He Will Cleanse You

Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.

Ezekiel 36:25

The love of God is made evident in today’s passage taken from the prophetic book of Ezekiel… This verse comes at a time in point where the Israelites have been scattered throughout the country and word has been spread through the lips of Ezekiel to inform them that their restoration back to their own respective land and to God has been assured… Throughout the ups and downs that you experience in this life, through all the twists and turns that you endure, remember that you will be restored and reclaimed in and through the exaltation of the Lord… We don’t know how to handle success and the Lord knows that oftentimes we become defiant and disobedient when we experience a small measure of it… This is and was the case with the children of God; they had become disobedient to His commands after dwelling in their Promise Land; despite the corrective measures that God had to use, He informs them that they will return to prominence… There are things that are taking place in your life not to harm or to defile you, but actually to take you back to your place of prominence in the Lord…God desires to exalt you so that you can exalt Him… 

The message for today is that God has a plan, He has a purpose and there is a method to the madness… You may not understand everything at the present time and there are some things that simply are not meant for you to understand; however, the reality is that in abiding in His will, you will be victorious… The things written in this chapter speak to the actions that the Lord Himself will take in dealing with His people… This is why the word says in the 24^th verse of this chapter, “For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land.” God has the ability to reach you wherever you are… No matter how far you have fallen, no matter how many mistakes you have made, or even the depth or severity of your actions, we are reminded through the prophet Ezekiel that we are never out of the master's reach… This passage is written to the House of Israel at a time of bondage and despair… The warning was that disaster would come; captivity was imminent, but God wanted them to know that there was light at the end of the tunnel… The House of Israel would be renewed… Likewise, today, know that even in your current situation, even in your current circumstance, even in your current hardship, your house will be renewed… God will “sprinkle clean water upon you…” Water represents life in the Bible; God will give you a clean slate, a new life, a new direction, a new path, and a new vision… He will wipe the pain and tears of yesterday from your eyes and clothe you in his goodness and mercy… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

True Love Is Unquenchable

Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away. If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly scorned.

Song of Solomon 8:7

For quite some time I have thought that many people don’t know what the true definition of Love is… Today, through this verse taken from the Song of Solomon, we are given evidence that the notion I have thought to be true really is… When someone says I love you, it doesn’t just mean that they care for you or that they like you… Love comes from the core of one’s being and is a passion and desire that cannot be redirected or shut off…The Bible tells us that God demonstrated His love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us… Love transcends situations, looks beyond faults and appeals to the levels of one's character that are beyond the surface that we see with our natural eye… Love is the mother who continues to seek her lost child though people tell her that he or she is too far gone, love is the father that yearns for a second chance even though they keep getting rejected, love is the child that turns from wickedness and temptations and continues to fight the battle that leads them down paths of loneliness and uncertainty… When we have love for someone or something, there is nothing that can stop it or prevent it from being manifested… Paul tells us the depth and importance of love in the 13^th chapter of His first letter to the Church of Corinth… If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. 

In this passage we are reminded that love has to be the foundation of our actions; we cannot allow the things that we do to be derived from things that are not of love and therefore are meaningless ventures through this life… One who is full of love is priceless; this is why the verse starts off by saying that “Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away.” There is nothing that can stop an act or a gesture when done in love… No words can overtake it, no steps can prohibit it and no man can hinder it… As we yearn to know the fullness of life and to have joy, we must remember that love is the most critical of things that we must obtain… The bible declares that God is love and in obtaining love you obtain God... This is why it cannot be quenched, nobody can stop God and nobody will be able to stop you when you come to know Him more intimately… Look at what Jesus endured because of love (not only endured but also overcame because of love)… Likewise, when you say that you love someone, ask yourself what you are willing to endure for them or on their behalf… When you ask yourself this question you will quickly find out if you love them or if it is simply a like or lust… I know I love Christ because there is nothing that will quench my thirst for Him, I know that I love my family because nothing will wash away my desire to be close to them (getting the point)… Even though I know where I stand, when I read this verse about waters not being able to quench love I ask myself if I really indeed do love the Lord… 

Love can be seen in many forms, a relationship, power, money, independence and the list can go on. Christ didn’t sell himself short, He didn’t focus on the women around Him and forget His task, He didn’t focus on the finer things in life and forget His mission. However, He endured the mocking, He persevered through the beatings, He embraced the ridicule, He suffered on the cross and He gave His life for you… That’s the true definition of LOVE!!! 

Now this question remains: What or who do you love?

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Be Christ Like

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Philippians 2:1-4

The first verse of today’s devotion starts off with a series of conditional statements; Paul writes to the Church of Philippi regarding their relationship with and growth in the Lord… The conditional statements written above reflect the makeup that must be present in the body or image of a child of God; understand today that being a child of God is not something that is proclaimed verbally; in walking under the leadership of our Father we are called to demonstrate our love and faith in Him by the things which we partake in daily… If you are a child of God then you will demonstrate these things; in the midst of uncertainty and danger you will have encouragement from the relationship that you have formed with Christ; despite the things that you are dealing with and the times of loneliness that you may endure, you have comfort from His love and fellowship with the Spirit… No matter what seen or unseen dangers come your way, you have a stable atmosphere and mindset which is totally focused and dependent on the Lord… In reading this passage, it brings to light the fact that adversity and trials display the true depth of the relationship a person has with the Lord or how much their relationship truly is lacking… The Bible declares that suffering, persecutions, trials, and tribulations are a vital part of growth and maturation; however, I am also of the mindset that these things are vital to displaying our faith or the areas of our lives that still need work… 

If you become so bogged down with bad news that it keeps you from being encouraged in Christ, you need to check the depth of your relationship with Him… If you feel so lonely that you run from house to house or bed to bed, you need to check your desire for love versus lust, if you find yourself constantly being surrounded by the wrong kind of people, you need to check your fellowship with the Spirit… In Jesus you can have abundant happiness and joy; this is why Paul says then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love… Jesus laid down His life and took on all insults, mocks, and ridicule without mumbling a single word… We have the greatest demonstration of faith when Jesus gave up the ghost trusting that His Father would raise Him from the dead… The things of this earth could not shake Him because His life was a testimony to the love of God and the faithfulness that will be displayed when we walk in faith… This is why Jesus cried out from the cross and the bible says that an onlooker came to the conclusion that surely He was the son of God… When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!" The things that you endure will not overtake you in Christ, they may be uncomfortable to endure; however, they will not cause you to neglect your ministry… As a matter of fact, when you are walking in the will of God the most trying time become the most impactful times in the lives of others… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

There's Only One Lord

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

Deuteronomy 6:4-5

When we experience success and deliverance, it is very easy for us to forget about who paved the way or even the assistance that we had in overcoming… This passage of scripture is written at a time when the Israelites are on the very cusp of the Promise Land; they have experienced the very presences of God being with them as a cloud by day and fire by night; they were given a front seat to observe God’s powerful hand in their exodus from Egypt as well as the annihilation of the Egyptians under Pharaoh at the Red Sea… Through all this, in times of peace and comfort the children begin to complain and become disobedient… God is prepared to bless them; however, this blessing is not to be misunderstood and taken without a devotion and love toward Him… So often we can go to God in prayer about situations; however, we forget about Him when He shows up and shows out… You must be careful today that you remain humble in the modest times as well as the abundant times; you must remember to display humility in depressed states as well as delivered states, you have to be on guard and ensure that your prayer life is strong when in bondage as well as when you are freed… This is why Moses starts this chapter in this fifth book of the law by saying, “These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life.” 

The Israelites were given commands from God to obey and observe; these perimeters were put in place to govern them and keep them on the straight and narrow… Lord knows we need to be governed, especially when we experience a blessing and a new season… The Lord knew that His children would go astray, He know that His sheep would wonder off if not given structure and order before being given the keys to a new life… This same principle applies to us as well, you must have the foundation of who God is instilled in you before you can have the house built and furnish the home… Just like the Israelites, you have been given commands to follow and adhere too; these commands are not to be discarded when you take over your land flowing with milk and honey… This is what happened through the 40 years in the wilderness under the leadership of Moses… The children were delivered one day and disobeying and complaining the next; they were given the things they needed one day and upset about not getting what they wanted the next… No matter what happens in your life or what transpires from day to day, you have to remain under the leadership of God knowing that the Lord our God is one Lord… Even when you feel betrayed (as crazy as that may sound), know that you deliverance, abundance and divine directive are found and produced through your love for God… This is why Moses goes on to say that you must not only know that God is one Lord but that thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul and with all thy might… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Learn To Display Christ

“Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.” 

Titus 2:2

As a child of God you are to walk in the will of God; this means that you must adhere to His voice as well as His word… There are so many people today who are perishing because they are told what they want to hear instead of what they need to hear… Paul reminds Titus in this passage and reminds us today in this devotional, that even though people may not accept it at first or even may scorn you in the process, the word of God must come from your mouth in purity and unedited… You are not on this earth to please man, you are here to fulfill the will of God and hopefully lead others to Him in the process… Make no mistake about; a lot of people you encounter simply do not want to hear the truth… The word of God was not written to be altered or manipulated; it was recorded from the very will of God to provide direction, correction, and hope for our eternal future… We enter this world as sinners and can only be saved by grace when we are shown the ugly reflection in the mirror that is us… 

It pains me today to see so many churches being filled because the Pastor speaks words that people want to hear versus what they actually need… When someone tells you what you want to hear, they are in essence delaying and even creating a false hope in your destiny… The message today is simple, stand upon the word of God because the word of God stands alone… There is nothing that needs to be added to it, nothing that needs to be taken from it, don’t allow society or your community to keep you from abiding in the will of God and therefore walking in your calling… Now is a critical time in our nation where the word needs to be preached more and itching ears need to be pleased less… This is why Paul tells Titus to, teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. Tell the truth and shame the devil…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Lord Have Your Way

“Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”

Psalm 143:10

How often, when you pray do you ask the Lord to teach you verses leaving a request for His 

deliverance, power or presence to be manifested in your life…? Today’s devotion reminds us of the importance of prayer as we deal with learning the very will and divine plan of God… So many of us forget to pray when we feel like we can handle something and we hurry up and pray when the weight becomes unbearable… This verse simply teaches that we can avoid trying to bear an unnecessary weight if we first get in tune with the will of God… David was a man who made many mistakes; from adultery with Bathsheba to having Uriah killed on the front line, to even fleeing Saul right into the enemy’s camp; the list of David’s mistakes goes on and on; however, through all these things, David learned a great listen which he teaches us today so that we don’t have to travel the same path which he did… In your life, stop trying to figure things out on your own, stop trying to handle every situation that approaches your doorstep, and stop being stubborn with your will when it doesn’t align with God’s… This last point is the one which causes the most trouble to occur in our lives… We don’t desire to know God’s will because we are scared that it will be different than ours… 

The 1st verse of the 143rd Psalm says, Lord, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief. This very prayer acknowledges who God is and the mercy which we all need Him to bestow upon us… If we know that we need mercy (withholding of a just punishment) in our lives; we should also be able to come to the conclusion that we need to be taught His will so that we can avoid mistakes... In asking God to teach you His will, you are humbling yourself before the Lord in total submission to Him… David had never completely submitted to the Lord which is why He endured the temptations that led to the loss of his firstborn son… You can learn the right path, and you can have your eyes opened and light pointed in the darkest areas of your life; however, the first thing you must do is acknowledge that Jesus is your God…So many of us have not actually taken this step; we may proclaim it verbally to our peers or even in the church, but our lives reflect a different answer… Notice what David says, he starts off by saying teach me your will and then says for you are my God… If you don’t recognize that God is your God, how can He teach you His will and plan for your life… You must lay yourself before the Lord in total submission to Him in order for Him to begin to impart knowledge, wisdom and power upon you… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Agape Love Conquers All

But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

1 Peter 4:7-8

The best thing that someone can ever say about you is that you were full of love… The bible declares that God is love and for someone to say you were full of love means that you were full of God… You cannot allow the distractions of this world to suffocate or destroy the seed of love planted in you… People will come to know God through your acts of love and this is why Peter not only says that charity covers a multitude of sins, but why he also says that you must be sober and watch unto prayer… The enemy doesn’t want to see the end result of the love which was poured out on Calvary taking root in the lives of all those who come to know and experience it… Satan cannot fathom what the world will be like if people were able to engage and speak words of love instead of criticism and gossip…  He doesn’t want to see this come to fruition, so he has you marred by your past and ignorant concerning your future in Christ… 

Today, know that we must live each and everyday as if it’s our last and this means we must love uncontrollably… This doesn’t mean that we should “live life to the fullest,” but that we must carry out the will of God each and every hour that He grants us upon this earth… We are reminded today that charity (love) covers a multitude of sins… It was Jesus' love which He poured out on the cross that covered our sins… Likewise, doing good deeds, extending a hand to someone in need, forgiving someone who has wronged you, or looking beyond the faults of another will allow your Father to forgive you of the mistakes that you make… There is one unknown on this Christian journey and that is the time in which Christ will return; there is also one thing that we are assured of on this Christian Journey and that is that Christ will return… Peter tells us that the end of all days is at hand and to be sober, this is focusing not on drinking or living to the fullest, but on the fact that we need to be vigilant and coherent to the word of God and live our lives as if He was coming within the next minute… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

God's Plan Is On Schedule

That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him. 

Ephesians 1:10

 

There is an appointed time when all things will be gathered together… The things of yesterday will join the things of today and all in the household of faith we will be united… As Christians, we find strength through this passage taken from the letter to the church of Ephesus… We know that despite all the suffering, ridicule, and scorn which we presently deal with, there is a sturdy foundation we can stand upon which simply declares that in the dispensation of the fullness of times… As we go through, the hour continues to draw near to when all the suffering will end, sin will be no more, and everlasting life will become reality… Those who have fought the good fight before us will be reunited with us when the return of the bridegroom takes place… You can endure the struggles of life and overcome the deepest valleys by reminding yourself of this fact… Your time to be exalted has not come yet, and your time to ascend has not arrived yet; this isn’t to say that it will not happen but that it just has not happened yet… As a child, I was able to go outside and wash my father's cab because of the payment I was guaranteed to receive; standing in the sun was tedious; however, knowing what was to come made it bearable… The same principle applied today in our focus verse can be applied to our lives as well; your reward for all your labor is guaranteed, and the things you endure today are bearable because you know what is coming tomorrow… In the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things Christ… 

The work which God has started will be completed, Paul just reminds us today that it may not happen when we want it to… There are so many things that we desire on this earth and this is why Paul again reminds us that it is in the timing and design of God that we must trust and have our being… Life doesn’t always make sense; there are times that have come and will come when we will not understand our current situation or what it is that God has in store for us… Paul reminds us today that in these times we are not to become discouraged, we are not to become dismayed, but that we are to remember that God indeed does have a plan… Paul unfolds the desire and plan of God as it deals with His disciples and creation… In his letter to the Church of Ephesus, Paul is writing to the body of Christ as well as those who have begun the transformation into Christianity… There were many souls that were being turned over to Christ; however, there were also many that were skeptical of Christ and susceptible to prosecution by other religions and people… The truth of the matter is that when we turn our lives over to the Lord, we are going through a transformation. There will be many that will be skeptical, many that will criticize, and many that will persecute… Because of these known hardships, many people are left asking the questions (why should I believe in God) or (why would God allow this)…? Both of these questions are answered in the study verse for today’s reading… Again, Paul says “that in the dispensation of the fullness of times, he might gather together in one all things in Christ…” There is a period of time that will elapse, a period of time that we will endure hardship, a period of time that we will be ridiculed, and a period of time that we will feel all alone… This period must be fulfilled, just like Christ had to suffer a period of time where He was separated from His father. God has a plan that is at work right now in our lives, God has ordained the steps that are being taken within His will, and although we may not understand nor recognize it at the present moment, we can take solace in knowing that His plan is on schedule. 

 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!