R-E-S-P-E-C-T

You can find many interesting stories about the ark of the covenant throughout the Old Testament and indeed in many venues other than the Bible…even movies have been made featuring the ark and its power. But make no mistake, apart from God; the ark itself contained no power.

To the early Israelites, the ark was a symbol of God’s “physical” presence with them. If you read through 1 Samuel 4-7, you will find how the Israelites began to see the ark as something of a good luck charm. They began to value the ark instead of esteeming and valuing their great and awesome God. They forgot without God, the ark was merely an ornate box. As a result, the Israelites were defeated and the ark stolen by the Philistines…who of course, regretted taking it right away. (1 Samuel 5 is a favorite.) After enduring much tragedy, the Philistines return the ark to the land of Israel, specifically, Kiriath-jearim, in Judah.

Now fast-forward several years to 1 Chronicles 13. This begins the story of King David bringing the ark to Jerusalem. Verses 2-4 record:

David said to all the assembly of Israel, "If it seems good to you, and if it is from the LORD our God, let us send everywhere to our kinsmen who remain in all the land of Israel, also to the priests and Levites who are with them in their cities with pasture lands, that they may meet with us; and let us bring back the ark of our God to us, for we did not seek it in the days of Saul." Then all the assembly said that they would do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.

Unfortunately, disaster ensues because in the rush of enthusiasm to move the ark, the commandments of God are ignored. How easily we forget, man following his own plan creates chaos and disaster; but when man follows God’s plan, God brings triumph and blessing.

“When they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark, because the oxen nearly upset it. The anger of the LORD burned against Uzza, so He struck him down because he put out his hand to the ark; and he died there before God.” 1 Chronicles 13:9-10

Verse 11 says that “David became angry because of the LORD'S outburst against Uzza”. Other translations use the words “offended” and “indignant” instead of angry. I can imagine David as the petulant child saying to his parent, “What’d I do wrong?”

But not to worry for the lesson was meaningful for David because verse 12 records, “David was afraid of God that day”. David learns he must respect, not neglect, God and God’s commandments. God demands and deserves preeminence in our lives. We are to look to Him for guidance; His plan is always the right plan.

1 Chronicles 15 reveals David’s change of attitude in regard to the word of God; David’s love, fear, and respect of God and God’s commandments are recorded. Verses 2 and 13 of that chapter say:

Then David said, "No one is to carry the ark of God but the Levites; for the LORD chose them to carry the ark of God and to minister to Him forever."

"Because you did not carry it at the first, the LORD our God made an outburst on us, for we did not seek Him according to the ordinance."

Seek God first! God is Creator; He is LORD of all; He is I Am. He is, He was, He always will be.

"Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands." Deuteronomy 7:9

God Bless!

Be Anxious for Nothing

Be anxious for nothing, 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 minds through Christ Jesus.

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-8, 13, 19

From time to time we allow ourselves to become overwhelmed by the circumstances of daily life. Jesus knew this would happen. When speaking of His return, Jesus warned us to be watchful and careful not to allow our hearts to be loaded down with the anxieties of this life (Luke 21:34).

When the storms of life are not only on the horizon but also appear to be overtaking you, take a moment to find a quiet place of prayer. Then take all of your anxieties and lay them at the Savior’s feet. In placing all your troubles under the dominion of Christ you will find the peace that passes all understanding. Through Christ it is possible to have peace in the midst of the storm. Once we’ve made our requests known to our Heavenly Father; placed our worries at His feet and received His peace; we are assured He will guard and protect our hearts and minds.

Furthermore, we are told to meditate on those things which are good, respectable, wholesome, honorable, and praiseworthy. We are able to do this because we are told we can do all things through Christ and that our God is going to supply all our needs.

Precious Lord, You’ve told me You’ve written my name in Your hand and that You will never leave me. Father, forgive me when I allow myself to become encumbered by the worries of this temporal world; remind me of Your everlasting promises and that I am a child of the King. Thank you for loving me; thank you for drawing me to You; thank you for Your Son; my Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Amen.

God Bless!

Living the Abundant Life

Are you living the abundant life? If not, why not? Jesus said in John 10:10, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

Jesus is provider and supplier; He does this with love, mercy and grace and He does it “exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us”, Ephesians 3:20. Furthermore, the preface to this verse is verses 16-19 which say:

“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

My friends, this is the abundant life. Again I ask; are you living the abundant life? If not, why not?

How do we get this abundant life? Not through anything we can do for ourselves, but only through Jesus Christ; through His mercy and grace.

“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:4-7

Romans 10:9 tells us, ““That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved””.

Philippians 4:19 says that once we are saved, “…my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”

The Apostle Peter tells us in 1 Peter 1:3-5 that once saved we have a heavenly inheritance that cannot be taken away because we are shielded by the power of God:

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.”

Are you living the abundant life? If not, why not? Accept Christ today.

Loving God, I know I am a sinner and there is nothing I can do to save myself. I ask you to come into my life; to live within my heart; I accept you as my All in all. I ask you to forgive me of my sin as I give my life fully to You. I seek the abundant life that only You can give. Guide me as I to learn to follow You and walk in Your way. Amen.

God Bless!

Pass the Salt Please

"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men." Matthew 5:13

Salt is a necessity of life. It has been used since ancient times as a seasoning; as a preservative and as a healing agent.

Jesus called us—Christians—the salt of the earth. Salt enhances the natural flavor of foods. Christians are to be the salt of the world; we are not to become useless by becoming polluted by the influences of the world. Jesus warned that once salt becomes polluted and contaminated it is thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

Dr. Adrian Rogers (http://www.lwf.org/) has said our churches have become salt-factories—we are salting one another instead of being what Jesus said we are to be: the salt of the earth. Dr. Rogers said as Christians we are called to be the “salt-shakers” of the world.

As Christians we are commissioned to tell others of the good news of Jesus Christ:

“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone”. Colossians 4:6

We are to tell others of the healing power of Jesus Christ:

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God". Ephesians 2:8

We are to tell others of the preserving power of Jesus Christ:

“The cross is foolishness to those who are perishing but to us who are being saved it is the power of God”. 1 Corinthians 1:18

Father-God, I pray I be filled with Your Spirit so that I can truly be the salt of the earth; I pray that You protect me from the pollution of the world; that I may not become bland and good for nothing but that through the power of the Holy Spirit I may be a salty saint for Your honor and Your glory always and forever. Amen.

God Bless!

Be Holy

But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16 (NKJV)

We are to be holy because God is holy. We are created in His image and because His Spirit abides within us we have access to the holiness of God and are therefore capable of living a holy life. The way in which we live, every choice we make, our treatment of others, etc., should reflect the holiness of God. (If you haven’t done so recently, now would be a good time to review the fruit of the Spirit, Galatians 5:22-23.) We should conduct ourselves, at all times, in a manner that honors God.

But how do we do this? Both James (James 4:6-8) and Peter (1 Peter 5:5-10) give us insight concerning this question by quoting the same scripture, Proverbs 3:34. This scripture tells us God gives grace to the humble. James and Peter tell us to be humble and furthermore, both tell us to submit to God and to resist the devil. James 4:8 reminds us if we draw near to God, He will draw near to us. Peter, likewise, in 1 Peter 5:7, tells us to cast all our cares upon the One who cares for us.

And what is the reward for humbleness; submission to God; and holiness? 1 Peter 5:10 tells us the “God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, (will) perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.” AMEN!

Loving Father, I praise Your holy name; Name above all names. My prayer is that in all ways I submit to You and that the fruit of Your precious Spirit be magnified in me for Your honor and Your glory. Amen.

God Bless!

We Are What We Speak

You’ve heard it said, “We are what we eat.” This is true and it seems I continually struggle to become more fruits and vegetables and less cake and cookies!

This same logic is applied to our words; for we are what we speak. Jesus tells us in Matthew 12:33-37 our words not only reveal the content of our character but also reflect the condition of our hearts. Just as a tree is known by the quality of its fruit, the mouth reveals that which is in the heart.

"Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit.

You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.

The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil.

But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment.

For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."

What do your words say about the condition of your heart? Are you an encourager or do you malign and criticize at every opportunity? Are you one who offers support to others or do you gossip and act a busy-body? In short, do your words reveal the love of Christ?

In John 13:34-35, Jesus gives us a new commandment and tells us as His disciples we will be known by this: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Gracious Lord, may my speech always demonstrate and reflect Your love. I pray through the power of the Holy Spirit You instill within me the ability to tame my tongue; I pray my words be used always to honor and glorify You. Cleanse me Father as only You can that I may be pure in soul and pure in speech. Amen.

God Bless!