“Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? [8] If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. [9] If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; [10] Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. [11] If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. [12] Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.”
I decided to bunch a few of these together to get at the larger principle. God is not the one you want to play hide and go seek with. While there are several details in here, the main thought is you can’t hide from Him. He is promising you that you will always be within His sight. Regardless of how good you think you might be you just can’t shake him.
Sometimes in life we allow ourselves to go to very dark places. Poor choices, carelessness, or just a bad sequence of events can cause a soul to “drift” away from God. Guilt usually spurns the soul to deeper pits of misery, endeavoring to “hide” their shame from God. The truth of His promise is there is nowhere to hide. He sees it all.
This promise should cheer the soul of every believer who battles affliction, temptation, or persecution! You are not alone. God is watching, waiting, before He acts. My children are at the age where they love to do things to impress me. They will run through the house yelling, “Dad. Dad, you gotta come see this.” Their smile of satisfaction is always a treat. Similarly, God has promised to watch you achieve in His Kingdom.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
James 4:2
“Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.”
This promise is as simple as the old cliché. “A closed mouth don’t get fed.” There are times God will blow your mind and grant you things you never asked for and there are times when you are going to have to ask. When it comes time for asking, remember God doesn’t have to be as intimidating as your childhood friend’s dad. You know, the ones you never asked for anything, but rather, asked you friend to ask for you. God is much more approachable than that.
Sometimes it is difficult to ask, because we live life as if inspired by Home Depot. We go through life thinking we can do it, and another person will help if we struggle. In fact, the first portion of this promise makes reference to pursuing it in our own strength and according to our own understanding. The results are emptiness and complete lack.
The reality is, there will be things in life that only God will get you through. You will be forced to swallow your pride and ask. If you don’t, then you won’t have.
Have you ever been a guest and someone offer you the last of the desert but you refused? For some reason we think this makes us a good guest and that our host is pleased with out choice. I can recall several times I suffered because I didn’t want to take it all. I am happy to report that I have overcome that shortcoming, when it comes to God. God like a gracious host offers what we want, but often we refuse in an attempt to show what a good guest we are. All the while, we suffer because we really want it. Do you want it bad enough to ask God for it?
This promise is as simple as the old cliché. “A closed mouth don’t get fed.” There are times God will blow your mind and grant you things you never asked for and there are times when you are going to have to ask. When it comes time for asking, remember God doesn’t have to be as intimidating as your childhood friend’s dad. You know, the ones you never asked for anything, but rather, asked you friend to ask for you. God is much more approachable than that.
Sometimes it is difficult to ask, because we live life as if inspired by Home Depot. We go through life thinking we can do it, and another person will help if we struggle. In fact, the first portion of this promise makes reference to pursuing it in our own strength and according to our own understanding. The results are emptiness and complete lack.
The reality is, there will be things in life that only God will get you through. You will be forced to swallow your pride and ask. If you don’t, then you won’t have.
Have you ever been a guest and someone offer you the last of the desert but you refused? For some reason we think this makes us a good guest and that our host is pleased with out choice. I can recall several times I suffered because I didn’t want to take it all. I am happy to report that I have overcome that shortcoming, when it comes to God. God like a gracious host offers what we want, but often we refuse in an attempt to show what a good guest we are. All the while, we suffer because we really want it. Do you want it bad enough to ask God for it?
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Isaiah 40:29
“He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.”
God has promised to be your spinach! As a child I watched too many Popeye cartoons where he would be beat down by Brutus, or the Seahag’s goons. Whenever Popeye tried in his own strength, he had limited success and neared complete defeat, until he ate a can of spinach. The theme music would start, Popeye instantly had bulging muscles, and he quickly dispatched the bad guys with kicks and punches.
Possibly you have visions of Hulk Hogan laying on the wrestling mat, seemingly having had all his life choked out by his opponent. The referee would raise his hand only to watch it collapse to the canvas. Once. Twice. Raised a third time, the hand began to fall indicating defeat. No. Wait! Wait! His hand is shaking, twisting, throbbing as if infused with unheard of power. Immediately, Hulk Hogan gets out of trouble and disposes of his opponent to retain his title as champion.
Both childhood memories serve as a silly, but true, picture of what God promises His children. Are you faint? Beat down? Do you face situations or circumstances that appear hopeless? God has something for you. It isn’t literal spinach and you won’t get to beat people up, but He has a power that will allow you to do His will. Anytime you lack power, energy, or mental and emotional fortitude to do the right thing remember God has promised the power.
I also want to caution you about accomplishing His will. Power is the ability to do work. The key word is ability. You are going to have to exercise faith and do something with the power God gives if you expect to see any results.
God has promised to be your spinach! As a child I watched too many Popeye cartoons where he would be beat down by Brutus, or the Seahag’s goons. Whenever Popeye tried in his own strength, he had limited success and neared complete defeat, until he ate a can of spinach. The theme music would start, Popeye instantly had bulging muscles, and he quickly dispatched the bad guys with kicks and punches.
Possibly you have visions of Hulk Hogan laying on the wrestling mat, seemingly having had all his life choked out by his opponent. The referee would raise his hand only to watch it collapse to the canvas. Once. Twice. Raised a third time, the hand began to fall indicating defeat. No. Wait! Wait! His hand is shaking, twisting, throbbing as if infused with unheard of power. Immediately, Hulk Hogan gets out of trouble and disposes of his opponent to retain his title as champion.
Both childhood memories serve as a silly, but true, picture of what God promises His children. Are you faint? Beat down? Do you face situations or circumstances that appear hopeless? God has something for you. It isn’t literal spinach and you won’t get to beat people up, but He has a power that will allow you to do His will. Anytime you lack power, energy, or mental and emotional fortitude to do the right thing remember God has promised the power.
I also want to caution you about accomplishing His will. Power is the ability to do work. The key word is ability. You are going to have to exercise faith and do something with the power God gives if you expect to see any results.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Romans 2:11
“For there is no respect of persons with God.”
As a kid I grew up watching too much tv. One particular commercial I remember was about a guy named Bob. Everywhere he went Bob was special because of his car.
( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgKtihDtooQ ) Signs read, “No Parking, Except for Bob.” The whole idea was that you could be someone special because of what you drove. People would have “respect” for you and of you.
Growing up in the 80’s, I was accustomed to the idea of social groups. There were countless movies like “Revenge of the Nerds”, “Can’t Buy Me Love”, “Bad News Bears”, “Rocky”, and “Trading Places” that explored the problems associated with social grouping and class warfare. The reality was there was a real problem and even worldly people could recognize it. Unfortunately, all the efforts of Hollywood has done nothing to fix the problem.
This is what makes this promise so special. For once in your life, you can be recognized for simply being equal. God doesn’t think more of a pastor than He does a Sunday school bus driver. What God uses your life to do doesn’t make you more special. By the same token, you are not inferior to other children of God whom He is blessing. God is promising that there are no second-class citizens in His kingdom. That is what makes being a part of His family so wonderful!
As a kid I grew up watching too much tv. One particular commercial I remember was about a guy named Bob. Everywhere he went Bob was special because of his car.
( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgKtihDtooQ ) Signs read, “No Parking, Except for Bob.” The whole idea was that you could be someone special because of what you drove. People would have “respect” for you and of you.
Growing up in the 80’s, I was accustomed to the idea of social groups. There were countless movies like “Revenge of the Nerds”, “Can’t Buy Me Love”, “Bad News Bears”, “Rocky”, and “Trading Places” that explored the problems associated with social grouping and class warfare. The reality was there was a real problem and even worldly people could recognize it. Unfortunately, all the efforts of Hollywood has done nothing to fix the problem.
This is what makes this promise so special. For once in your life, you can be recognized for simply being equal. God doesn’t think more of a pastor than He does a Sunday school bus driver. What God uses your life to do doesn’t make you more special. By the same token, you are not inferior to other children of God whom He is blessing. God is promising that there are no second-class citizens in His kingdom. That is what makes being a part of His family so wonderful!
Monday, February 7, 2011
Luke 11:13
“ If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?”
Believe it or not, there is a tremendous amount packed in this one. I want to first let you know that God doesn’t just give His spirit to any person. God is Holy and will not dwell in unholy habitations. So it is important we understand His spirit is precious and brings tremendous power, hence God doesn’t toss it around like a useless penny that anyone can possess.
Much of what is packed in here deals with how we work with God to be prepared to receive the gift of His spirit. Part of this promise indicates that God is willing to enter into that work with you. If you’ll be truthful, you would admit that you are not altogether how God prepares a human vessel for His spirit. That is why He has promised to work with you. He desires to bring you to that place.
As a math teacher I regularly run into students who are in so far over their heads that they don’t even know what would be a good question to ask. When God promises to give His spirit, He is implying that we will not only be prepared but that we will also know how to ask. The above promise alluded that natural fathers know what their children need and thus give them what is best. Imagine God, possessor of all knowledge. Will you trust Him to lead you? Will you allow Him to bring you to the place where He can give you His very spirit to reside within you? “How much more your heavenly father” is the promise He has made to you.
Believe it or not, there is a tremendous amount packed in this one. I want to first let you know that God doesn’t just give His spirit to any person. God is Holy and will not dwell in unholy habitations. So it is important we understand His spirit is precious and brings tremendous power, hence God doesn’t toss it around like a useless penny that anyone can possess.
Much of what is packed in here deals with how we work with God to be prepared to receive the gift of His spirit. Part of this promise indicates that God is willing to enter into that work with you. If you’ll be truthful, you would admit that you are not altogether how God prepares a human vessel for His spirit. That is why He has promised to work with you. He desires to bring you to that place.
As a math teacher I regularly run into students who are in so far over their heads that they don’t even know what would be a good question to ask. When God promises to give His spirit, He is implying that we will not only be prepared but that we will also know how to ask. The above promise alluded that natural fathers know what their children need and thus give them what is best. Imagine God, possessor of all knowledge. Will you trust Him to lead you? Will you allow Him to bring you to the place where He can give you His very spirit to reside within you? “How much more your heavenly father” is the promise He has made to you.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Psalms 1:3
"And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."
This time we want to look at the idea of bringing forth fruit. God has promised that you will not only be taken care of, but He also has promised to make you of benefit to those around you. Let us ever be reminded by God that our life is not lived unto ourselves. The whole goal of our time on earth is to learn of God so we might be more like Him, thereby blessing those who cross our path.
There are two keys to a happy Christian experience when considering fruit bearing. First, there is a definite season. That season is determined by God not you, nor another person. If you will do as God counsels, you will not have to scheme as to how to make fruit come forth of your life. God has promised to make it happen as a natural result of His established laws.
Secondly, you have to remember people eat fruit. It isn’t just something people look at and say “How pretty.” That is part of His promise. You can spiritually feed, or be of benefit, when others eat of what is coming forth out of your life. It won’t bring about their salvation, but it will give them a taste of what salvation can do for them. Isn’t it a joy to know, despite what you may think about yourself, that God has promised to use you to benefit others?
This time we want to look at the idea of bringing forth fruit. God has promised that you will not only be taken care of, but He also has promised to make you of benefit to those around you. Let us ever be reminded by God that our life is not lived unto ourselves. The whole goal of our time on earth is to learn of God so we might be more like Him, thereby blessing those who cross our path.
There are two keys to a happy Christian experience when considering fruit bearing. First, there is a definite season. That season is determined by God not you, nor another person. If you will do as God counsels, you will not have to scheme as to how to make fruit come forth of your life. God has promised to make it happen as a natural result of His established laws.
Secondly, you have to remember people eat fruit. It isn’t just something people look at and say “How pretty.” That is part of His promise. You can spiritually feed, or be of benefit, when others eat of what is coming forth out of your life. It won’t bring about their salvation, but it will give them a taste of what salvation can do for them. Isn’t it a joy to know, despite what you may think about yourself, that God has promised to use you to benefit others?
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