#938 Facing Death – A Desire to Live

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Every day there are a multitude of people who face the possibility of death.  Some have experienced serious accidents that put them at death’s door, others are facing a disease that has nearly run its course while still others have lived many years and their bodies have just given out.  Many of these people give up when it gets to this point, and others fight with every ounce of energy they have.  God has placed every one of us on this earth for a purpose, especially to serve and glorify Him.  Although we may be tired of “fighting” death, God may still have plans for us, and we should use every amount of energy we have to stay alive.  It is good to have a desire to live and continue to serve the Lord.

Although you may have never faced death, you probably know someone who has or even is facing death now.  If so, pray for them and encourage them to trust in the Lord for their strength!

“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.”   (I Corinthians 2:9)

May God Richly Bless You Today

#598 Deeper Christian Life – Living the Deeper Christian Life

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

For the previous few days we have been looking at a few of the characteristics of what it takes to have a deeper life in Christ:  constant communion with God, full commitment to God, guidance of the Holy Spirit, knowledge of God’s will, a strong foundation, undivided loyalty to God, and an in-depth dedication to God.  As we exhibit these traits we will find that the deeper Christian life will be evidenced in further ways that will be pleasing to our Lord.  We will enjoy a relationship and fellowship with God that will be pleasing not only to Him but also to us, one in which our Christian walk will be so close to Him as to have everyone with whom we come in contact know beyond a doubt we are a follower of God.  Additionally, we will be eager to tell others about the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and what He has done in our lives, seeing results for the Lord as He blesses our ministry for Him.  These outward evidences will be joined with a daily increase in knowledge of God and His Word, allowing us to continue to mature spiritually and grow more Christlike.  What a blessed privilege it is to live the deeper Christian life.

As you look at your life, can you say you enjoy such a close relationship and fellowship with God that those around you and with whom you come in contact know you are a Christian?

“That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.”   (Colossians 1:10)

May God Richly Bless You Today

#556 “The Response” Fasting and Prayer Rally – Precedent for National Prayer

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Many, if not most, of the founding fathers of the United States of America had a faith in God that led them to call the nation to prayer. The first such call to prayer was in 1775 when the Continental Congress asked the colonies to pray for wisdom in forming the nation.  Since that time there has been a rich history of calls to prayer by national leaders such as Benjamin Franklin and Abraham Lincoln, withstanding criticism and lawsuits from organizations intent on keeping public prayer out ofAmerica’s life.  In spite of setbacks for organized prayer that have come from the courts in the name of the separation of church and state, national days of prayer still continue and are a vital part of our heritage.  Most of the nation’s leaders recognize that America has been blessed by the hand of Almighty God through prayers offered by the American people and continue to call for national times of prayer.  National riches cannot save America when the people turn away from God.  As Governor Rick Perry stated in his invitation letter to “The Response,” “There is hope for America.  It lies in heaven, and we will find it on our knees.”

Are you on your knees praying for your nation?

“Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures; their land is also full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots:  Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made.”  (Isaiah 2:7-8)

May God Richly Bless You Today

#552 Failure to Faithfulness

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

A failure of any kind can cause us to “give up” and not attempt to finish something we were attempting to achieve.  This can also cause us to feel we cannot do anything else or cannot do anything better than what we have just finished in failure.  Another quotation by Thomas Edison emphasizes the result of these feelings:  “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”[1]   What we consider failure in our lives may have been our refusal to continue striving toward our goal of achieving something in particular.  Examples may be our witness to see someone accept Christ as Savior and that person continue to refuse salvation or our attempt to begin a ministry or mission that does not “get off the ground.”  We can give up and stop our witness or ministry, or we can be faithful to the Lord by calling upon Him for help and continuing to witness and serve Him.  God calls us to be faithful and trust Him, and when we do so we can leave the results to Him.

Today, be faithful in your witness and service for the Lord, placing the results in His hand!

“Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.”  (Psalm 124:8)

May God Richly Bless You Today                                                                       

 

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[1]This is presented as a statement of 1877, as quoted in From Telegraph to Light Bulb with Thomas Edison (2007) by Deborah Hedstrom, p. 22

#548 Lessons from Ants (Proverbs 6:6-8) – The Christian Walk of Wisdom

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As we have seen during the previous devotionals, ants live and work in ways that can teach us valuable lessons.  Although aimed at the sluggard, we do not have to be sluggards to learn and apply the lessons from ants in order to be wise.  As Christians we should strive to walk a walk that would be pleasing to God; Paul’s desire being to be more Christlike.  Having the ants as examples, we should have an attitude of initiative in our witness, listening to God’s calling, not waiting for someone else to lead us.  Our witness for Christ should be enduring and persevering, regardless of the results we see.  A right attitude and nature of integrity will show nonbelievers we have Christ in our hearts as we strive toward the prize of eternity with God.  When we have a taste of industriousness, we will work steadfastly for the Lord, exercising self discipline in avoiding what would hinder us.  We are able to live a Christian walk that is pleasing to the Lord only as we recognize that our Source of Insight is the Lord, spending time in His Word and being constantly in fellowship with Him.  Let us all learn these lessons from ants, gaining the wisdom God desires of us from His Word.

Learn these lessons from ants, apply them to your life, and experience a Christian walk that will continue to mature you spiritually and please and honor the Lord!

“Many will be purged, purified and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand.”  (Daniel 12:10 – NASB)

May God Richly Bless You Today

#546 Lessons from Ants (Proverbs 6:6-8) – A Christian’s Insight

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

We as Christians are expected to use our Source of Insight, the Lord Jesus Christ, in our daily Christian walk.  This insight is a discernment of the true nature of a situation and seeing the situation intuitively.  Paul had instructed Timothy to reflect on what he was saying, and the Lord would give him insight or understanding.  God speaks through His Word, the Bible, but to hear Him we must be open and receptive to Him as we read.  As we meditate upon His Word while reading, we ask God to show us His truths and how to apply those truths to our daily life.  When we do so and spend time in contact with Him through prayer, we are not only taking the steps of maturing in our Christian walk but we also continue to mature spiritually as we strive to be more Christlike.  When we accompany each step with Christian love, we will see a result of greater knowledge of Christ, greater insight and moral discernment, all based on what God has done for us.

Utilize your Source of Insight today by meditating on God’s Word, praying for wisdom to your heavenly Father, and demonstrating Godly love to everyone around!

“Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.” (II Timothy 2:7 – NIV)

May God Richly Bless You Today

#544 Lessons from Ants (Proverbs 6:6-8) – A Christian’s Source of Insight

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

On a recent fishing trip an ant was observed going after a sunflower seed that was dropped in the sand a few yards away.  The seed was actually as big as or bigger than the ant, but after circling the seed twice, the ant proceeded to push and pull the seed up and down the ridges in the sand toward its final destination.  While observing the ant for nearly an hour, no more than two feet were covered, yet the ant was still pushing and pulling with only its ultimate goal in sight.  This ant’s initiative and industriousness was evident, and it demonstrated true insight as to what was needed and how to accomplish it.  God expects Christians to use their source of insight in their daily walk.  Our Source of Insight is the Lord, and we access the Source through dwelling in His Word, the Bible, and staying in contact with Him through continuous prayer.

Are you accessing your Source of Insight on a daily basis?

“And this is my prayer, that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,” (Philippians 1:9 – NIV)

May God Richly Bless You Today

#544 Lessons from Ants (Proverbs 6:6-8) – Source of Insight

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Ants are very intelligent and wise in what they do.  As the lessons from ants are written for the sluggard, or lazy Christian, the first observation to be made when considering that ants have a source of insight is that the ants are neither lazy in their activity nor lazy in doing what they need to do.  They collect and store food in the proper seasons, primarily to always supply provisions for the whole ant community.  Some say ants store food in the summer for the winter while others say ants do not store food at all.  It is true that ants generally sleep in the winter, but those that do collect and store food have the provisions in the autumn when they awake.  It is also true that not all ant species collect and store their food; however, there are species inIsrael, andTexas, called “agricultural” or “harvest” ants that both collect and store food.  In fact, the ones inPalestineare even known to settle their homes in and around the threshing places for easy access to the grain.  Solomon certainly knew what he was writing about, and he was certainly accurate in the need for the sluggard to learn this lesson of ants not being lazy in what they need to do.

As you follow these lessons from ants, be diligent in using the Lord as your Source of Insight!

“Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.”  (Proverbs 6:8)

May God Richly Bless You Today

#543 Lessons from Ants (Proverbs 6:6-8) – A Just God Judges Our Service

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Christians are to labor laboriously not only so the Lord will remember and honor our work for Him, but also because our works for the Lord will be judged at the Judgment Seat of Christ.  This judgment does not determine whether someone is going to Heaven or Hell; this is for Christians only, those who have accepted Christ as personal Savior.  Those who have not accepted Him are bound for eternal separation from God and will be judged solely on whether they accepted or rejected Jesus Christ as personal Savior.  It is necessary that the service of all born-again Christians be analyzed and evaluated with the Judgment Seat of Christ being God’s appraisal of Christians’ works and service for Him in this life, determining reward or loss of reward.  No works in this life for God will receive no reward when judged by our righteous God.  It should be our desire to please and honor the Lord in such a way that He will be pleased to present a reward to us.  Our greatest reward will be spending eternity with Him in Heaven, thus we should have a desire to have a thirst for the things of the Lord and a thirst for industriousness in serving the Lord, knowing that we are honoring and glorifying Him.

As a Christian, are you ready to stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ as your service for Him is evaluated?

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”  (II Corinthians 5:10 – ESV)

May God Richly Bless You Today

#542 Lessons from Ants (Proverbs 6:6-8) – A Just God Remembers Our Service

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

How can it be said that working laboriously in service for the Lord is so important?  God’s Word reveals reasons that should make us think twice before yielding to idleness or laziness.  From a positive standpoint God has promised that our work in serving Him will be remembered and honored, and God being just and righteous means He cannot fail to fulfill His promises.  Failing to remember and honor our service for Him would make Him unjust and unrighteous, and we know that God is not unjust or unrighteous.  Our work for Him, including witnessing for Him and performing deeds of love toward fellow believers should be done in His name, giving Him the honor and glory.  Performing the deeds of love toward fellow believers should be driven by pure love for our Christian brothers and sisters in Christ, knowing there is no hope for reciprocal action from them.  The fact that God is righteous, remembering and honoring our service for Him, should give us an even stronger desire to be diligent about His service.

As a Christian, show the love toward your fellow Christians that God has shown toward you!

“God is not unjust:  He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them.”  (Hebrews 6:10 – NIV)

May God Richly Bless You Today