May 15 – The Battle Within (Psalm 86)

“Give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your name.”
(Psalm 86:11)

IN WORD:
Is there a Christian alive who has not struggled with a duel nature? Probably not. We who are gloriously born of the Holy Spirit of God are also genetically confirmed, card-carrying descendants of Adam. The Spirit enables us to live godly lives, but our tendency to do so is sporadic. While our spirit is often willing, the flesh remains weak. The Jekyll-and-Hyde syndrome may be common to all mankind, but it is especially common to the redeemed. Two natures in one body can make for an exhausting struggle. Are you exhausted yet? Don’t think you’re alone. You’re not.
The burden of the divided heart is common in Scripture. It is the burden of which Paul wrote in Romans 7 — “I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out” (v. 18). It is the same contradiction Peter felt, claiming one evening that he could never forsake his Lord, then denying Him 3 times that same night. Every one of us has — at least occasionally — known the anguish of a divided heart & soul.
A false solution to the problem has become epidemic. It is to resign oneself to the lower of the two natures, forfeiting the call to be holy as God is holy (1 Peter 1:15). Mistakenly calling true holiness “legalism,” we can become far too accepting of our corruption. We sometimes even embrace it. We give up the battle and let the old nature win.

IN DEED:
There is a wiser way, and it is the work of God’s Spirit, not of ourselves. We will never be completely delivered from the fight until we are in heaven, but victory is possible. Paul said so (Romans 7:24-25), and after Pentecost, Peter would agree. God answers the prayer of the psalmist; an undivided heart is possible. Ask for it daily! Be aware of all that would compete for the throne of God in your heart. Take your attention off of it, whatever it is, and put it on the breathtaking beauty of God. Be captivated by Him alone. If your heart is immersed in Him, sin will have no room to thrive.

“No one ever lost out by excessive devotion to Christ.”
-H. A. Ironside-

May 14 – A Refuge and a Ruin

“The way of the Lord is a refuge for the righteous, but it is the ruin of those who do evil.”(Proverbs 10:29)

IN WORD:
Early explorers who dared to cross oceans quickly learned a valuable lesson: The currents of the sea could carry them to their destination, if followed correctly. Those currents could also divert them from their journey, if ignored. The very same currents can have either a positive effect on a sailing vessel; it all depends on the knowledge and the response of the crew.
God’s wisdom is, in some ways, like the currents of the sea. It can carry us where we need to go. It is our refuge, the means to keep us safe and bring us to our desired destination. But only if we follow it. The benefit of His wisdom only applies to those who are willing to line up with it and set their course accordingly. Otherwise, those same beneficial currents will lead to ruin.
History is filled with millions who have tried to follow a path contrary to God’s wisdom. It may be a false religion or philosophy, a personal ambition, a political agenda, an economic strategy, or any other thing that we humans, in our ignorance, may set our hearts on. Millions have sailed against the currents of God and failed. Their end is miserable. What looked so promising was found to be futile. Anything that contradicts the eternal wisdom of the living God always is.

IN DEED:
Do you have a personal agenda? Plans for your future? Strategies for living a comfortable or rewarding life? Examine them closely and ask yourself if they are thoroughly consistent with God’s ways. If not, you could sail comfortably for thousands of miles, thinking you’re headed toward the right destination, only to find out you’re far, far away. Even slight variations in the beginning can lead you way off course in the end. If you find out when you finally hit shore, it’s too late. Plan now. Learn the currents. Take refuge in the wisdom of God.

“The center of God’s will is our only safety.” -Betsie Ten Boom-

Billy Graham is probably the most influential Christian in the last 100 years. His simple proclamation of the gospel is responsible for more people being ushered into the Kingdom of God than anyone else in history. He was once quoted as saying,”I have found that when I present the simple message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, with authority, quoting the very Word of God — He takes that message and drives it supernaturally into the human heart.”In June of 2005, Dr. Graham preached his final crusade message. It, once again, was a simple presentation of the gospel; the same message that he proclaimed throughout his 80 years of ministry: We are all sinners, but God loves us and will forgive us when we turn from our sin and by faith put our trust in Jesus Christ. With permission, I am re-printing that message here in this forum, for you to read or share with anyone who might need to hear it. At the end of the message, we will put a couple of phone numbers to call if anyone has any questions about being saved or becoming a part of God’s church.
May God bless the sharing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

May 13 – All-Seeing Eyes (Psalm 139:1-17)

“The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.”(Proverbs 15:3)

IN WORD:
Our knowledge of God’s omnipresence is somewhere in the back of our minds, but are we really aware of it? There are few thoughts as sobering as this: Whatever we do, whatever deep motives prompt us to do it, wherever we go, and the reasons we go there, God sees. He knows our every impulse, whether good or bad. We cannot tell Him a story He does not already know the truth behind. We cannot paint a pretty picture of our ugly scenes. He has seen it all.
That is more than a little disarming. We know, deep down, what we are like. We know the little white lies we tell others in order to make ourselves look good. We know the real body under the cosmetics and the clothes, both literally and figuratively. We even know, at some level, that we deceive ourselves about many things. When we strip away all of the false securities we’ve constructed and the image we’ve presented, we shudder to think of what we might see. But that’s exactly what God already sees.
There is great comfort in knowing about this all-seeing God, too. Why? Because once we realize that He sees us as we truly are, and understand that He has offered us this wonderful invitation to be saved and loved by Him anyway, we can relax in utter security. He has seen our worst and it has not sent Him running in the other direction. He still pursues us. He still asks for our fellowship. He sees all, and it’s okay.

IN DEED:
There is no fooling God. Our acting ability is not that good. The best relationship with Him is an honest one. He learns nothing new by our honesty, but we cannot learn anything about Him without it. When we drop the pose, we find our security in Him rather than in our image. We know His love must be deep; He loves us!
Be sobered by God’s all-seeing eyes, and let that acute awareness guide your every step. But rest in that awareness. You can’t take a step He hasn’t already known.

“God is always near you and with you; leave Him not alone.”
-Brother Lawrence-

May 12 – Why Not? (Psalm 9:1-10)

“Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.” (Psalm 9:10)

IN WORD:
Something is holding us back. Perhaps it is a fear that maybe we are wrong about God. Maybe we feel presumptuous. It is possible, if we have been disappointed in the past, that our misunderstanding is haunting us. We hear a voice in the back of our minds that says, “What if God doesn’t come through? What if all my hopes are illusions?” So we hesitate to trust God. We pray and we hope, but faith remains incomplete and doubts linger. We’ll ask Him to help us, but we withhold judgment until we’ve seen His response.
The call of Scripture is contrary to our natural inclination. We are called to believe God with reckless abandon — not just believe that He is there and that He is involved with us somehow, though we’re not sure exactly how; but that He is actively, personally seeking our good and answering our prayers. We are to give up our own strategies and ambitions, to relinquish all “Plan Bs,” to recklessly, irrevocably cast ourselves completely into His arms. But we’re reluctant, and the problem always comes back to us: In spite of His track record, we don’t seem to completely trust Him. Why not?

IN DEED:
God called Abraham to leave Harlan and go to a place to be revealed later. Jesus invited Peter to step out of the boat and walk on water. That kind of call is scary, though typical in God’s Kingdom. But why is it scary? Where could He lead us that we’d regret? Would He ever lead us into danger but not out of it?
God calls us to “reckless” trust, the kind that prepares no safety net and reserves nothing for a spiritually rainy day. That kind of trust, if broken, leaves no room to save face. But it can’t be broken. Try to find someone God has forsaken, observe His faithfulness, and ask yourself: “Why wouldn’t I trust Him wholeheartedly?” Think about it. Why not?

“Trust involves letting go and knowing God will catch you.”
-James Dobson-

May 11 – Dreamers and Doers (Matthew 21:28-32)

“He who works his land will have abundant food, but he who chases fantasies lacks judgment.” (Proverbs 12:11)

IN WORD:
Dreams are wonderful. God gives us dreaming hearts because He wants us to accomplish things. In the heart that dreams, God can plant visions of widespread, effective ministries, of preaching the gospel and helping the poor, of finding innovative ways to build the Kingdom of Heaven. He can inspire millions and set the course of nations. Dreams are the beginning of all good accomplishments.
The problem with dreams is that they are just the beginning. In themselves, they don’t accomplish anything. They may be the fuel that feeds the fire, but they aren’t its substance. A life full of fantasies & dreams, no matter how worthy they are, is futile if no action ever springs forth from its ambitions. Though God plants dreams in our hearts, He does not simply leave them there. He expects the keepers of the land to till the soil, water the seeds, and cultivate their growth. God wants our visions to have a plan of action.
Jesus told a parable in Matthew 21:28-32, that illustrated that principle. A man had two sons. One of them said he would work in the vineyard but never did. The other said he wouldn’t but eventually did anyway. Which one did Jesus praise? The doer, not the dreamer.

IN DEED:
Do you have big plans? Do you have a vision you’re convinced God has given to you? If so, what are your plans? God is expecting you to take the visions He has given you and move them forward. Write the steps down.Then take them. Don’t let your dreams become faint memories of the night.
Are you unsure of your dreams? Still trying to determine whether they are self-ordained or God-given? Then ask God specifically to encourage the ones that are also His dreams for you. But once you know the difference, don’t let them sit. Ask for His timing. Ask for His wisdom. And act on His promises.

“Dreams grow holy put into action.” -Adelaide Proctor-

May 10 – Guard the Inside (Proverbs 4:20-27)

“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”
(Proverbs 4:23)

IN WORD:
If you’re typical, you think of guarding your heart in terms of keeping things out. Corruption, false ideas, temptations — all are to be held at arm’s length, never to be allowed in the inner depths of your affections. But there’s another side to this vigilance. We are also to keep things in. In fact, if we can master that, the corruption and temptations will often take care of themselves.
Think about it: The things that can assail the heart from the outside are innumerable, far too overwhelming to manage. But the things we are told to keep within — the Spirit of Jesus, the humility and gentleness, the servanthood and sacrifice, the worship and thankfulness — these are one Spirit. While most religions tell us to avoid the bad, God tells us to embrace Him. We are better equipped to focus on His character than on the enemy’s devices. In fact, we are commanded to do so. Paul emphasizes this radically new discipleship: “Live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify. The desires of the sinful nature” (Galatians 5:16). Nowhere are we told to live against the sinful nature and hope that the Spirit will show up. We’re told to live by the Spirit and expect the sinful nature to have no power. We often get confused about that.

IN DEED:
Too many Christians guard the way into their hearts to keep things out. That may be appropriate at times, but try a different approach. Guard the way out. Stand at the inside of the gate, and be careful about what may be leaving. Once in a while, we get a life-altering glimpse of true worship. By all means, keep that in! From time to time, we’ll see a picture of true servanthood. Don’t let that picture go! Occasionally, we are touched by a spirit of sacrifice, move by a ministry, or convinced by a powerful word from the Lord. Hold on to these things! Treasuring the wellspring that God has birthed in your heart will leave little room for those corruptions you once obsessed over. And the wellspring is a much more pleasant pre-occupation.

“Let us learn to cast our hearts into God.”

-Bernard of Clairvaux-

May 9 – Sin and God’s Favor (Proverbs 8)

“Whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord.”
(Proverbs 8:35)

IN WORD:
The stage is set for God to call forth those whose heart is His. He created His world on a foundation of wisdom, and wisdom beckons. Though we became misfits in the eternal plan, we were resurrected and re-fitted by the work of Wisdom Incarnate — Jesus. We now have all eternity lying before us. What will we do with it?
We have not yet entered into our rest. If God has not yet called us home to heaven, we are still living the eternal life on earth for a reason. But countless Christians have taken the treasure of eternal life and squandered it on foolish living. The wisdom of all eternity, the foundation of this world is offered to us, and we so easily fail to take hold of it. Why?
The choice should be obvious. On the one hand, we have been offered the reliable Word of God, the cleansing blood of the Cross, the resurrected life, the power of the Holy Spirit, the fellowship of the body of Christ, the inheritance of the Son, and the very favor of God. On the other hand, we see momentary pleasures to be had, things to own, places to visit, people to use, money to spend, time to waste, rights to be defended, and comforts to be enjoyed. Only a fool would choose the latter, but we live in a foolish world. We have partaken of its passions and philosophies. Eternal wisdom is offered so generously, yet we handle it so carelessly.

IN DEED:
We are always pursuing something. It may be material, like wealth, possessions, or pleasure. It may be less tangible, like status and accomplishments. It may even be spiritual, like peace of mind and heartfelt joy. But unless it’s from God’s own mind, it’s futile.
The Christian who lives by God’s wisdom finds that sin is not so much something to be overcome as it is something that becomes irrelevant. He finds a greater pursuit, and its benefits outweigh all other pursuits. What sin can compete? The favor of God flows like a fountain on those who seek His mind.

“Sin forsaken is one of the best evidences of sin forgiven.”
-J.C. Ryle-

May 8 – Sin, The Intruder (Proverbs 8)

“I was the craftsman at his side.”(Proverbs 8:30)

IN WORD:
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth,” begins the Bible. We can scarcely imagine a creation ex nihilo — something out of nothing. From the fingertips of God came things that did not previously exist. Emptiness was filled with substance. Life was spoken into a lifeless, formless cosmos.
That thought is staggering to our finite minds, but we must also remember that this was not only a material creation. The character of God lay under it all. The things that the voice of the Almighty spoke into being were placed on a pre-existent foundation — wisdom. That was “the craftsman at his side,” as this verse tells us. There is order and purpose there. All that we see that doesn’t make sense to us — the violence of a self-obsessed world, the mayhem and madness, the death and disease — came into this creation as a virulent intruder through sin. It was not invited by wisdom’s voice. It has no legitimate foundation, no legal right to be here except through the human rebellion that introduced it. God’s creation was founded on inviolable principles; our sin is a vicious criminal trespassing on the Creator’s property.
We have grown comfortable with this alien element, this sin pathology, but it has no place in a world built on wisdom. The very wisdom that underlaid the creation of the world now calls to us. We can build our lives on the same principle that formed the foundation when God spoke in the beginning. But we have to forsake the intrusion of sin.

IN DEED:
Do you understand how violent sin is? Do you see it as an invasive cancer, the antithesis of life and a violation of the created order? Or do you see it sympathetically, as a series of understandable human flaws? Those who come to understand sin as the ultimate contradiction of the Creator’s voice suffer genuine pain, but they become wise — and cleansed — in the process. They align themselves with the first foundation. They finally fit in a world based on wisdom.

“With the Fall, all became abnormal.” -Francis Schaeffer-

May 7 – Sin and Assurance (Proverbs 8)

“I was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began.” (Proverbs 8:23)

IN WORD:
Our human pride often reverses the order of things. We think God came into our lives rather late. Our identity was firmly established, then He invited Himself in, trying to woo us into a relationship with Him. Those of you who are reading this have likely accepted His overtures, but even that acceptance can carry a certain pride with it. We were in control of the heart that opened up to Him. Or so we thought.
In spite of our sense of independence, God has a prior claim on us. He created the world that became our necessary environment. He began the genetic process that eventually resulted in our birth. He even fashioned us in the womb (Jeremiah 1:5; Psalm 139:13). He is no late-coming Redeemer. He and His wisdom have been there all along.
This is extremely important to know when it seems as if your life is falling apart. It isn’t. The life you have constructed may be falling apart, but the life God has fashioned is not. His wisdom has known all things before the foundation of the world — including you. If God has let you be undone, He has allowed it for a reason. He is bringing you to the end of your sinful self and to the beginning of life in His secure arms. He is stripping away your falsely constructed identity in order for you to find your identity in Him and His ways. Wisdom was appointed from eternity past; you are the latecomer. God is bringing you home.

IN DEED:
Do you realize how thoroughly rooted in eternity your life is? It was not an afterthought in the mind of a play-it-by-ear God. Did you think your sin was a surprise to Him? It wasn’t. He has already made provision for it. Before the foundation of the world, He did at least two things: He brought forth His wisdom; and He thought of you (Ephesians 1:4). His wisdom and your existence went hand in hand. Does that boggle your mind? It should. Rest in the assurance of a forever-wise God.

“Lord my God, You have formed and reformed me.”
-St. Anselm-