Delve Into Jesus User-Submitted Devotionals

Christmas; Party of One

Ryan — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 05:35:27 -0800

Romans 8:32

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

Christmas is a time of giving. Throughout the world, God’s people are experiencing the Christmas gift in varied ways.

On this very Christmas, in far and hideously flung regions of the globe, some Christian parents may be watching starvation consume their beloved children with a veracious appetitive but, with cruelly dull and slowly gnawing teeth. While for Christian others, this Christmas may be the bomb that suddenly blasts their homes or loved ones into millions of excruciating shards piercing through their existence.

Conversely, perhaps you’re from that pretty world that must wantonly blurt rallying cries like “Jesus is the Reason for the Season” and “Keep Christ in Christmas.” Those shimmering-savvy Christians vow not to allow Satan, disguised as commercialism, to steal from them a Christmas that in global perspective, will nevertheless remain a hedonistic orgy.

Wherever we come from and whatever worldview we’re fighting, God, as the giver of every good gift, is truly faithful to provide ALL our needs.

We’ve been told the lie that we need food, shelter and clothing. We’ve also been sold on the myth that we need loved ones plus self-actualization. However, we are rarely informed that we actually need only ONE thing.

One gift is all you need this Christmas. In fact, it’s the one and only thing you have ever, or will ever, need. Same goes for every person clinging to this planet.

God has provided THE Christmas gift.

Most Christians recognize that Jesus is the ultimate gift of Christmas. However, how many of us live in the reality that Jesus is our ONLY need?

The daily news of Christians deprived and tormented, even up to death, does not indicate that God has failed to provide for their every need. On the other hand, fattened Christians may easily become distracted by the shine of God’s abundant blessings and thereby fail to recognize how generously unnecessary these other gifts are.

Though bona fide reasons do exist for feeling the sting of suffering, a lack of overriding contentment signifies that Jesus is not sufficient in our lives. Though hurting is real and not to be marginalized, so too is a more powerful satisfaction with Jesus being all you need. If we’re not rocked with that famous Christmas peace and joy, or not bursting with good will toward all, it is because we are not fully satisfied with God’s gift of Jesus being all we need.

Many of us insist on piles of gifts with glitzy wrapping – like a cozy house filled with stuff and precious people. Perhaps our joy, our rest, is incomplete if any of these things or people are not in the place we require. What do we have in common with those persecuted, destitute Christians who have lost their possessions and families?

In the event recorded in John 17:20-23, and forever since then, Jesus has been praying that ALL of His people be as ONE, just as He is one with the Father. The prayers of the Victorious Jesus win this Christmas day!

Whether you are drowning in a sea of overindulgent gifts or your entire world is literally being swept away by a flood - we all have the one thing we need and are one with the One we need.

Do we feel and honor this reality? An exquisite gift to give God this Christmas would be to demonstrate thankfulness for providing for our only true need and delight in that gift making us all one with God.

May you experience Christmas as a party of one; enjoying the one gift and one in fellowship with our God!

Christian Motivation; Love, Not Souls Are At Stake

Ryan — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 06:14:15 -0700

Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Matthew 22:37

Christians should be passionate about obeying God - and - preaching the Gospel. No debate there, but do we all agree on what our motivation is for performing these two Christian obligations?

During this past week, I was stunned by some of the rumbling and quaking in the evangelical blogosphere as the Christian’s motivation for obeying and spreading the Gospel came up in a roundabout way. This controversy proved to be a useful challenge for me to evaluate my own motivation for doing what God asks of me. After all, Christianity is meant to employ the heart, head and hands; while failure to engage any one of the three may indicate the absence of genuine Christianity.

Recently, two of my favorite and famous bloggers decided it was their duty to call out a pastor on the doctrinal error he is purported to be pushing in his soon to be released book. Even though this author in question is a hip, popular leader, for some reason I have never followed his ministry or read any of his shtick. After hearing what he is accused of writing, I vow not to read his provocative book.

I have no problem with his peers expressing their duty to publicly correct him, nor was I concerned with the tone they used. However, the rationale used to discredit his alleged premise necessitates the examination of the Christian motive for obeying God.

The offending writer is accused of supporting universalism, which is the belief that ultimately, all people will be saved. I’m not surprised that traditionalist feel compelled to shout “HERESY!” when they perceive a leaning toward universalism. I don’t wish to discuss universalism here because I think the more important issue raised by this week’s discussion is what should be the Christian motivation for obedience.

To debunk universalism, these two bloggers posed the question: “If all people will automatically go to heaven, why would anyone obey God?” They then elaborated on sins that may be fun to roll with if there were no eternal consequences tied to them. They insisted that if universalism were true, Christians would throw obedience under the free-wheeling sin bus.

What? Is the Christian motivation for obeying God so shallow that it can be summarized as, “So I can get into heaven”?

We are all aware of the attraction we have toward sin and that human nature seeks to get away with whatever it can. But, should our desire to be obedient be based on wanting to get something from God – or because we love God?

Because I know the theology of these two bloggers well, I know they reject works-based salvation and they remain in awe of what Jesus has accomplished for our salvation. However, I think they’re inadvertently supporting the idea that we want to be obedient because we desire heaven and we get heaven by being obedient.

So, for the sake of exploring why we do what we do, I propose a rephrasing of their question as: “If there was no heaven, would you obey God?”

I believe that the Christian pondering that question will conclude: Yes! Why? Because the true Christian has accepted God is God, and obedience to Him is the act of love one would willingly give to the One who is God – regardless if it meant receiving nothing, absolutely nada, in return. Hallelujah however, heaven is, in reality, the reward of the saved!

God is not a Cosmic Slot Machine, in which we drop the right coins of our own righteousness to receive favors here and there, and then, we ultimately win the heaven jackpot. God’s desire for relationship is only satisfied when we’re motivated to love Him. That is the rationale for instituting a superior covenant based on love, not law. As we grow in our relationship with God we are increasingly motivated to obey due to love.

Certainly, we love God because He first loved us. The Christian motivation must be to obey God because of love, or by default, obedience becomes a work – a work of trying to earn favors, up to and including salvation. Yes, God does bless obedience; He longs to bless the heart that loves Him, not the greedy heart with ulterior motives.

To add to the theology tsunami, a third blogger commented, “If universalism was true, why would we bother to preach the Gospel?” I didn’t need the controversy of universalism to be hit with a variation of that question from a few of my favorite authors, and even while sitting in church every week.

I have encountered several leaders for whom I have unending respect because of their tremendous passion for preaching the Gospel. Their desire is so fervent and their skill so finely honed, they wish to whip up the Christian masses to labor in the saving of souls along with them. Some of them even refer to sharing the Gospel as “soul winning” and talk about their soul saving techniques.

What? Who saves souls? The Christian who gives his life to preach the Gospel – or – Savior Jesus? Can a human win a soul? Obviously, only the Savior saves, while a mere person cannot win their own soul, nor the soul of a single other person.

Imagine God musing about an individual over whom He had thoughts of predestination: “I knit you together in your mother’s womb. I numbered your days by the plans I made for you. But, since Joe-Christian snoozed late and thereby failed to introduce you to My Gospel, I regret that I must sentence you to eternal damnation. Sorry, not My fault; blame that Christian deadbeat.”

No, God will bring to salvation those He predestines for salvation. Just as you cannot earn your own salvation, you cannot win the salvation of another. If you personally neglect to preach the Gospel on God’s behalf, He will raise up someone, perhaps someone seven times more spectacular than you, to do the work He first offered to you. If God can raise up stones to praise Him, he can certainly raise up stones to also preach His Gospel, if you’re not feeling up to the task.

It is completely up to God to determine who He’ll save - and that depends not a bit on theories like universalism, or what you do or don’t do. But, Hallelujah, He invites you, by some marvelous and humbling act of love, to participate in His work of salvation!

Some may be motivated to evangelize to try to win their own salvation through obedience, or due to concern for the eternal fate of their fellow man. God already has these bases covered in His loving plan of salvation and predestination. So, the only acceptable answer for why we must preach the Gospel is: “Because we love God”!

You share; Jesus saves; the Holy Spirit convicts; God imputes Jesus’ righteousness for yours. This is love.

Any other reason for laboring for the sake of the Gospel may be grossly over-inflating your importance in the process, or misunderstanding God’s role. Give God the glory by acknowledging salvation is completely a result of His love.

It is in that space where we love God by doing what He asks regarding obedience and spreading the Gospel that an earth shaking change takes place. Being motivated solely by love for God is the holy ground upon which the Master proclaims that the servant has become a friend.

Holy God, you know my desires and deficiencies in loving you. I wish to demonstrate my love for you through obedience to doing and sharing your Word with those in my world. Help me to reflect your love!

Sufficient Jesus

Ryan — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 07:22:15 -0800

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:19

Nobody rocks sufficient like Jesus!

Jesus is sufficient in all things – regardless of whether we live by this truth, or fail to notice it.

Sufficient is not a word we typically think of as a high accolade. Any conscientious employee would be disappointed with an annual review rating of sufficient. We wouldn’t pat a child on the head while praising with the word sufficient. Conversely though, Jesus fills sufficient so full, He is all in all to all.

Jesus desires to be sufficient to you. So, is He?

Worse than tagging someone as merely sufficient would be to find them insufficient. This is what we are inadvertently doing to Jesus when we don’t find Him to be sufficient.

How could we possibly find Jesus to be insufficient? Well, if He is not sufficiently all, in every circumstance of life, we must therefore be pronouncing Him to be insufficient.

Those who self-attest, through little action, to being nominal Christians may only find a small compartment, in space and time, where Jesus exists as anything from just okay to Lord. However, even busy Christians are prone to overlooking the sufficiency of Jesus permeating all life’s times and places.

Belief in Jesus should be accompanied by rich layers of knowing Him. Jesus is all sufficient; our task is to feel that reality. Seeking the sufficiency of Jesus may be the works that coincide with belief in Jesus.

We can want all we want, but we need nothing – other than Jesus. With the sufficiency of Jesus reinforcing how we encounter every event, whether tragedy or triumph, peace is the underpinning of our emotions as we rest, sufficiently content, with having Jesus – as all we need.

Why do Jesus’ blessed people demand ever more blessings? Why do we struggle so much and fear so frequently when Jesus told us not to? Why do we still dabble in greed, envy and lust?

We do these things when we are not realizing the sufficiency of Jesus. If Jesus is sufficient – as in all we need – we have it all!

It is good to seek blessings from God, for it’s His delight to give His children every good gift. But, if our joy is left in the lurch until any blessing hits, we've missed the joyful satisfaction of Jesus being all we really want. The dangerous proclivity of loosing sight of Jesus being all we actually need is often most prevalent during good times. When, and with what, God will bless us pales in comparison to the gift He’s already granted in Jesus.

The love and company of family and friends is precious - yet, totally unnecessary. Jesus however, is necessary. Our loved ones are beautiful treasures bestowed by God; when one is suddenly, tragically, taken from us – the sufficiency of Jesus remains. Jesus, being all we need, gets us through any loss.

We believe Jesus is sufficient for our salvation – we must put that faith into action. Salvation’s promise of eternity has us reunited with loved ones. Our eternity, united to Jesus, starts at the moment we accept Jesus as our Savior. Though, our realization of the reality of His sufficiency expands through this life’s testing time.

Relationships in any arena of life are sadly doomed to be less than they could be whenever we look to people to fulfill our needs. If we see Jesus as sufficiently filling all needs, we are freed to enjoy people for whomever they are, unencumbered by our misguided expectations.

Misery strikes Christians. Victims of violent crime, those crushed by failing marriages or parents crying over a suffering child have at their aid the sufficiency of Jesus – some realize it and are comforted, while others are consumed by the pain. Heavenly perspective relegates very real, earthly pain to be secondary to the greater reality of the sufficiency of Jesus.

Other miseries are of our own making. Ugly pride mocks us when our eyes drift from Jesus to focus on our own awesomeness. While there’s nothing wrong with shiny new toys, covetousness infests the parts of the psyche where Jesus is displaced as our true desire. Envy of others, and the ensuing strife, dominate us when we are not fully content with what Jesus planned for us.

Every weed of temptation and seed of lust, can only take route in the soil of the soul lacking the sufficiency of Jesus. When filled with Jesus, as being entirely enough, who could engage in a scam scheme of greed or need another hit of the drug du jour? Who would succumb to the lusty beckoning of an illicit lover, during moments when Jesus satiates all desires?

Of little importance is the boom or bust status of a financial portfolio. Of greater consequence is its owner’s satisfaction with Jesus. Finding Jesus to be sufficient in lean times may be all you have left to your name; that is what saves during fat times, lest largess becomes lethal to the spirit.

Cataclysmic catastrophes are coming; both on a world scale and those personal disasters we manufacture. It’s the sufficiency of Jesus that is our security regardless of what befalls us.

Good times and bad give us practice in replacing dependency on self with reliance on Jesus. Through Jesus, God gives us sufficient grace; it’s His will that we be ever thankful, in all circumstances, because we appreciate the sufficiency of Jesus.

So, we are faced with the choice of actively seeking the realization of Jesus’ sufficiency in every situation – or – passively declaring, via default, that Jesus is insufficient.

Whether our heart is breaking or soaring, we need to ask Jesus to fill it with His sufficiency. Today, may your heart be completely content with sufficient Jesus!

Holy Jesus, be magnified in my life by my joy in your sufficiency. Be glorified in all the world by revealing your everlasting sufficiency!

When Satan Attacks

buttramd — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 13:53:23 -0700

Ephesians 6:11 - 12
Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

As we humans tend to do or to believe everything to one extreme or another, I am going to divide us into 2 groups. 1 - Those who blame Satan for everything bad in their lives. 2 - Those that pretend Satan does not exist. Which one are you? Hopefully, by the end of this, you may lean more toward the middle somewhere.

You cannot read these verses without coming to an understanding that Satan is indeed real and that we - as Christians - are at war with him and his hordes of demons. However, these verses do not remove the fact that we are pretty good at sinning on our own (ref. Romans 3:23 - for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God ). Nor do they remove the fact that our God tests us and disciplines us in order to grow us into the Christians He wants us to be. I think it is good to stop here and meditate on this:

James 1:12 - 15
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

So what does a satanic attack look like and how can we stand against them? I wish I had the one perfect answer for you, but I do not. However, what I can offer are my own personal struggles and how I deal with them.

There are many things that happen in my life that are bad that are simply results from the sins in my life that come from being a sinner such as debt, weight gain, snapping at my kids, laughing at my wife when she runs into an exercise bike because she didn't turn on the light - not that this ever happened (and I made sure she was ok first). I do not go around giving Satan credit for these. I beat myself up about them. I ask God to change me and strengthen me to make be better. I discipline myself to overcome these.

So, from where do the satanic attacks come? For me, I find that satanic attacks are more frequently mental attacks. I say "for me" because "for Job" they were definitely physical attacks. But in my case, they are mental. Small things will happen around me (things that are everyday type things), and I will begin having thoughts that make the small situation into something it is not - and was never going to be. These thoughts could be classified as lustful, power-hungry, greedy, selfish, etc. I believe that these are real satanic attacks on me to get me to follow through with decisions that will be divisive or hurtful to those close to me. I cannot describe them much more than that. I finish by saying I have come to recognize them as attacks because try as I may, I am unable to simply dismiss them and start thinking of something new. The barrage continues.

There are only 2 things that I have found that help me during these times. Prayer and the Bible! I talk to God about what is happening. I voice my concerns. And I read His Word searching for answers to what I am dealing with.

I feel as if I have typed a bunch of rubbish above. I hope that is not the case. I hope that in these words, you have found some kind of truth or hope that can help you continue in your Christian walk.

Go with God,
Donald Buttram

God is in Control

buttramd — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 07:41:15 -0700

James 1:2 - 3
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. "

I have been listening to God today. I have been considering all that Job endured, and I have been trying to better understand how God works. What I am beginning to understand more and more each day is when we say we trust God to take care of our needs His way in His time - we should not necessarily expect that everything is going to be "good" as we see it. It does not mean that something we view as a "need" will be taken care of immediately. It does not mean things will turn out perfect or good (in our eyes). Allow me to illustrate.

You have just used the last of the milk. You do not have the money to buy another gallon today. There's nothing saying we will not go a week or 2 without milk. Does this mean God isn't meeting our needs? I don't think so. He is still in control.

Let's say that you forget to write something down in your checkbook and over-extend yourself. If a certain amount of money does not come in before the check clears, does that mean God is not watching out for your needs? I don't think so. He is still in control.

Just because we may go through troubles at times does not mean that God has forgotten that we have needs. He is still in control.

We preach and teach that God uses trials to grow us. Why, then, should we believe that we will not encounter these trials. What Job went through was bad stuff. But God was still in control.

Job 1:12 (NIV)
"All right, you may test him," the LORD said to Satan. "Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don't harm him physically." So Satan left the LORD's presence.

I have always heard it preached that a righteous man named Job went through these trials and suffered through no fault of his own but why? Was it just a demo for the rest of the world? Was it just for us to have something to say to those going through trials? Or was it because Job had something to learn about God that He wasn't learning in his present situation? Maybe God said the things he did to satan in order to entice him to attack Job in order to teach Job something new about Himself.

Bottom line God is in control. There are things that are going to happen that are hard to live with. There are going to be times of struggle. Our responsibility is to learn to trust God completely through it all. And by trusting God, I mean maintaining the good attitude as well - through the good and bad alike. What better way to glorify God than to be a positive spirit in the midst of troubling times.

James 1:12 (NIV)
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Go with God,
Donald B

Living in the Belly of a Great Fish

Ryan — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 12:32:45 -0700

Does your world stink? Are you sickened by the sensation of an ominous darkness enveloping humanity? Have you read the morning newspaper or browsed your preferred news services yet? Perhaps you are too traumatized to peek into the latest news, knowing of the ever-present horrors agitating the globe. Do you feel the churning of decaying matter being tossed at you from all sides? Have you been stewing in corrosive, caustic fluids which are digesting your resolve?

Maybe your world stinks because you are living in the belly of a great fish.

Being swallowed by a large fish happens. We have the Biblical story of Jonah, a man who did time on the inside of a fish because he was running from a mission given to him by God. Jonah wasn't willing to deliver a message God told him to take to a lost and degenerate people. We have all been sent on the same mission Jonah was given; as stated by Jesus, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation." (Mark 16:15)

One, having been swallowed by a large fish, is compelled to consider their disgusting surroundings and the despair of the predicament. Some may wait with patience, believing they will remain in the belly until the Kingdom of God liberates them from these vile circumstances. Optimistic others may make the most of a deplorable situation by cleansing a corner of their stomach environs to attempt a pure life in the midst of the repugnance. Regrettably, some may slip into the murk on occasion, due to carelessness or unawareness of the slippery properties of the belly of a fish. Sadly, there are those who don't care to get out because they have been reduced to enjoying swimming in the filth.

What to do when you realize your existence is being digested by a fishy entity you cannot control? Jonah cried out to God and was vomited from the fish's mouth. He was delivered when he connected with the concept of people on land, captive within their own decadence, were missing God's grace. He acknowledged that it is God's prerogative to give salvation to whom He chooses. Jonah gave thanks to God and vowed to follow God's instructions to deliver the message to the city of Nineveh (Jonah 2:8-9).

Happily for the inhabitants of Nineveh, they heard the message and all repented. Not so happily for Jonah, he was distraught because a wicked city, which he loved to despise for its evilness, was afforded forgiveness. Poor Jonah; he failed to appreciate the success he had in doing God's work. The entire population of a major city had repented - impressive stats for any prophet.

The competitive among us may desire a crack at beating that record. Those who have added compassion to zealousness, will be overjoyed with the opportunity to be part of delivering a message of comfort and salvation to suffering people. However, some Christians may run away from God's instruction to deliver the Gospel message to a world they are indifferent to, or have learned to hate.

If life around you stinks; if you've been rotting inside the belly of a fish, you can pray like Jonah did and recommit to delivering the Gospel message. Consider the extent to which our unresponsiveness may be responsible for the fact we are lingering in a deplorable world. As Jonah was vomited from the depths of the fish when he became willing to do God's work, so may we be delivered from this evil era. Conversely, failure to be actively involved in the Great Commission may result in hearing Jesus say, "Because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I am about to spit you out of my mouth." Revelation 3:16)

Has our fish gut world become a comfortable tomb, or are we ready to be expelled from its claustrophobic grasp, to do the work of God? We can strive to deliver the message with the effectiveness of Jonah but, augmented by the compassion of the Holy Spirit. We can thank God for allowing us to be part of His plan, as we contemplate this awe-inspiring privilege. Feeling the impact of what God's word does in our lives, being relieved to be redeemed; we can become excited about sharing the Gospel. Great cities of our day are in dire need of hearing the good news of salvation through Jesus. Better to abide forever in God's Kingdom than to languish in the belly of a fish.

Are You a Stone Thrower or a Coat Holder?

lynnmosher — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:21:30 -0700

"You stab your own brother in the back," says Psalm 50:20 in The Message. The New King James Version states it this way, "You sit and speak against your brother; you slander your own mother's son."

Why do we do this?

Unfortunately, we use our tongue "to give thanks to our Lord and Father and also to curse our fellow-man, who is created in the likeness of God." (James 3:9 GNB)

If I was created in God's image and likeness, and you were created in God's image and likeness, and your family, friends, and neighbors were all created in God's image and likeness, then how do we justify speaking against God's creations?

Jesus said, "For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander." (Matt 15:19 NIV) Slander and speak against mean to be a false witness, be spiteful or malicious, speak evil of, be a talebearer, gossip, be hurtful, and so on. It is speech that is injurious to another's good name.

Jesus also said, "A good man's speech reveals the rich treasures within him. An evil-hearted man is filled with venom, and his speech reveals it." (Matt. 12:35 TLB)

So, what do our tongues reveal? What wiggles its way out of our hearts, tickles our vocal chords, and jumps off the ends of our tongues? Is it the rich treasure of complimenting and encouraging others, or is it the venom of speaking gossip and negativity?

God is very particular about how we treat His body parts, His sons and daughters, our brothers and sisters. Malachi asked, "Don't we all come from one Father? Aren't we all created by the same God? So why can't we get along?" (Mal. 2:10a Msg)

Why can't we get along? How is it possible to love God and hate Him in others at the same time? How do we not love all parts of Christ's Body? It would be like this: Do our eyes hate our polished toenails for being prettier? Do our teeth covet the gold in our ears? Are our hands jealous because our feet sport new coverings?

That may sound silly, but when Christ lives in others, they become a part of His body. So how do we not see them as vessels containing His Holy Spirit, unless the snarling monster of self raises its ugly head to block our view?

If we speak against or criticize another, gossiping behind his or her back, we put ourselves in opposition to God's love and His Word, just as James tells us, "Don't criticize and speak evil about each other, dear brothers. If you do, you will be fighting against God's law of loving one another, declaring it is wrong." (James 4:11a TLB)

If we are not to speak against our Christian brothers and sisters, do we then have free reign to use our words to tear apart the unbelievers? No, of course not. Jesus said in the old devotional God At Eventide, " The love you give to your neighbour is the overflow of your love for Me ."

Jesus admonishes us, "So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other." (John 13:34 NLT) To love is a commandment, not something we choose to bestow only on certain people, when we feel like it. Godly love is an act of the will, not a feeling. If we say we walk in the Spirit, then we walk in love, with everyone, not just a select few.

The Lord once said to me, " Do not wound My Heart by saying unkind things about those I love, things you could not say to their faces ." Wow! We grieve the heart of our precious Lord by what we say about the ones He loves, which includes everyone .

Our love for Christ must hinder us from hurting Him with our criticism, gossiping, and judgment of others, whether vocalized or silent, whether against a believer or unbeliever.

We should be as wise as David when he prayed, "Take control of what I say, O LORD, and keep my lips sealed." (Ps. 141:3 NLT)

We can neither pass gossip along nor stand and listen while another pours it out.

Paul, the worst of all persecutors of Christians, tried desperately to destroy the church. One day, on the Damascus Road, he encountered a blinding light as the Lord surrounded him, and said, "'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?' And he said, 'Who are You, Lord?' Then the Lord said, 'I am Jesus, Whom you are persecuting.'" (Acts 9:4-5 NKJV) In persecuting the Christians, Paul had persecuted the Lord Himself.

Before this confrontation, Paul witnessed the stoning of Stephen. As the Jewish leaders took their religious stance, fingers tightly clutching their stones of condemnation, Paul stood there, as one of the crowd, watching, while he held the garments of the other witnesses, making it easier for them to hurl the stones of pharisaical piety that ended Stephen's life.

Paul had to lose his sight before he could gain his vision. When he encountered the Lord's blinding presence on that day, he confessed to Him, "When Your witness Stephen was killed, I was standing there agreeing. I kept the coats they laid aside as they stoned him." (Acts 22:20 NLT)

So, let's make this a personal application. Is there a stone of judgment or revenge clutched tightly in your hand? Or do you stand holding another's coat while someone else throws sanctimonious stones or gossip gravel at another person?

I leave you with this thought: Jesus said, " Treat all as you would treat Me, with Love and consideration. Let nothing that others do to you alter your treatment of them ." (God Calling)

Prayer For A Pure Heart

Ryan — Sun, 11 May 2008 20:45:58 -0700

Lord I want to love you with all my heart and depth of soul.
As I delight in you Jesus, please give me the desires of my heart.
My soul yearns, my bleating heart cries out to be a pure heart.
O Lord, to your glory, raise up this stone to be your child.
Wash me in the blood which flowed through your heart to cleanse mine.

Grant me the petition of my heart; Jesus, remove this heart of stone.
Jesus, give me a new heart, put a new spirit in me; be my cornerstone.
Blessed be the pure in heart; for they will see how your blood purifies.

You Lord Jesus have triumphed over sin.
Yours will be the ultimate victory over evil.
Come in; conquer this desperately wicked heart.
Cut me deep with the sharp sword of the Word.
Splay open wide my heart; separate all my sins.

Jesus, I seek your clean heart. Make me a man after your own heart.
Create a clean heart within me; one with open eyes.
Blessed are the pure of heart; permit me to see you with more clarity each day.

From your heart flows springs of life; springs bubbling up in my life.
Hold me under the healing waters of the pool welling up to eternal life.
Raise me, save me through the washing of rebirth and renewal.
Pour out your living water into my heart by the Holy Spirit.
As I course through life, let me leave a wake of your goodness and peace.

Jesus, I want to enter your kingdom, being born of water and the Spirit.
Create in me a clean heart; generously give me your steadfast Spirit.
Blessed are the pure in heart; they will see heaven open and the Spirit descending.

Lord, test my heart in the furnace of affliction, so it may be refined.
My life is a crucible; you be the fire burning off the dross of my will.
May your blaze consume my evil; through your flames, save me from pride.
Purify my heart; distill all iniquities. Spirit right renew my mind.
Make me flow like molten metal; pour me into the mold of your holy heart.

Jesus, I seek your pure heart. Refine me; cast me after your own heart.
Give me a heart of pure gold; malleable and precious in your use.
Blessed be the pure of heart; they will see your glowing power displayed.

Lord Jesus I need a pure heart; let it be a beating sacrifice I can offer you.
Lord, lead me forward from froward, onward to the essence of obedience.
Master, let me honor, fear, and serve you with all sincerity of heart.
Lord, break my spirit; as you overcame the world, prevail over me.
Master, within my heart, bind your commands, as you set my heart free.

Jesus, I seek your pure heart. Write your perfect laws in my heart.
Let the sacrifice of your blood make me a contrite heart, acceptable to you.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they have been set free, free to see you.

Lamp of the Lord, search my spirit, illuminate my innermost being.
You alone know the hidden content of my heart; turn my heart to you.
Lord Jesus, purify me by shining your light over the darkness of my heart.
Please close the distance between your thoughts, your ways and mine.
Strengthen my heart so that it may be blameless, pure in motive and deed.

Jesus, let me walk in your pure light; keep me pure until the day of your coming.
Let me live in the light of what your heart has done for me.
Blessed be the pure of heart; for they will see you are the light of the world.

Jesus, call me to peace, let your peace rule my heart.
Give me a heart of forgiveness, as you have forgiven me.
You heal the brokenhearted; Jesus bind up my wounds.
Purify me from everything that contaminates body and spirit.
Jesus, put your joy in my heart; make my joy complete.

Jesus, cause me to seek you with all my heart; open wide my heart to you.
O Lord, fulfill your purpose for me; direct my heart toward your love.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see your perfect will.

Jesus, I seek your heart of love; help me to love with all my heart.
Dear Jesus, let my mouth speak from the abundance of your heart.
As honey is sweet, let your words drip from me as a blessing for all to hear.
Dear Jesus, guide me in the practice of your pure religion of self-sacrifice.
Teach me to give myself for others, in service to you, as you gave your life for me.

Jesus, I seek your heart of love; help me to be a man after your own heart.
May it be possible for others to feel your heart through the touch of my clean hands.
Blessed are the pure of heart, for they will see you are love.

Lord, you've allowed me to explore Earth's continents, collecting rare desires.
How astonishing to find this precious desire for a pure heart, close at home.
Do you enjoy irony more than me, O Holy God who covers my unholiness?
Jesus, first you gave me the desire for purity, and I felt I had true treasure.
Then you tell me to be perfect as the Heavenly Father is perfect.

You set the standard, yours is the example, you provide the means.
Justify me by your grace, bestow your righteousness, give me faith to see.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for the will see you are the way, the truth and the life.

Jesus, I will praise you Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders.
I want to serve you Lord with all my heart and live within your grace.
Let me offer my heart to you to be holy and pleasing, as a spiritual act of worship.
My heart is set on seeking you; give me a pure heart so that I may know your face.
Please give me a beautiful heart; befitting adornment for the temple of your Spirit.

You have enlightened my heart to know and hope for the glorious inheritance.
Lord Jesus, please let me abide forever hidden within your heart.
Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see you and see your kingdom come.
Holy God, as your will is done in heaven, let it be done in my heart. Amen.

A Conversation in Scripture

Ryan — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 17:09:35 -0700

Love chose you before the creation of the world to be holy. You were predestined to be adopted as a son through Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 1:5)

Before I was born you knew me? You designed me in the womb to be yours? (Isaiah 49:1;5)

How gladly would I treat you like a son and give you the most beautiful inheritance. I thought you could call me Father and never turn away from me. (Jeremiah 3:19)

Hold that thought while I flirt with other gods. They are the adrenaline that buzzes my brain; the beat that rocks my body. It's no use; I love those gods, and I must chase them. (Jeremiah 2:25)

What fault did you find in me, that you would stray so far from me? (Jeremiah 2:5)

The pride of my heart has rocketed me so high; who could crash me down to earth? (Obadiah 1:3)

I will make you my everlasting pride and joy. (Isaiah 60:15)

While yet young, I ran away into the world to grab my share of the sensual gusto. (Luke 15:13)

Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. (Deuteronomy 31:6)

My feet rushed into lust; my hands were swift to shed innocent blood. Ruin and destruction marked my way. (Isaiah 59:7)

I am the way and the truth and the life. (John 14:6)

Being so busy with evil, I became hungry but remained empty; my thirst could not be quenched. (Isaiah 32:6)

I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry; he who believes in me will never be thirsty. (John 6:35)

Too late I learned false gods speak deceit. Therefore I wandered, lost like a sheep, confused for lack of a shepherd. (Zechariah 10:2)

The Lamb will be your shepherd; and will lead you to springs of living water. (Revelations 7:17)

I wandered about, becoming food for vultures and knowing only darkness. (Job 15:23)

I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness. (John 8:12)

Weary from want and hunger, I roamed the desolate wastelands. (Job 30:3)

Come to me, you who are weary and desolate, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)

Night pierced my bones; my gnawing pains never rested. (Job 30:17)

I was pierced for your disobedience, was crushed due to your lusts. By my wounds you are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)

Estranged from the path of understanding, I became entrapped in the company of the dead. (Proverbs 21:16)

My love and mercy brings you to eternal life. (Jude 1:21)

My rebellion is absolute; my backslidings go the distance. Attackers from my wild living lie in wait everywhere, salivating to tear me to pieces. (Jeremiah 5:6)

I'll give you eternal life, and you shall never perish. No one can snatch you out of my hand. (John 10:28)

I am consumed. My bones are dried up and my hope is gone. I am cut off. (Ezekiel 37:11)

You will know that I am the Lord, when I open your grave and bring you up. I will put my Spirit in you and you will live. (Ezekiel 37:13-14)

Father, I have sinned against you. I'm not worthy to be called your son. (Luke 15:21)

I demonstrate my love for you in this: While you are yet a sinner, Christ died for you. (Romans 5:8)

But I have been working double time and the fair wages of my sin is death. (Romans 6:23)

I will show you how to revel; look at the party I have thrown for you. Son of mine, you were dead, yet are alive again; lost, but now found. (Luke 15:23-24a>)

But I am dead in my wickedness and sins. (Ephesians 2:1)

This is love: I am the atoning sacrifice for your sins. (1 John 4:10)

I am rot; a decomposed man. Who would rescue me from death? (Romans 7:24)

Take and eat; this is my body. Drink from the cup of my blood, which is poured out to forgive your sins. (Matthew 26:26-28)

Heal me, Lord and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one to be praised. (Jeremiah 17:14)

My gift is eternal life. You have crossed over from death to life. (Romans 6:23) (John 5:24)

In your great mercy you have given me a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. (1 Peter 1:3)

The Christ suffered and rose from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to all nations. Luke 25:46-47

You Lord are my rock, my fortress and my deliverer. You are my salvation. (Psalms 18:2)

Therefore, go tell the people you know about His love; baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19)

Still, my doubts make me like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. (James 1:6)

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. (Ezekiel 36:26)

My old habits still haunt me, and my foolish complacency may yet destroy me. (Proverbs 1:32)

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in your weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

The devil ever prowls round me like a roaring lion craving to devour me. (1 Peter 5:8)

I rebuke you, Satan! Was not this man a burning stick whom I snatched from the fire? (Zechariah 3:2)

If you are for me, who can be against me? What can separate me from your love? (Romans 8:31; 35)

Neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate you from my love. (Romans 8:38 39)

You have filled me with joy and peace, so that I overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)

You have been rescued and enabled to serve me in holiness and righteousness, forever. (Luke 1:74-75)

May your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10)

Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven. (Matthew 5:12)

Amen. Come Lord Jesus. Lord come. Amen. (Revelation 22:20)