Roseville Church of the Nazarene

Greetings in Christ,

  Can mankind be just before God?  Can mankind be pure before God? 

  These are the questions that Eliphaz was asking as he was trying to consult Job.  Job was having trouble with the advice his friends were giving him, advice to check his heart and desires.  It was certain Job was struggling with his possible heart issue and thought very deeply about, and it even gave him scary moments of deep thought and reflection.

  Today we know it not possible to be just before God without His help, and as a result mankind must call on the help of the Lord to be justified before the Lord, but what about being pure?  What does it mean to be pure before God?  We can be justified in the eyes of God by our willingness to be forgiven, but purity brings with it another dimension.

  To be pure it must be free from any adulterating or extraneous matter; free from contamination, pollution, or dirt; absolute, sheer.  Is that possible in this world today to be free from anything that can contaminate us—to be absolutely pure?   Can our thoughts and actions be free from the pollution of the world that they are pure glorifying God in all we do?  I believe we must go beyond our thinking which does not allow us to fully understand purity.  We are bombarded everyday with the things of this world that influence us whether we like it or not.  Those things have a way of polluting us and we avoid those things which can contaminate us, but those influences still have a way to keep us from reaching absolute purity.

  In Revelation, John tries to describe what he saw in heaven, and he cannot put into words what he saw because he never saw anything like it before.  I believe that in heaven John saw absolute purity in everything he had the pleasure of seeing.  There was nothing that had any impurity in it.  John was trying to compare the things he saw to the things of this world, and the things of this world failed in comparison.  The world was so full of contamination he could not understand purity.   John could not put into words the things he saw, for he had no reference to them in his understanding.   John described what he saw the best he could with what understanding he had, and despite his feeling of inadequacy he moved forward with what he had for descriptions of heaven. 

  We must move forward with our understanding and knowledge.  We must strive for the idea of being pure before God.  The whole idea of being pure is holiness before God almighty being set apart from the world trying not to let the pollution of the world influence our thinking and actions.  It requires devotion to look to God for the understanding of what pure means for us on an individual basis.  We cannot receive purity from someone else or inherit it from your family.  It must be something that develops between you and God.

  Wouldn’t it be great to be called righteous by God when we see Him in heaven, but even more to be pure in heart?

  “Praise the Lord!  How blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commandments.  His descendants will be mighty on earth; the generation of the upright will be blessed.
Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.  Light arises in the darkness for the upright; He is gracious and compassionate and righteous.  It is well with the man who is gracious and lends; he will maintain his cause in judgment.  For he will never be shaken; the righteous will be remembered forever.  He will not fear evil tidings; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.  His heart is upheld, he will not fear, until he looks with satisfaction on his adversaries.  He has given freely to the poor, his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be exalted in honor.  The wicked will see it and be vexed, he will gnash his teeth and melt away; the desire of the wicked will perish.”  Psalm 112

  Lord, may we seek to be holy in Your sight.  May we be pure in our thoughts and actions and give You glory for making us holy.  Amen

  Blessings,

Greetings in Christ,

  From where do we draw our strength?  Do we find our strength in the talents God has given us, or do we find our strength in God? 

  Many may know the story of Samson and Delilah.  Samson was a judge who governed the people of Israel.  He had physical strength unmatched by anyone.  He used that strength to bring devastation to the Philistines who where a thorn in the side of the Israelites by engaging in war with the Israelites frequently.  Samson became so feared by the Philistines because of his ability to thwart their advancements against the Israelites they enlisted the help of Delilah to find the secret to his strength. 

  Delilah became successful in her endeavors pretending to love Samson.  She pressed Samson to the point he revealed he was a Nazarite and his hair had never been cut.  His hair was the key to his strength, for it has not been cut.  Delilah cut seven locks of hair off Samson’s head, his strength faded, the presence of God left him leaving him with the strength of a normal man.  The Philistines took advantage of this enslaving Samson and gouged out his eyes.  He drove the grinding stone for the grain and also amusement for the Philistines.

  The Philistines in their time of rejoicing did not see Samson’s hair was growing back, and Samson pleaded with God to give him the strength once again he once had.  While the Philistines were celebrating and praising their god for delivering Samson to their hands in an outside arena, they brought Samson out for entertainment.  Samson did so well to entertain them he brought down the house killing all people that were present by pushing against the main support columns to collapse them.

  I wonder if Samson was caught up in the idea it was his own strength as he overtook the Philistines, he took it for granted when it was God who gave him his strength.  It was the act of cutting off his hair he remembered where his strength really came from—God.

  Paul writes to the Corinthians telling them Jesus Christ died because of weakness, “For indeed He was crucified because of weakness, yet He lives because of the power of God.  For we also are weak in Him, yet we shall live with Him because of the power of God directed toward you.”  Sin was the weakness for the death of Jesus on the cross, but the power of God countered the weakness to bring strength for mankind.

  It took Samson to be weak to realize his strength came from God Himself.  Paul goes on to write that in our weakness we become strong if we rely on the fact that Jesus Christ resides in us. 

  How do we start our day?  Do we face the day with confidence we will do the right thing, or do we humble ourselves before God Almighty and ask for His strength to get us through the day? 

  Mark writes about the woman who had the hemorrhaging problem for many years and tried many things to be healed but had no success in the medical approach.  She began to realize if she could just touch the garment of Jesus she would be healed.  Her weakness made her faith strong as she touched the garment of Jesus.  Jesus was aware the moment she touched His garment, and He wanted to see this person who had so much faith.  She bowed before Jesus and explained her reason for touching Him and He told her faith has made her well.  It was her humbleness in admitting she needed His strength that Jesus pronounced her faith and healing.

  Do we go in our strength, or do we allow our weakness to be our motivator to call on the strength of God?  Do we touch the garment of Jesus often enough?  Are we allowing our weakness to make our faith strong?

  “The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger and great in lovingkindness.  The Lord is good to all, and His mercies are over all His works.  All Your works shall give thanks to You, O Lord, and Your godly ones shall bless You.  They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom and talk of Your power; to make known to the sons of men Your mighty acts and the glory of the majesty of Your kingdom.  Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations.”  Psalm 145:8-13

  May we want to draw from Your strength in everything we do.  May we never take for granted our abilities and rely on Your power that can work through us. Amen

  Blessings,

Greetings in Christ,

  When David wrote in Psalm 8, “What is man that Thou dost take thought of him?  And the son of man, that Thou dost take care of him?” it makes a statement for mankind.  It first gives question about God in His approach to mankind.  Now this is taking into consideration mankind has not made the best decisions in life regarding serving God.  David is reflecting upon all the things God has done and continues to do for mankind.  It serves as a question as well as reflection as to why God continues to be willing to intercede for mankind.

  The stories in the Bible reflect a sequence of events which occur in the cycle of mankind.  They serve God, they become comfortable and complacent, they sin against God, they suffer due to their bad choices, they lament and cry out to God for repentance, and they serve God again.  It is the reoccurring theme throughout the Bible which brings David to his question in the Psalm.  Why do you really care about mankind?

  David fits all the qualifiers to ask this question.  He has certainly had a life filled with many adventures and things which could make his stomach turn, but he never wanted to stray from God in his life.  David had certainly every reason to question why God continued to work with him and the people of Israel.  You could probably say David was getting weary from the strain of living for God and living through battles only to go through more down the road. 

  David certainly had the right to question God and His actions towards mankind.  It goes against the reality of life which mankind seems to hold onto in their pursuit of life.  Mankind would rather leave behind their fellow brother/sister than to save him/her.  It is not the way for mankind to serve each other.  It is the dog eats dog mentality which most people’s attitude to get ahead in life.  So why does God still get concerned about mankind?  It simply comes down to the one thing; many are still willing to serve God.

  David, Joshua, Paul, and Jesus are the examples we are given of those who were willing to give their lives to serve God.  Davis is known to be a servant after God’s own heart.  He inquired of God before he made any decision, and he chose to make the choice God wanted him to do.  Joshua was strong and courageous.  He chose to not let anything stand between him and God.  He went as far as to stand before the tribes of Israel and make the statement, “but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord.”  Paul stood tall despite all the hardship he endured and chose the hard road rather than to have it easy so his witness would be that much stronger as he taught about the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Jesus stood up against the so-called authorities to reclaim the truth which had been hidden from others about the one true God and gave His life on the cross in the process.

  The memory of Adam and Eve walking across the garden to meet God is still fresh in His mind.  He has always enjoyed being with those He has created in His image.  He will never give up on those who are willing to serve Him.  God has even admitted He is selfish wanting mankind to recognize what He has done for them, but more important sharing what He has done for us with others. 

  Why does God care about mankind?  He loves us more than we ever really know.

  “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained; what is man that You take thought of him, and the son of man that You care for him?  Yet You have made him a little lower than God, and You crown him with glory and majesty!  You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, whatever passes through the paths of the seas.”  Psalm 8:3-8

  “The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it.  For He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.  Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?  And who may stand in His holy place?  He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood and has not sworn deceitfully.  He shall receive a blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation.  This is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face—even Jacob.”  Psalm 24:1-6

  Lord may we be willing serve You in all we do.  May we follow those examples which have gone before us as we live our lives for You.  Amen

  Blessings,

  Greetings in Christ,

  Have your ever sat down and just thought about how great God really is?  Really?  How often?  Despite all the bad going on in your life, have you sat down and just let your mind think of how good God is to you?

  It is amazing how some people treasure their assets.  They have worked hard for their money, bought nice big houses, have luxury vehicles with all the bells and whistles, and if they are lucky, they have all the play toys (boats, ATV, motorcycle) to show everyone they have worked hard.  They have reached the pinnacle of their lives with their success, and they have earned every dime they have made.  Do they think about how good God is?

  Going on vacation can open your eyes to how people live in other areas.  You get to see just how the people in other parts of this nation live and how they like to show off what they have.  A trip to the Lake of the Ozarks can be a good way to see just how people work hard and like to acquire all the nice things in life.

  There were a lot of people who had nice homes, cars, boats, and they liked to be out on the lake boating all day.  They had nice tans and they enjoyed the good life while they were having fun with the things they have acquired.  Now I am not condemning them for having these things, but it got me to thinking do they really give God the credit for being good to them?  Do they really believe they have made this life for themselves on their own?

  The real difference between someone who really believes in God verses those who just merely believe in God; they give God the thanks for what they have.  The real followers of God know just where things in life come from and Who to give thanks.  It is not about looking inward to the self and declaring what the individual has done.  It is looking upward to God and thanking Him.

  God wants us to thank Him for all He has done.  That is all God wanted when Joshua and the Israelites marched around the city of Jericho.  That is all God wanted when Jesus healed the man who was lowered down through the roof to see Jesus.  That is all God wanted when Paul was on trial in Jerusalem, and when he was on trial in Rome.   All these actions were geared to get people to look to God and give Him thanks.  God was hopeful people would see Him for Who He was—a Great God.

  We do not know why we go through the trials here on earth we go through, but whatever it is we need to look to God and give Him thanks.  We often get caught up in the idea our lives should be free from the perils of this life when we serve God, but the exact opposite happens.  We encounter things which are made to make us fall, but with the help of God we can overcome and grow to be better Christians.  If God can make the walls of Jericho fall, Jesus heals the paralytic man just by telling him to get up and walk, and go with Paul to give him the strength to endure being in jail God can work in our lives with the same power as He did then.

  Have your ever sat down and just thought about how great God really is?  Do you really think He is good to you?  Have you told Him this?  He really is good to us!

  “Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth; break forth and sing for joy and sing praises.  Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody.  With trumpets and the sound of the horn
shout joyfully before the King, the Lord.  Let the sea roar and all it contains, the world and those who dwell in it.  Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy before the Lord, for He is coming to judge the earth; He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with equity.”  Psalm 98:4-9

  “The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and His sovereignty rules over all.  Bless the Lord, you His angels, mighty in strength, who perform His word, obeying the voice of His word!  Bless the Lord, all you His hosts, you who serve Him, doing His will.  Bless the Lord, all you works of His, in all places of His dominion; bless the Lord, O my soul!”  Psalm 103:19-22

  Lord may we give You thanks for all You do, and may we never take for granted just How good You are to us.  Amen

  Blessings,

  Greetings in Christ,

  The funny thing about growth is the growing object must stretch.  Let’s face it for things to grow they must stretch.  We can apply this very same point to many things in life.  For us to grow in any manner we must be stretched to grow.  It is like blowing up a balloon.

  Several of us had just been at a conference and we decided to stop at a restaurant to get something to eat.  In the restaurant, they had a man dressed up like a clown walking around making balloon art.  He would take a balloon and stretch it, pull it, tug on it, and then blow it up.  The stretching, pulling, and tugging made it easier to blow up the balloon.  The key part here is the man knew just how much to stretch, pull, and tug to get the balloon ready to be inflated with air.

  It was this point he blew just enough air into the balloon to make the balloon art he was trying to make.  He was able to make all kinds of things with the balloons, but every time he blew into a new balloon, he went through the same process of stretching the balloon he was going to inflate.  The man had mastered the art of making balloon art for the customers of the restaurant.

  If we look at the things of life, we can apply this stretching to grow to everything which grows, but it is not always easy to allow ourselves to be stretched for growth.  When God commanded Joshua to enter into the promised land, He commanded him to be strong and courageous and to not deviate from the book of laws.  It was this approach God would be with Him through the entire process.

  Joshua did not have the slightest idea of what was going to happen or how it was going to place.  He only knew he was to move forward and to trust in God.  Joshua faced many things that stood before him which could intimidate him, but he still stood strong and courageous so he could be the example for the rest of the people he trusted God.  Joshua was stretched, pulled, and tugged on by many things as they moved forward to occupy the promised land, and in the process he grew spiritually. 

  Acts records a similar process for Paul as he travels throughout the country.  The people in every town were trying to warn him not to go back to Jerusalem for he would face hardship and even death.  They tried to convince him he should not go, but he responded with he wanted to go to Jerusalem to witness for Jesus.  Paul did not know what he was going to face or undergo, but he moved forward with strength and courage to stand tall for Jesus, and in the process, he was stretched in many ways, and he grew spiritually.

  We today do not always know what is going to confronting us as we walk with Jesus.  We do not know when Jesus will ask us to allow Him to stretch, pull, and tug on us to shape us into the person He wants us to look like.  It is those moments of the stretching, pulling, and tugging it is hard to allow the process to keep going through the different methods of reshaping.  We wonder what we will look like in the end because we always want to know the details of every step of the process.  We also find it hard to accept just what we look like when it is all done.

  The only thing we can hang onto is the fact God is still the same God as He was in the time of Joshua.  He never changes His mind nor deviates from His goal.  God reminded Joshua just what He had said in the past, “No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.  Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.  Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

  If God is the same God for Moses, Joshua, Paul, and the rest of the people in the Bible He should be the same God for us.  “Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”  God knows just how much to stretch, pull, and tug us just before He fills us with His love to make us the person we need to be.

  “The heavens are the heavens of the Lord, but the earth He has given to the sons of men.  The dead do not praise the Lord, nor do any who go down into silence; but as for us, we will bless the Lord from this time forth and forever.  Praise the Lord!”  Psalm 115:16-18

  “Let them praise the name of the Lord, for His name alone is exalted; His glory is above earth and heaven.  And He has lifted up a horn for His people, praise for all His godly ones; even for the sons of Israel, a people near to Him.  Praise the Lord!”  Psalm 148:13-14

  Lord may we be strong and courageous in our walk with You.  Amen

  Blessings,

Greetings in Christ,

  Many years ago, I worked with a group of people in an automotive repair shop.  I worked the automotive service side while others worked on the alternator/starter rebuild side.  We had a good place to work, and work was plentiful.  I had another friend who needed a job, and he had a family to support.  He had some background in automotive repair and he was able to start working in the same place where I was employed.

  My friend, David, to my knowledge had worked on cars and had repaired most anything on them, but it seemed to be more talk than action.  He struggled to master the automotive service side of the business, but rather than cut him loose from the work place the boss placed him on the rebuild side of the shop.  This side did not require the depth of knowledge nor training to do the job. 

  David was several years older than the crew working on this side of the business and felt he did not fit in with the crowd.  David was a talker and could go on for hours non-stop if you let him.  He could talk about anything and seemed to know what he was talking about.  This did not set well with the others as they felt he knew more than he did, so they set him up one day. 

  They began talking about a topic which did not exist and let him chime in and talk about the topic.  They led him one and then let the bomb drop by telling him they had made up the whole thing which made him look bad in front of them.  It made him feel so bad he did not want to return to work the next day.

  I felt bad for him, but I was not aware of the set-up which had taken place until after the fact.  I also had to think about both sides of the picture and had to tell him the truth about wanting to fit in with the group by talking about everything and anything.  He had let himself get caught up in the scheme and it came back to bit him.  He would have been better to not say anything at all in regard to the topic.  It was a hard lesson to learn.

  Acts gives us an example of a group of people wanting to fit in with the crowd.  Paul had been doing many wonderful things and healing many people in the name of Jesus.  Some of the Jewish exorcists wanted to copy Paul and began declaring they were casting out evil spirits in the name of Jesus, but it backfired on them.

  They tried to cast out an evil spirit out of a man, but the evil spirit spoke to them by saying they knew Jesus, and they knew Paul, but who are they?  The evil spirit left the man and began attacking them leaving them naked and wounded.  Needless to say, they learned a lesson that day.

  Wanting to fit in with the crowd does not always lend to be the best approach.  It tends to make us stretch beyond out capabilities and do things we normally would not do.  We try so hard, and it seems to backfire on us.  It is better to be ourselves than to be someone we think we should be.

  God does not want us to just fit in with the crowd He wants us to be part of the crowd.  We must let our guard down and just be ourselves, and when we do we get to know God, and more important God gets to know us.  The evil spirit knew Jesus and Paul, but he did not know the Jewish exorcists.  The evil spirit would not have attacked Jesus or Paul he did the Jewish exorcists because he knew they had more power than he did.

  That is the kind of God we serve is One who goes before us and can take on the evil in this world. 

  “Praise the Lord!  For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant and praise is becoming.  The Lord builds up Jerusalem; He gathers the outcasts of Israel.  He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.  He counts the number of the stars; He gives names to all of them.  Great is our Lord and abundant in strength; His understanding is infinite.  The Lord supports the afflicted; He brings down the wicked to the ground.  Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; sing praises to our God on the lyre, Who covers the heavens with clouds, Who provides rain for the earth, Who makes grass to grow on the mountains.  He gives to the beast its food, and to the young ravens which cry.  He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He does not take pleasure in the legs of a man.  The Lord favors those who fear Him, those who wait for His lovingkindness.”  Psalm 147:1-11

  Lord may we be known by You.  Go before us and direct our paths and keep us from the evil in this world.  Amen

  Blessings,

Greetings in Christ,

  The stories of the Israelites moving across the desert and into the promised land becomes more of a repetition of complaining and grumbling as God clears the path for them to follow and move forward.  There was a point in time they feared the giants who inhabited the land and the Israelites felt they could not conquer the giants.  As a result, God told them the ones who left Egypt would not enter the promised land.  The next generation of sons, daughters, and grandchildren have picked up where their ancestors left off and, they are grumbling and complaining as they enter the promised land.

  They are grumbling and feeling like God has brought them this far to let them die, and this angers God to the point He sends fiery serpents which bite the people, and they are dying.  The Israelites see their failure to trust God and ask Moses to intercede for them and ask God for forgiveness.  Moses does exactly this and God instructs him to make a fiery serpent and put it on a standard for those to see.  It is when they look at the fiery serpent they will live.  Again, God steps in to show them He still has the authority over life or death.

  The Israelites move through the land and are respecting those who live there by asking to let them pass through peacefully, but they receive opposition from the inhabitants.  God instructs them to not fear the inhabitants for He has delivered them into their hands.  As they move through the land, they wipe out all the inhabitants which oppose them removing them from the land forever.  God is reassuring the Israelites nothing, or nobody will stand in the way of what He has promised, and the bottom line was God wanted them to trust Him.

  This is not to say they did not have a part in what was taking place, but rather they had to believe God was working in what they were doing.  The Israelite’s participation in the move into the promised land meant they had to do some of the hard work to occupy the land.  It was up to them to move forward and to remove anything which could present itself as an obstacle which may stand between them and God.  This is why it was important for them to remove the inhabitants from the land permanently, but this became a stumbling block for them.

  They began to think they were the ones responsible for eradicating the distractions from their lives, and they began to become prideful in their actions.  They believed since they were part of God’s plan and they did most of the work they should get all the credit for the accomplishments, but they forgot God had already proven He still had the authority over life and death, and all He wanted was for them to trust Him.

  It is easy to self-propagate in our thoughts of what we can do.  It is easy to say look at what I have done!  We are supposed to be part of the plan for God to work in our lives because God has chosen to work through us.  We are supposed to do some hard work, but we need to remember Who is working through us to achieve what is being done.

  The Israelites became caught up in their own self-glory of what took place, and they began to feel they accomplished more than they had done.  They forgot it was God who promised them the land they would occupy, and they forgot the miracles which God did before their very eyes.  They were in the mindset of self-accomplishment.  Where was God in the picture?  It was when they were caught up in their own self-glory, they made the mistake of forgetting God was working with them, and God brought them back to reality.

  God does not require much from us as we walk with in comparison to what He will do for us.  The basic requirements are we trust Him and praise Him for what He does for us.  Yes, we still have a part in what takes place, but we should never forget He works through us to get the job done.  It is when we say look what I have done we get off track and we fall short because we self-propagate ourselves beyond what we have done.  All God asks for us to do is to humble ourselves before Him, trust Him, and praise Him for what He does for us and through us.

  “Open to me the gates of righteousness; I shall enter through them, I shall give thanks to the Lord.  This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous will enter through it.  I shall give thanks to You, for You have answered me, and You have become my salvation.  The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief corner stone.  This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.  This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.  O Lord, do save, we beseech You; O Lord, we beseech You, do send prosperity!  Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord; we have blessed you from the house of the Lord.  The Lord is God, and He has given us light; bind the festival sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.  You are my God, and I give thanks to You; You are my God, I extol You.
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting.”  Psalm 118:19-29

  Lord may we always trust You and give You the praise for what You do.  Amen

  Blessings,

  Greetings in Christ,

  The interesting thing about reading the Bible and its stories people can imagine they were present at the timeframe of the story they are reading.  It is interesting to put current people into past situations and think what would they do if they were there?  The thought of being able to go back in time to live out the hardships or blessings which those who lived in the biblical times crosses my mind quite frequently.

  Numbers gives us an example of God speaking to Moses and Aaron.  God is a little upset with the people of Israel because they chose not to invade the promise land due to the giants who lived there.  They have felt they have endured too much already, and they are not willing to give up their lives just to inhabit a piece of land.  Instead, they are willing to walk around in the desert going nowhere.  Some of the people are even willing to go back to Egypt and endure the hardship they had all become accustomed to having in their lives.

  God told Moses and Aaron the people who are above the age of twenty will not see the promise land.  They have grumbled and complained long enough and because they did not trust God, they will not have the pleasure of knowing green grass.  Their bodies will fall in the desert where they chose to reside because they felt the promised land was too hard to occupy.  To make things worse they would know their transgressions for not trusting God.

  Now back to the idea of being in their situation.  I have often wondered if I was to be in their place what would go through my mind.  Would I feel the same way?  Would I feel it was too hard to accomplish?  Would I complain and grumble?  It is impossible to go back in time. Do we fall short at times in our thinking and applying faith in God in the present times, or have we become so advanced in our thinking and application of faith we can go beyond those who lived out their lives in the biblical times?

  We do have the advantage of living by faith because it has been exercised in Jesus coming to earth.  We also have the advantage of the Holy Spirit who has been sent to dwell among us, but do we allow this to give us the depth of spirituality we can live by in our everyday life here on earth?

  In Acts, the debated question of being circumcised was being kicked around for the Gentiles to observe as they turned to Christianity.  The reasoning was it was good enough for us to observe as the Jewish leaders and it is good to follow the law so it will be fulfilled.  It had reached the point Paul and Barnabas had to return to Jerusalem to get the blessing from the Jewish leaders there to either pass on the circumcision or to perform the ritual on the Gentile men.  The debate came to rest with the words of Peter. 

  “After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brethren, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe.  And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.   Now therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?  But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are.”  Acts 15:7-11

  Grace covers a multitude of sins, but it must be accompanied by faith.  The Israelites had fallen short in the faith department.  They had witnessed many miracles performed by God and they still did not believe God could do more miracles.  God’s grace had been extended to the Israelites, but then it had been withdrawn because of their lack of faith.  They wanted God’s grace, but they refused to accept it on faith.  They had seen the hand of God at work in their lives which may have given them more of an advantage than we have had in our present time.

  God’s grace is extended to all people who accept it on faith.  God knows the heart of the individual and gives grace to those who accept if on faith, and that has not changed for anyone at any time in the past or in the present, or in the future.  Faith has always been the key to living a life that God has desired for us to live.

  “God be gracious to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us— Selah.  That Your way may be known on the earth, Your salvation among all nations.  Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You.  Let the nations be glad and sing for joy; for You will judge the peoples with uprightness and guide the nations on the earth. Selah.  Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You.  The earth has yielded its produce; God, our God, blesses us.  God blesses us, that all the ends of the earth may fear Him.”  Psalm 67

  Lord may we never fall short in our faith to believe in You.  May our faith increase as we walk with You.  Amen

  Blessings,

  Greetings in Christ,

  A blessing or a curse, which would you choose to give to someone?  Many would say a blessing would be better to give to someone because they would like to see someone prosper.  It is the tendency to give something good, so they pass on something worthwhile for the person receiving the blessing to enjoy or build on in life.  What if a curse was to the answer needed for the right results to be achieved for the result to occur?  Would someone be willing to curse someone for their betterment?

  In Numbers, God has given Moses instructions for Aaron and his sons to give people of Israel in the form of a blessing.  These are the words given to Moses, “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance on you, and give you peace.”  Aaron and his sons were the high priests for the Israelites, and they were to pass on this blessing to all the people of Israel.  It was to be the sign of God’s blessing on their lives and reassure them God was on their side.

  This blessing was to be something which helped build the kingdom of God on earth.  It was to give hope and security to the people knowing God was always on their side.  It was something which was good in their lives as they looked to God for their sustenance.  It was also to be a reminder for all those who gave and received the blessing who God really was and how important He was in their lives.  Unfortunately, the blessing fell by the wayside and was forgotten to be said and passed on.

  The other side of a blessing is a curse.  We do not see people receiving a curse as often, but it does happen.  In Acts, Paul gives a curse to Bar-Jesus in the form of blindness.  Bar-Jesus is a magician who strongly opposes anything Paul and Barnabas is doing in the way of ministry.  Obviously, Bar-Jesus does not want Paul and Barnabas to trample on his territory, but Paul has other plans. Paul gives a curse of blindness to Bar-Jesus.  In no time at all Bar-Jesus is asking people to give him a hand to navigate the city for he cannot see to move around the streets of the city. 

  In this case a curse is more appropriate for the end results to take place.  This curse was needed for the people of that city to see Bar-Jesus was not as powerful as he thought he was, and the God Paul and Barnabas was preaching and teaching certainly had more clout and deserved more attention.  The goal was to get the attention of the people to see just who God was, and for them to see God was still on the throne.  Needless to say, it worked and the people began to believe the words of Paul and Barnabas.

  A blessing or a curse.  Which one would you give?  A blessing is easier to give because it does not have any backlash because it brings the favor of God on a person.  The blessing is to be something the giver and the receiver can reflect on and give God the praise for His goodness, and it passes on the love of God for all to receive, but there are times a curse must be given.

  I am sure Paul did not give the curse he did flippantly.  The Holy Spirit had to prompt him to pass on the curse so the people would see Bar-Jesus was just a man nothing more.  It was to point to God who is really in charge and has the final word.  The curse had its place, and it worked for the intended purposes for which it was given, and in this case it had to be given. 

  A blessing passes on the love of God.  If the people giving and receiving realize where the blessing really comes from, it serves the better purpose for all concerned.  The scripture tells us to bless those who persecute you for it is love which will conquer in the end. 

  “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance on you, and give you peace.”  Numbers 7:24-26

  “The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and His ears are open to their cry.  The face of the Lord is against evildoers, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.  The righteous cry, and the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.  The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.  Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.  He keeps all his bones, not one of them is broken.  Evil shall slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.  The Lord redeems the soul of His servants, and none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.”  Psalm 34:15-22

  Lord may we pass on Your blessing to people in our lives so Your love will triumph over evil.  Amen

  Blessings,

Greetings in Christ,

  The scriptures selected for this devotional hit hard for a lot of people.  It is asking for people to give up their possessions and give to charity, and not to be independent from God, but trust God for all your needs.  It is especially hard for some to give up everything they have acquired and give to charity.

  Many times, we hear about those who give up everything to go into ministry or be a missionary, but  rarely do you hear of people living hand to mouth being fully dependent on God to provide their very next meal, clothing, or housing.  Many people work to acquire material items such as a car, clothes, housing, or whatever they need to live life here on earth.  People over time accumulate items of need to live life here on earth, and if you are work hard enough you acquire things for your hobbies or activities you like to do.

  While many who work a job may not have the luxury of buying extravagant things in this life, they manage to live life comfortably while they have food, clothing, a vehicle, and purchase a house along with the necessities of life.  People save up to buy things which they want to acquire in the interest they have such as woodworking, crafting, sewing, fishing, hunting, or some other hobby you may have.  These activities often lead to enjoyment and have stress relieving capabilities many people enjoy getting away from the hard work life.

  The difficult part for those who read the scriptures, it sends some into a guilt trip in thinking they are spending their money on selfish items when they should be helping those in need.  It begins to lead to self-check thinking where people question their motives and ask themselves if they are doing wrong in the eyes of God.

  The thinking must start with why items are purchased.  There is nothing wrong with acquiring material things in this life, but if people purchase things because they have an abundance of wealth and just want to acquire material things just for the sake of having them-it may be wrong for them to do.  It has to do with the motive of the heart, and if it is for selfish reasons the question may arise, do I really need it.

  God looks at the heart and the reason people do what they do.  When combined with other scripture God has given us many directions for life here on earth.  The Bible tells us to some more is given, but what is given in abundance comes with greater responsibility.  Many people are blessed with great wealth and God expects them to help provide for His kingdom, but He is asking for all people to put Him first in all matters and in everything people do.  Other people may not have the ability to have wealth, but they have other riches God gave them and He is asking for those riches to be given back by putting Him first.

  While we need material things here on earth, if our hearts are in the wrong place, they become a barrier between mankind and God.  The scriptures are really asking if we are putting God first in all we do are we giving back in what riches we have.  When people put God first, people receive a blessing in so many ways not only in the receiving, but also in the giving, and God gets the glory while His kingdom advances here on earth. 

  “The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it.  For He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.  Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?  And who may stand in His holy place?   He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood and has not sworn deceitfully.  He shall receive a blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation.  This is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face—even Jacob.  Selah.  Lift up your heads, O gates, and be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in!  Who is the King of glory?  The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.  Lift up your heads, O gates, and lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in!  Who is this King of glory?  The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory.”  Psalm 24

  Lord may we always put You first in all we do, and may we give back from the riches You have given us.  Amen

  Blessings,