9 October 2007
'For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.' Dt 4:24
Our God is a consuming fire. He is satisfied only when His love totally consumes us. We usually think of a jealous person as someone resentful and suspicious, but the Lord's jealousy on our behalf is something that should be precious to us! He gave us life, and He wants to protect us from anything that could harm us. That is why He has commanded His children to worship no other gods, allowing nothing to distract us from His consuming love.
The Lord opposes anything that hinders our relationship with Him (Dt 6:15). He knows the danger of other gods, how they will lure us away, deceive us, and leave us empty. He will tolerate nothing that takes precedence over our love for Him. Our faithfulness to God assures us of the abundant life He wants to give us. If we reject Him, He will pursue us until we return to Him.
We should not resent the fact that God wants to guard our relationship with Him. Our relationship with God should be our top priority. It should dictate how we spend our time, our money, and our energy. If certain people or our possessions separate us from God, we must reexamine our hearts and give our devotion first to Him, as He commands. God wants each of us to love Him with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength (Mk 12:30). Our love for God should extend to every corner of our lives. God loved us so much that He gave us His own Son.
Let us respond by giving Him our highest devotion in return. Amen
Seek the Mountains
8 October 2007
“Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the Lord said.” Jos 14:12
Caleb's faith in God was unwavering. Everyone around him doubted. Despite God convinced Caleb that the children of Israel should enter the Promised Land, the people were fearful of the giants and fortified cities in front of them. (Nu 13:28-33). Their unbelief forced Caleb to wait forty years in the wilderness before he finally entered the Promised Land.
Even after all those years, Caleb was as confident as ever in God's power.
When God was dividing the land among the Israelites, the people were asking for the lush valleys and grassy plains as they saw from their physical eyes. Caleb asked for a mountain. The Israelites had driven their enemies into the mountains, where they had built fortresses. Caleb's faith in God was steadfast and asked for a challenge! He did not trust in his own strength but in God's presence. Caleb longed to see God work in power, and he knew he would be less likely to rely on God if he dwelt in the easy places. He chose a situation in which he would have to trust in God. Caleb knew his inheritance from God was on the mountain. He refused to allow the difficulty of gaining it to stop him from enjoying all that God had promised him.
If you always choose the easy way, asking for the peaceful valleys, you will never see God's power displayed to enable you to take a mountain. Seek out the mountains, and you will witness God doing things through your life that can be explained only by His mighty presence today!
Amen
“Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the Lord said.” Jos 14:12
Caleb's faith in God was unwavering. Everyone around him doubted. Despite God convinced Caleb that the children of Israel should enter the Promised Land, the people were fearful of the giants and fortified cities in front of them. (Nu 13:28-33). Their unbelief forced Caleb to wait forty years in the wilderness before he finally entered the Promised Land.
Even after all those years, Caleb was as confident as ever in God's power.
When God was dividing the land among the Israelites, the people were asking for the lush valleys and grassy plains as they saw from their physical eyes. Caleb asked for a mountain. The Israelites had driven their enemies into the mountains, where they had built fortresses. Caleb's faith in God was steadfast and asked for a challenge! He did not trust in his own strength but in God's presence. Caleb longed to see God work in power, and he knew he would be less likely to rely on God if he dwelt in the easy places. He chose a situation in which he would have to trust in God. Caleb knew his inheritance from God was on the mountain. He refused to allow the difficulty of gaining it to stop him from enjoying all that God had promised him.
If you always choose the easy way, asking for the peaceful valleys, you will never see God's power displayed to enable you to take a mountain. Seek out the mountains, and you will witness God doing things through your life that can be explained only by His mighty presence today!
Amen
7 October 2007
“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Mt 16:19
The keys of the kingdom represent the access you have to the Father through your relationship to Jesus Christ. The keys of the kingdom have the power to unlock God's intervention and power in practically everything. Whatever and whenever the keys are used, we can bind and loose all things on earth as well as the same will happen in heaven.
With this relationship you have access to everything both in heaven and on earth. However, this special access is not given indiscriminately; Jesus gave the keys to His disciples only after they recognized that He was the Christ. Once the disciples were convinced that Jesus was the Savior, they entered into a unique and personal relationship with Him and have the keys to the kingdom. Likewise, your relationship with Christ opens the door of heaven for you and gives you direct access to the Father. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven and whatever is loosed on earth, will be loosed in heaven.
Peter discovered that once he had keys to the kingdom, he could go to the Father in every situation. When he stood to preach before thousands on the day of Pentecost, this simple fisherman opened the door to the kingdom for three thousand people in one day (Ac 2:41). When he encountered a lame man, he used his access to God and His healing power, and the man was healed (Ac 3:6). When he was imprisoned, Peter discovered that the keys of the kingdom could open even the most secure prison door (Ac 12:6-10).
If you are a Christian you, too, have keys to the kingdom of heaven. You do not need an intermediary, for you have a direct access to God. With that access come all the resources you need to face any circumstance. When you are afraid, you have access to God's peace that surpasses comprehension (Phl 4:6). When you have a broken relationship, you have access to the God of reconciliation (2Co 5:18-21). When you meet someone in need, you have access to God's provision for that person. What an incredible privilege to be entrusted with keys to the kingdom of heaven! Let us use and appropriate this for His Glory today
Amen
“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Mt 16:19
The keys of the kingdom represent the access you have to the Father through your relationship to Jesus Christ. The keys of the kingdom have the power to unlock God's intervention and power in practically everything. Whatever and whenever the keys are used, we can bind and loose all things on earth as well as the same will happen in heaven.
With this relationship you have access to everything both in heaven and on earth. However, this special access is not given indiscriminately; Jesus gave the keys to His disciples only after they recognized that He was the Christ. Once the disciples were convinced that Jesus was the Savior, they entered into a unique and personal relationship with Him and have the keys to the kingdom. Likewise, your relationship with Christ opens the door of heaven for you and gives you direct access to the Father. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven and whatever is loosed on earth, will be loosed in heaven.
Peter discovered that once he had keys to the kingdom, he could go to the Father in every situation. When he stood to preach before thousands on the day of Pentecost, this simple fisherman opened the door to the kingdom for three thousand people in one day (Ac 2:41). When he encountered a lame man, he used his access to God and His healing power, and the man was healed (Ac 3:6). When he was imprisoned, Peter discovered that the keys of the kingdom could open even the most secure prison door (Ac 12:6-10).
If you are a Christian you, too, have keys to the kingdom of heaven. You do not need an intermediary, for you have a direct access to God. With that access come all the resources you need to face any circumstance. When you are afraid, you have access to God's peace that surpasses comprehension (Phl 4:6). When you have a broken relationship, you have access to the God of reconciliation (2Co 5:18-21). When you meet someone in need, you have access to God's provision for that person. What an incredible privilege to be entrusted with keys to the kingdom of heaven! Let us use and appropriate this for His Glory today
Amen
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