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01-21-2009, 03:31 PM
Hebrews 8
The New Priestly Service
1 Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man.
3 For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this One also have something to offer. 4 For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; 5 who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, “See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”[a] 6 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. Hebrews 8
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Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop--thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown.' Mark 4:15-20
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A glimpse of Heavenly Beauty
The spiritual Heavens, where our God dwells is so wonderful and so beautiful to see by visions and revelations, that it never ceases to amaze me why so few Christians even attempt to catch a glimpse of it.
Brethren, the Holy Ghost desires and delights in showing all who ask of Him visions of glory to come and the Glory that is in Heaven.(revelations).
Ask and you shall receive a glimpse of the Heavenly Beauty.
Seek ye first the Kingdom of Heaven and our Father who dwells in the Heavens will send you His Holy Spirit to show you all things and the Father will add unto you all the things of Heaven.
Break loose from your stagnant religious moors and walk instead in the abundance of God's Presence then joy shall come.
©01/22/2001 Jim Welch
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The Paradox of Purity
Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God (Mt. 5:8).
Some time ago, I wrestled with a deep and troubling thought. It had occurred to me that a lot of good ministry is done for the wrong reasons. Some of the most enthusiastic Christians, clergy and lay people alike, were quite busy about the work of God, yet it seemed their motivations were less than pure.
Sure, we know about the TV evangelist caught in a scandal because he chose to line his pockets with the tithes and love offerings of the parishioners. But these are not of whom I speak. I am talking about those who are doing the work with what seems to be the best of intentions--outwardly. Yet inwardly, they are even deceiving themselves. Or should I say--we are often deceiving ourselves.
In order for a righteous work to be pure, many of us would agree that it should be done with no thought of self. Works motivated by self-gain or by desire to be recognized will quickly turn a pure motive to impure. In Matthew 6 Jesus tells us that our reward is in doing our righteous acts not to be seen by people, but by God. And that if our motives are impure, we will have our reward. That reward will be the superficial recognition we desired, or perhaps a sense of satisfaction that we did our righteous duty.
Perhaps the most common impure motivation we find in our churches today is guilt. If we do something so that we don't feel guilty, we then are doing it for ourselves and not so much for another. We do it so that we can go to sleep with a clear conscience, so we can feel good about self. Otherwise, we may not feel good about who we are beneath our Christian label, that somehow we are not living up to what is expected of us. If we claim to be a Christian, "we should be..." Many things can complete that sentence. And many things that do are birthed from a sense of religious obligation, driven far too often by guilt.
The thing that struck me in all of this was to think about a young man who seems to be driven. He witnesses everyday, yet the people's faces and names slip away from memory. He feels he must continue, yet his genuine concern for the people he talks to seems fleeting. What if the only deep down driving factor for this young man is that he wants to feel better about himself as a Christian? The guilt is gone, but what else does he have? What is his reward?
Here's the paradox. If your motives are to remove guilt, to do religious duty or gain a sense of self-satisfaction, as Jesus puts it, "Verily I say unto you, [you] have [your] reward." But if you can look at yourself honestly and see that your motives are impure, and then you can determine "I will do what needs to be done even if I get nothing from it, because. . ." then you will have your reward. Simply put, "I realize my motives are often impure, however, I can choose not to let that keep me from doing what needs done--even if I don't believe I will get anything out of it." If I do what I do thinking there may be nothing in it for me, then there is truly something for me. But if I do it thinking about what's in it for me, then there is nothing.
Day by Day Devotionals
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Read Exodus 14 -- 16 http://www.studylight.org/desk/?l=en&query=ex+14-ex+16§ion=0&translation=kjv&oq=
Highlights In Today's Reading:
Miracle after miracle fills this book. See the salvation of Israel — a reminder of the power of God that blesses us. You will enjoy reading this event.
The Israelites had journeyed only a short distance toward the promised land when they saw Pharaoh's army rushing toward them in a desperate effort to recover his slaves. Pharaoh, with six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt . . . pursued after the children of Israel . . . and overtook them. . . . The children of Israel . . . were sore afraid: and cried out to the Lord. And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? . . . We did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians (14:7-12). When the Israelites cried out unto the Lord it was not in faith, but in fear and bitter criticism of Moses.
The Israelites should have believed God and trusted in His almighty power and loving care, for they had seen His miracles in Egypt that had set them free. However, when they faced what seemed to them impossible circumstances, they chose to let fear overwhelm their hearts. By contrast, Moses did not know how the Lord would save them, he confidently said: Fear . . . not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord. . . . And the Lord overthrew the Egyptians . . . the waters returned, and covered the chariots . . . and all the host of Pharaoh (14:13-14,27-28).
Just three days later they arrived at Marah to discover they could not drink the bitter water. And the people (again) murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? (15:24). The Lord tested their faith by saying: If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in His sight, and wilt give ear to (listen to and) obey His Commandments . . . I will put none of these diseases upon thee . . . for I am the Lord that healeth thee (15:26). God then led them to Elim, where (there) were twelve wells of water (15:27).
While things were going well, there was no apparent difference between the faith of Moses and that of the people. But, the same trial that revealed the Israelites' unbelief also revealed Moses' faith in the Word of God. The same is true today. We have been freed from Satan and the power of sin as illustrated by Pharaoh, a type of Satan, and Egypt, symbolic of the world. For the Lord God is a Sun (to enlighten) and Shield (to protect us): The Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly (Ps. 84:11).
Thought for Today:
Though the world may never admit it, they want to see that a Christian is truly different. A "worldly Christian" has little, if any, influence.
Christ Revealed:
Through the bread (manna) from heaven (Ex. 16: 4,15). Jesus said: I am the Living Bread which came down from heaven (John 6:51; 6:32-50).
Word Studies:
14:8 high hand = triumphantly and without fear; 14:13 salvation = deliverance; 14:17 get me honour upon = I will triumph over; 15:25 proved them = tested their faith; 16:3 flesh pots = bowls; 16:15 wist not = did not know; 16:18 mete = measure; 16:20 hearkened not = would not listen; 16:23 holy sabbath = day of rest and worship to the Lord; seethe = boil.
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God Planned You as a Master Creation
Psalm 139:13-15
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.
“Created by God”
Today we will begin to consider some scripture passages to discover just how wonderful, unique, and important you are. Nearly everyone dislikes something about his physique or her personality. Tall people wish they were shorter. Short people would give anything to be taller. Math whiz kids envy those who can read anything and figure out what it means. Athletes sometimes hate not being able to do as well in school as other kids do. It doesn’t really seem to matter what set of strengths God gave us, we can always find someone we would rather be like.
Today’s scripture tells us that God made each individual person on earth exactly the way he wanted them to be. He has a job for each of us to do that requires the precise set of strengths and weaknesses he programmed into us.
The talents and positive personality traits God gave us make it possible for us do particular things. Those who love grammar and reading often become writers. Those who have better-than-average physical strength or coordination can take on jobs like building things or hiking to isolated villages to share the gospel. We all appreciate the talents of pianists, guitar players and singers who can lead us in worship.
But what about our weaknesses? Shy people make incredible listeners. Those who struggle with reading may become engineers or businessmen. The athletically challenged frequently compensate by organizing events and encouraging others. God has another important purpose for giving us some weak points. He wants to be sure that we can sympathize with our friends who also have difficulties. Because we become stronger and more compassionate as the result of our struggles, we can help others do the same.
We must remember that God’s is reflected in everything He makes. He is absolutely and perfectly good. So, anything he creates has to be awesome. He made you exactly the way you are to do something that only you can do. What a concept!
David, who wrote this Psalm, was the youngest in his family. His dad and brothers didn’t think he was even important enough to call away from the sheep when Samuel came to anoint the next king of Israel. But, God knew David would make a great king. After all, God created him for that purpose way before he was born. David had times when he wondered if God could ever use him, but he kept on obeying the Lord. As a result, he became one of the greatest heroes in the Bible. There are no unimportant jobs and no worthless people in God’s eyes. God created you for a job in his kingdom that is just as important as the one David did.
Today’s Prayer:
My God and my Creator, I thank you for making me different from every other human being. Thank you that your goodness and wisdom are expressed in the way you mixed up my DNA. Help me accept myself as your wonderful creation and find the role you have for me to play in your plans, today and always. Amen.
Written by Martha E Menne
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1 Minute Daily Devotions
January 22, 2009
Achieving Oneness
"...and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one." - Mark 10:8
Jesus describes marriage as two people becoming one flesh. What does this mean? Now an obvious meaning is an expression of sexual intimacy. But it is more than that. There is also an emotional oneness. For instance, upon the death of a life-long mate, many people will declare, "I feel like a part of me has just been ripped away." And that's exactly right! God wants your marriage to be so close that your flesh almost literally does become one.
But that's not all. Mostly importantly, there is also a spiritual oneness that occurs in a Christ-centered marriage. That is why Christians are called to marry Christians - we cannot possibly have this oneness with an unbeliever who has different spiritual priorities. Spiritual oneness can only be achieved by growing in Christ together.
God wants us to have the best of His creation. The best marriage is formed through sexual, spiritual, and emotional oneness.
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The Cost of Sacrifice
Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 24:18-24 (NIV); Mark 10:17, 21-22.
King David went to buy the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite so that he could he could build an altar to the Lord to stop the plague. Araunah offered to give the king not only the threshing floor, but the oxen and the wood as well. David replied, "No, I insist on paying for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing."
Many people today will serve the Lord gladly if it costs them nothing. But the very word sacrifice implies that a price of some kind is paid. God gave us all that He had, His very life, for you. What price are you willing to pay to serve the Lord?
Moment of Meditation: What will the things that you value highly in this life be worth in eternity?
A Talk with Jesus: Lord, help me to be willing to sacrifice everything to follow you.
For Further Study: Romans 12:1-2; Hebrews 13:15-16.
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Come to Jesus
Daily Devotional for January 22
Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."
Time to time we will hear people say "I have never sinned". "I don't do anything wrong". "I need not repent". "I am a good person, and God will take me on my merits of good works".
1 John 1:10 "If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and his word is not in us."
Yes, we do sin against God's nature just by denying to read His Word; by not believing His Word. When one says that the Bible was just written by some men of old times, these are words of the unsaved sinner. Their sins are still scarlet because of unbelief. History records Christ Jesus birth, death and resurrection. This is fact, not fiction.
2 Timothy 3:16 "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness"
Come to Jesus. Ask Him to be your Lord and Saviour. Come find out of His love, grace, mercy and forgiveness. Come to Jesus and find eternal life. Come to Jesus and find peace of mind.
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By What Authority?
January 22nd
READ: Mark 11:27-12:27
Then Jesus said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's" (Mark 12:17).
I remember reading some time ago of a brilliant young lawyer who had been raised a pagan and had no use for Christianity. Someone had given him the New Testament, and he was reading it through. When he came to this account in Mark, he read this question with great interest, for he himself had recently been involved with just such a dilemma. When the full impact of Jesus' actions hit this man, he was utterly astonished. He dropped the Bible and said to himself, "That's the most amazing wisdom!" For our Lord did not try to answer the question directly. In that wonderful way He had, He called for a coin—He had to borrow one, for He had none of His own—and held it up. "Whose picture is on this coin?" He asked. They said, "Caesar's." He said, "All right, then, it must be Caesar's money. Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's. But God has His stamp upon you, so render to God the things that are God's."
He shows us that human authority is not only limited in duration; it is limited in its scope. It deals with only a part of people. The secular government is ordained by God. The apostle Paul tells us that plainly, and Peter says the same thing: "Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right" (1 Peter 2:13-14). Peter acknowledges that God is behind secular government—even bad government. For the king that Peter referred to was none other than Nero, wretched moral degenerate that he was. Yet Peter says to honor the king as the "supreme authority."
But human government, Jesus says, has only limited control over people. It has certain powers over its citizens' bodies and minds. It can regulate our conduct to some degree and has the right to influence and regulate our attitudes and actions and what we say and how we say it. But there is one area in human life over which secular power has no control, and that is the human spirit. Secular power cannot legislate who we worship, who governs our conscience, and who constitutes the ultimate authority of life. "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's." Certain things do properly belong to Caesar; give them to him. But other things about you belong only to God, so give those to God.
The Russian author Solzhenytsin stands as an example of the wrong that is done by secular might when it tries to govern and control the worship of people. Almost single-handedly, he has defied one of the mightiest powers of earth and revealed the viciousness and the exploitation that always results when secular might seeks to invade that proscribed area of human existence, the human spirit. Jesus is saying that the ultimate issues of life belong to God, not to people, and human authority is therefore limited in its scope.
Father, thank You for this One who helps me to see things rightly, who puts things in proper perspective and makes me understand who I am, and what I am, and to whom I am responsible.
This daily devotion was inspired by one of Ray's sermons.
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He Represents the Father
O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou has loved me may be in them, and I in them. John 17:25, 26.
Christ came into the world to represent the Father to man; for Satan had presented Him before the world in a false light. Because God is a God of justice, of terrible majesty, who has power to destroy as well as to preserve man, Satan caused men to regard Him with fear, to look upon Him as a tyrant. Jesus had been with the Father from the everlasting ages, before the creation of man, and He came to reveal the Father, declaring, "God is love." Jesus represented God as a kind Father, who careth for the subjects of His kingdom. He declared that not a sparrow falls to the ground without the notice of the Father, and that the children of men are of more value in His sight than many sparrows, that the very hairs of their head are all numbered.
The Lord is represented in the Old Testament as well as in the New Testament not only as a God of justice but as a Father of infinite love. The psalmist says: "The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed. . . . The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. . . . He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him." . . .
Satan had clothed the Father in his own attributes, but Christ represented Him in His true character of benevolence and love. In the character in which Christ presented Him to the world it was as if He gave a new gift to man. . . .
The Son of God declared in positive terms that the world was destitute of the knowledge of God; but this knowledge was of the highest value, and it was His own peculiar gift, the inestimable treasure which He brought into the world. In the exercise of His sovereign prerogative He imparted to His disciples the knowledge of the character of God, in order that they might communicate it to the world. . . . Everyone who believes the message of God should lift up Jesus, point men to Christ, and say, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." . . .
The soul imbued with the love of Christ is one with Him; he communes with Christ, Christ is formed within, the hope of glory, and the Christian goes forth to represent the Father and the Son to the world (Signs of the Times, June 27, 1892).
From Lift Him Up - Page 28
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The Messiah and the Multitudes
by Momong January 22nd, 2009 [Thursday]
Mark 3:7-12
Heb 7:25–8:6 / Psa 40
All who were afflicted with diseases pressed toward him in order that they could touch him. And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God!”
(Mark 3:10-12)
Of all the things under my concern
Where does my priority lie?
To follow Christ I must first discern:
What kind of a Christian am I?
The popularity of Jesus as a great healer and teacher had attracted multitudes of people coming from all over Galilee. Aware of the opposition from the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, and their plot to kill Him, He withdrew towards the sea with His disciples. Still the crowds came, and had become so thick that Jesus had to have a boat ready, in case He needed room to address the crowds pressing upon Him. All who were afflicted with various ailments wanted to touch Him, while those possessed by evil spirits proclaimed His divinity, but were silenced.
Reflection
Why did our Lord order the demoniacs to be silent? It was because He did not want them to disrupt God’s timetable for Him to be known as the Messiah. This would be revealed after He had risen from the dead. Besides, it was not in their jurisdiction to be declaring the presence of God among His people. They had no such privilege.
Why were such large crowds coming to Jesus? Was it to listen to his teachings? Many of them came to be healed of their diseases or to be freed from evil spirits. Most others were curiosity-seekers and speculators who were hoping that Jesus would be their savior against the Roman conquerors of Israel. But Jesus was not the kind of Messiah they had been waiting for. He was in fact far more than any political leader who could give them temporal freedom here on earth. His kind of deliverance was from damnation to a life eternal in the kingdom of God in heaven.
In the Christian world today, we find that there are many followers of Jesus. Sadly, it seems most of them have the wrong motives for following Him. They look upon God to fill their needs, for long-term security, or merely to belong to His Church. When they pray, it is only to ask for favors. When they give tithes, it is only because they expect a tenfold return on their offerings. A true Christian is one who gives his life to the Lord because of love. He obeys all of God’s decrees because he believes in all the teachings of Jesus Christ. Of the thousands who followed Jesus when He walked the earth, only a little over a hundred was left when He ascended to heaven. Most of them had gone on to continue with their temporal pursuits. How about you? How committed are you as a follower of Christ? Where do your priorities lie?
We come to Your assembly, Lord, to praise You, and worship the Father, and be filled with Your Holy Spirit. Let all Your creation give You glory. Amen.
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HOW TO INCREASE JOY
“Realization dawns that he is but a small part of a great whole; that no personal sacrifice is too great for preservation of the Fellowship.” 12&12 p. 130
“We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love.” 2 Corinthians 6:6
For what it's worth: Misplaced in life and empty in soul and spirit, I drank to die. Instead of the morgue, I am blessed to have ended up in Alcoholics Anonymous. After many sober years in AA, I am honored that I found my place in life as “a small part of a great whole”. My experiences here in our Fellowship prove to me a great reality: as I daily strive to improve my spiritual condition, I become a more useful tool for God to use as an instrument of His love. And, with my background in the subject of self, what appeals to me about that is that the better instrument I am for God, the more I give to others, and the more joy I experience. So, selfish or not, let me work on that spiritual condition today.
God bless you!
Joe W.
The New Priestly Service
1 Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man.
3 For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this One also have something to offer. 4 For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; 5 who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, “See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”[a] 6 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. Hebrews 8
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Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop--thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown.' Mark 4:15-20
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A glimpse of Heavenly Beauty
The spiritual Heavens, where our God dwells is so wonderful and so beautiful to see by visions and revelations, that it never ceases to amaze me why so few Christians even attempt to catch a glimpse of it.
Brethren, the Holy Ghost desires and delights in showing all who ask of Him visions of glory to come and the Glory that is in Heaven.(revelations).
Ask and you shall receive a glimpse of the Heavenly Beauty.
Seek ye first the Kingdom of Heaven and our Father who dwells in the Heavens will send you His Holy Spirit to show you all things and the Father will add unto you all the things of Heaven.
Break loose from your stagnant religious moors and walk instead in the abundance of God's Presence then joy shall come.
©01/22/2001 Jim Welch
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The Paradox of Purity
Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God (Mt. 5:8).
Some time ago, I wrestled with a deep and troubling thought. It had occurred to me that a lot of good ministry is done for the wrong reasons. Some of the most enthusiastic Christians, clergy and lay people alike, were quite busy about the work of God, yet it seemed their motivations were less than pure.
Sure, we know about the TV evangelist caught in a scandal because he chose to line his pockets with the tithes and love offerings of the parishioners. But these are not of whom I speak. I am talking about those who are doing the work with what seems to be the best of intentions--outwardly. Yet inwardly, they are even deceiving themselves. Or should I say--we are often deceiving ourselves.
In order for a righteous work to be pure, many of us would agree that it should be done with no thought of self. Works motivated by self-gain or by desire to be recognized will quickly turn a pure motive to impure. In Matthew 6 Jesus tells us that our reward is in doing our righteous acts not to be seen by people, but by God. And that if our motives are impure, we will have our reward. That reward will be the superficial recognition we desired, or perhaps a sense of satisfaction that we did our righteous duty.
Perhaps the most common impure motivation we find in our churches today is guilt. If we do something so that we don't feel guilty, we then are doing it for ourselves and not so much for another. We do it so that we can go to sleep with a clear conscience, so we can feel good about self. Otherwise, we may not feel good about who we are beneath our Christian label, that somehow we are not living up to what is expected of us. If we claim to be a Christian, "we should be..." Many things can complete that sentence. And many things that do are birthed from a sense of religious obligation, driven far too often by guilt.
The thing that struck me in all of this was to think about a young man who seems to be driven. He witnesses everyday, yet the people's faces and names slip away from memory. He feels he must continue, yet his genuine concern for the people he talks to seems fleeting. What if the only deep down driving factor for this young man is that he wants to feel better about himself as a Christian? The guilt is gone, but what else does he have? What is his reward?
Here's the paradox. If your motives are to remove guilt, to do religious duty or gain a sense of self-satisfaction, as Jesus puts it, "Verily I say unto you, [you] have [your] reward." But if you can look at yourself honestly and see that your motives are impure, and then you can determine "I will do what needs to be done even if I get nothing from it, because. . ." then you will have your reward. Simply put, "I realize my motives are often impure, however, I can choose not to let that keep me from doing what needs done--even if I don't believe I will get anything out of it." If I do what I do thinking there may be nothing in it for me, then there is truly something for me. But if I do it thinking about what's in it for me, then there is nothing.
Day by Day Devotionals
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Read Exodus 14 -- 16 http://www.studylight.org/desk/?l=en&query=ex+14-ex+16§ion=0&translation=kjv&oq=
Highlights In Today's Reading:
Miracle after miracle fills this book. See the salvation of Israel — a reminder of the power of God that blesses us. You will enjoy reading this event.
The Israelites had journeyed only a short distance toward the promised land when they saw Pharaoh's army rushing toward them in a desperate effort to recover his slaves. Pharaoh, with six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt . . . pursued after the children of Israel . . . and overtook them. . . . The children of Israel . . . were sore afraid: and cried out to the Lord. And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? . . . We did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians (14:7-12). When the Israelites cried out unto the Lord it was not in faith, but in fear and bitter criticism of Moses.
The Israelites should have believed God and trusted in His almighty power and loving care, for they had seen His miracles in Egypt that had set them free. However, when they faced what seemed to them impossible circumstances, they chose to let fear overwhelm their hearts. By contrast, Moses did not know how the Lord would save them, he confidently said: Fear . . . not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord. . . . And the Lord overthrew the Egyptians . . . the waters returned, and covered the chariots . . . and all the host of Pharaoh (14:13-14,27-28).
Just three days later they arrived at Marah to discover they could not drink the bitter water. And the people (again) murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? (15:24). The Lord tested their faith by saying: If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in His sight, and wilt give ear to (listen to and) obey His Commandments . . . I will put none of these diseases upon thee . . . for I am the Lord that healeth thee (15:26). God then led them to Elim, where (there) were twelve wells of water (15:27).
While things were going well, there was no apparent difference between the faith of Moses and that of the people. But, the same trial that revealed the Israelites' unbelief also revealed Moses' faith in the Word of God. The same is true today. We have been freed from Satan and the power of sin as illustrated by Pharaoh, a type of Satan, and Egypt, symbolic of the world. For the Lord God is a Sun (to enlighten) and Shield (to protect us): The Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly (Ps. 84:11).
Thought for Today:
Though the world may never admit it, they want to see that a Christian is truly different. A "worldly Christian" has little, if any, influence.
Christ Revealed:
Through the bread (manna) from heaven (Ex. 16: 4,15). Jesus said: I am the Living Bread which came down from heaven (John 6:51; 6:32-50).
Word Studies:
14:8 high hand = triumphantly and without fear; 14:13 salvation = deliverance; 14:17 get me honour upon = I will triumph over; 15:25 proved them = tested their faith; 16:3 flesh pots = bowls; 16:15 wist not = did not know; 16:18 mete = measure; 16:20 hearkened not = would not listen; 16:23 holy sabbath = day of rest and worship to the Lord; seethe = boil.
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God Planned You as a Master Creation
Psalm 139:13-15
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.
“Created by God”
Today we will begin to consider some scripture passages to discover just how wonderful, unique, and important you are. Nearly everyone dislikes something about his physique or her personality. Tall people wish they were shorter. Short people would give anything to be taller. Math whiz kids envy those who can read anything and figure out what it means. Athletes sometimes hate not being able to do as well in school as other kids do. It doesn’t really seem to matter what set of strengths God gave us, we can always find someone we would rather be like.
Today’s scripture tells us that God made each individual person on earth exactly the way he wanted them to be. He has a job for each of us to do that requires the precise set of strengths and weaknesses he programmed into us.
The talents and positive personality traits God gave us make it possible for us do particular things. Those who love grammar and reading often become writers. Those who have better-than-average physical strength or coordination can take on jobs like building things or hiking to isolated villages to share the gospel. We all appreciate the talents of pianists, guitar players and singers who can lead us in worship.
But what about our weaknesses? Shy people make incredible listeners. Those who struggle with reading may become engineers or businessmen. The athletically challenged frequently compensate by organizing events and encouraging others. God has another important purpose for giving us some weak points. He wants to be sure that we can sympathize with our friends who also have difficulties. Because we become stronger and more compassionate as the result of our struggles, we can help others do the same.
We must remember that God’s is reflected in everything He makes. He is absolutely and perfectly good. So, anything he creates has to be awesome. He made you exactly the way you are to do something that only you can do. What a concept!
David, who wrote this Psalm, was the youngest in his family. His dad and brothers didn’t think he was even important enough to call away from the sheep when Samuel came to anoint the next king of Israel. But, God knew David would make a great king. After all, God created him for that purpose way before he was born. David had times when he wondered if God could ever use him, but he kept on obeying the Lord. As a result, he became one of the greatest heroes in the Bible. There are no unimportant jobs and no worthless people in God’s eyes. God created you for a job in his kingdom that is just as important as the one David did.
Today’s Prayer:
My God and my Creator, I thank you for making me different from every other human being. Thank you that your goodness and wisdom are expressed in the way you mixed up my DNA. Help me accept myself as your wonderful creation and find the role you have for me to play in your plans, today and always. Amen.
Written by Martha E Menne
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1 Minute Daily Devotions
January 22, 2009
Achieving Oneness
"...and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one." - Mark 10:8
Jesus describes marriage as two people becoming one flesh. What does this mean? Now an obvious meaning is an expression of sexual intimacy. But it is more than that. There is also an emotional oneness. For instance, upon the death of a life-long mate, many people will declare, "I feel like a part of me has just been ripped away." And that's exactly right! God wants your marriage to be so close that your flesh almost literally does become one.
But that's not all. Mostly importantly, there is also a spiritual oneness that occurs in a Christ-centered marriage. That is why Christians are called to marry Christians - we cannot possibly have this oneness with an unbeliever who has different spiritual priorities. Spiritual oneness can only be achieved by growing in Christ together.
God wants us to have the best of His creation. The best marriage is formed through sexual, spiritual, and emotional oneness.
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The Cost of Sacrifice
Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 24:18-24 (NIV); Mark 10:17, 21-22.
King David went to buy the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite so that he could he could build an altar to the Lord to stop the plague. Araunah offered to give the king not only the threshing floor, but the oxen and the wood as well. David replied, "No, I insist on paying for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing."
Many people today will serve the Lord gladly if it costs them nothing. But the very word sacrifice implies that a price of some kind is paid. God gave us all that He had, His very life, for you. What price are you willing to pay to serve the Lord?
Moment of Meditation: What will the things that you value highly in this life be worth in eternity?
A Talk with Jesus: Lord, help me to be willing to sacrifice everything to follow you.
For Further Study: Romans 12:1-2; Hebrews 13:15-16.
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Come to Jesus
Daily Devotional for January 22
Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."
Time to time we will hear people say "I have never sinned". "I don't do anything wrong". "I need not repent". "I am a good person, and God will take me on my merits of good works".
1 John 1:10 "If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and his word is not in us."
Yes, we do sin against God's nature just by denying to read His Word; by not believing His Word. When one says that the Bible was just written by some men of old times, these are words of the unsaved sinner. Their sins are still scarlet because of unbelief. History records Christ Jesus birth, death and resurrection. This is fact, not fiction.
2 Timothy 3:16 "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness"
Come to Jesus. Ask Him to be your Lord and Saviour. Come find out of His love, grace, mercy and forgiveness. Come to Jesus and find eternal life. Come to Jesus and find peace of mind.
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By What Authority?
January 22nd
READ: Mark 11:27-12:27
Then Jesus said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's" (Mark 12:17).
I remember reading some time ago of a brilliant young lawyer who had been raised a pagan and had no use for Christianity. Someone had given him the New Testament, and he was reading it through. When he came to this account in Mark, he read this question with great interest, for he himself had recently been involved with just such a dilemma. When the full impact of Jesus' actions hit this man, he was utterly astonished. He dropped the Bible and said to himself, "That's the most amazing wisdom!" For our Lord did not try to answer the question directly. In that wonderful way He had, He called for a coin—He had to borrow one, for He had none of His own—and held it up. "Whose picture is on this coin?" He asked. They said, "Caesar's." He said, "All right, then, it must be Caesar's money. Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's. But God has His stamp upon you, so render to God the things that are God's."
He shows us that human authority is not only limited in duration; it is limited in its scope. It deals with only a part of people. The secular government is ordained by God. The apostle Paul tells us that plainly, and Peter says the same thing: "Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right" (1 Peter 2:13-14). Peter acknowledges that God is behind secular government—even bad government. For the king that Peter referred to was none other than Nero, wretched moral degenerate that he was. Yet Peter says to honor the king as the "supreme authority."
But human government, Jesus says, has only limited control over people. It has certain powers over its citizens' bodies and minds. It can regulate our conduct to some degree and has the right to influence and regulate our attitudes and actions and what we say and how we say it. But there is one area in human life over which secular power has no control, and that is the human spirit. Secular power cannot legislate who we worship, who governs our conscience, and who constitutes the ultimate authority of life. "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's." Certain things do properly belong to Caesar; give them to him. But other things about you belong only to God, so give those to God.
The Russian author Solzhenytsin stands as an example of the wrong that is done by secular might when it tries to govern and control the worship of people. Almost single-handedly, he has defied one of the mightiest powers of earth and revealed the viciousness and the exploitation that always results when secular might seeks to invade that proscribed area of human existence, the human spirit. Jesus is saying that the ultimate issues of life belong to God, not to people, and human authority is therefore limited in its scope.
Father, thank You for this One who helps me to see things rightly, who puts things in proper perspective and makes me understand who I am, and what I am, and to whom I am responsible.
This daily devotion was inspired by one of Ray's sermons.
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He Represents the Father
O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou has loved me may be in them, and I in them. John 17:25, 26.
Christ came into the world to represent the Father to man; for Satan had presented Him before the world in a false light. Because God is a God of justice, of terrible majesty, who has power to destroy as well as to preserve man, Satan caused men to regard Him with fear, to look upon Him as a tyrant. Jesus had been with the Father from the everlasting ages, before the creation of man, and He came to reveal the Father, declaring, "God is love." Jesus represented God as a kind Father, who careth for the subjects of His kingdom. He declared that not a sparrow falls to the ground without the notice of the Father, and that the children of men are of more value in His sight than many sparrows, that the very hairs of their head are all numbered.
The Lord is represented in the Old Testament as well as in the New Testament not only as a God of justice but as a Father of infinite love. The psalmist says: "The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed. . . . The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. . . . He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him." . . .
Satan had clothed the Father in his own attributes, but Christ represented Him in His true character of benevolence and love. In the character in which Christ presented Him to the world it was as if He gave a new gift to man. . . .
The Son of God declared in positive terms that the world was destitute of the knowledge of God; but this knowledge was of the highest value, and it was His own peculiar gift, the inestimable treasure which He brought into the world. In the exercise of His sovereign prerogative He imparted to His disciples the knowledge of the character of God, in order that they might communicate it to the world. . . . Everyone who believes the message of God should lift up Jesus, point men to Christ, and say, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." . . .
The soul imbued with the love of Christ is one with Him; he communes with Christ, Christ is formed within, the hope of glory, and the Christian goes forth to represent the Father and the Son to the world (Signs of the Times, June 27, 1892).
From Lift Him Up - Page 28
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The Messiah and the Multitudes
by Momong January 22nd, 2009 [Thursday]
Mark 3:7-12
Heb 7:25–8:6 / Psa 40
All who were afflicted with diseases pressed toward him in order that they could touch him. And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God!”
(Mark 3:10-12)
Of all the things under my concern
Where does my priority lie?
To follow Christ I must first discern:
What kind of a Christian am I?
The popularity of Jesus as a great healer and teacher had attracted multitudes of people coming from all over Galilee. Aware of the opposition from the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, and their plot to kill Him, He withdrew towards the sea with His disciples. Still the crowds came, and had become so thick that Jesus had to have a boat ready, in case He needed room to address the crowds pressing upon Him. All who were afflicted with various ailments wanted to touch Him, while those possessed by evil spirits proclaimed His divinity, but were silenced.
Reflection
Why did our Lord order the demoniacs to be silent? It was because He did not want them to disrupt God’s timetable for Him to be known as the Messiah. This would be revealed after He had risen from the dead. Besides, it was not in their jurisdiction to be declaring the presence of God among His people. They had no such privilege.
Why were such large crowds coming to Jesus? Was it to listen to his teachings? Many of them came to be healed of their diseases or to be freed from evil spirits. Most others were curiosity-seekers and speculators who were hoping that Jesus would be their savior against the Roman conquerors of Israel. But Jesus was not the kind of Messiah they had been waiting for. He was in fact far more than any political leader who could give them temporal freedom here on earth. His kind of deliverance was from damnation to a life eternal in the kingdom of God in heaven.
In the Christian world today, we find that there are many followers of Jesus. Sadly, it seems most of them have the wrong motives for following Him. They look upon God to fill their needs, for long-term security, or merely to belong to His Church. When they pray, it is only to ask for favors. When they give tithes, it is only because they expect a tenfold return on their offerings. A true Christian is one who gives his life to the Lord because of love. He obeys all of God’s decrees because he believes in all the teachings of Jesus Christ. Of the thousands who followed Jesus when He walked the earth, only a little over a hundred was left when He ascended to heaven. Most of them had gone on to continue with their temporal pursuits. How about you? How committed are you as a follower of Christ? Where do your priorities lie?
We come to Your assembly, Lord, to praise You, and worship the Father, and be filled with Your Holy Spirit. Let all Your creation give You glory. Amen.
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HOW TO INCREASE JOY
“Realization dawns that he is but a small part of a great whole; that no personal sacrifice is too great for preservation of the Fellowship.” 12&12 p. 130
“We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love.” 2 Corinthians 6:6
For what it's worth: Misplaced in life and empty in soul and spirit, I drank to die. Instead of the morgue, I am blessed to have ended up in Alcoholics Anonymous. After many sober years in AA, I am honored that I found my place in life as “a small part of a great whole”. My experiences here in our Fellowship prove to me a great reality: as I daily strive to improve my spiritual condition, I become a more useful tool for God to use as an instrument of His love. And, with my background in the subject of self, what appeals to me about that is that the better instrument I am for God, the more I give to others, and the more joy I experience. So, selfish or not, let me work on that spiritual condition today.
God bless you!
Joe W.