Covered In Snow...

Isaiah 61:10 ESV

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;
my soul shall exult in my God,
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;
he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Devotional:

Recently we had a beautiful snowfall in Atlanta.  Several of us stood at the door watching huge snowflakes fall to the ground.  The next morning, we have between one to two inches of snow on the ground.  It was absolutely beautiful.  Thoughts of growing up playing in snow came to mind.  I love how things seem to grow quiet and still during a heavy snowfall.  A hush seems to fall with the snow.  I love the way everything turns white and the air is crisp.

As the snow falls and covers everything in a blanket of white I am reminded of Christ.  How we are clothed in His righteousness.  We are full of sin, dirty.  Christ was born so that He could live to become the ultimate sacrifice for our salvation.  Romans 5:21 ESV, “so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

The next time you watch the snow fall and see the land transform around you think about Christ.  He has covered you in His righteousness and has cleansed you so that you may have eternal life in heaven.  Let the snow remind you of Christ’s righteousness that covers you…

Ask God For It

Scripture:
Philippians 4:4-7 (ESV)

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Devotional:

Ask for anything and it will be granted.  At least that is what people want to read.  We tend to believe that this is a blank check and can ask for anything at all.  In Philippians 4:6 we are told to make known our requests.  In Matthew 7:7 it says “Ask, and it will be given to you…”  Jesus himself said ask and it will be given.  So why are so many things we ask for not given?  Why do we read what we want to and not what is really there?  I have heard and read that if we want to be given what we ask for it must be asked within the scope of His will.  Hmmm, doesn’t sound like a blank check to me.  I can’t just ask for anything at all and expect it to be granted.

Another way to look at this is a parent with their child in the grocery store.  How many times does a child ask a parent for that candy bar or toy trinket at the checkout counter?  Do parents always give their child what they want?  But of course, mom and dad want the best for their child and want their child to be happy.  When asked for that candy bar at the checkout line sometimes mom says no.  Sometimes she says yes.  Then there are times when mom says I will buy the candy bar but you must wait until later to eat it.

While we can ask Jesus for anything and it be given he isn’t a genie in a magic lamp to grant us or every wish.  He wants what is best for us.  Our parents have a bigger picture than a four-year-old child.  Jesus has a bigger picture than we do.  Mom and dad know more and have more wisdom than we did at four or five.  God knows more and is far wiser than we can ever hope to be.  We can ask in confidence.  We can be at peace knowing God knows best and will provide for us.  He will grant us what He knows is best.  We should also be grateful and thankful, even before asking, for God’s gifts, blessings, and provisions.  Let us rejoice in the Lord.  Let us rejoice knowing that we will not get our every whim but be given that which we need and that which will glorify Him.  God does give blessings beyond needs, just not our every whim and want…

Where is Your Residence?

Scripture:
Philippians 3:18-21 (ESV)

For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

Devotional:

Robert E. Lee was asked to join the Union Army during the Civil War.  He felt compelled to refuse and instead he joined the Confederate Army.  It is my understanding that the reason he joined the Confederate Army was because his home state was Virginia, a southern state.  Prior to the Civil War the state a person was from had meaning and was a large influence.  Even today we place a large influence in our home and where we live.  I was born in Tennessee and grew up in Chicago.  Even though I now live in Georgia Chicago and Tennessee hold a special place in my heart.

As Christians, our real home is not on this earth.  It isn’t a state or country.  Too often we forget where our home really is.  Too often we get caught up in worldly things.  We lose sight of our true home.  Our loyalties and priorities shift.  We return to the world we left after we became part of the Body of Christ.  Our focus can easily sway from what is important.  We begin to live once again as men and women of this world.  

What is the best gift in all existence?  The answer is an easy one, salvation.  It is a free gift, even though the price is extremely high.  Grace is freely given.  Once accepted our true home is no longer this world.  Our real home and final destination becomes Heaven.  Think of the last vacation you went on that you really loved.  You loved the location, the atmosphere, and the environment.  You just loved everything about it.  When you got back home what did you do?  If you are anything like me you began to share the experience with everyone you know.  You talked about how wonderful it was and how much you want to go back.  Heaven is a thousand times better than the best place any of us has ever been to or seen.  So why don’t we get as excited about it?  Why are we not sharing it with anyone and everyone?

Remember our home really isn’t somewhere on this planet.  We might have an address that we live at.  We might call a state or country home.  We might live in our favorite city, but none of these are home.  In the end our final destination, or true home lies in one of two places.  Mine is in Heaven.  Where is your permanent residence?

Nations Rise, Nations Fall

Scripture:
Daniel 2:44 (ESV)

And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever,

Devotional:

Countries come and go.  A nation will stand today only to fall tomorrow.  For many years, England was a major power.  At one time England, France, and Spain were major powers of the world.  Germany Japan were great nations as well.  Egypt was at the top of the world for many years.  At one time, even Greece was at the top of the list.  Russia was one large nation.  Now it is made up of several smaller countries.

Looking back through time people rise in power.  Leaders come and go.  They are great today and hardly remembered tomorrow.  Some leaders are good, some are bad.  The United States is constantly voting in new leaders to govern the nation.

One thing is constant and certain.  God has always been.  Jesus is the King of all kings.  His reign will never end.  His kingdom will last forever.  Things of this earth are temporary.  The things from God are eternal.  Matthew 6:19-21 (ESV)

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Luke 1:30-33 (ESV)

And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

Jesus will reign forever.  His kingdom will never end.  So, let me ask you this question.  Where are you?  Are you in and a part of rulers and kingdoms that come and go?  Are you a part of something that is eternal?
Philippians 2:9-10 (ESV)

Therefore, God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Everyone will eventually acknowledge that Jesus is Lord.  That He is the son of God and is God.  Where will you acknowledge this?  If you wait until judgement day it will be too late.  As you go through the day think about this.  In Romans Paul tells us that everyone has fallen short and have sin in their lives.  We also know that the wages of sin is death, eternal separation from God.  The wages of sin will see you in hell for all eternity.  This is where each of us will end up.  Except that if you confess Jesus is Lord, accept Him as savior, believe He died for your sins, then He has already paid the price of your sin.

This earth with all its kingdoms and leaders are not eternal.  When we depart this life, we will go to one of two places.  Choose now while you can where you want to spend eternity.  If you wait until this life is over the choice is no longer yours to make…

To Be Filled

Scripture:

Psalm 42:1-2 (ESV)

As a deer pants for flowing streams,
so pants my soul for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God,
for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?

Devotional:

This morning I woke up to hear thunder rumbling in the background.  I could hear the rain falling.  Sometimes it was heavy and loud.  Other times it was soft and faint to hear.  The rain is necessary for life.  Not only does it give life it cleans the air and ground.  Rain washes away the pollution leaving the air to smell fresh.  I love the way it smells on a spring day just after a storm. 

This brings to mind the Holy Spirit.  Jesus came and washed away our sins, just as the rain cleans the air.  The Holy Spirit can wash upon us giving us life.  The Holy Spirit can wash upon us and fill us.  We can be of renewed spirit, full of life.  Each of us has the Holy Spirit within us.  But are you overflowing? 

I don’t want to have just enough Holy Spirit in me to live or get by.  I want to be over flowing with so much of God’s spirit that I am overflowing.  As a cup overflows, it can spill out and fill other cups or bowls.  Can you imagine if each of us is overflowing with the Holy Spirit?  Think of all the lives that can be effected.  Think of all those people that can then be filled with the Holy Spirit as well.  Is your cup half full?  Are you three quarters full?  Maybe you are just brimming to the top but not allowing any to spill out.

Look at a cup of coffee.  You can fill the cup with hot coffee.  After a while the coffee will get cold.  You cannot refresh the cup if it is never emptied.  But if you drink some of the coffee or share it with another person you can then refill it with fresh hot coffee.  We all know the Holy spirit doesn’t get stale or cold, but we can.  Allow yourself to be filled to over flowing.  Allow yourself to be refreshed.  Don’t settle for half a cup.  Be overflowing so that you might share with others.

God is Calling

Scripture:

Matthew 28:16-20 (ESV)

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Devotional:

The great commission, most of us have heard or read it several times in our lives.  We tell ourselves and each other that we want to follow God where ever He leads.  But when it comes down to it how many of us actually follow through with our verbal commitments?  Don’t get me wrong.  Most of us believe we will and actually intend to.

Recently I have been faced with a decision to make.  It is a game changing event not just for me but it effects my family.  This not so simple decision can take me down two paths.  One is to continue to following God’s plan and be where He wants me to be.  The other is to try and do things on my own seeking my own path.  Listening to the world and the world views the choice is simple.  Listing to God and what His plans are is not so easy.  One thing to remember is that Jesus never promised a bed of roses.  He tells us to take up our own cross, Matthew 16:24.  Most of us would agree that God’s way is the best way.

What if the decision is not that clear cut?  What if your choices all look good and appear to be in a direction God is calling you in?  What do you do then?  We have all heard the advice to right down on paper the pros and cons, or the good and bad, for each choice.  After doing so we can get a better idea of what direction to take.  It is also wise to seek council.  The trick here is not to seek any council but Godly council from other with deep relationships with Christ.  Most importantly it is best to pray.  Yep simply pray. 

Ok now you might be thinking what does this have to do with the great commission.  Alright here is the tie in.  How does your decision stack up with what we know for a fact what Jesus tells us to do?  Will your decision be a step toward the great commission?  Will you be stagnant or do nothing?  Ok maybe you have several choices and you can see how each are viable.  Maybe this added factor can help you narrow your choices down.

I recently was offered a job.  Nancy and had been praying about it and we both thought it would be a good change.  One factor we looked at is the possibility of touching many people’s lives.  In the end though it just didn’t seem the right choice.  God had opened doors.  He showed how it would work.  He even left the decision to us.  Either choice would be good.  However, in the end we just felt staying with my current job seemed to be where God wanted us.  I can’t really say why or how but it just seems to be the right choice.  Sometimes the right choice could be one of two or three.  Maybe God says I can use you in either, you decide.  Sometimes He has a specific place or task for us.  Most of the time I feel it is somewhere in between.

One thing is for sure, the great commission is not about a job.  It is about sharing the gospel and helping others grow.  It is reaching out into your local community as well as going on overseas mission trips.  Ask yourself one question.  How am I living out Matthew 28:19-20???  The bottom line is that each one of us is called.  Some of us are called to places far away.  Some of us are called to our own backyards.  Then some of us are called somewhere in between.  Make no mistake God is calling each of us.  How will we respond…