A gentleman in India once got a tiger-cub, and tamed it so that it became a pet. One day when it had grown up, it tasted blood, and the old tiger-nature flashed out, and it had to be killed. So with the old nature in the believer. It never dies, though it is subdues: and unless he is watchful and prayerful, it will gain the upper hand, and rush him into sin. Someone has pointed out that "I" is the centre of S-I-N. It is the medium through which Satan acts.Our old nature is like that tiger in captivity. We therefore must be vigilant to bring every thought captive to the obedience of Jesus Christ. As long as we walk this earth in these bodies, there is a potential for a great fall. Quoting a pastor of mine, "You are only one bad decision away from a fall." Praise God that He is a God who does not only prevent our falling but our stumbling as well! Proverbs 3:21-26 reads, "My son, let them not depart from your eyes-- keep sound wisdom and discretion; 22 so they will be life to your soul and grace to your neck. 23 Then you will walk safely in your way, and your foot will not stumble. 24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet. 25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror, nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; 26 for the LORD will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being caught." We are more than overcomers through Jesus Christ!
20 July 2011
Quote from D.L. Moody
When I was in the States, my folks bought me an Amazon Kindle which I have enjoyed very much. Today I "kindled" The Overcoming Life by D.L. Moody. It was not long before I read a memorable and valuable illustration I am happy to share:
19 July 2011
Keep the Word Pure
Yesterday Laura brought home a "replacement" bunny (now named "Oreo") from the pet shop. This morning I overheard my son say, "Oreo! Don't sit in your food pellets!" One casual observation I have made over the years is rabbits are quite senseless when it comes to maintaining the purity of their food and water. They will foul their water with their feet, tip over bowls which aren't heavy enough, and throw their food everywhere! Our rabbits do not respond to verbal cues, but only seem to understand the universal language of food. Yet as much as they like certain foods, it doesn't keep them from polluting it with their own waste.
Sheep are similar in many respects. A shepherd must carefully clear the field of poisonous, noxious plants. In Phillip Keller's book A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, he goes into great detail on this point and in addition the necessity to clean out water holes where the sheep drink. The shepherd also creates dams to slow the flow of water so the sheep will be able to easily drink. But like rabbits and other animals, sheep have no comprehension of the labour which went into their food and drink preparation. Without the care of a good shepherd, the water holes would no doubt soon be contaminated by waste, be filled with litter and debris, and give rise to disease and sickness.
Jesus says that He is the Good Shepherd (John 10:11-14). David writes in Psalm 23:5: "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over." Followers of Jesus Christ are lovingly and descriptively called "sheep." Jesus is the Bread of Life, and has provided in Himself salvation through faith by His atoning sacrifice. He is the Living Bread which all can eat and live forever, even as the Israelites daily ate manna in the wilderness. Jesus is also called the "Word of Life" (1 John 1:1) and has given us words of life found in the Bible which is food for our souls. Even as the presence of the shepherd would ensure good grazing in safe pastures free from predators, our God provides sustenance for our souls and all that pertains to life and godliness. Jesus says in John 10:14: "I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own."
If left to our own, we would certainly do no better at reading and understanding the Bible than a rabbit that is senseless to understand how to keep her water pure. In fact, the Bible warns that many will do just this in the last days in which we live. An exhortation and warning against heresy is seen in 2 Timothy 2:15-19 which reads, "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. 17 And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, 18 who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity." Christians are told to rightly divide the Word of Truth because heresy is a real potential! We can foul the truth of scripture by our own personal bias, limited understanding, or when we are hardened with the deceitfulness of sin. To misrepresent the King by twisting His message is a great sin indeed.
We are told to rightly divide the Word of truth, recognizing that it is of divine origin and therefore necessitates divine aid to do so. Praise God that He has provided not only the pure Word, but the Holy Spirit who enables us to "rightly divide" the Word of God. Jesus says in John 16:12-15, "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you." The purity of the Word has been divinely preserved, and only through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit can we maintain this purity in our preaching and churches. We are spiritually senseless until the Spirit fills us, and 1 Corinthians 2:12-13 teaches, "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 13 These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual."
I appreciate the purity of God's Word! Proverbs 30:5 states, "Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him." May all take to heart the necessity of being filled with the Spirit and seek to be led by Him so we will not foul it with our flesh! Unlike rabbits, which cannot comprehend the value of food carefully cleaned and prepared or know how to maintain it, may we be thankful and mindful of what treasure we hold when we open the Word of God! Have you taken time to let God know you love His Word? Psalm 119:140 says, "Your word is very pure; therefore Your servant loves it." We can show our love through reading the Bible, believing, obeying, and teaching it faithfully. In this God will be glorified!
Sheep are similar in many respects. A shepherd must carefully clear the field of poisonous, noxious plants. In Phillip Keller's book A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, he goes into great detail on this point and in addition the necessity to clean out water holes where the sheep drink. The shepherd also creates dams to slow the flow of water so the sheep will be able to easily drink. But like rabbits and other animals, sheep have no comprehension of the labour which went into their food and drink preparation. Without the care of a good shepherd, the water holes would no doubt soon be contaminated by waste, be filled with litter and debris, and give rise to disease and sickness.
Jesus says that He is the Good Shepherd (John 10:11-14). David writes in Psalm 23:5: "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over." Followers of Jesus Christ are lovingly and descriptively called "sheep." Jesus is the Bread of Life, and has provided in Himself salvation through faith by His atoning sacrifice. He is the Living Bread which all can eat and live forever, even as the Israelites daily ate manna in the wilderness. Jesus is also called the "Word of Life" (1 John 1:1) and has given us words of life found in the Bible which is food for our souls. Even as the presence of the shepherd would ensure good grazing in safe pastures free from predators, our God provides sustenance for our souls and all that pertains to life and godliness. Jesus says in John 10:14: "I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own."
If left to our own, we would certainly do no better at reading and understanding the Bible than a rabbit that is senseless to understand how to keep her water pure. In fact, the Bible warns that many will do just this in the last days in which we live. An exhortation and warning against heresy is seen in 2 Timothy 2:15-19 which reads, "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. 17 And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, 18 who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity." Christians are told to rightly divide the Word of Truth because heresy is a real potential! We can foul the truth of scripture by our own personal bias, limited understanding, or when we are hardened with the deceitfulness of sin. To misrepresent the King by twisting His message is a great sin indeed.
We are told to rightly divide the Word of truth, recognizing that it is of divine origin and therefore necessitates divine aid to do so. Praise God that He has provided not only the pure Word, but the Holy Spirit who enables us to "rightly divide" the Word of God. Jesus says in John 16:12-15, "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you." The purity of the Word has been divinely preserved, and only through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit can we maintain this purity in our preaching and churches. We are spiritually senseless until the Spirit fills us, and 1 Corinthians 2:12-13 teaches, "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 13 These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual."
I appreciate the purity of God's Word! Proverbs 30:5 states, "Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him." May all take to heart the necessity of being filled with the Spirit and seek to be led by Him so we will not foul it with our flesh! Unlike rabbits, which cannot comprehend the value of food carefully cleaned and prepared or know how to maintain it, may we be thankful and mindful of what treasure we hold when we open the Word of God! Have you taken time to let God know you love His Word? Psalm 119:140 says, "Your word is very pure; therefore Your servant loves it." We can show our love through reading the Bible, believing, obeying, and teaching it faithfully. In this God will be glorified!
16 July 2011
Let Us Pray!
I had a thought in the shower: why do I pray? Do I pray to receive results? Am I motivated by what God can do for me? Is praying supposed to be like eating vegetables - maybe not my favorite part of the meal but I eat them because I know they are good for me?
Then another thought occurred to me: isn't praying out of obedience the best reason to pray? Shouldn't we pray because we are humbled and privileged to enter into God's throne room of grace through the precious blood of Jesus? 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, "Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." If I pray, "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven..." I am a hypocrite if I do not pray earnestly and continually. God's will is that every Christian be a praying Christian.
Why do you pray? Prayer is supposed to be more than mumbling words over food or thinking words as we drift off to sleep in our beds: prayer is to be the highlight of our existence. In prayer, that great act of faith, we enter into the presence of the Almighty God. It is the divine harmony of fellowship between our regenerated souls through the Holy Spirit, petitioning, praising, and worshiping our heavenly Father with Jesus Christ interceding as our Risen Mediator.
May God forge in us a hunger and thirst to emulate Christ and rise in obedience to pray. More exciting than sport, more necessary than our daily food, absolutely imperative for holiness and godliness, let us never neglect the joyous duty of prayer. Let us pray!
Then another thought occurred to me: isn't praying out of obedience the best reason to pray? Shouldn't we pray because we are humbled and privileged to enter into God's throne room of grace through the precious blood of Jesus? 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, "Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." If I pray, "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven..." I am a hypocrite if I do not pray earnestly and continually. God's will is that every Christian be a praying Christian.
Why do you pray? Prayer is supposed to be more than mumbling words over food or thinking words as we drift off to sleep in our beds: prayer is to be the highlight of our existence. In prayer, that great act of faith, we enter into the presence of the Almighty God. It is the divine harmony of fellowship between our regenerated souls through the Holy Spirit, petitioning, praising, and worshiping our heavenly Father with Jesus Christ interceding as our Risen Mediator.
May God forge in us a hunger and thirst to emulate Christ and rise in obedience to pray. More exciting than sport, more necessary than our daily food, absolutely imperative for holiness and godliness, let us never neglect the joyous duty of prayer. Let us pray!
13 July 2011
A Heart Issue
God sometimes places a strong emphasis on a particular theme over and over until I recognize it. My morning routine involves rising before dawn, praying, reading a chapter of the Bible, focusing on a key verse, and writing the thoughts God provokes. After I finished writing this morning, for whatever reason I decided to turn back a page. To my surprise, I found the writing on the previous day was on the same subject: the condition of the heart. I had totally forgotten about what I had written the day before! Since this theme keeps coming up in my writing, I had the idea of simply sharing these two devotions together. Hope God shows you something awesome!
13/7/11 - 2 Chronicles 11:16: "And after the Levites left, those from all the tribes of Israel, such as set their heart to seek the LORD God of Israel, came to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the LORD God of their fathers." Those who are loyal to God will seek Him at great expense. Some might see it as a great inconvenience to travel to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices in obedience to God. To those who set their hearts upon God, the privilege of obedience is a great delight! Serving God in obedience is a vital part of the Christian walk. Like David, who would not sacrifice to God what cost him nothing, followers of Jesus Christ are called to a lifestyle of sacrifice and worship unto the LORD. A man cannot rightly say, "I have set my heart to seek the LORD" but neglect to take necessary steps to enter into His presence. Can a man seek hidden treasure from the comfort of his bed? Is sacrifice possible from a sedentary existence upon a church pew? Jesus did not sacrifice from the glorious luxuries of heaven, but gave his glory away and was clad in human flesh. He took up the cross after a life free from sin and completely lived for the glory of God, and died in obedience to the Father's will. No servant is above his master, and we are Christ's servants. Worship and praise must involve more than playing a song or assembling in a building at a given hour: we must take up our cross and follow Jesus. Since when has sacrifice not involved sacrifice? We are to be living sacrifices unto our God, who gave Himself freely for us. We love Him because He first loved us and gave Himself for us. "You are bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." (1 Cor. 16:20)
14/7/11 - 2 Chronicles 12:14: "And he did evil, because he did not prepare his heart to seek the LORD." When Rehoboam was established, he "forsook the law of the LORD and all Israel with him" (2 Chron. 12:1). But when he and the princes humbled themselves before the LORD, the wrath of God was turned away, though they still faced consequences: some wealth was stripped away, and they became servants of Shishak King of Egypt. But verse 14 clearly illuminates the main issue: Rehoboam did not prepare his heart to seek the LORD and thus turned from following Him. As Christians, God gives us a new heart of flesh, having removed our heart of stone. We have been given a responsibility to keep our heart soft and humble by God's grace, not allowing it to be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin (Heb. 3:13) or being lifted up with pride. Proverbs 4:23 says, "Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life." If I have a bad heart which beats irregularly, I will be fatigued and at risk of heart failure. If I suffer from coronary disease, my overall health is negatively affected. If our hearts are wrong spiritually, every aspect of our lives will be stunted. Our ability to exercise spiritual gifts will be thwarted, our prayers will be marked by numb dullness, and our strength will be sapped. The smallest of spiritual disciplines will overwhelm us. But if God gives us a new heart, and we prepare our hearts to seek the LORD, we will no doubt find Him and walk in the way which fully pleases Him. Deuteronomy 4:29 states, "But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul." What an everlasting promise, what confidence we can have in our God's availability, accessibility, and faithfulness! A divided heart will be full of fear, selfishness, and poisoned with a root of bitterness and pride. If we will humble ourselves and seek the LORD, we will see the fulfillment of 2 Chronicles 7:14: "...if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."
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