Light and dark, hate and love

Reading: Nehemiah 9-10 and 1 John 2

 

Scripture: 1 John 2:9-11, Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

 

Thoughts: In a world of extreme connection we see many of the things in this world that were once a local issue. Yes, we all have biases that were taught to us by those around us. Over the last several years we have empowered the victims to the point that nothing is wrong and if I don’t accept everything thing someone thinks makes me a bigot. John is reminding us that we need to not only be the light but live in the light, where we will love those whom we disagree with. We are allowed to disagree and we are given the word of God and Holy Spirit to recognize and discern sin. Not to condemn or judge because the is not our job that is God’s job. Are we walking in the light or because of biases or racist tendency are we walking in the dark. No matter who you are or what you have done you are loved but if there is unrepented sin in your life that will cause separation from God. 

 

Prayer: Father God, you know me, you know my victories and my failures, you know the hairs on my head and the days of my life. I thank you that you are pouring your love and peace over us, I thank you that you are always molding and refining me. Put me through the fire to remove the impurities in my life help me to grow in my relationship with you and be the father and husband I am called to be. Open the doors that need to be opened and close those that will distract from your plan. 

A people scattered

Reading: Esther 3-6, Psalm 126, and Hebrews 13

 

Scripture: Esther 3:8, Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom. Their laws are different from those of every other people, and they do not keep the king’s laws, so that it is not to the king’s profit to tolerate them. 

 

Thoughts: As I was reading this portion of Esther, that book of the Bible does not mention God but you watch Him move throughout it. Haman a man of great power who has the signet ring of the King developed a hatred for Mordecai and by extension his people. Haman brings before the king this group of people who live and worship differently and tells the know not to tolerate them. Even within the church there are differing opinions on things. I see it we are to present the Gospel and God’s love and speak where the word of God speaks and be silent what it is silent. Holy Spirit will work in the lives who diligently seek God and through Holy Spirit will mold us and make us into the men and women we are called to be. God it the final judge and the only question is will he see your scarlet robes or have you been washed clean by Christ Jesus? We are set apart for such a time as this.

 

Prayer: Father God, you lead us and guide us every day, we are a people who are scared all over this world. I thank you that you are leading and guiding us, you are modeling and refining us into those you call us to be. Father help us to have the boldness to walk in your will, to seek your path even if it will cost us our lives or livelihoods. You are our provider and our deliverance. I ask that you fill us with your love, joy, and peace, as we seek to bear your fruit.  

Called for such a time

Reading: Zachariah 7-9, Psalm 25, Hebrews 8, and 1 Peter 2

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:21, For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

Thoughts: Peter here was talking about the call that each of us are called to, the great commission. We are called to do good and spread the Gospel yet there will be those who will suffer for it. Just like in Ester we are each called to such a time as this were we are to stand for something. When we are not willing to stand and not willing to take the suffering that may come for standing for what the Bible teaches where else are we going to compromise. I would like to say there is nothing anyone could do or threaten that would cause me to step back from my stance on who God is and my belief in Him and His Son Jesus the Christ and Messiah. I stand with my Savior and in the teachings of His word, read the Bible every day and meditate on it. 

Prayer: Father God, you are the beginning and the end, you know what is to come and the strife that is coming for us. I thank you that you give us a discerning spirit that leads us and guides us as we walk in this world and strive to not be of this world. I thank you that you are leading and guiding me, that you are molding and refining me to be the man you have called me to. I ask for your strength and perseverance to overcome my own fears and trepidations as I strive to walk out your will. Give me the strength to stand firm in the face of great suffering. 

What Rights?!?

Reading: Daniel 9-10, Psalm 50, and Hebrews 2

Scripture: Psalm 50:16-17, But to the wicked God says: “What right have you to recite my statutes or take my covenant on your lips? For you hate discipline, and you cast my words behind you.

Thoughts: We are Matthew 7:20 that we will know a tree by its fruit, just like being able to know apple, pear, and orange trees apart by the appearance of their fruit, by what we produce and what those around us produce we will see where their hearts are. Then in the Psalm today I was reminded of all those whom we see claiming the benefits and the covenants and yet we watch them produce fruit that does not reflect that what they are claiming. There are those in all stages of their walks with God and we are all saved by grace, but we are also all called to bear fruit in accordance with the gifts and calling on our lives. When we are walking in the Lord and striving to be more like him, the fruit will reflect those of Galatians 5:22-23 and less like the works of the flesh in verse 19-21 of the same chapter. We need to be aware and decerning of the fruit that we are being tossed into a salad with, when some ones rotten stuff gets in with the fruit God is working in me the hole things gets contaminated. Just because some one knows the Bible does not mean that they are doing God’s work. Let us seek not to just recite the statutes and covenants but to seek after God in a way that we can be a part of those statutes and covenants. 

Prayer: Father God, you are above all things, you own the cattle on a thousand hills and you know the hairs on my head. I thank you that you are leading me and guiding me. I thank you that you are molding and refining me that my fruit is more of you and less of me. help, me to reflect who you are and grow into the man you have called me to be. Open my eyes and pour your discerning spirit upon us that we can walk in the light and not be distracted by the darkness around us. 

Dry bone Army

Reading: Ezekiel 37-38, Psalm 44, and 1 Timothy 4

Scripture: Ezekiel 37:10, So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.

Thoughts: We are called into spiritual warfare, as Christians we are going to be fighting against the principalities and powers that come against us. As a Christian in the United States, it is very easy to allow the world to influence us until the beliefs of the church mirror the beliefs of the world around us. We are becoming the dry bones that may make it into heaven by the grace and mercy of God but may not hear that fraise we all want to hear when we get to heaven “Well done good and faithful servant.” We get focused on the “do nots” and the “live at peace with everyone” we forget the things we are called to do Jesus told us that we are going to do these signs and greater signs, We are told to go to all the nations and bring the Gospel. Yet we sit at home and doing our 9-5 and worrying about our 401k and our bank accounts. An army is not just an invasion force, they are Ambassadors in that they may be the only face of a nation that the locals will ever see. They are protectors protecting the innocent from the enemy, no matter if it is in a foreign land where they are protecting people from an evil there or if it is from home protecting those around them and their nation. Are we going to rise up letting God bring these dry bones back to life and breath into us as an army to protect our heavenly citizenship? 

Prayer: Lord God, you are the one true king, you are gracious and merciful and Just. Your creations should of your glory and a long to linger in your presence. I thank you for the calling you have placed on me and the molding and refining you are working in my life. I ask that you knit this dry bones together and breath a new life into this warrior. 

Rebuilt that nations know God!!!

Reading: Ezekiel 35-36, Psalm 77, 1 Timothy 3, and 2 Thessalonians 3

Scripture: Ezekiel 36:36, Then the nations that are left all around you shall know that I am the Lord; I have rebuilt the ruined places and replanted that which was desolate. I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it.

Thoughts: As I was reading Ezekiel today and he was talking about God destroying and rebuilding Israel and how God said that the others nations will know that He is God because of the rebuilding. It is the same with us, no matter if we have come from a broken home and walked in the brokenness of the world all our lives when we fully seek God every day we will start reflecting God in our lives and we will be rebuild. Not everyone had the dramatic testimony of I was the violent gang member doing drugs and now I am this strait-laced Christian story. After growing up in the church I found myself getting into bad relationships and even being a contribution to the bad in the relationships including two divorces and living with someone. God used those situations and times where I tossed my relationship with God not just to the back burner but completely off the stove. I was obsessed with being needed and wanted in a relationship. When God got back ahold of me and with the help of a wonderful woman and a church community that helped me to find what I was looking for in God has helped me grow and move from the desolate and ruined man that I was to someone who seeks God as much as he can. Our lives like Israel will show the nations around us the He is Lord. 

Prayer: Father God, you are so wonderful, you know the grains of sand and the stars above, you hold us in the palm of your hand and yet you care about us and our lives. Your creation shouts of your glory. I thank you that you are a God that rebuilds and calls up. I thank you that you don’t count us unworthy you call us all and you seek a relationship with us all. I thank you that you are working in my life, I have come a long way yet there is still more to do. I thank you that you do rebuild and you mold and refine each and every one of us if we let you. I ask that you help me to be moldable and softened that you can work in me.