Daily Devotional July 6 - Are You A Christian?

"For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:18

The Bible is clear about this. If you don't believe the preaching of the cross, what is your guarantee that you are on the right track? 
Have you believed or contrived another way to God? There isn't one and there will never be one. 

Many American unbelievers have made up their own version of the gospel of Jesus Christ and there are many from other countries that have varying philosophies that include Jesus as a good man or do not include Jesus at all. But the preaching and believing of the cross is the power of God. There is no spiritual power under the authority of God, given to those who have not accepted His Son. ("He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." John 3:18)

What really gets me is that many believers today, (Christians that have already have been saved), have a propensity to be casual, indifferent and even apathetic concerning this issue. Many modern Christians seem to have no real roots that cause them to look back and recognize where they were and how gracious God has been in setting them free. There is a tendency in our society to accept any philosophy as valid as long as someone before them believed it, like in the case of Buddhism, and Islam. There is no doubt that we should and must be respectful with those of other faiths and wholly understanding of their position, but never confirming the validity of their beliefs of standing in agreement with them concerning their beliefs, as if these alternate philosophies were sister religions to Christianity, or that there must be some validity to their belief in another god, simply because they believe it.

Recognition of and respect for everyone of another faith is the right thing to do. But acknowledgement of the premise that "All paths lead to God" is not the right thing to do.

I've heard the argument that "it just isn't any of our business what others believe. I'll believe what I want to and you believe what you want to." That's fine, but in no way and at no time should a Christian be in agreement or act like they are in agreement with those who deny Jesus.

If you aren't sure about the cross and you are not sure if Jesus died for your sins and if you aren't sure that Jesus is the only way to God, so be it. But don't call yourself a Christian. Anybody can believe any philosophy, but the power of God rests in the hands of those who have placed their faith and allegiance to Jesus.

Daily Devotional July 5 - Awake Thou That Sleepest

"But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is." Ephesians 5:13-17

Of all the things that you desire, seek after, and are driven to get, is one of them an understanding of the will of God for your life? I hope so. No thing is to be compared with an understanding of how God operates and how we are to operate in this world. Right now is the most important day in your life. Are you wallowing through life like walking through a quagmire or are you seizing the day to honor God, find personal solace and benefit others?

You probably already know from experience that at times you were in a slumber, a state of non-awareness of the things of God or what was expected of you. Or maybe you are there now, without a clue of what God has in mind for you or how to apprehend what is yours in Christ. You are sleeping through life, not that concerned about the things of God and not really involved in the life of others and maybe not even engaging in your own pursuits. You are sleeping and need an awakening. Don't think "if God were real He would do it for you." That's the mind of one who is sleeping. God has done it all and you wouldn't be and couldn't even breath without His presence. God is real. God has created everything and placed His signature on it as well as sustaining what He has created and also established guidelines for living.

Lack of knowledge about God or anything for that matter does not constitute it's non-existence. But lack of knowledge about God or science or any subject of life, does make you impotent to operate within it's parameters and expect desired results.

"Awake thou that sleepest" and become alive in Christ, where the real power is; where life has meaning, not just for you but for all those who come into contact with you. You are God's gift to others and to the world at large. You have been instructed to awaken so that you can enjoy a full life with God and offer that same fullness to others. Denying God His place in your life makes you a fool. Get understanding and then operate in it.

Daily Devotional July 4 - Go And Possess It

"Behold, the LORD thy God hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged."  Deuteronomy 1:21

I know that this was a specific promise for a specific people at a specific time, but I also know that this is how God works.
You think you are at the end of your rope
You've prayed and it seems to have landed on deaf ears
There are times when the discouragement of the moment overwhelms you and you say something in disgust or do something not in character
You feel like you have lost the battle
You are almost certain of the outcome
You aren't happy and you feel abandoned and even unloved and overlooked

If you haven't been there before, I hope you never get that discouraged, but discouragement and disappointment are common to everyone, Christians not excluded. You can be in love with the Lord and feel totally helpless and powerless in some circumstances. You can serve the Lord with vigor and have things go wrong. You can follow Jesus and have problems.

But God has not abandoned you, nor has God overlooked you. God has set something before you and it is good. God has pre-arranged it and it will become available to you in due time/God's perfect timing. You may have lost some battles, but God has made a way for you and will take you there, in this life. Go and possess it. You may be discouraged and disappointed, but what God has prepared for you and what God has prepared you for is to be embraced with expectation.

Listen carefully: Things will not turn out the same as you have made up in your mind. We are wrong a lot. Go and posses it, whatever it is in your life that God has already set in your way. You can't help but run into it, but if your spiritual eyes are on, you can actually envision it from afar and start making provisions for yourself to receive it.

Everybody gets down or discouraged, disappointed, confused and even depressed at times, but where do you look for answers? That is the key to success. Look to God and let him know how you feel about it. That's right, just let it out, God can take it. If you have been faking and acting like all is well when it isn't, just go to God and let it all out. God approves of those who are honest with Him. Now, wait to hear from God and see the mighty hand of the Almighty work on your behalf. It's not that God wasn't always working on your behalf, the difference is, that when you are straight with God, God opens your eyes and you can see Him at work.

Daily Devotional July 3 - Do You Keep Your Word?

"Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings:" Philippians 2:12-14

It's just plain good advice. If you made a promise to someone, keep it. If you owe someone money, pay it. If you can't keep up with your bills, call and make arrangements, don't just ignore it. If you said you are going to go to the park with the kids, go. Keep your word. God is in you and directing you to do the right thing. Do it. Quit riding the fence trying to juggle what you know is right with your current situation. There might not be a way to have the best of both worlds, but during the process of living and at the end, what will really matter is what you know to do that is right.

If you told your pastor that you aren't living with someone, then don't. If you have a wife, be faithful. If you don't like your current situation, pray about it; hear from God and then start making decisions.

Do the right thing and keep your mouth shut about it. Quit whining. Get on with it. If it's not working out just right for you, but you know you are doing the right thing, do it. You don't have to make a profit in everything. If you said you are going to go do something for someone, do it. Let your mouth speak out not just your intent, but what the will of God is concerning you. Speak it and do it. Quit arguing about it. Pick up the slack and be the bigger person. If God is in you what is your excuse for not doing the right thing? What does it mean to you to be saved from your sins and sanctified in your lifestyle?

What I have found is that most of the people that are not committed to God are the same ones living a double life. They want God, but they serve the world. It's cute for a season, but it gets old for those around you and eventually for yourself. Nip it in the bud and let God have His way with you for a season. You will be pleasantly surprised. His will for you is perfect and will produce favorable results, every time.

Daily Devotional July 2 - The Bible Is Clear

"I, even I, am the LORD; and beside Me there is no Saviour." Isaiah 43:11
"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty."  Revelation 1:8

Just for the record: Jesus is God. That's right. The trinity and all that it stands for can easily be understood when you see God as the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. There are not three Gods, but One. The Father is God. The Son is God. The Holy Spirit is God. Through centuries of misinterpretations we have become callous to the concept of the trinity, so we make excuses for it, rather than attempt to grasp it with our mind. We make light of it rather than try to seek agreement with God on the issue.

A good understanding of how God interacts with man is essential in having and maintaining a proper relationship with God. Can I say this without hurting anyone's feelings: Most of the reasons for our inadequacies concerning our relationship with God and our lack of understanding of how God operates among mankind is solely due to our lack of real interest. We have found other pursuits that consume our time and energy that we place higher on the priority list.

I've found that most people that want to argue about the trinity, the second coming of Christ, the Millennial reign of Christ, the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, the transfiguration on the mount, the indwelling Holy Spirit, angelology and a host of other so-called sensitive subjects, are not studied in the subject of discussion and therefore ignorant of the apparent and simple Bible exposed answers. There are times when two loving, studied and devoted Christians disagree and that is fine. It makes neither a heretic nor does either have preference with God in the matter. But most arguments come from a lack of personal commitment to the things of God and a lack of Bible study, not a deep devotion to the truth.

In my opinion the only sensitive subject we should have with God or each other is our own level of devotion and loyalty to God. All other disagreements or differing theologies can be made agreeably if the Spirit of God is present.

Daily Devotional July 1 - Are You Waiting To Unlearn A Great Many Things?

"O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker."  Psalm 95:6

There are many thoughts about how worship should be performed. Different denominations have a different school of thought concerning how worship should be approached.

• There's the "we must be silent and respectful (children not allowed)" group.
• The "we must be shouting out loud group (children must be present)" group.
• The "Come unto me and confess in my booth" group.
• The "We worship (on time)" group.
• The "We believe one should worship in small groups in homes, but never in a church building" group.
• The "We worship with music" group.
• And of course the "We don't allow music during worship" group.
• The "righteous go to the front and kneel while sinners stay in their seats" group.
• The "righteous stay in their seats and quietly worship while those seeking attention go to the front" group.
• The "you must speak in tongues to really worship" group.
• The "if you speak in tongues, you aren't worshiping" group.
• The "you must have the second blessing to worship" group.
• The "you must possess certain gifts of the spirit to worship" group.
• There are the "there are no more gifts of the spirit still in operation, but you must be baptized to worship"group.

God must really be sickened with all of our man-made rules. All of them (as rules to get into the presence of God) hinder the process of worship. All of the man-made rules are man's idea of how someone else should act in the presence of God. None of the man-made rules are bad, in and of themselves, but to miss the spirit of the act of worship is to miss worship. If we weren't so worried that someone else might see what we are doing and not approve, we might find that worship is the letting go of the "what man thinks" and becoming real and true and empty long enough to find out what God thinks. Outward appearance for the sake of trying to act out a part, sickens God, whether in one of these settings above or not.

Only the letting go of this world's standards and coming before God in pure simplicity and reverence and love could ever truly be called worship. You don't have to change denominations to worship God, but you do have to get real and vulnerable before God to worship Him. You will have to unlearn a great many things if you want to give God His due.

Daily Devotional June 30 - God Changes Not

"The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust Him." Nahum 1:7

713 BC and Nahum is expressing His understanding of how God works among mankind. Thanks to Nahum and other prophets and Bible writers we have the inspired Word of God, the Bible. Over centuries men and women of faith have discovered and revealed God. One of the wonders of the scriptures is just how 'the same' things are as they were then as pertains to people. Yes technology has made some forward motion, medicine and all the sciences have expanded and advanced to offer more than ever before. But even in the non-techno age men and women had minds to think and think they did. Some of the greatest achievements come from the non-techno eras.

One thing for certain, as I read the prophets I notice an understanding that they all have about the economy of God and it seems to me to be the same today as yester-year. The God that I serve is the same one that Nahum served and the justice and grace, mercy and commands of God hold true today just the same as yesterday.

Yes much has changed, but much has stayed the same also. I like the fact that I can count on God responding to me in the same Holy way that He responded to Nahum. God reveals Himself and discloses His attributes perfectly today and perfectly yesterday, all the way back to Adam. We are His offspring and the apple of His eye, His people. I hope that you have taken time to see God with your spiritual eyes and to hear God with your spiritual ears so that you too can say with all vigor, "Thus saith the LORD" to you.

God is my stronghold in troubles and I fully understand that He knows that I trust Him. Does that mean that at all times I am strong and that I never have a discouraging thought or that I will always do the right thing? No. But it does mean that God will be there, always lead me and guide me in the right direction and council me to do the right thing. It is God who changes not and can be counted on every time, not Nahum and not me.