinking to tangible action with intentional goal-oriented motivation and steps.

Here are the three components:

(1) having a goal;

(2) agency, or the motivation and determination that your goal can be achieved; and

(3) pathways, a plan and actions for reaching your goal.

Refill your own cup by reclaiming time to reinvigorate yourself.

If one of your goals is to seriously take some time for yourself, just how can you carve out some minutes each day that are just exclusive for your own self care?

What can you say no to, so that you can say yes to you?

For the purposes of this discussion, let’s say saying yes to ourselves is simply good, sound, self-care.

To reclaim time and space for yourself, you may try to experiment with carving out precious moments that help you create space once, twice a day or longer as circumstances arise to “drive or walk or run to the horizon” reset and restore.

Luke 24:30-35 Amplified Bible

30 And it happened that as He reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. 31 Then their eyes were [suddenly] opened [by God] and they [clearly] recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight. 32 They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was talking with us on the road and opening the Scriptures to us?” 33  They got up that very hour and went back to Jerusalem, and found the eleven [apostles] gathered together and those who were with them, 34 saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon [Peter]!” 35 They began describing in detail what had happened on the road, and how Jesus was recognized by them when He broke the bread.

Buoyed by a renewed understanding of Jesus’ mission and their calling to tell others, all of the disciples found renewed hope.

They shared stories among themselves of other encounters with the risen Lord, and their joy and confidence grew. Hope was the very thing these sheep needed, and Jesus provided it in abundance (see also vv. 36-49).

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2024%3A36-49&version=AMP

Hope is powerful.

It sustained the disciples well into the future.

It comforted them when Jesus returned to heaven (Luke 24:50-53).

And with the coming of the Holy Spirit, it propelled them into new places and new ministries and new missions, fortified them when they faced persecution.

Psalm 23 AKJV

A Psalm of David.

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul:
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

“Some people see the glass half full. Others see it half empty. I see a glass that’s twice as big as it needs to be.” – George Carlin

“The optimist says the cup is half full, the pessimist says the cup is half empty, the child of God says, “My cup runneth over.”” Psalm 23:5

These sheep could declare with the writer of Psalm 23 that they lacked nothing.

Jesus provided all that was needed to anchor and build their faith.

They regained confidence that they belonged to him and to each other.

They had renewed knowledge that God faithfully keeps working in the world.

They also had a renewed sense of calling to be on mission with God as they continued working and waiting in hope for Jesus’ return.

We can declare the same. The shepherd continues to form our faith. And like the early disciples who shared their testimonies of their encounters with the living Jesus, we are invited to give witness to our own encounters with Jesus today.

Now, with whom will you, above and beyond, abundantly share overwhelming stories, miraculous truths, about the Lord’s overflowing work in your life?

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit …

Praying …

Psalm 84 Complete Jewish Bible

(0) For the leader. On the gittit. A psalm of the sons of Korach:

2 (1) How deeply loved are your dwelling-places,
Adonai-Tzva’ot!
3 (2) My soul yearns, yes, faints with longing
for the courtyards of Adonai;
my heart and body cry for joy
to the living God.

4 (3) As the sparrow finds herself a home
and the swallow her nest, where she lays her young,
[so my resting-place is] by your altars,
Adonai-Tzva’ot, my king and my God.

5 (4) How happy are those who live in your house;
they never cease to praise you! (Selah)
6 (5) How happy the man whose strength is in you,
in whose heart are [pilgrim] highways.

7 (6) Passing through the [dry] Baka Valley,
they make it a place of springs,
and the early rain clothes it with blessings.
8 (7) They go from strength to strength
and appear before God in Tziyon.

9 (8) Adonai, God of armies, hear my prayer;
listen, God of Ya‘akov. (Selah)
10 (9) God, see our shield [the king];
look at the face of your anointed.
11 (10) Better a day in your courtyards
than a thousand [days elsewhere].
Better just standing at the door of my God’s house
than living in the tents of the wicked.

12 (11) For Adonai, God, is a sun and a shield;
Adonai bestows favor and honor;
he will not withhold anything good
from those whose lives are pure.

13 (12) Adonai-Tzva’ot,
how happy is anyone who trusts in you!

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Sheep empowered for Mission! They didn’t waste a minute. They were up and on their way back to Jerusalem. Luke 24:33-35

Luke 24:33-35 Lexham English Bible

33 And they got up that same hour and[a] returned to Jerusalem and found the eleven and those with them assembled, 34 saying, “The Lord has really been raised, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 And they began describing[b] what happened[c] on the road, and how he was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Again we are stopped, confronted with Luke’s vision for mission and ministry.

For not only should Jesus meet us where we are, walk with us, to open up the Scriptures in reading and encountering us with the living presence of Christ in Communion, it also sends us back unto the “furthest reaches of the earth” to share, to testify and witness what we have seen and experienced with others.

Here is where Luke draws this scene to a close and brings us back to the main story line, as it were, of the disciples gathered in Jerusalem.

For once Cleopas and his companion perceive it was Jesus accompanying them on the road to Emmaus, they get up and immediately hike the seven miles back to Jerusalem.

They go even though it is now surely evening.

They go even though evening is not a safe time to travel.

Why? Because burning hearts demand to be shared. Might this, in fact, be the best understanding of evangelism? It is not trying to convince someone of the faith. It is not saving their soul. It is not threatening someone with damnation.

Rather, it is simply sharing news that has set your own heart on fire with love.

Luke, didn’t have to tell this story.

Each of the four authors of the Gospels makes choices and decisions (as John admits near the close of his story – see John 20:30-31).

And so when we come across a distinct detail, discrepant description, or novel scene, it always behooves us to ask what element of the truth of the Gospel is the Evangelist trying to convey.

Here, I think, the matter is clear.

Writing to Christians who likely never met Jesus in the flesh, Luke invites them – and all of us since – to gather with other fellow Christians around Word and Sacrament that we might be met on the way, hear God’s word opened, perceive Christ in our midst, and be sent to share the good news of Christ’s resurrection.

Christians have been repeating this pattern for two thousand years, and each time we gather for worship on Sunday we are joining them. May it always be so.

Reconsider the utmost significance of the recent events! The news about Jesus was by far too important for the disciples in Emmaus to keep to themselves!

Isn’t it now more interesting, more intriguing these enlightened disciples arose “returned at once to Jerusalem” to tell the others about their meeting with Jesus?

A little while earlier, they had urged Jesus to stay with them because it would soon be dark—and generally too dangerous to travel.

They rushed back to Jerusalem, seemingly without a care for their own safety.

These disciples could not contain their excitement to tell the good news about Jesus.

They were no longer traumatized victims of a terrible loss; they were disciples on a mission.

They realized their calling was to confirm the teaching of the Scriptures about Jesus and to bear true and faithful witness about the resurrected Jesus to others who were feeling rock bottom lost, utterly defeated. They brought to the other disciples the same encouragement, comfort, and grace that they had received.

When we think of ourselves as part of Jesus’ sheepfold, it can be easy to think that we have been invited to be passive followers. What we see in the Emmaus disciples’ truly active response is that we too are invited to partner with Jesus.

We are summoned to tell the world that God loves everyone so much that he continues to seek all who are lost so they can come home where they belong.

Who in your midst needs to take a walk to Emmaus to hear this good news?

in the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit …

Praying …

Psalm 19 Lexham English Bible

Yahweh’s Creation and Law
For the music director. A psalm of David.[a]

19 The heavens are telling the glory of God,
and the firmament proclaims the work of his hands.
2 Every day[b] they pour forth speech,
and every night[c] they tell knowledge.
3 There is no speech and there are no words;
their sound is inaudible.
4 Yet in all the world their line[d] goes out,
and their words to the end of the world.
In them[e] he has pitched a tent for the sun,
5 and it is like a bridegroom
who comes out of his bridal chamber.
It is glad like a strong man
to run its course.
6 Its rising is from one[f] end of the heavens
and its circuit to the other end[g] of them;
and nothing is hidden from its heat.
7 The law of Yahweh is perfect, reviving life.[h]
The testimony of Yahweh is firm, making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of Yahweh are right, making the heart rejoice.
The command of Yahweh is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of Yahweh is pure, enduring forever.
The ordinances of Yahweh are true; they are righteous altogether,
10 more desirable than gold, even much fine gold;
and sweeter than honey, even honey in the comb.
11 Moreover, your servant is warned[i] by them;
in keeping them is great reward.
12 Who can perceive his errors?
Acquit me from hidden faults.
13 Also, keep back your servant from arrogant sins;[j]
let them not rule over me.
Then I shall be blameless,
and I shall be innocent of great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your presence,
O Yahweh, my rock and my redeemer.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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