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Devotionals |
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Monday, 21 February 2011
Creatures of Habit
"Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man to humble himself?" Isaiah 58:5
People can have strange habits! So strange, that after awhile, others begin to recognize them for that habit. For example; a person can be a tapper; constantly tapping a foot or finger, or, a napper; dosing off at anytime, anywhere, or, a snapper; of fingers or their bubble gum! There are countless millions of habits people have in this world and how they come to be can either be simple or very complicated. Some people have willful habits, or habits by choice. In a sense, fasting can be a habit of choice. God chose fasts so the Children of Israel might (1) deny themselves food (physical) and recognize Him (spiritual) and be in a state of more spiritual mindedness, (2) humble themselves (3) repent, and (4) show love toward one another. Yet, they turned what could have been a good habit into a bad habit by choosing to ignore Him.
In the New Testament, fasting is not a law since Jesus fulfilled the Law. But, people can still choose to fast (see Matt.9:15). It's a good habit for those who believe in God and His intended purposes as seen above. Ever notice how one good habit can lead into other good habits? For example, while fasting one could get in the habit of reading devotions, or being in the Word, or going to church, or prayer; or volunteering/helping others. By God's gift of faith, we receive the eternal/spiritual habit of believing and trusting in Him. That gift includes power to remain ever faithful to Him and His Godly habits in our lives. What a blessing to be 'creatures of such habits!'
Dear Heavenly Father, develop Godly habits in me for Your glory, in Jesus Name, Amen.
Monday, 21 February 2011
Blessed Sneezes
"Blessed are your eyes because they can see and your ears because you can hear." Matthew 5:16
"Ah-ah-ah-ah-choo!" "Bless you!" There's more to that sneeze response ('bless you') than meets the eye! It was once believed that when a person sneezed his spirit would be blown out of his body. Being spiritless and vulnerable others would quickly offer them help and protection by giving them a blessing till his spirit had a chance to get back inside! Strange; but what a beautiful and thoughtful kind gesture! The Author of all Blessings reminds us we're blessed to have eyes and ears. Not the kind that can merely see and hear temporally, but the kind that can see and hear spiritually!
With our blessed eyes and ears, we 'see' and 'hear' God and the meaning of His Word. Such blessed sight and hearing ever strengthens our faith as well as serves as a blessing to others. Just for the fun of it, imagine (if you will) a world that when everyone sneezed, people would give them a heart-felt Godly blessing. Not just an 'aped' or 'Pavlov's dog kind of mindless response type of blessing! But one that was genuinely sincere about giving them God's love. After all, God's love is exactly what we see and hear His Word say regarding our relationships with others; friend or foe alike. People would be trying to sneeze! God's love would abound! Is that not what He purposed for us from the beginning? God bless you (sneeze or no sneeze!)!
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for giving me the blessed gift of spiritual eyes and ears. Fill me with your love and blessings and allow me to be contagious about spreading them around, in Jesus Name, Amen.
Wednesday, 09 February 2011
KEEPING IT SIMPLE
Religion that God accepts as pure and faultless is this; to look after orphans and widows in their distress - James 1:27a
That certainly simplifies religion, does it not? Keeping it simple, Christianity is really all about relationships. Starting at the top; God The Father and His relationship with His Son-Jesus. Pure, perfect love! Holy intimacy! Keeping it simple, that is the kind of love God offers we, His children. By grace through faith in Him, we live in that loving relationship not only with Him, but with our family both immediate, extended, as well as our spiritual family-fellow believers. Jesus once said, "Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother."We also continue to reach out in love to those who choose not to believe that our family can be full and complete.
The beauty and simplicity of the verse above calls for religion to be more than just faith. Rather, it calls for a "hands-on" faith. We can draw a parallel to another verse in James (2:17), "faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." Keeping it simple, the Christian religion is more than just talking the talk, it's talking and walking the talk.
That brings up a simple question: Who among us have always walked and talked the talk (a.k.a. what we profess to believe)? There's only One! He sacrificed His very life for the fact we don't always walk the talk! That's our brother/God-Jesus. Paul said it best for all of us in Romans 7-"for what I want to do that I don't do, but what I hate, I do." and "Oh what a wretched man I am." But there's God's grace; His amazing grace! Like the song says,
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound! That saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I’m found, was blind but now I see.
Keeping it simple, as we see the "hands-on" hands of Jesus on the cross, by God's grace we're moved to believe in Him and reach out in similar love to others; family, friends, co-workers, classmates, orphans, widows, people across the street, people we don't know in distant countries, and all to whom God gives us opportunity.
In closing, may I offer this simple prayer; Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for Your amazing grace, love, and our relationship with You. Continue teach us to love as You, that in all our relationships, we be found acceptable in Your sight, in Jesus Name, Amen.
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