The word alone seems foreign now that we have a newborn in the house. She sleeps. And she is beautiful when she does. But Cassie and I, we don’t sleep, at least not like we used to.
Before, there was nothing outside of us to take away sleep. Now, there is this child. And she requires a lot. Feedings, diapers, blowouts, changing clothes, cleaning, cuddling, and even a little admiring here and there, (for she really is cute) all leave little time left for sleep.
He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
(Psalms 121:3-4 ESV)
Aren’t you glad our Father in Heaven never sleeps? He never tires of caring for His people. Every hunger is satisfied, every need is met, every mess we make cleaned up, and when everything seems to be going against us, His loving arms are there to cuddle us.
What a Father! He is truly someone who can be called on at any time of the night, any time of the day, and it can just be a simple plea of “Help,” and He will be there.
Honor your Heavenly Father today, call on Him. Don’t call on your television, or your job, or even your own means to help you today. Call on God, he is awake, and waiting for you to lift your eyes toward Him.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Thursday, January 24, 2008
OUR LIVING SAVIOUR
The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
(Hebrews 7:23-25 ESV)
(Again Charles Spurgeon proves an inspiration to me. This time through his book “Discovering the Power of Christ’s Prayer Life.”)
How great it is to think that our Great High Priest will never be “prevented by death from continuing in office.” Have you considered what this means for you Christian?
So much time is spent on the fact that Jesus died for us that little time is left to dwell on the fact that He also Lives for us still to this day. I do not mean to underscore the importance of that “Great Exchange” that took place on the cross, or to even underscore the immeasurable power that was displayed by the Son in his resurrection. I do, however, wish to draw your attention to the awe inspiring fact that your saviour Lives for you today!
Have you stopped to realize what it means that Jesus Christ, who even the demons know is the Son of the Most High God (Matthew 8:29), spends eternity “living to make intercession for [you]” (Hebrews 7:25b), if you will only draw near to God.
Are you drawing near to God? Which way is your life going? It can only go one of two ways. Towards God, or away from Him? Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other.”
Which master have you chosen? Maybe you have convinced yourself at some point that you chose Jesus, but who did you choose today? The master of money? Again from Matthew 6:24, “You cannot serve God and money.”
How about the master of sleep? Or the master of beauty? Or self gain?
I think you get the point? Did you choose Jesus today? Will you choose Jesus tomorrow?
What about the fact that He “lives to make intercession for you?” He is literally spending His days at the throne of God, interceding with God Almighty…on your behalf? What are you spending your days doing for Him? How are you showing Jesus your gratitude? How are you showing Jesus that you are thankful? Thankful not only for the fact that He laid aside His deity to come to earth for you, lived a perfect life for you, Died for you, and now and for all eternity IS LIVING for you?
Thank Him today. Do not let another day go by that you don’t get on your knees, Read His Word, Thank Him for all He has done and continues to do for you, and then Pick Up Your Cross… and Follow Him.
(Hebrews 7:23-25 ESV)
(Again Charles Spurgeon proves an inspiration to me. This time through his book “Discovering the Power of Christ’s Prayer Life.”)
How great it is to think that our Great High Priest will never be “prevented by death from continuing in office.” Have you considered what this means for you Christian?
So much time is spent on the fact that Jesus died for us that little time is left to dwell on the fact that He also Lives for us still to this day. I do not mean to underscore the importance of that “Great Exchange” that took place on the cross, or to even underscore the immeasurable power that was displayed by the Son in his resurrection. I do, however, wish to draw your attention to the awe inspiring fact that your saviour Lives for you today!
Have you stopped to realize what it means that Jesus Christ, who even the demons know is the Son of the Most High God (Matthew 8:29), spends eternity “living to make intercession for [you]” (Hebrews 7:25b), if you will only draw near to God.
Are you drawing near to God? Which way is your life going? It can only go one of two ways. Towards God, or away from Him? Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other.”
Which master have you chosen? Maybe you have convinced yourself at some point that you chose Jesus, but who did you choose today? The master of money? Again from Matthew 6:24, “You cannot serve God and money.”
How about the master of sleep? Or the master of beauty? Or self gain?
I think you get the point? Did you choose Jesus today? Will you choose Jesus tomorrow?
What about the fact that He “lives to make intercession for you?” He is literally spending His days at the throne of God, interceding with God Almighty…on your behalf? What are you spending your days doing for Him? How are you showing Jesus your gratitude? How are you showing Jesus that you are thankful? Thankful not only for the fact that He laid aside His deity to come to earth for you, lived a perfect life for you, Died for you, and now and for all eternity IS LIVING for you?
Thank Him today. Do not let another day go by that you don’t get on your knees, Read His Word, Thank Him for all He has done and continues to do for you, and then Pick Up Your Cross… and Follow Him.
THE SUCCESSFUL PASTOR
How do you measure the success of a pastor?
Big church? Lots of money? Tons of missionaries? On T.V.? Heals people?
What about changes the way people live?
Would you believe that the true measure of a good pastor could be summed up in a sentence?
Does the Holy Spirit speak Spiritual Truths through him to improve the spiritual lives of the people he is speaking to?
You could apply this measurement to any pastor of any religion of any time in history, and I believe that if you did, then you would be able to separate the men from the boys so to speak.
Why do I ask this question? You might assume it is because I feel called to preach the gospel and in so feeling that call, often wonder what God considers success. Or it could be because I am married. And I have the privilege of being married to a godly woman who often shows me incredible insight into my life’s questions without even knowing I have been asking them.
Example.
How do you measure the success of a pastor?
My wife listened to a sermon by Dr. Jeremiah of Shadow Mountain Church. The sermon was on the wise men. My wife had already been asking why on “our nativity” we have the wise men at the manger when biblically the wise men did not come into the picture until some time later. Dr. Jeremiah’s sermon on the wise men spoke right to her. The Holy Spirit spoke through him, as a man, and spoke spiritual insight to my wife. But did it change anything about the way she lived her life?
“Our nativity” now features Joseph, Mary, the Baby Jesus, a shepherd, and an Angel…and a little ways off, carrying their gifts, are the wise men, on their way to see the Messiah.
A successful sermon.
Instantaneous change in a life.
Not just pretty words to pretty people, but life changing words, spoken by the Holy Spirit, through a man, and into the hearts of many.
Thank you Holy Spirit for using godly men to change the lives of others for Your kingdom. Thank you Jesus for making it all possible. Merry Christmas.
Big church? Lots of money? Tons of missionaries? On T.V.? Heals people?
What about changes the way people live?
Would you believe that the true measure of a good pastor could be summed up in a sentence?
Does the Holy Spirit speak Spiritual Truths through him to improve the spiritual lives of the people he is speaking to?
You could apply this measurement to any pastor of any religion of any time in history, and I believe that if you did, then you would be able to separate the men from the boys so to speak.
Why do I ask this question? You might assume it is because I feel called to preach the gospel and in so feeling that call, often wonder what God considers success. Or it could be because I am married. And I have the privilege of being married to a godly woman who often shows me incredible insight into my life’s questions without even knowing I have been asking them.
Example.
How do you measure the success of a pastor?
My wife listened to a sermon by Dr. Jeremiah of Shadow Mountain Church. The sermon was on the wise men. My wife had already been asking why on “our nativity” we have the wise men at the manger when biblically the wise men did not come into the picture until some time later. Dr. Jeremiah’s sermon on the wise men spoke right to her. The Holy Spirit spoke through him, as a man, and spoke spiritual insight to my wife. But did it change anything about the way she lived her life?
“Our nativity” now features Joseph, Mary, the Baby Jesus, a shepherd, and an Angel…and a little ways off, carrying their gifts, are the wise men, on their way to see the Messiah.
A successful sermon.
Instantaneous change in a life.
Not just pretty words to pretty people, but life changing words, spoken by the Holy Spirit, through a man, and into the hearts of many.
Thank you Holy Spirit for using godly men to change the lives of others for Your kingdom. Thank you Jesus for making it all possible. Merry Christmas.
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