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It never ceases to amaze me how the Lord speaks to us. Today, He spoke to me through a duck.
No, I wasn’t watching an episode of Duck Dynasty. Early one morning last fall I retreated to a secluded lake setting where I often go to pray and wait on the Lord. The fall season was in full swing. The trees on the hillside were on fire with yellow, gold, orange and bright red autumn leaves. Gusty winds, pushing a cold front our way, produced one-foot high waves across the lake. Rays of sparkling sunlight danced on the dark blue water. While praying on a dock that extended out into the lake, my eyes spotted a duck. A solitary duck was making his way across the lake. I was enamored, enthralled and encouraged by his steady progress against contrary waves. I observed three things about my duck friend. First, he would ride on the top of the waves. Kind of like an amusement park ride. The wind and waves would carry him along. I think I noticed a smile on his duck face! Secondly, every once in awhile, he would dive under the waves. Maybe looking for a snack or something. Then, his little duck head would pop up, farther down the lake. Thirdly, and most importantly, I watched this little duck paddle against the waves. He plowed right through them. One wave after another after another. Foot high waves were no match for this determined duck. Up and over. Up and over. Steady, persevering progress. My heart was inspired and warmed by his unrelenting effort to conquer the contrary wind and waves. Nothing was going to keep this duck from reaching his duck destination. I thought about myself. What do I do when life’s sudden winds blow and waves crash into my day? How do I generally respond when winds of change and threatening storms upset my plans? Do I look for a safe harbor? Do I run for the cover of a friend? Do I wish the wind would stop blowing and waves would disappear? It is a fact of life on this planet that waves of unwelcome stress, relentless pressure, costly setbacks, agonizing disappointment, discouragement, feelings of hopelessness and helplessness can crash in on our lives unexpectedly. Wave after wave after wave can drown us emotionally if we do not face them with faith in God who stills the sudden storms that assail our lives. Maybe, like my inspirational duck friend, I should press on through the waves. In our word for our week. The Apostle Paul “pressed on” no matter what life would bring his way. His faith statement is found in Philippians 3:14. “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” His eyes were fixed, riveted on the prize. He faithfully and diligently pressed on, pushed forward, reached ahead (like a runner who stretches and thrusts his chest to break the tape at the finish line) to fulfill the goal of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Paul persevered in his pursuit of Christ. (Read his list of “waves” in II Corinthians 11: 22-33). His primary personal goal was to know Him (Philippians 3:10), receive the crown of righteousness (II Timothy 4:8) and hear Jesus’ words “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the Lord.” (Matthew 25:21). Follow Paul’s faith journey throughout the New Testament, and you will see that duck I described…. pushing, plowing, paddling, pressing, persevering through the waves to arrive at his destination. My friend, how do you handle contrary winds and crashing waves? Do wind and waves stress you out? Depress you? Discourage you? Paralyze you? Tempt you to hop in bed and pull the covers over your head? The truth is: stressed, depressed, or pressing on is our choice. I am delighted God spoke to me through a duck today. I feel like a little kid! Look around for the “ducks” the Lord may send your way with a personal message to inspire and encourage you on your faith journey. A Word For Your Week: Press on through life’s waves to fulfill God’s call on your life. Years ago I watched an interview on FOX News that jogged my memory banks to remember what the 4th of July is really about.
A World War II Veteran was asked what “the fourth” meant to him. Without hesitation and with dignified humility he responded. “I want to remind my fellow Americans that the 4th of July is INDEPENDENCE DAY. For the past 230 years freedom loving men and women have lived, sacrificed, fought, and died so we could be free and independent. I would like us to call the fourth what it really is, INDEPENDENCE DAY!” Thank you, kind sir, for the thought-provoking reminder and for your unselfish service to your country. When the three-day holiday, barbecues in the backyard and fireworks at the fairgrounds are history, the real reason for celebration remains. INDEPENDENCE. On July 4th, 1776 our courageous forefathers declared independence from the tyranny of England. The early Americans decisively cast off the harsh dominion of a nation that had denied individuals religious freedom and taxed them into poverty. Enough was enough. The Revolutionary War resulted in a history-making victory for the young freedom-minded American revolutionaries. The United States of America was established because bold patriots shed their blood for freedom’s sake. I am so proud to call myself an American. We are the free-est people on planet earth. America has been kept free to date because we cherish and defend our freedom gained on Independence Day. Shifting gears for a moment, Christians fully understand freedom. Americans are free but Christian Americans are really free. Our passage for this word for your week tells us plainly that truth sets people free. “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” “If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.” John 8: 32, 36 Jesus is the truth. He said so in John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but by me.” The truth is that Jesus died and rose again to set us free. Jesus’ sacrifice secured our spiritual independence day. Our independence from the tyranny of Satan, sin, death, the grave, eternal punishment and separation from God was declared and purchased for us when Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the Cross and rose victoriously from the dead on Easter morning! This timeless, Biblical truth provides the way for us to have eternal life. When we put our personal faith in what Christ has done for us (John 3:3, 3:16, Ephesians 2:8-9) we declare independence from sin’s power. INDEPENDENCE DAY for Christians means……. FREEDOM FROM
FREEDOM TO
Christians have every reason to celebrate everyday!!! Personal Reflection: HAVE YOU DECLARED YOUR INDEPENDENCE DAY by believing the truth and putting your personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? Are you free indeed because Jesus has set you free? This Independence Day as we celebrate America’s political freedom, take a few moments to humbly, joyfully give thanks to God for sending His only Son to set you free from the tyranny of sin. Maybe set off some fireworks in His name!!! “I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.” III John 4 “For you were called to freedom brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” Galatians 5:13 A Word For Your Week: Everyday is Independence Day for Christians SO celebrate and share your freedom in Christ! Have you ever been annoyed at the devil? As Christians we should be.
Satan, the god of this world (II Corinthians 4:4), is the prince of darkness who deceives, lies, and tricks people to doubt God and reject His Son Jesus Christ (Revelation 12:9). The devil is a spiritual thief who steals, kills and destroys (John 10:10). His hellish goal is to destroy the souls of men for eternity. Christians should be irritated and indignant that the devil is destroying the lives of family, friends and people in our community right before our eyes! The apostle Paul certainly was irritated by the devil. He acted decisively and boldly to get Satan off his and other’s backs. Acts 16:14-18 records Paul’s dramatic encounter with his spiritual enemy on his first missionary journey. Lydia and her household were the first Christian converts in Europe. The devil did not like that. So, a slave girl, with a spirit of divination, stalked Paul, harassing him and his evangelistic outreach. Having enough of the devil’s evil, deceptive influence and distractive interference, the Word says in verse eighteen “And she continued doing this for many days. But Paul was GREATLY ANNOYED and turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out at that very moment.” Hallelujah! The devil was defeated. Annoyance led to action that put Satan in his proper place. Paul knew how to defeat the devil. You and I, as blood bought, born-again, spirit-filled Christians, possess the same spiritual authority and power Paul had. The devil is a defeated foe. (See I John 3:8, Hebrews 2:14, Colossians 2:15, Revelation 12:10-11). Believers in Jesus Christ need to continually remind his evilness of that fact. The devil is headed for hellfire and an eternity of torment (Revelation 20:10). Believers are commissioned by God to enforce the devil’s eternal death sentence. Glory to God for the victory we have in Christ over the devil! The devil is crushed—under God’s feet and ours (Romans 16:20). Greater is Jesus who is in us than the devil who is in the world. (I John 4:4). Then why is it that so many Christians cower before the devil and act cowardly when he is prowling about looking for someone to devour? How is it that large numbers of Christians act defeated and allow the devil to beat them up and render them ineffective in their witness for the Lord in these last days? This should not be. Defeating the devil, not being defeated by him, is God’s plan and promise to His people. James 4:7 outlines the Lord’s battle plan for defeating the devil. Two commands and a promise can change our daily life forever. “Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” James 4:7 1. SUBMIT TO GOD. Submit is a military term that means to defer to a higher rank. God is our Commander in Chief and we are under His marching orders. Jesus Christ is King of Kings and Lord of Lords! When we defer to God through faith in Jesus, Almighty God’s power and authority flows through us. Guess what happens next? The devil, who is of lower rank than us, must submit to our authority. God’s power operating through us renders Satan powerless. Word of caution: Resisting the devil without being fully submitted to God is spiritual suicide. Zealous but ignorant Christians who do not submit to God first, fall flat on their spiritual faces when they try to resist the devil in their own strength and power. Reflection: Are you wholly submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ? Or are you a Christian in name only, playing a deadly game of hide and seek from the evil one? Are you holding anything back from His lordship in your life? If you want to defeat the devil, the first step is to submit to God. Become a sold-out, wholehearted, good soldier of Jesus Christ (II Timothy 2:3-4) in the Lord’s invincible salvation army. Stop being a spectator. Exit the grandstands and enter the field of battle as a Christian combatant. Look to God before you take on Satan and his demonic host. 2. RESIST THE DEVIL. To resist means to withstand, to repel, to beat back. Cleary Christians are to beat back the devil, not be beaten up by him. When Satan comes to pick a fight, fight back in Jesus’ name. Resist him with God’s Word (Matthew 4:1-11, Ephesians 6:17). Exercise spiritual authority (Matthew 10:1, Revelation 12:11). Take charge of the situation with courage and confidence in Christ. Walk in the power of the Holy Spirit and overpower the unholy spirit of Satan. Never retreat or turn tail and run. Stand firm in faith and withstand the evil one. Put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-13) and charge the gates of hell in Jesus’ mighty name. The battle is the Lord’s and so is the victory, so Satan must head on down the road when we come after him in the name of Jesus Christ. 3. THE DEVIL WILL FLEE. Flee from who? Flee from you. Yes, it is true. The devil flees from me and you. Flee means to run away from, to vanish. The devil is a vanquished foe and always flees in the presence of Jesus. His flight is guaranteed every time. Automatic. You can bank on it. A little girl who had just heard a lesson on James 4:7 in her Sunday school class remarked “Tell the devil to go and he has to go!” Submit. Resist and the devil will vanish! APPLICATION: “And the evil spirit answered and said to them, “I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” Acts 19:15 Does the devil know who you are? Is the prince of darkness afraid of you as a child of God’s light? Refuse to be beaten up by the devil. Start beating up on him. Love God, yourself and others enough to stand firm in faith and defeat the devil and his demonic forces in Jesus’ victorious name! Submit to God. Resist the devil. And Satan will have to take a hike. A Word For Your Week: Do not run from the devil. Run him out of town in Jesus’ name! SMH. (Scratching My Head).
I never cease to be amazed at individuals or what group of people in our celebrity worshipping, power and prestige obsessed culture stand in awe of. Log onto social media to see who people obsess over. What is “trending” and “going viral” reveals much about who people stand in awe of in America. Popular personalities. Powerful politicians. Successful business moguls. Award winning actors and actresses. All Star athletes. Platinum musicians. Best-selling authors. Mega-church ministers. Comic book superheroes. The list is endless of mere human beings that starry-eyed, gullible groupies can be seduced into believing their idols and icons are all powerful and almighty. Sorry fickle, fantasy following folks. Though human hero worship is alive and well in America (marketed to the hilt!), there is only one who is almighty: He is the God of the Bible. I have listed a handful of scriptures that declare God is Almighty. “Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, I am God Almighty. Walk before Me and be blameless, and I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you exceedingly.” Genesis 17:1 “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1 “Then the Almighty will be your gold and choice silver to you. For then you will delight in the Almighty, and lift up your face to God. You will pray to Him, and he will hear you and you will pay your vows to Him.” Job 22:25-27 “Turn to Me and be saved all the ends of the earth, for I am God almighty and there is no other.” Isaiah 45:22 “And I will be a father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters to Me, says the Lord Almighty.” II Corinthians 6:18 “And I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God, the Almighty, and the Lamb, are its temple. Revelation 21:22 Scripture reveals that God is holy, sovereign, all powerful, all knowing and everywhere present. There is no one like Him, and never will be. As our Creator and Redeemer, He alone is worthy of worship from His creation. Much of mankind’s self-absorption, disrespect, rebellion, disdain for others, hatred and violence stems from refusing to recognize the authority and power of Almighty God. Standing in awe of the Almighty means falling on our faces before Him with reverential respect, dignified deference, and a humble, holy recognition of who God is. Instead of being awestruck with human heroes and heroines who appear so adorable and awesome, maybe you and I should be struck with awestruckness (I just made up a word!) regarding the awesome, Almighty God of the Bible. Helpful Hints For Being In Awe Of The Almighty
God alone is “all that” and more because He is the Almighty One. What would happen in my heart, your heart, in America and around the world if God’s children fell on our faces to worship our Creator and Redeemer, Almighty God? Do you need to take a few moments today to humble yourself in reverence before Almighty God? A Word For Your Week: Bow down in awe of our awesome, Almighty God. What do you think are the two most powerful things that can steady our lives during turbulent, troubling, trying, tough times?
It is painfully obvious to anyone whose head is not buried in the sand that the world you and I live in is rapidly coming apart at the seams. No matter where you and I turn, we find anxiety-driven, obsessively worried, deeply depressed, fearful, tearful people who are at their wits end regarding the future. Many folks today feel hopeless, helpless and powerless. . Insecurity, instability, uncertainty and even insanity alarmingly hover over humanity. So, what can you, me and others do to feel secure as the world turns inside out and upside down? This is what I have discovered in the Bible, the Word of God. The prophet Isaiah had a word from the Lord. “The mountains may be removed, and the hills may shake, but My lovingkindness will not be removed from you, and My COVENANT OF PEACE will not be shaken, says the Lord who has compassion on you.” “Isaiah 54:10 During a turbulent and fearful time in Israel’s history, Almighty God reminded His people of His lovingkindness, compassion and His covenant of peace. I love that phrase “covenant of peace.” Motivated by lovingkindness and compassion, God made a covenant of peace with His people. A covenant. An irrevocable contract. A non-negotiable agreement initiated by the Almighty. The Lord is a covenant keeper, never a covenant breaker. He keeps His Word to all generations. The earth may fall apart, but God will keep His covenant of peace! I say amen to that! Because God is compassionate, His lovingkindness and peace will not be shaken or removed. That is a good Word for you and me today! So how does God do the above? Through His Son Jesus. The two things I asked you about in the opening of this article are peace and joy.
Imagine how the disciples felt when Jesus was arrested, beaten, tortured and mocked as He died on the Cross. After His resurrection He would commission them to continue His work of evangelizing the world (Matthew 28:16-20). Lord, how will we pull that off? They killed you the Son of God. What about us? How will we overcome the persecution that is sure to come on us? I wonder how you and I would have felt. The disciples would remember two powerful truths Jesus shared with them. “Peace I leave with you, MY PEACE I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, let it not be fearful. “John 14:27 “These things I have spoken to you that MY JOY may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.” John 15:11 Jesus to His disciples: My Peace. My Joy. In You. You will have peace and joy no devil or man can touch. My fellow followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, no one can steal your or my peace or joy (John 16:22) because it is HIS PEACE AND HIS JOY! Do you know anyone big and bad enough to rip the Son of Almighty God off? I cannot think of anyone or anything! Jesus’ peace and joy is a double-barreled shotgun that takes out the devil, his demons and the anti-Christ culture surrounding Christians. Who or what in this fallen world can stand against the peace and joy of Jesus in His faithful followers! No power in hell or on earth can!!!!!! Take a quiet, holy moment or two and let what Jesus said sink in. You and I can and will endure, persevere, rise above and overcome any trouble that comes our way because of Jesus’ peace and joy in our hearts and minds!!!!! I say hallelujah and glory to God for this truth! I can tell you from personal experience and the experiences of countless Christians I have ministered to over the years, that even when all hell breaks loose, no weapon of the evil one or the world can disrupt the peace and joy of Jesus in a believer’s life. What can touch Jesus’ peace and joy? Absolutely nothing! If you are struggling today, battling the enemy of your soul, choose to stand firm with faith in the power of Christ’s peace and joy! Jesus’ peace and joy. I vote for that. How about you? “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 “And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come with joyful shouting to Zion. With everlasting joy upon their heads. They will find gladness and joy and sorrow and fainting will flee away.” Isaiah 35:10 A Word For Your Week: Live your life with the peace and joy of Jesus in your heart and mind. Have you ever wondered what God does at night? I used to.
Ron Mehl has authored a classic book called “God Works The Night Shift.” The subtitle is “Acts Of Love Your Father Performs Even While You Sleep.” I encourage you to secure a copy of this outstanding work and soak it up. It is well worth the read. Mehl’s bottom line in the book is that God works even while we sleep. That is what God says through the inspired Psalm writer David. “It is vain for you to rise up early, to retire late, to eat the bread of painful labors: For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.” Psalm 127:2 The Psalmist tells us in Psalm 127:1 that unless the Lord builds the house and protects the city, we labor and guard in vain. In other words, let God build and protect your life. If you try to do it on your own, without Him, disaster will be your reward. In verse two David follows the vain theme by telling us we do not have to rise early or retire late to eat the fruit of painful labors. This verse does not give us permission to sleep in when we need to be awake. Neither are we to ignore some extra effort some evening if needed. What it does mean is that it is not necessary for us to burn the candle at both ends to enjoy life’s rewards. Matter of fact, David says if we do it that way, we “eat the bread of painful labors.” Fruit produced by painful labor does not sound very nutritious or enjoyable to me! The reason we do not have to burn out in life laboring to be successful and prosperous is that God gives to His beloved (divinely loved ones) even when they are sleeping……not just working! What a refreshing word this is! Especially in our worried, weary, hurried, work-alcoholic world. While we sleep, God works. The Word tells us that God never sleeps. Psalm 121:3-4 states “He will not allow your foot to slip; He who watches over you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.” While God is wide awake, working the night shift with the heavenly host, and we are tucked under our warm blankies, He works on our behalf. I love that truth!!! It is an awesome thought to think that while I am semi-comatose and unable to do anything about anything, God is running His universe and taking care of His children. So, what does God do while we are sleeping and dreaming? God Works The Night Shift…….
God works the night shift….to do whatever you and I need Him to do! Simply amazing! God is working on our behalf when we are not even awake. Sometimes we lay awake wondering and worrying while the Lord is at work taking care of what we are wondering and worrying about! Here is a thought worth chewing on for a while: God does His best work at night while we are sleeping because we cannot interfere with His work. You and I cannot get in His way when we are taking some ZZ’s. He probably likes the fact that Steve Roll cannot mess up what He is doing for me! Therefore, when God is on watch during the night, you and I do not need to be. So, what are you concerned or worrying about? What is keeping you from sleeping? Being emotionally rested and spiritually calm? What do you need to release to Him so He can work on it for you while you take a long nap! God never sleeps so you and I might as well. And everyone said AMEN! “For from of old they have not heard nor perceived by ear, neither has the eye seen a God besides Thee, who acts on behalf of the one who waits for Him.” Isaiah 64:4 A Word For Your Week: While you are sleeping God is working. CROSSROADS.
Intersections of life where we must choose a direction. Our scripture for this week gives us a glimpse of a sacred, crossroad scenario that was played out over 2,000 years ago. “And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as Thou wilt.” Matthew 26:39 In the Garden of Gethsemane, God’s only Son knelt at a crucial life crossroad. The weight of the world’s sin was crushing Christ’s spirit. Grieved and distressed to the point of death, Jesus wrestled with a destiny determining decision. A cruel Roman crucifixion on a rugged cross was beckoning to Him on a hill called Calvary. The Son of God was confronted with a monumental decision that would affect time and eternity for Him and humanity. The crossroad Jesus faced: to become sin and die for sinners or not. Do I turn to the cross or turn from it? His flesh desired one way, His spirit another. A critical crossroads. God’s love for Jesus and all of us was the key issue at the crossroad our Lord and Savior faced. Jesus did not cave into heart-rending emotions which ran rampant, circumstances which were stacked against him, the failure of friends surrounding him, or pressure from the devil to turn His back on humanity. At the crossroads, Jesus went to the Cross. Jesus chose the will of God because He chose the love of God. At the Cross, Jesus displayed the unconditional, immeasurable love of God that saved humanity from sin, death and the grave. Hallelujah and thank you Lord Jesus! What about His followers? At the crossroads of the Cross, Peter, James, John and the others failed miserably. Falling asleep at their watch post, they were not ready when Jesus awoke them and headed toward the Cross. Sleepy-eyed and spiritually unprepared, the Lord’s arrest, suffering, and death took them by surprise, shaking their confidence and courage. What a contrast of action at a crossroad. Jesus walked straight to the Cross. He went forth in victorious faith! While their Master walked to the Cross, His closest, most loyal supporters walked away from it. The disciples fled in fear and ended up discouraged and defeated. Life’s crossroads require good decisions. Should I marry this person or not? Is this the career path God has for me? Which church will be our family’s spiritual home? Morally do I go this way or that way? Good decisions are made when we remember what kind of decision Jesus made for us. My friend do not be at a loss when faced with a life-altering decision. Choose not to be tossed around by circumstances. Stay grounded in faith. Keep your head on straight and look to Jesus. He will quiet your soul and direct your steps. * When Confronted With A Crossroad…... ……. Submit your feelings to your faith. ……. Engage your head as well as your heart. ……. Consider the long view as well as the short term. ……. Search the Scriptures for God’s direction. ……. Stay focused on Jesus Christ. ……. Determine to do God’s will, not yours. ……. Thank God for directing your steps. ……. Take the steps the Lord directed you to take. How about you? Needing to make a critical decision that will direct your destiny? Get alone with God. Pour your heart out to the Father. After laying everything before Him, release your situation with faith. Resolve to hear His voice. Then do what He tells you to do. That is what Jesus did. Trust your crossroad to the One who faced the Cross and is risen from the dead! “Fixing our eyes upon Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2 A Word For Your Week: When facing a crossroad, keep the Cross in the middle of the road. How you ever wondered why some professing Christians prosper in tough times while others do not? Why are some believers in Christ fruitless and others fruitful when life heats up?
It might have something to do with who we trust and put our confidence in during challenging times. Jeremiah has a timely word for us during testing times. Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. For he will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit!” Jeremiah 17:7-8 The weeping prophet knew something about tough times. His nation was in exile, enduring brutal captivity. Poverty and lack oppressed God’s once prosperous people. The Jewish nation was morally bankrupt and spiritually lost. Israel’s leaders had turned their backs on God. Life’s heat had turned up. Spiritual drought had dried up the hearts of the people. How could they not only survive, but thrive under such conditions? Jeremiah taught a spiritual lesson about roots and fruit. He encouraged his discouraged compatriots by contrasting the man who is cursed with the one who is blessed. Verses 5-6 describe the cursed, fruitless man. He turns from the Lord and trusts in man. His spiritual roots are shallow because his confidence is in “the flesh.” He is like a solitary, withered bush in the wilderness. Stony, salty waste places suck life out of his shallow roots. Eventually a shallow rooted plant will die! When prosperity comes, he will not see it. Why? His roots do not run deep in God. The blessed man in verses 7-8 trusts God. His confidence is not in the flesh, but the spirit. He is like a vivacious, healthy, green tree planted by water whose roots extend deep into a life-giving stream. When the sun bears down, this man has no fear. His leaves remain green. He never stops yielding a harvest of fruit. The blessed man is fearless and worry-less when life heats up because his roots run deep in God. So which person are you? Blessed or cursed? Drought and dry seasons (spiritual, emotional, relational and economic) are part of life. It is a fact of physical and spiritual life that drought reveals how deep our roots really are. When life dries up, men who trust in men burn out, burn up and bear no fruit. Life is fruitless and unfulfilling when shallow roots dry up. The person who trusts in the Lord is continually refreshed and bears abundant fruit in every season of life. Deep roots are not affected by the scorching heat. The blessed man who is deeply rooted and grounded in the love of God (see Ephesians 3:17) produces godly fruit despite and during trying times. If you want to be blessed, run your trust roots deep in God. Our roots are not running deep enough if….
How are your spiritual roots? Do they run deep in the Lord? Are they deep enough to withstand whatever life’s winds blow your way? Will you be fruitless or fruitful during this time of spiritual, moral, racial, economic and political upheaval in our nation? How about your family? Are your family’s spiritual roots driven deep into the bedrock of Jesus Christ? Is your family foundation built on the Rock, so that your family’s spiritual house will not fail or fall when life’s storms come crashing against you? (Matthew 7:24-27). Need to deepen your roots? Turn away from men and turn to the Lord. Go to the Word. Soak up God’s promises and principles. Pray about your needs. Trust God to meet every one of them. Spend time with deep-rooted Christians who will encourage you in your faith. Thank God for being with you every day of your life. Roots and fruit……. both matter during these turbulent times. Drive your spiritual roots deep into the soil of God’s Word. Let your life be watered with the deep, living water of the Holy Spirit. Then you will walk fearlessly through this time and bear fruit that will amaze men. “The wicked desires the booty of evil men; but the root of the righteous yields fruit.” Proverbs 12:2 “A man will not be established by wickedness, but the root of the righteous will not be moved.” Proverbs 12:3 “He who believes in me as the Scripture said, “From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water. This He spoke of the Holy Spirit who those who believed in Him would receive…” John 7:38-39 A Word For Your Week: Run deep in Christ to keep fruitful in life. Has someone been merciful to you? How did that feel? Rather good huh?
According to Webster mercy means “compassion or forbearance shown especially to an offender or to one subject to one’s power, compassionate treatment of those in distress.” In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-12) Jesus taught what are traditionally titled the Beatitudes. Robert Schuler calls the Beatitudes the BE ATTITUDES. I like that. Included in the Lord’s list of BE ATTITUDES is mercy. Jesus said “Blessed (happy, oh how happy) are the merciful.” Why? Because “they shall receive mercy.” Mercy is an attitude we are to have toward people, especially if we want to receive mercy. Three things stand out to me about mercy. First, you and I have been shown mercy. “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus, in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:4-7 Where would you and I be without God’s love and mercy? Biblically, we would be headed for hell! Instead, because God is merciful, everyone who believes in and receives His Son is headed for heaven (John 3:16, 1:12). Thank you God for Your great mercy. Secondly, you and I are to give mercy. Mercy is God’s gracious gift. Gifts should be shared. Merciful people give mercy to others. Jesus said to His followers “Freely you have received, freely give.” (Matthew 10:8). Giving freely applies to mercy. Christians who have received Christ’s mercy are to give His mercy to others, freely and as often as needed. Thirdly, being merciful, you and I will receive mercy. No exposition, explanation or emphasis needed here. Jesus made it clear…. clear as the day is long: THE MERCIFUL RECEIVE MERCY. Here is an idea. If you need mercy, why not be merciful to someone else? Life, relationships and ministry without mercy are like clouds without rain. Rain waters the earth, bringing life. Mercy brings life to living. Without mercy, life is hard to bear. Mercy and kindness take the hard edge off living in a self-centered, arrogant, merciless world. Observations About Mercy
Mercy does matter. At the end of the day, I have a feeling that you and I will cry out to God like the honest, transparent man did in Luke 18:9-14. Humbly approaching the presence of the Lord he prayed “God be merciful to me the sinner.” Have mercy on me God because I know I am a sinner who has sinned. Note he said “the sinner.” This guy was serious about his sin…so serious that he asked God for mercy. Is that your heart? Is that my heart? Do we recognize that we need God’s mercy? Or do we take His love and grace for granted? And how do we feel about mercy for people who are sinners like us too? Just asking. You might have a mercy problem if you are harder on people then you should be, you deny people the benefit of the doubt, you refuse to cut people some slack, you withhold forgiveness and grace or you excommunicate people from your life because they don’t measure up to your standards. Everyone needs mercy. I need mercy every single day and so do you and others. Every day look for opportunities to be a mercy give. Lord, have mercy on me…and help me be merciful to others in Your name. “Do not let mercy and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.” Proverbs 3:3 “He has told you man what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8 A Word For Your Week: Show mercy to be shown mercy. Life is not fun when funk messes with our head.
What is funk? Webster’s Dictionary defines funk as “a depressed state of mind, a paralyzing fear, to become frightened, shrink back, dread, to shrink from undertaking or facing.” I understand that definition. I have been there and done that. Multiple times throughout my life. You probably have too. Bottom line: Funk is an emotional, mental and spiritual fog that makes it almost impossible to see life clearly. It’s like driving our cars on the highway semi-blindly making our way through dense fog. Funk casts shades of gray and even black shadows over our thinking. Funk throws us into an emotional tailspin. Emotionally we get stuck in a rut of confusion, anxiety, fear and paralysis of action, spawning uncertainty and dread about the future. Funky stuff hangs over you and me like a hangover that alcoholic beverage drinkers experience when imbibing too much. Funk can last a few minutes, a few hours or a few days. The longer funk calls the shots the harder it is to escape its grip. A friend and prayer partner of mine help each other through funk when it strikes. We laugh when we see how the enemy has “funked” us. I do not like funk. That is an understatement for sure. Hating funk would be more accurate. When I am “funking”, the enemy of my soul hammers me with darkness. Clobbers me with clouds of doubt and unbelief. Reminds me of past, painful heartaches and lies to me about the future. I find myself caught up in mental traps that have me spinning my emotional wheels over and over again. Riding a merry-go-round that I cannot get off. I think the worst not the best. My faith fades into the sunset of funk. Funk leaves me drained and having to regroup my faith and perspective. Common Causes Of Funk
I wish I had a Funk Repellant I could spray on my brain before funk overshadows me. Neither you nor I do, so, let us look at some funk busters. FUNK BUSTERS
The joy of the Lord is a great antidote for funk. “And He brought His people out with joy, His chosen ones with a joyful shout!” Psalm 105:3 “The Lord is a victorious warrior, He will exult over you with joy; He will quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy” Zephaniah 3:17 ”Therefore, you too now have sorrow; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one takes your joy away from you.” Matthew 16:22 A Word For Your Week: Funk is not our friend. Tell it to take a long, long hike back to hell where it belongs! |
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