Healthy fear of the Lord - gambling for God

S- Matthew 25:28-29 NLT

“Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver.  To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.

O - The message Jesus is telling is to the pharisees and servants of God's temple.  He was telling them, hey God entrusted you with many things, and you have not stewarded them well, in fact you have made it about building yourself up, and not building God up.  In this parable He is calling them stingy with what God has given them for the use and building of the kingdom of God and for serving God's people.  Instead they guard what God has given them from the people, for they justify their fear of God's rath if they misuse.  So rather than trust in God's provision and risk failure for the Kingdom sake, they simply hold on to the blessings of God and keep it from its potential kingdom impact.  So for them it will be taken away and given to a new leadership under Christ, directly to the people.  No longer will access to God require any other human  system to achieve - but through Christ directly we have a good and true representitive for us to God, and Jesus uses perfectly all the resources God has given Him.

A - The conviction for me is to live the same principle.  Be willing to take a risk for the Kingdom sake.   Fear of failure or fear of God's dissappointment or wrath is not a Truth that Jesus would have me live in.  Instead he would have me be a "gambler for God".   I must move forward with no fear, other than a healthy fear of God.

P -  Dear heavenly Father, thank you for today's lesson, may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray for wisdom, and courage to gamble for You and the Kingdom of God.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Correcting my plans, back to God's plans

S- Isaiah 30:1 NLT

“What sorrow awaits my rebellious children,” says the lord . “You make plans that are contrary to mine. You make alliances not directed by my Spirit, thus piling up your sins.

Isaiah 30:15 NLT

This is what the Sovereign lord , the Holy One of Israel, says: “Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it.

Isaiah 30:18-21 NLT

So the lord must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help. O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. He will be gracious if you ask for help. He will surely respond to the sound of your cries. Though the Lord gave you adversity for food and suffering for drink, he will still be with you to teach you. You will see your teacher with your own eyes. Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left.

O - Isaiah was prophesying to the Israelites who were seeking refuge in Egypt, as the exile was coming their way and the Babylonian empire was being utilized as a means of correction and punishment for Israel.  It is interesting that the Israelites once again seek refuge not in the Lord but back to Egypt where they were once saved and then slaved.   These prophetic words are a reminder to what God would say to them and to us who are torn by current circumstances and impending valley seasons that there is a righteous way to respond and our gracious Lord is there either way, the path though is up to us to choose.

A - The application for me is to recognize my own season of unexpected circumstances.   My plans were for James to come to Pearl Harbor as shipyard commander , for me to make 06 and become the Operations officer under him.   I now recognize that my plans were contrary to Gods, and that I put efforts and alliances in places that were not all directed by the Holy Spirit.   I must now return to God , seek his face, and find rest in Him.   I am so thankful to have such a God of grace be the Lord of my life, He is waiting on me to come back to Him and seek His voice and direction.

P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for today's word, that you might speak into me the truth of my ways.  I confess Lord, I have had many plans that were not guided by you, but thought of by me.  I had placed my hope and trust in them, and not in you.  I confess that my attitude and outward actions have not been humble and full of your love, and that my pride is creeping back out front.  Thank you for this gentle correction.  I pray Lord for your Holy Spirits guidance on where I am to walk today.  I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.

A simple faith in Jesus

S- Matthew 8:2-4 NLT

Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached him and knelt before him. “Lord,” the man said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.” Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared. Then Jesus said to him, “Don’t tell anyone about this. Instead, go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed.”

O - The man who approached Jesus for healing from leprosy showed us two things:  great faith, and how to approach Jesus in prayer.  First the faith to having likely only heard of Jesus and his healing power, and perhaps never having ever seen Him before,  the man approaches Jesus and humbly submits his request to Jesus,  knowing that he could heal him.    Second we see him requesting to Jesus, much as Jesus later modeled and spoke to the disciples about how to pray... "...give me this day my daily  bread...thy kingdom come, thy will be done...." 

A -  The application for me is to recognize that my faith and prayers can be sharpened if I would place my complete trust in the Lord.  Trust that His will is better than mine.  Trust that He can do all things,  and I can do all  things through Christ, who strengthens me.  

P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for today's lesson, may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray Lord that you would continue to speak truth and life into me, through your word,  through your holy spirit, and through Jesus.   I humbly submit that I desire a growing faith, that trust's more, and waits patiently.  I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen. 

One true God and King of All

S -  Judges 17:6 

And in those days there was no King in Israel, and each man did what is right in his own eyes.

O - This is the challenge that the Israelite faced after they where delivered into the promised land.   In Egypt they were captive under Pharaoh.  Under Moses, led by God they were led out of bondage.   Under Joshua they were led to take the promised land and defeat it inhabitants and claim their promise.  Now they have settled into their promise from God but they have forgotten that all along that God was their Lord and King and not a man.  They were given written down commandments to follow, but eventually they end up in this condition where each man simply does what is right in their own eyes.   Micah in this chapter is given silver by his mother to form a graven image to worship and makes himself a priest.  This is what is right in his own eyes despite what the History of what God has done for the people of Israel.

A -  It saddens my heart to make this comparison with our own country, whose values and leadership have gone from One Nation,  Under God.  To one nation, under many gods.   To a moral relativism that teaches and encourages individuals to seek and create their own truth and be true to your own truth.  In other words do what is right in your own eyes.   It is easy to see what a slippery slope that is and what trouble it can get you into if there is no absolute truth about which we center ourselves.  So I must first apply the lesson to myself and my family, that I commit I will live by the truth that God has put in the Bible, that there is one God, that he sent his son Jesus to reconcile my sinful self with his righteous self, so that I may walk connected to Him, and be a part of His kingdom her on earth, and one day in heaven.

P - Dear heavenly Father thank you for this lesson today, may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray Lord that you use me and lead me to point people back to the absolute truth that you are our Lord , and our Savior.  If we choose to follow the Truth we will be aligned with the One true God, if not we will be alone and fighting against the forces of this world.

Prophecy a great gift

S- 1 Corinthians 14:1-5 NASB

Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries. But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation. One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church. Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying.

1 Corinthians 14:12 NASB

So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of the church.

O-  This chapter of Paul's letter focus' on the truth that our spiritual gifts are for the purpose of edifying the church.   We as Christians must have a tendency, as I am sure the church in Corinth,  to begin to enjoy their spiritual gifts for the individual needs.   As Paul says the gift of tongues is there for you to speak to God, but does not edify one man.   Prophesy is a clearly spoken message from God to His people and therefore is for the building up of the church (either correction, exhortation, or education)

A - The application for me is to understand that I am to continue to seek and use the gift of prophesy.  No not for my own edification but for the education of others and for the church.

P - Dear heavenly father, thank you for today's lesson, may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray this in Jesus name, Amen.

Above all things, LOVE

S- 1 Corinthians 13:1-2 NASB

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NASB

Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,  does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

O- What a shift in Paul in his letter to the Corinthians he is both tough, corrective and disciplined as well as fatherly, teacher and exhorter of the the church.   He goes all heart here as he dives in to describe all the gifts (spiritual or natural) and says we can be great with all of these but without love they are nothing, in fact in the end all that will remain is love and the need for these other gifts will go away because love will reign.

A - I found myself resisting journaling again on these same versus likely for dissappointment in myself that I haven't mastered what they say and I know they are as plain as day.  I believe the Holy Spirit prompted me to keep working on it.  Keep reminding myself in all things love must be the primary foundation.   At work I can discipline... with love,  I can correct with love.  At home I can guide my children with love,  I can encourage and lead my wife with love.

P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for todays lesson, may it be sealed to my heart. I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.

Humble servant attitude - all things to all people

S- 1 Corinthians 9:22-23 NASB

To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.

O - Paul is really closing strong here in this letter to the church at Corinth.  He is asserting in this chapter both his rights as a Apostle, as an Ox at the threshing floor,  to receive support from those he is working for in the early part of the chapter and then lays down this statement which I imagine to be controversial and some without knowledge and understanding of Paul's heart and the Holy spirit's ministry might have called "conforming to the world".    But instead Paul describes a enduring legacy of his humble servatitude to Christ alone.  He became all things to all people for the sake of the Gospel.   He denied his rights for the sake of the Gospel,  he proclaimed his full rights for the sake of the Gospel  .... "so that [he] may save some".

A -  The application for me is to recognize that as a follower of Christ i will follow Him where ever His ministry is going.  If it means to the top of the mountain where I influence the masses then I must go.  If it means in the deep valleys of peoples lives in the hardest places that people live, then I must be willing to go.   The battle for peoples eternal souls and the delivery of the Good News of Christ must be waged where Christ is. 

P-  Dear heavenly Father, thank you for today's lesson, may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray Lord that you would continue to give me opportunities to minister your Good News to those you have placed in my life.  I confess I am unsure if I have represented you as boldly as you need me to.   I pray for the wisdom, discernment and boldness to continue to witness your grace in my life and your power in the lives of all those who would call you lord.  I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.