Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”
                                                           -James 4:14

As much as I appreciate the blessing of tomorrow, I’ve also come to see it as a blessing too often abused. Though most people will readily admit their life could be snuffed out at any time, for some reason we continue to live as if there is always another page to be turned, another chapter to be written. Like the rich man in Luke 12 who fell into the lap of luxury only to “fall into the hands of the living God” when he least expected it (Heb. 10:31), many times we embrace unnecessary responsibilities today while postponing what God says is truly important until tomorrow.

What do I mean by unnecessary responsibilities? Well, let’s start with the obvious. Hunting trips, shopping ventures, and web surfing are all nonessentials. We could live without them if it became necessary. More subtle distractions such as extra-biblical literature and blogging may at times seem indispensible, but even these should be a distant second to our God and our family. We as Christians are called to demonstrate faithfulness, not just in the “big” things, but in the countless smaller responsibilities that shape our character and mold our relationships (Matt 25:23).

Of course that’s not to say whatever is unnecessary can also be categorized as sin. Solomon himself believed “there is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labor.” (Eccl. 2:24) Our lives are a gift from God and should be enjoyed in holiness (Heb. 12:14), but putting your family on hold to accommodate a self-induced busy schedule is a sacrifice no one can afford to make.

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.”

               -Matthew 23:23

Just like the Pharisees, how often have we allowed our zeal for God to tear us down rather than build us up? Peter cutting off Malchus’ ear when His Savior’s life was threatened revealed an inner passion worth emulating, but in the end he earned only a rebuke from the One he was attempting to defend (John 18:10-11). Is it any different when a Christian passionate about truth spends more time reading Bible commentary than the Word of God itself, or can quote their favorite theologian more fluently than their risen Lord? We procrastinate making the changes we know are needed but somehow always make room for the lesser things we could do without. Isn’t it true that “procrastination is the thief of time”¹ God calls us to redeem (Eph. 5:16)?

God has a special blessing in store for those who make Him, not religion or good works, the focus of their heart and the love of their life. We “shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ” someday to answer for the decisions we’ve made (Rom. 14:10), and this reality should encourage God’s church in the pursuit of holiness and “faith unfeigned.” (1 Tim. 1:5) There’s no need to wait until the 1^st of January to enact these commitments. Act now! Determine what you must do, put your hand to the plow, and don’t look back (Luke 9:62). It’s this kind of dedication we need to break the chains “tomorrow” can so easily ensnare us with.

 

---

¹ Edward Young

We all know the story of when Jesus called Peter and Andrew to leave their nets, follow Him, and become “fisher’s of men.” (Matthew 4) I find it very interesting that Christ appealed to them, not only using terminology they could understand, but also by demonstrating that to follow Him didn’t necessarily mean giving up all they held dear. They were fishers, and the kingdom of God certainly needed a handful of devout fisherman in its service.

Likewise, I believe it’s important for us to remember that God has endowed each one of us with specific spiritual gifts for us to use in His service (I Corinthians 12). Some of us are passionate about education or the ministry (I Corinthians 12:8; Romans 12:7), while others find their joy in volunteering their time and money to those in need (Romans 12:8). Whatever gets you excited, serving God doesn’t always mean giving that up; 95% of the time there’s a way for you to glorify God right where you are, doing what He created you to enjoy.

“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”

               -I Corinthians 10:31

It probably won’t take you long after reading this to think of at least a couple things you’re passionate about. If it’s sports, then perhaps you should consider running in a marathon for charity; if it’s web design, then make a website pointing people to Christ; if it’s nature, then create an outdoors-themed blog and write short devotionals once or twice a week . There’s certainly going to be times as a Christian when we’ve got to make sacrifices for the Lord, but God never intended fulfilling our life’s calling to be a burden.

 

 

 

 

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

               -Matthew 6:33

In these tough economic times, I know I’m not the only one who’s realized the need to create a weekly budget to help keep me on track financially. Without a definite course charted out I often find it difficult to stay motivated and am very liable to spend a little bit more money than is appropriate on unnecessary things, such as eating out and texting.

In the same way, it’s often necessary for a Christian to budget their time in order to maintain a close relationship with God. If you are regularly missing out on prayer, Bible study and church due to a supposed lack of time, then consider putting your facebook account on hold for a while and reprioritizing your schedule. Put God first and make everything else revolve around His place in your heart.

“And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched.”

               -Mark 9:43

For some of you, finding time to spend with God might mean setting your alarm 20 minutes early next week and trying to remember where you last had your Bible. For others, you may have to do nothing more than close your web browser after reading this post and go implement what you’ve just read. Whatever sacrifice you find necessary, just remember that it is no sacrifice to have a relationship with the living God. “So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.” (Luke 17:10)

 

 

“Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.”

               -II Timothy 2:9

Have you seen the newest poll on my sidebar? I put it up a while back hoping to get some feedback on a very important question that I myself have been pondering a lot lately: will the U.S. government ever ban the Word of God? Of course I’ll be one of the first to admit that it seems pretty unlikely right now since, after all, our country’s greatest pride is its establishment of religious freedom; but if you’ll remember, there was a time when we stood firmly on the individual rights of all humanity and now our congressmen and women are passing legislation which daily destroys innocent life by way of abortion. Our country is headed downhill both morally and spiritually, and I believe it would be a dangerous mistake to take anything for granted at this point.

So what were the results of my poll? 87% of my readers believe the Bible could one day become illegal. Yes, that’s right: 87%. That’s a huge majority, and yet would you believe that one study indicated more than a third of all verbally professed Christians (Titus 1:16) do not read this precious Book at all? The very Word of God, which most of us are apparently afraid of losing, would probably not even be missed by a large part of those who claim to love it so much! Too often, we find it more convenient to hide the Scriptures in our bookshelves than to hide it in our heart (Psalm 119:11), and to hang a verse or two on the wall than to read and apply It to our lives (James 1:21-25).

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.”

                 -II Timothy 3:1

Though we generally tend to think questions beginning with the words “What If” are dangerous, I believe they can sometimes be the most healthy questions one can ask. What if your Bible was taken away from you tomorrow? Would you know enough of it to live according to God’s will? What if you had to choose between your life and your faith? Would you waver or stand firm? What if you were arrested for being a Christian? Would there be enough evidence to convict you? These are questions we may one day have to live out our answer to, and it is time now for us to prepare ourselves for whatever the future may hold – no matter how unlikely we think it is.

 

 

“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.”

            -2 Corinthians 5:20

Over the past week or so this verse has been on my mind more than ever before. As Christians, Paul reminds us that we are each “ambassadors for Christ” and that everything we do, whether it be good or bad, ultimately affects the world’s estimation of Christ Himself. Now I don’t know about you, but I know that there are at least a few things in my own life that simply do not belong and fail to represent Christ accurately. Of course we know from Romans 3:23 that every human on the planet falls short of God’s glory, but we are all nevertheless instructed to submit ourselves completely and totally to Christ’s authority and allow Him to live in and through us (2 Corinthians 4:10). When we do that, we can rest assured that God will be pleased in how He is being portrayed.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
                                               -Psalm 139:23, 24

Wherever and whoever you are, I believe it’s time for God’s people to come to a place of humility and soul-searching as we seek to be the best ambassadors for Him as possible. We do this, not because we desire to be saved, but as an act of sincere gratitude for the salvation we have already obtained. It is only when we do this that we can begin to fully know the indescribable joy that obedience to the Word of the Lord brings (John 13:17).

 

 

“Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion. ”

                                                 -Ecclesiastes 5:18

This time of year is always one of the most busy seasons of life around our home. The grass is growing and needs cut; the flowers are blooming and need weeded; the weather’s nice, and you can’t help but notice that the shed could really use a fresh coat of paint. All of a sudden the days of hot chocolate and sled rides come to an end, and we quickly come to the realization that there’s about a million and one things we did last spring that somehow came undone over the winter months. With toolbox in hand, we thus set out to rid ourselves of any degree of spring fever while silently hope we don’t kill ourselves in the process.

Of course there’s nothing at all wrong with some good, hard work. In fact, Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 2:24 that “there is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour.”  The problem we must avoid, however, is in allowing our ever-growing list of things to do distract us from that which is truly important in life (see my last post). Even though most spring chores usually can’t be postponed for very long at a time, I truly believe these moments are some of the best for intimate fellowship with God since it is in these moments that our true character really begins to shine through. Once we learn to walk with God while tilling the garden, it won’t be so hard to walk with Him through the valleys of this life.

“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.”

                                                   -Ecclesiastes 9:10

What will you be doing tomorrow? Cutting the grass? Then sing songs of praise to the Lord (Ephesians 5:19). Raking the leaves? Then meditate on God’s Word or talk to Him in prayer (Psalm 1:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17). Whatever we do we are commanded to all to the glory of God (Colossians 3:23), and there’s few better ways to do this than in acknowledging you can’t go a minute without Him by your side. It is only then that we can experience the fullness of joy His presence brings (Psalm 16:11).

 

 

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”

              -John 13:34

When Jesus came, He completely redefined the essence of true obedience to God’s Word. In Old Testament times people thought it was enough to simply abide by the letter of the law while pretty much ignoring Its spiritual implications, and yet we are reminded numerous times throughout the four Gospels alone that our God wants more than just an outward show of religion; He wants inward commitment and devotion that goes far beyond the outward aspect of things (Mark 12:30).

As Paul reminded us in Romans 13:10, “…love is the fulfilling of the law.” He explained that none of the commandments we find in Scripture would ever be broken if we would simply love our neighbor as ourself, for “love worketh no ill to his neighbour.”  Unlike many of us today who tend to focus solely on outward evidences of inward sin, Jesus and Paul both sought to treat the problem once and for all by removing the cause of the undesired effect. They recognized that sins such as adultery, murder, lying, and revenge all begin in the heart and that, like a weed, they would continue to spring back up until being plucked out by the roots.

“This is My commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.”

        -John 15:12

Notice here that Jesus didn’t just ask us to get along, or to try and be nice to each other; no, He said plainly that we must love one another. Learning to put the needs of others before our own, though often difficult to emulate, is a sign of true and undefiled Christianity (James 1:27; Romans 12:10), and is perhaps the greatest testimony we can give of our faith in Christ. It shows the world that we’re serious about serving God, and do so for more than just personal gain. It is then, as Christ said, that the world can know with certainty that we are His (John 13:35).

“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”

            -Philippians 2:3

When we come to the place of loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, people are going to notice. When we intentionally sacrifice our own agenda for His, our priorities for His purpose, and think of others before worrying about ourselves, the world around us will see that there is indeed something special about us. More importantly than that, they will see that there is something special about Jesus. After all, if God is love (1 John 4:8), doesn’t it make sense that His followers should be known for expressing it?

“For God, Who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

                       -2 Corinthians 4:6

In Ephesians 5:8, Paul vividly described our spiritual condition prior to salvation when he referred to us as having been darkness. He didn’t say we walked in darkness, or even that we were deceived by the darkness; no, he said plainly and simply that we were darkness. That’s pretty blunt but, in reality, it’s only the tip of the iceberg. In Ephesians 2:1, we were “dead in trespasses and sins”; in verse two, we were “the children of disobedience"; in 1 John 3:10, we were the “children of the devil” (see also Romans 3:10); and in Romans 5:10, we were God’s enemies. The message is plain and the emphasis clear: we were in bad shape.

Yet despite the miserable self-portrait we find of ourselves in these verses, Paul quickly reminded us that the story didn’t end there for God’s people. He continued, “…but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.” (Ephesians 5:8) Again, I think it’s important to notice that we aren’t described as just being in the light; we actually are light (Matthew 5:14)! How did this incredible transformation occur? The answer is simple: God shined in our hearts. This means He penetrated and dispelled the darkness that was once present. It means that, rather than roaming through the darkness of sin, we can now enjoy what Jesus called “the light of life” (John 8:12) and help bring that light into all the world (Matthew 28:19-20). Perhaps most importantly, it means we have opened the doors of our heart to Christ (Revelation 3:20), and that our God is now for us rather than against us (Romans 8:31). The concept is amazing; the reality of it is even greater!

“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

                      -Ephesians 4:1-3

We could never deserve the gift of salvation. As we are reminded in Romans 11:35, there is nothing we could possibly do that would make God a debtor to us, and any act of obedience or sacrifice to Him is nothing more than our reasonable service (Romans 12:1). Yet in Scriptures like the ones we’ve just read, we are urged to walk worthy of our vocation (i.e. calling). We’re the children of light (I Thessalonians 5:5), and we’re being told to start acting like it.

 

In life, it’s very easy to become so consumed with what goes on around us that we forget the importance of “watching our step.” Whether we neglect to pray about crucial decisions, don’t spend enough time reading the Word, or start compromising in areas God has dealt with us about, we can be sure that trouble lies ahead when we begin pushing God to the sidelines of our day-to-day lives.

In Psalm 119:133, David prayed that his steps be ordered according to God’s Word. That is, he wanted every single thing he did to be pleasing to the Lord. So it should be in our lives, that every step we take is not only acceptable in God’s sight, but directed by Him. We don’t  simply want to be in His permissive will, only sliding by and seeing how much we can get away with; we want to be in His perfect will, doing all that He’s called us to do with a pure and holy heart. It is only then – when our steps are ordered by the Lord – that we can run full speed ahead and not stumble. (Proverbs 4:12)

Over the course of a long journey, even one step off the beaten path can result in a person becoming miserably lost in the wilderness. It is no less true that, in our walk with the Lord, making one decision without His guidance could potentially cause a lifetime of hurt and frustration. Taking  the wrong job, attending the wrong college, or marrying the wrong person are all choices that will often irreversibly damage your life. On the other hand, however, ensuring that you are in the Divine Will at all times will yield  innumerable benefits in both this life and the life to come.

 

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.”

                                                            -Psalm 37:23

If we hope to please God in this life, every step we take must be ordered in holiness. In ourself, this is impossible; but through Christ, we are enabled to do the impossible.(Philippians 4:13)

Many of you will remember Chris Sligh from season 6 of American Idol. Even if you’re not an AI fan, you might be more familiar with his song “Empty Me”, which was a big hit on Christian radio stations for a while, and his more recent single “Only You Can Save.”

Anyway, I went to one of his shows this week and had a blast! Other than getting to meet him after the show, my favorite part of the night had to be him singing “Vessel.” Unless you have his first CD you’ve probably never heard it, but it is an amazing song nonetheless that talks about surrendering to God and allowing Him to use us as He sees fit. I know that at some point we’ve probably all had a desire to be used by the Lord in a special way, and this song reminds us of the proper mindset to have: complete surrender. An attitude that says, “God, I’ll serve You no matter what.” Somebody with this mentality is the type of person God looks for when He needs a vessel to use, and it’s the type of attitude we should all have as Christians. Anyway, if I keep rambling on there’ll be no need for you to watch the video, so I guess I’ll stop talking and just let you enjoy the song!

Though always worthwhile, waiting on God can be one of the hardest things we ever have to do. In a culture where everything is available to us at DSL speeds, we aren’t accustomed to waiting for anything. Whether it’s microwave popcorn, lightning fast computers, or even simply turning on the light when you come into a room, we can usually get what we want fairly quickly and without much hassle.

Yet despite our “I want it now” mentality, God often calls us to slow down and wait upon Him. There’s no such thing as  “microwave Christianity!” We can’t expect to push a button and have God make everything perfect in less than 60 seconds. For that matter, we can’t expect Him to transform us into anything close to perfection in that amount of time either. No, the Christian walk would be better compared to a “crock-pot experience”, where we must patiently wait for His perfect will to be revealed, and His perfect plan to be accomplished.  As convenient as it would be if things were otherwise, convenience is not what God is seeking; He does things the right way, regardless of how much longer it might take.

I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but one downside to microwaves is that, when heating large items, their job is usually not very thorough. Despite it feeling warm on the outside, a few bites into your meal you realize it’s still half-frozen in the middle. In the same way, God undertook a huge task when He adopted us into His family. Yes, we’re forgiven of our past; but our future is still a work in progress. In fact, it’s such a large task that if God were to do things the quick and easy way, the job would end up only half-done. It would appear fine on the outside – but only on the outside.  That’s not what we want, and it’s certainly not what God wants.

Perhaps you’ve been waiting on God for a long time. You’ve prayed, and you’ve prayed, and you’ve prayed, but nothing happens. If this is you, just remember that God is still there. He’s always been there. He’s just making sure that, when all is said and done, everything will have worked together to accomplish His perfect will in your life (Romans 8:28).

First of all, let me apologize that I haven’t been posting much lately. Especially this week, my life has been pretty busy and finding the time to sit down and write hasn’t been easy. Hopefully that will change in the near future and you can start seeing more posts from me on your dashboard!

Anyway, over the past 24 hours, my mind has been circling the concept of perfecting holiness (see II Corinthians 7:1). And in case you’re wondering why it is necessary for us to perfect holiness, remember the words spoken to us in Hebrews 12:14: “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” Holiness needs to be perfected in each of our lives because holiness and intimacy with God go hand in hand; and it is only when we have that type of  intimate walk with God that we will be able to be all He’s calling us to be.

You see, Paul recognized that holiness is too great a thing to be completely attained over night: that is why he used the work “perfect” in a continuing sense. Though the blood of Jesus covers our sins completely and totally when we repent and are saved, it is His desire that we forsake sin and seek to live a life free from any trace of it whatsoever.

But despite this, we each no doubt have areas in our life that could use some attention. Whether it be something that is flat out sinful (idolatry, a short temper, hate…) or perhaps an area that we could just stand to be more Godly in, such as spending more time in prayer and/or Bible study, we all have room for improvement. This is true regardless of who you are, how long you’ve been saved, or what church you attend. This truth serves to remind the proud of their need to draw closer to God, and to remind those who would otherwise be disheartened that even longtime Christians must continue fighting sin and keeping their hearts free from it.

As you have read these words, maybe your mind has drifted to an area in your life you know needs attention. I know mine has. If so, let me challenge you to spend the next few minutes thinking and praying about how you can perfect holiness in this aspect of your life. Whether it means erasing a few things from your calendar, or erasing a few things from your life, let’s work together to ensure that, when Christ comes, we are thoroughly prepared.

Have you ever had one of those days where God somehow finds a way to speak to you through everything that happens? That's the kind of day I've had. This week we went on a camping trip, and the Lord ministered to me through the most peculiar of ways. For example, last night at around 3:00 A.M., our dog went into some kind of frenzy, barking hysterically. Obviously, when you're surrounded by woods and are half asleep, you expect the worst. We shot out of our air mattresses, only to realize it was a raccoon scampering through our campsite. As I laid back down, I began wondering to myself why we are so easily scared when God is right there with us all the time. I've read about God's omnipotence, and even blogged about it, but God had to send a hungry raccoon up to our tent in order to teach me what it really means.


Then, on the way home, it seemed like almost every song that came on the radio was hand-chosen by God. Songs I'd heard dozens of times suddenly took on a new meaning as the Lord began opening my eyes to what I thought I already saw (don't you love it when that happens?). In only a short time, my Heavenly Father taught be about dependence, love, faith, and more. But perhaps the greatest lesson I learned today was about contentment.

After I had a bite to eat this evening, I went outside to feed and water my ducks. After they ate their supper, they then marched over to their little swimming pool from which almost all the water had evaporated due to the extreme heat we've had today; but to my surprise, instead of waddling back to their pen, they swam anyway. They had the time of their life swimming in no more than a half inch of water! As they did their best to bathe themselves in water that barely covered the tops of their feet, I began to wonder what life would be like if we, as Christians, had this kind of contentment. What if, instead of focusing on all that we wish we had, we were satisfied with what God has already given us. Sure, it would be nice if we had more money, a bigger home, and a nicer car - but is it really necessary? The world around us may have all that their hearts could ever desire, but God showed me today that being satisfied with just a little brings more joy than does discontentment in the midst of material abundance.

Are you seeking/longing after earthly gain? If so, know that "godliness with contentment" is gain in itself (I Timothy 6:6). No matter who you are, there's always going to be somebody better off than you, and thus you'll always be faced with the temptation to want more, but only in God's grace will your heart be able to find satisfaction.

Up until about two and a half years ago, my spiritual life was like one big roller coaster ride. I would constantly flip back and forth between serving the Lord and serving myself, and I never stayed in the same place for very long. But then, in January of '08, I had a life-changing experience with God and I've since found that commitment I once lacked.

Since that day, my life has changed drastically. I have no desire of any kind to return to the ways of this world, and to be honest, I've done almost everything imaginable to ensure that I don't. Sounds good, right? To an extent, it is; but we've got be careful that we steer clear of the idea that we can somehow earn God's love. Let me explain:

After I truly gave my life to God, I developed a very systematic routine of serving Him. I decided on an amount of time I wanted to spend praying every day, and would actually mark down my new daily total after I spent any amount of time in prayer. I also had a daily quota when it came to Bible reading, Scripture memorization, and a set number of minutes I had to spend reviewing past memory verses. If, at the end of the day, I had completed my "to do list", I considered it a good day; if otherwise, I felt almost as if I had sinned and vowed to do better next time.

I looked at my routine as a sort of "safety net." I told myself that if I began to drift from God, my prayer schedule, Bible reading plan, etc., would keep me from drifting too far. Rather than depending on the Lord to catch me when I fall, I depended on my self-imposed rules to keep me in line. I guess I thought it was impossible to drift from God if you were being so careful to make Him a part of every day. I was wrong.

I've discovered that my legalistic view of how I could please God was anything but a safety net; it was a stumblingblock. Instead of keeping me in line, these rules only served to burn me out spiritually and cause me to drift from the Lord - the very thing I was trying to avoid.

Routines are by no means sinful; in fact, I plan on carrying on with much of the routine I've developed. But instead of going to bed asking myself, "How much time did I spend praying today?", I will now ask, "Do you think God is pleased with how you spent your day?"  Rather than asking, "How many chapters of the Bible did you read today, and what is your weekly total of memorized verses?", I'll be asking myself, "What did you learn from your Bible studies today, and how can you make sure you are a doer of the Word, and not a hearer only?" 

The reason I write this is not to encourage you to abandon all of your spiritual disciplines. But I am asking you to examine your heart and see if perhaps you are depending on good works more than you are depending on grace. Take my word for it, it doesn't work.

"Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?"

                            -Galatians 3:3

"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled."

                            -Matthew 5:6 

I must say that this beatitude has to be my favorite. As the inspired Word of God, each of these Scriptures are of infinite value (see Psalm 19:10), but this one in particular speaks to me in a special way.

The Lord didn't say that those who hunger and thirst after righteousness might be filled, or that they would most likely be filled. No, He gave us an unconditional promise that they shall be filled. But what does it mean to be filled with righteousness? It means to be conformed more and more each day to the image of Christ Himself. It means to present our bodies a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1), and be emptied of ourselves so we can be filled with God. Just like turning on a light switch will not only dispel the darkness, but also fill the room with light, likewise, if we are emptied of ourselves we will be filled with God!

"Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin."

                            -Romans 6:6 

God is not like human parents that force-feed vegetables to their children. He won't make us become righteous. If He gives it to us, it's because we were hungry for it, and therefore sought after it. As Christ said just two chapters later, if we ask, we will receive; if we seek, we will find; if we knock, the door will be opened (Matthew 7:7)

Empty me of the selfishness inside,
Every vain ambition and the poison of my pride,
And any foolish thing my heart holds to.
Lord empty me of me so I can be filled with You.*

*Empty Me- Chris Sligh
I do not own the copyrights to this material. Please obtain permission from the copyright holder before use. 

"Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake."

                            -Matthew 5:3-11 

Having just read the beatitudes, I decided that this portion of Scripture would make an excellent series. I'll be  covering each of them in a series of 8 posts (combining verses 10 & 11), and expound on both the responsibilities as well as the promises we are given through Christ's teaching here.

I'm really excited about this series, and I'm anxious to see how God ministers to each of us as we dig deeper into His Word and seek to know Him better. I hope that you'll enjoy it!

However, this series will not begin until the 17th. While I do plan on sticking to a daily format for this blog, I feel that taking a short, 1 week, break from posting would be in my best interest. Coming up with a devotion every day is not always easy, and I can use this time to regain my thoughts and refresh myself in the Lord. If you really have a hankering to read something encouraging, I'm sure you'll be able to find something in my archives.

Until then, may God bless you and draw you closer to Him.

"For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness."

                            -I Thessalonians 4:7 

As Christians, we have all been called by God to pursue a life of holiness. That may sound simple, but those of you who have read the book of Romans know that holiness is something none of us can possibly attain through our own efforts (see 3:9-12, 8:7-8). Why then are we instructed to strive for it? Because God Himself is holy, and requires nothing less of us than to be holy also (Leviticus 11:45). And though none of us can become holy by ourselves, the Holy Ghost can and will enable us to do that which would otherwise be impossible (Philippians 4:13).

"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:"

                            -Hebrews 12:14

"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God."

                            -Matthew 5:8

As today's text states, uncleanness (i.e. sinfulness) is the opposite of  holiness, and we should therefore stay as far away from it as possible. In fact, according to these verses, a lack of holiness will keep us out of heaven, but the result of a having a pure/holy heart is to see the face of God! What greater reward is there than that?

Sadly, the doctrine of holiness and its importance has been abandoned by many most churches today. But, contrary to what you may have heard, holiness is still important to God and, as a result, should be important to us as well. Let us do as Paul admonished us in Ephesians 4:22, 24 and put off the "old man", and put on the new man of "righteousness and true holiness."

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."

                            -Romans 12:1 

Just like the rest of Scripture's commands, we are here instructed to do nothing more than imitate Christ. Nearly everything the Bible tells us to do has already been done by Christ Himself. We are told to be holy because He is holy (Leviticus 11:45), to love Him because He loves us (I John 4:19) and, as this verse says, to present our bodies as living sacrifices because Jesus became one for us during His life on this earth (Hebrews 9:12).

But what exactly does it mean to be a living sacrifice? Does it mean going to church regularly? No, that is a weekly sacrifice. What about spending daily quiet time with God? No, that is a daily sacrifice. While these things are all very important, as Christians, we are called to be more than a weekly, or even a daily, sacrifice. Instead, we are to be  living sacrifices. This means our every word and deed should be aimed at bringing God glory. It means learning to say with the apostle Paul, "The life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God." (Galatians 2:20)


We must learn to follow Paul's example and live our life entirely unto God. No, not our moments of convenience, but our entire existence. Then we will truly understand what it means to be a living sacrifice.

"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."

                            -I Corinthians 10:31

"I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.

I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation." 

                            -Psalm 40:9-10

Notice in this passage that David said he had "not refrained his lips." In other words, when he felt like giving the Lord a praise, he did it! When God blessed him, he let people know about it. He was excited about the Lord!  I wonder if the same could be said of us. Have we ever been guilty of hiding what God has done for us in the depths of our hearts?

"But if any man love God, the same is known of him."

                            -I Corinthians 8:3

The word "if" is a very important word in this verse. It puts a stipulation/requirement on those who claim to love the Lord. If we truly love Him, then people ought to know that about us. If those we associate with don't even know that we are a Christian, or that we are serious about serving God, then we need to take stock of our soul and see if we are in the faith (II Corinthians 13:5). Though this is not always the case, what the world thinks of our faith is often what God thinks of our faith. If the world perceives our faith as being weak, it is probably weak; if it does not see any faith at all, then we probably have none.

"That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;"

                            -Philippians 2:15

We live in a crooked and perverse generation, and it's more important now than ever before that we shine as God has called us to do. The world has never been darker than it is right now, and therefore has never been in such great need of the light. Though we may be small in number, God used only a small group of men to change the entire world during the days of the early church, and He can do the same today. The greatest darkness cannot overcome the smallest light, but the smallest light can overcome the greatest darkness!

In Luke 14:31, Jesus talked about a king, with an army of 10,000 consulting to see if he could overcome an army of 20,000. Just like this king, we have always been in the minority, and we always will be; but God can use even a minority to accomplish His purpose in this world. We must remember, though, that in order for Him to use us, we must allow Him to!

It has never been God's will for His children to try and conceal what He has done for them. And while I'm sure we would all say that we agree with this statement, oftentimes we live our lives as if we don't. For example, I recently saw a book entitled, "The Christian Atheist - Believing God Exists, but Living as if He doesn't." Could it be that we "believe" we are supposed to shine as lights for Christ, but don't actually put that belief into action as we are commanded in the Word? As James said in James 2:14, "What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works?..."

The Lord said in Luke 11:33, "No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light." The Lord has "lighted the candle", but it is up to us to decide where we are going to shine. We can shine "under a bushel", by only living out our faith in church or when we are around our Christian friends, when those who truly need to see the light aren't around, or we can shine "on a candlestick" where all who are near us can see the light within us shining forth.

"The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness."

                            -Luke11:34

What Jesus is saying here, in essence, is that if the light that is in us is not even shining, what great darkness there will be! Likewise, as the light of the world (Matthew 5:14), if we are not shining then this world has no hope. The Lord said, "...strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." (Matthew 7:14). The way to heaven is strait and narrow, and the world must have light in order to find it! Just like a plant must have light in order for it to grow, the gospel cannot take root in people's lives without us first shining the necessary light onto their path.