Perspective!
meditations4u | March 13, 2010 23:19
Text: Isaiah 6:3
Question of the Day: When I look at this vast earth, what do I see?
Man tries to eavluate this world and its condition constantly. He sees poverty, wealth, sickness, problems, disasters, unruly dictators, people being treated poorly, etc. But the prophet Isaiah saw things quite differently when he "saw the LORD". As he described what he saw, he said in part of Isaiah 6:1-3, "I saw Almighty God sitting on His throne, and the sight was awesome, full of glory and splendor, and beyond imagination! Above the throne were heavenly creatures called 'seraphim', each having six wings...and one of these heavenly creatures spoke in a loud booming voice, 'Holy, holy, holy is the LORD, the Captain of heaven's armies: the whole earth is filled with His glory!'" Very few people have been allowed to see spiritually such a sight.
The significant thing is this: when Isaiah saw God in all His majesty and splendor, he proclaimed: "the whole earth is full of His glory." Is that what we see when we look out across this world of ours? Do we see His glory? We do if, and only when, we see our God as holy, holy, holy, and sitting on His throne! This perspective changes everything for us. We see that God, being holy and almighty, is thoroughly capable of taking care of this world. We see His glory in everything on earth--even in the most wicked and vile things man does, because we know that some day He will judge it all and set it all straight.
Right now we see many pieces of a giant jigsaw puzzle spread out all over a table. We see many pieces--only fragments of the whole; but as when we look at the box cover of the puzzle we know what it is going to look like when it is finished, so only a "box cover" view from heaven will tell us what it will all be like when God is finished with His work on earth. Pieces now, high definition clearness then!
Prayer: O God, would You be pleased to show me Your holiness--Your glory and majesty as one day I will see it when I enter Your presence? I long to see what this world is all about, but I know that one day I will see You and know You more fully; and I rest in that! Help me to see Your hand in everything!
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Justified!
meditations4u | February 13, 2010 12:17
Text: Romans 5:1
Question of the Day: How can I stand before God justified?
Most people in this world know instinctively that they have done things wrong--they have sinned, at least sometime throughout life. At the same time, most view God as good--in fact, He is very good, completely without sin, and holy. So, if the goal of every person on earth is to someday stand before a holy God, how do I get cleaned up and ready for that event? This question haunts man, and the answer involves many things--chief of which is that Jesus Christ came to earth and paid the price which God had demanded for our sins.
Can man, then, stand before God all cleaned up? Yes! Do we know anyone here on earth that lives a perfectly clean life? No, but here is what God does: God begins the process of cleaning each person up in a salvation experience instantly, and begins with this: God declares an unrighteous person as holy--on the basis of Jesus Christ's sacrifice for that sin! A life lived "all cleaned up" begins with this declaration act by God.
Theological circles refer to this as "justification," and here in the text it says: (speaking of Jesus' death and resurrection--Romans 4:23-25) "On the basis of that, a person is declared righteous before God only by faith. When this happens, the hostility between God and that person is ended for ever--we have peace--and all because of what Jesus Christ did for us!" That is awesome! To think that a holy God can actually clean up a person, and prepare him for eternity standing before Him and serving Him forever, becomes the best news available to a dying sinful person! The process begins when He, a holy and righteous God, declares a sinful person as righteous. Then I really am righteous before God already--as in NOW!
Prayer: O God, thank You for what Jesus did for me in dying for my sin on the cross. Thank You that He also came back to life to ensure me that I too can have eternal life and live forever with You. I accept all of this by faith--knowing that the "cleaning up" process is just begun, and that, as I walk with You, You will continually purify my life. I feel cleaner already! I accept Your cleansing!
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Why, God?
meditations4u | January 28, 2010 22:45
Text: Job 42:12
Question of the Day: What was God's purpose in testing Job?
Job was bewildered as his world came crashing down on him in chapters 1 and 2. Job immediately wondered why all of this was happening to him. After all, wasn't he a righteous man? Wasn't he known even by God as a man of integrity? Didn't his wife, family, and friends know that he was a godly man?
Job was frustrated and cried out to God (as each of us would do if we were in his situation), but it says in chapter 1:22 that "in the midst of all these trials, Job did not sin by charging God foolishly -- or blaming God for his misfortune." In seeking to understand what had happened to him, his "friends" tried to explain to him their opinion, but that didn't help. Finally in the end of the book God spoke to him, but He did not explain to Job why he had gone through the trials. He merely explained thoroughly to Job who He was! In the end, Job said in chapter 42:6, "I abhor myself -- what a mess I am in. I turn from myself and turn to God in deep mourning." And a few verses later in verse 12, it says that "God blessed the end of Job's life more than the beginning of his life."
One of the great benefits to Job was that through his trials, he came to know his God far better. He knew much about Him -- that He has the authority to bring both good and evil our way; that this was not the end because he said, "I know that my Redeemer lives..."; and he knew he was being tried, tested, and purified by a God of ultimate love and compassion.
But what was the ultimate purpose of Job's trials? The greatest benefit comes from the testimoy of millions of people since then that have been blessed by his testimony. Many have said, "I guess I don't have it so bad!" Others say, "If he can make it, so can I." Others stand in awe of a man who knew God so intimately. So what Job couldn't see was that God was making him an example of longsuffering and patience to people for thousands of years to come. He is a shining light!
So what is God doing when He brings severe trials into our lives? What message is He crafting that will last for many years after we are gone? Why do I have to go through such deep valleys and extreme difficulties? God is cutting and polishing a diamond that will sparkle for Him forever!
Prayer: God, I know You have a purpose for the trials you are putting me through. You are making me better -- and stronger -- and purer -- and patient -- and longsuffering! So I submit myself to Your plan for me. It is perfect for me. I am going to come out of this like pure gold! Your grace will teach me not only patience, but, as You appeared to Job, so You will reveal Yourself to me. I wait -- in patience at Your feet.
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*All* have sinned?
meditations4u | December 29, 2009 22:07
Text: Romans 3:23
Question of the Day: Why must we accept God's edict that "all have sinned"?
There are many good people in this world: kind, honest, hard working, trustworthy, etc. But is everyone really a sinner? Many people cannot and will not accept the Bible's assertion that everyone has sinned. However, God tells it to us like it is in the Scriptures -- which is God's authoritative guide for life. Since man chose from the beginning to turn against God and go his own way -- even in the garden of Eden with just one command to obey -- God has decreed that not only are we sinners when we sin, but we are also sinners because each of us was born that way.
Man tries many ways to "do better" and become a better person. We make resolutions; determine to do better next time; promise others that we will do better; but many times we fall far short, and end up being discouraged. Also, we compare ourselves with other people -- which is also risky because we don't know much about the thoughts, the motives, and intents of their hearts. So, how bad do we need to be to be classified as a sinner?
The main point is this: no man has decreed that all others are sinners. Almighty God, a Holy and Just God, set the standard, and this is His verdict for all people. But He didn't leave men in that sinful condition. The fact is this: Jesus' death on the cross for sinners points to the fact that every one of us has sinned, is a sinner, and needs a substitute to cleanse us from our sin -- and that is what Jesus did. If man wasn't a sinner, then Jesus died for nothing, and He was just a martyr. God was pleased with Jesus' death for sinners. God's holiness, or complete lack of sin or evil, demanded that if we are going to live in heaven with Him forever, we too had to be cleaned up -- and Jesus' death on the cross did just that for us. Thank God for the most complete cleaning up process available!
Prayer: O God, thank you that Jesus Christ died for my sin. I recognize that I am a sinner and need to be delivered from my sin and its eternal consequences. I accept Jesus' sacrifice for my sin and the gift of eternal life that you offer. I accept it now. Thank you for cleansing my soul!
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The greatest story of your life!
meditations4u | November 30, 2009 22:53
Text: Acts 26:1-23
Question of the Day: What impact can my testimony of my salvation have?
To those who have been "born again," as Jesus put it to Nicodemus, it is the most glorious event of our earthly life. We were saved, as a sinner justified before God, given His righteousness, and dozens of other things happened at that moment.
In Acts 26 the Apostle Paul is standing before King Agrippa, trying to explain to him what had happened to him, and he used his personal testimony. He included: in verses 1-11 telling where he was, who he was with, how Jesus spoke to him, and how Jesus commissioned him for life. In verses 19-23 he told about how he was obedient to Christ's command to him for his life, and then conluded in the final verse with a thumbnail sketch of parts of the gospel message. Simple, right? Yes! He said in verse 23, "The Messiah would come to earth to suffer, be the first to break death's power and return to life, and become a beacon of light to all peoples of the world -- including the Gentiles."
This is a good pattern for us to follow: in your testimony tell where you were, who was there, the motivation for being saved, what you were like before and after the experience, and then include the gospel message itself. This is one of the most powerful tools available to every born again believer to share the gospel with others. Your testimony is unique and easy to give and has a message that is powerful -- because it is your witness of a transformed life. You can tell how it all happened to you!
Prayer: Dear Father, enable me to think through and write out my testimony of how You changed my life -- forever! Then point out opportunities to me to share with others -- lost or fellow believers what You did to change my life. I give back to You praise by telling others what You did for me. This is the greatest story of my life!
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The way, the truth, and the life
meditations4u | October 10, 2009 10:26
Text: John 14:6
Question of the Day: How can any man claim to be the "only way" to God?
Many people who are not Christians have a hard time with Jesus' statement: "I am the way to God, the truth of God, and the only source of eternal life: in fact, no one can come to God the Father except through Me." Many today say that "all people are just coming to God in different ways." But Jesus claimed in this verse to be "the only way" to God. If that is true, then all the other "ways to God," known as religions, are false!
Jesus, being the eternal Son of God, the Word, and the Creator of the universe, claimed to be the only path that leads to heaven and God! Why? Because in His death He thoroughly cleansed man's heart and made it possible for man to enter God's presence clothed in His righteousness -- and anything less than that is totally unacceptable to God.
Then Jesus went on and claimed to be the "truth of God," or the only valid source of truth. Many people are looking for the truth, but they can't see how the truth can be a Person. How can any one person claim to have exclusive access to Almighty God? But Jesus came as the One who perfectly represented to sinful, fallen man what truth is! He showed us truth that is absolute!
Finally, Jesus claimed to be the Author of Eternal Life -- and then He proved it by raising Himself from the dead and giving dying men the gift of eternal life! All of this would have been a big "bag of wind" (like all others who have claimed to be messiahs) had Jesus not come back to life and proved to us that He had power over death. His resurrection proves that He is the Author of life.
Prayer: O Father-God, thank You for Your Son who came in the incarnation, lived a perfect sinless life, died for my sins, was raised from the dead, and now sits at Your right hand of power and authority -- interceding for sinners who need "the way, the truth, and the life." I accept the gift of life. Thank You for Jesus! Thank You for eternal life. Thanks for giving us "the way, the truth, and the life!"
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Who does God judge?
meditations4u | September 17, 2009 21:00
Text: Ecclesiastes 3:17
Question of the Day: Does God judge both the righteous and the wicked?
One of the hardest statements for man to swallow is that in judgment God wipes out all of the wicked. The fact is God tells us that He created the "lake of fire" for the devil and his angelic followers, and for men who have rejected God and failed to accept His sacrifice for them. But why would God judge the righteous? The fact that God does judge His people is seen when the nation -- and God judged them, as He judges every man -- and specifically when He sent His own people, the nation of Israel, into captivity and scattered them throughout the nations. The Scriptures tell us again and again that "every man will stand before God to be judged." (See Romans 2:6 for example.)
So we face two main purposes of God's judgment: number one, to wipe out the wicked people who have rejected Him; and number two, to purify the righteous. Purify the righteous? Yes, when believers stand before the "judgment seat of Christ" (see 2 Corinthians 5:10), we are told that all the things we have done in life that were made with "wood, hay, and stubble" will be burned up. And all the things that are "gold, silver, and precious stones" will bring us rich rewards. God will use the judgment that all believers face as the final way to cleanse and purify us and prepare us to serve Him in His presence forever. And how can we stand in His presence forever if we are not 100% pure -- tested and found to be pleasing to Him. No more impurities!
Prayer: O God, I know that I cling to the things of this world far too tightly. Purify my life with Your Son's blood so that I can live in Your presence forever -- praising You and giving glory to Your name and serving You forever. Then I know I will fully appreciate Your great mercy and love and forgiveness as I reflect it forever! I bow at Your feet!
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What's holding you back?
meditations4u | August 02, 2009 18:42
Text: Genesis 15:1
Question of the Day: What holds us back from cashing in on the promises of God?
Every believer is faced with the promises of God. Many of them are promises given to every believer; others are specific promises given to an individual — such as Abraham (i.e., “I will give you this land; and many descendants.”) But do many believers ever see that specific promise given to them realized in this life? Sadly, many do not believe in, or cash in on, the promise God has given to them personally. So, how do I cash in on the promises of God in this lifetime? And what holds me back from seeing those promises realized?
Some of the answers to these questions are found in Genesis 15:1, where God came to Abram in a dream at night and said to him, “Don’t let fear hold you back, Abram: I am your ultimate protection, and I am the greatest reward any man could ever hope for.” But, you say, I thought Abram was waiting for the “son of promise” because he was already in the land God had promised him.
That is true, but God was pointing out to Abram before the promised son came that He would fulfill His promise to Abram: “Abram,” He said, “all you really need for ultimate fulfillment is not a ‘son of promise,’ but Me! I am a shield around you; I am all you need; I am the greatest reward you could ever have, or hope for; and therefore you must not let fear paralyze you!”
So Abram was being held back by fear. How does fear hold us back from receiving the promises of God? What has fear held you back from doing? Or, from getting from God? Do people really fail to receive the promise of God to them individually just because of fear? Our fears can hold us back!
Prayer: O God, take away my foolish fears — they are completely unwarranted. Instead help me to see You as all that I need; all that I could ever hope for; all I could ever ask for; all that would totally satisfy the deepest longing in my heart. Show me anything else that could be holding me back from receiving, in this lifetime, the fulfillment of all the promises that You intended for me! I wait at Your feet. My heart wells up in anticipation of Your promises — and Your blessings.
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