We Serve A Living God

 ...For he is the living God, and steadfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.

Daniel 6:26

Life is full of uncertainties; however, in our focus verse today we are assured of one thing that is certain… Daniel endured much torment and ridicule for His faith, after being imprisoned because of His God, we know the story of being cast into the lion’s den… I am sure that even though His faith did not waver, Daniel was filled with uncertainty regarding the outcome of His predicament… Today, I am sure that there are things in your life that don't necessarily cause you to lose faith; however, they may have you in a position where you are unsure of how things will play out. It is in these perilous times and uncomfortable situations that we must come to know and remember that “He is the living God, and steadfast for ever…” The storms of life will have you tossing and turning from day to day, but you have an anchor whose name is Jesus that will keep you safe and stable… Even though things that you hold dear to your heart on this earth can be taken from you in the blink of an eye, you can be encouraged today by knowing that “His kingdom shall not be destroyed…” The bible declares that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever… This should provide good news to the body of Christ today as we are reminded that even though we will experience highs and lows in this life, we will never fall beyond the thermostat of God’s grace… The thermostat that is Jesus Christ maintains a steady environment within us while all the things around us fluctuate from minute to minute… The passage taken from the prophetic book of Daniel reminds us today that we serve a living God, today we are reminded that in serving God we must trust Him in the most awkward and dangerous situations… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Love Conquers All

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

1 John 4:18

In the 15^th chapter of the gospel of John, the 13^th verse Jesus says, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” The point that Jesus made is echoed in our focus verse today. Even in the midst of the garden of Gethsemane, when Jesus prayed (as He sweats drops of blood wishing) that the cup of the crucifixion and the separation between Him and God would pass; we see that due to His love, He endured the cross and all the torment that came with it… What do you mean when you tell someone I love you? What is it that that person is supposed to understand about you and how you feel toward them? John informs us of the true meaning of love today, the fact that it outweighs fear and will cause you to become fearless… If a parent sees their child walk into a street with a  car approaching, they will risk their lives to save their child. If a house is burning down, a parent will overlook the flames to get their children out safely… This is the kind of love that John is speaking about today; true love gives you the ability to look beyond circumstances to fulfill or satisfy the needs of another… To say you love someone means that you are able to look beyond the flaws; you are able to look beyond the shortcomings and open yourself up for that person… 

The first part of this scripture tells us that there is no fear in love; a lot of us claim to be children of God and say we love Him, but John is reminding us that if you love God you trust Him and turn your life over to Him… A lot of us have been held captive for far too long by fear and John says fear will torment, fear will keep you down, it will keep you suffering, and it will keep you distressed and continue to drown you in your sorrows… Notice John says “perfect love” (only the love from above) will cast out fear… You can’t waver back and forth and expect to overcome, you can’t take a step forward and take a step back and expect to grow or move forward in life… When you trust God, when you lean not to your own understanding, when you cut off some people or things in your life, you will begin to see that “perfect love” manifested in your life. You will also notice over time that the Love that only God gives will cast out the fears you once had… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

God Provides Wisdom and Knowledge

He giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:  He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.

Daniel 2:21b-22

This passage taken from the book of Daniel reminds us of the awesome power of God! It starts by telling us that He has given each of us a unique gift, those who are to be wise shall receive wisdom; likewise, those who are to understand shall obtain knowledge… Wisdom is a step above knowledge and someone who is called wise is one that has insight, intelligence and acumen… A wise man is able to speak through personal experiences as well as things that have been learned throughout history… Daniel says, “He giveth wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding…”God will make your path clear, He will reveal His plan unto you, but you must submit to Him first… He gives wisdom and knowledge to those who were “wise” enough to know they couldn’t do it on their own; He gives knowledge to those that have come to “understand” that without Jesus we are filthy rags headed to hell… God has a spiritual desire for you and a will for you to walk in, but you must first acknowledge your gift (or gifts) so that God can bestow them upon you… 

Never believe that you are not a vital instrument to God’s kingdom-building, He has a work that is only meant for your hands to satisfy. Daniel goes on to say that he revealeth secret things and knows what is in darkness; God can and will reveal confusion to you, He will right the vision and make it plain, and He will help you to (as the psalmist says) understand it better by and by… There are a lot of things that take place within our lives that we cannot understand at the present time, we feel like things are unfair or just don’t make sense, these are the secrets that Daniel says will be revealed. Jesus prayed that the cup be taken away from Him, but also said “let thy will be done…” There are a lot of things that we have prayed for God to remove, a lot of obstacles that we asked God to push out of our way and Daniel wants you and I to know that not only will we overcome, but one day God will let us know what purpose these obstacles served, God will bring to understanding why certain things happened in our lives… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

You're Not Alone

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:8-9

This may come to you as a shock, but the truth of the matter is that you are not perfect… Even though you may strive for perfection in everything you do, you must come to the realization today that you are not without the need of assistance… Your perfection is found in your flaws if you let your flaws lead you to Christ… This is why John says “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us…” The lie is to believe that you are fine and can make it on your own, the perfection is found in your humbleness and acceptance of your low state… The first step a drug addict or an alcoholic must take on the road to recovery is accepting and realizing where they are… Without knowing where you are, how can you get to where you want to go…? In this day of technology, we utilized GPS systems to assist us when we are lost… A GPS must first know your current coordinates before giving you the route to take to arrive at your destination… In Christ, we have a GPS that will lead us to a brighter future and a better tomorrow… Our turn by turn directions are ordered by the Holy Spirit; however, if we do not recognize that we are lost; we will never realize or obtain what could have been… When you say you have no sin, you are that person who is wandering aimlessly through life and telling everyone you encounter that you know where you are going… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Take Up Your Cross

And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

Matthew 10:38-39

To walk in the pathways of Christ, one must have a desire and be committed through all the levels in phases of life that he/she will be exposed to…  This voyage isn’t for the weak at heart nor is it for those who don’t appreciate the trials and tribulations that you will have to endure… This is why Jesus says that if he (anybody) doesn’t take his cross and follow after Him “is not worthy of me…” Taking up your cross and following Jesus separates the true believer from the church attendee; it draws the dividing line between those who are fighting the good fight of faith and those who are provoked by the things of this world… Jesus declares in Matthew 15:8, “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” Not everyone who attends church is a true believer in Christ; not everyone who calls on Him through their lips has allowed Him in their heart… Again, in today’s verse, Jesus tells us that if we do not take up our cross we are not worthy of Him… To be counted unworthy means that we have been classified as not fit, undeserving or shameful… The goodness of Jesus outweighs the sweat and tears that will be poured out in following Him… Jesus doesn’t lose when one doesn’t take up their cross and follow Him, this is why you are the one who will be deemed unworthy… Are you worthy today of receiving His unmerited favor and blessings upon your life…? This passage teaches us today that taking up your cross is an honor and a privilege that we should eagerly undertake knowing that to be counted in that number is of the most value to our lives… The gospel of Matthew reminds us today of the responsibilities, duties and obligations that we have as a child of God… So many of us walk around proclaiming with our tongue that we are Christians, but Matthew informs us that there is only one way that is shown, by taking up your cross… The term taking up your cross has several meanings for us to understand and adhere to, but the biggest duty that that phrase embodies is denying the desires of the sinful nature and clinging to the will of God… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

The Best Is Yet To Come

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

1 Corinthians 2:9

You haven’t seen all that God has in store for you; the best indeed is yet to come… Even though you may be facing hardship or a trying time in your life, you can take pleasure in knowing that God is with you and is working behind the scenes… Paul encourages us to know that “It is written…” Today declare to the adversary that your victory is certain and his defeat is imminent… Count it all joy when you go through as we studied previously because you know that “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” Despite what you face, despite how challenging the terrain may appear, know that the battle has already been won and you are on the horizon of greatness… Today’s passage simply tells us that what God has in store for us is unmatched by the snares and traps that the enemy lays in front of us daily… This passage also tells us that no matter what kind of storm you face, you can rest assured that “this too shall pass…” There is a powerful message that Paul is sending through today’s devotion scripture, he is calling for you to declare when you are faced with opposition that “it is written…” The word “but” at the beginning of this verse negates all that precedes it…  You may have made mistakes, but the wisdom you have found in Christ will assure you that great things are in store (things you can’t even imagine)… Your storm has a conclusion that has already been penned, your hardships have an expiration date and just like Paul told the Church of Rome, “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Count It All Joy

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

James 1:2-4

As a child of God, you should have uncontrollable joy when you face temptations… I know there are some reading this right now with a big mental question mark as to why or even how am I supposed to be delighted when I am tempted… The answer lies further in the text as we come to know that temptations show us the areas of our lives that we need to mature in as well as the areas in which we have grown… When we are faced with choices that go against the will of God, we as children of the most high must observe these snares as the glass being half full instead of being half empty… The glass being half full means that we embrace these temptations and find joy in knowing that we can be thankful that we are not where we use to be… The things that I use to give into I can now overcome, the situations that use to break me now make me and mold me into what God’s purpose is for my life… The glass half full says that there is something left in the cup as opposed to the half-empty approach which says that there isn’t enough… I don’t know what category you fall into; however, I can help you come to know where you stand depending on how you look at life… Do you embrace a challenge or do you run from it? I've learned to embrace it and count it all joy knowing that God is the head and is the perfect plan!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

You're Not Alone

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.

Hebrews 12:1-2

Studies have shown and proven that it is easier to run when you are not hindered in some way… Today’s passage starts off by teaching us two very critical points regarding our mission and ministry in Christ; the first is that we must surround ourselves with people of faith and the second is that we must “lay aside every weight”… When we are surrounded by God-fearing individuals we put ourselves in a position to prosper and grow in Christ… I can count plenty of times when I felt down and in despair and it was the encouraging words of a man or woman of God that kept me from giving in to the mental snares of the enemy… Understand today what is meant by the author when he says, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses…” 

Everything that you are currently going through, there is somebody that has been there and seen the hand of God move… Even though you may feel alone, there is a testimony that speaks to your current circumstance… A witness is someone who has seen, viewed or observed something… I think we all are witnesses to God’s sovereign power and saving Grace…  How often do you really take an in-depth look into the people that you are surrounded by or allow into your inner circle? I ask these questions because the author of Hebrews declares a powerful point today that we must grasp and meditate on when he says that we have a great cloud of witnesses… Being surrounded by the right kind of people in your life is of the utmost importance in fulfilling the will and vision that God has for your life… A lot of us have been encamped or associated with the wrong type of people and it is because of this that we haven’t been able to adhere to the next step in this verse which is to “lay aside every weight and sin…” We have allowed people to hold us down, allowed people to make us feel weak and have missed out on so many blessings because we place value in the wrong things or individuals… Take a self-inventory of your life, look at your friends, colleagues and other relationships. The reason this needs to be done is because we should surround ourselves with people who are spiritually strong and motivated to do the will of God. 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Trouble Won't Last Always

And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.

Genesis 28:15

“Behold, I am with thee…” This very statement should provide a source of strength for those who feel like giving up, this should provide energy for those who feel they have none left and hope for those who think they are lost… God is with you, through the good and the bad, the ups and the downs, He is right by your side… Jacob has fled from the hands of Esau and at this point feels helpless and hopeless; however, God informs Jacob of the same things that we need to be informed of when we face hardships, “He’s still with us…” Today’s focus verse deals with the promised blessings that a child of God will receive, but also shines a light on the trials and storms that we will encounter to get there… In the verses which precede this one, Isaac has given the firstborn blessing to Jacob instead of Esau; Esau burned with anger toward Jacob and as a result, Jacob fled… In today's focus verse, we find Jacob on his journey to Paddam Aram, to the house of Laban…Jacob stops to sleep and uses a rock as his pillow, during his time of rest; God appears to him and speaks the words which are recorded above… It is a blessing for us to know that God is always with us, but let us understand what that means… Too often we associate God being with us to mean that we won’t have to deal with struggles or hardships, on the contrary, we are reminded that God is with us so that we won’t give up or feel abandoned when the storms intensify… Jacob was told by God that he would inherit the land which he slept on, we too have been promised a better tomorrow… After his rest, Jacob ended up working for his father in law for over 14 years for his wives, he was wandering through life, avoiding his brother and even had another run-in with his father in law that basically served as a warning that if he messed up he would come after him… Jacob eventually had to face his brother and thought that death was imminent… Many people remember the story of him wrestling with a man (which some believe was God or an angel…) The whole point to the story is that you have been promised a land of abundance, you have been promised a land of prosperity, but you also must go through the rigors of life to obtain it, you must go through the refining fire to be purified… Jacob was assured of his inheritance but saw many days of sadness and distress, we will see many days of sadness in distress, many days of confusion and crying, but know that God never slumbers nor sleeps, not only does he see your pain, but it's serving a purpose in your life that will allow His name to be glorified and you to be matured to the point that God has called you too… 

TROUBLE WON'T LAST ALWAYS!!!!!!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!