Rub Some Dirt On It

Ephesians 6:10
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

"Get up and rub some dirt on it... Come on, toughen up". Have you ever heard some of those phrases before? Don't get me wrong today there are times in our lives that we need to toughen up. Don't you just love going to the doctor and they say, "This may sting a little"? Yeah right, it feels like your trying to push the thickest molasses through that syringe into my body. But we grit our teeth and toughen up.

Well this morning you may have something difficult that is before you. You are trying to be so strong and tough enough to get through it. You put on the smile. You lace up your shoes and tie them tight. Take that deep breath... and then fall to pieces. You keep telling yourself, "Don't cry, be tough, people need me to be strong". Who is going to be strong for you?

Sometimes, and in some things, we can't rely on our own strength alone. We need the strength of the Lord. The scripture today says, "Finally, my brethren, be strong IN THE LORD, and in the power of HIS might." Being strong in the Lord could mean that you are at your weakest in yourself. God's Word says that His strength is made perfect in weakness. Don't pretend that you have it all together today. Before you leave the house find the time to tell the Lord that you need His strength. Share with Him your heart and talk to Him as if He were your counselor, because He is.

Looking at the Stars

Philippians 2:14-15

Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

Have you ever laid on your back during a summer night and looked at all the stars in the sky?  It seems so peaceful doesn't it?  Once while my wife and I were looking up at the stars I said, "I would love to see a shooting star". Then all of the sudden a streak, that seemed like it was close enough to touch, came shooting across the sky. It was so close and bright that it scared my wife. She thought it was lightening or a plane falling from the sky. It lit up the whole yard. 

I know that not very many people are morning risers but I am. I love getting up early to go on a fishing trip before the sun ever rises. I also enjoy getting up and running on a summer morning before the sun rises. Yesterday I finished a run and was walking it down when I looked up and saw those bright stars. I found a place to sit and talk to The Lord for a moment. Looking up at the handiwork of God while talking to Him is one of the greatest privilege we have. He has given us access to His presence through prayer and painted a beautiful picture of His ability in the sky. At about 5:30 you could look across the horizon and just see the yellow light coming up. The light from the rising sun was slowly becoming brighter and brighter.

This really stirred in my heart. God tells us that we are bright lights of His Gospel. We are reflectors of His love. So we should live in such a way that would honor Him and be blameless before all men. In the midst of a crooked and darkened world, we are lights. It reminded me of those stars on a blanket of darkness. Although it is dark, you can really see the stars shine out. But then they began to disappear because of the rising sun. You see, someday all of the brightness that I can show in a dark world will be nothing compared to the coming of the Son. Just like all those stars disappearing because the brightness of the sun, we are to shine until the Son rises in their hearts. When he comes in, they will see Him!  When He comes back they will see Him! 

Lord help me today and everyday to be the brightest I may be for the Gospel. While this world is dark, let me be your light. Keep shining until the Son appears!

Be Careful What You Ask For

James 4:3
Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

Have you ever thought that you could be praying the wrong way? It could be that you are praying for the wrong thing or really don't know what you're asking for.  Just the other day I was in a school bus class and someone asked a question about technology. Their question seemed to be a great idea and had good intentions. The question was addressing the overbooking of the classes and if the trainer thought that it would ever just go to being an online class that we could do from home. No one in that room thought it to be a bad idea until the instructor made his case.

He said, "Be careful what you ask for. Sometimes we want a quick technological fix but often forget that it will take away from jobs. We don't realize that if all things go to the internet then instructors loose their jobs. Then it's only a matter of time before our school systems can go to this same system. Which means a need for only a handful of teachers, and no more bus drivers." This man's question had the potential of being his loss of job and retirement.

What our instructor was saying was that we need to be very careful what we ask for. It has the potential of being our own destruction. When our prayer life is consumed with our flesh, and the lusts thereof, then we have nothing. We ask amiss, we ask for the wrong reasons. Be careful what you ask for, it may not be what you really want.

Striking Another Match

2 Corinthians 3:3

Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

I'll never forget when I first learned to drive. My dad beat the floor with his foot so hard that people probably thought we had 15" woofers in the car. One day he stopped me by pulling the emergency brake up and began to tell me that I was definitely going to run into someone or something backwards someday. He opened his Bible to the front cover, you know the blank page on the inside of the Bible?  He then proceeded to write, in his best phonetical English... "Steve will run into something backin' up". (If I'm not mistaken he still has the Bible)  I'll never forget the final words as he pointed to the writing, "You can bank on it, I wrote it down". 

Things written on paper have a tendency to fade or wither away but not things in stone. A friend of mine, Evangelist Junior Hill, once told a story of a woman who's husband died. She went to purchase a tombstone and was asked what to place on it. She asked him to make it read, "The light of my life has now gone out."  Well months later she returned to the salesman and asked if it could be changed. The salesman said, "No ma'am. That's written in stone. You can't change things written in stone."  So she replied, "Where it says, "The light of my life has gone out... Change the period into a comma and add these words... But I have struck another match."  

Looking at today's scripture we see that what God has given unto us, He has wrote upon our hearts. Thank you Lord that your Word never changes. Thank you that your Word needs no additions or revisions. Thank you Lord that you have spoken to our hearts. When we think of the Holy Word of God being applied to the fleshly hearts it sure does make a lot of sense to hide it in our hearts so that we may not sin against God. 

Maybe you would like to add commas or phrases to what God has already told you in His word. You would be wrong in doing this. The Light of God's Word is sufficient and accurate. You don't need a PHD to understand it, only the Holy Spirit of God. Allow His Word to flood your heart today. 

Ooooohhhhh, and I may back up into something today, but so far... Still good. 

It's All In How You Look At Things

1 Samuel 16:7

But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

I love the scripture this morning. It shows us that God can look so much deeper into our lives to see who we are. The depth of this verse teaches us that God doesn't look upon talents, gifts, beauty or popularity. He looks for desire, commitment, love, honor and humility. God is not impressed with us but rather He wants to impress upon us (make an impact upon us). Many today think that we must be a vessel that is filled up with qualities and great characteristics before God chooses to do great things in our lives. It's just the opposite of that. He wants us to be empty. Totally empty of who we think we are or qualities we think we should have. 

God knew King Saul and his big stature and qualities and didn't choose him. But He saw David and his disposition... 1 Samuel 16:18. "Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the Lord is with him."

One old preacher man once said, "God doesn't call the equipped, but equips the called". God knows what you can be!  Stop trying to be someone that you aren't. God may desire to use you today and you can't get caught up in the inabilities or insecurities you may have. God used Moses who couldn't speak well. God used Elijah who sometimes had a whiney streak. God used Jonah to preach one of the greatest revival messages of all time, but He first had to bring him back from messing around with the fish. God used Peter to speak His word, after taking Peter's shoe out his mouth many times. 

God is looking today, right now!  He searching for followers, leaders, teachers and preachers. You may not feel equipped. You may be the one praying for help in leadership. Don't look on the outside, ask God to search the heart. Ask Him to direct you. 

Bathroom Theology

Exodus 17:14

And the Lord said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua...

Before you jump up against me this morning please read all the devotion... 

Some time ago I went into a gas station bathroom...stay with me. Now I know you're not supposed to read the sayings on the bathroom wall, but I couldn't help myself. One that stuck out to me was in plain sight and plain print. It said, "Jesus Saves". But underneath it in scribble it said, "Moses Invests". 

My first thought on this was confusion. I had no idea why someone would put that with the statement of salvation. I had to stop and remind myself that it was bathroom theology. After washing my hands, grabbing a coke and paying for my purchases, it was still bothering me. I got into my truck and continued to dwell on it. "Jesus Saves... Moses Invests, Jesus Saves... Moses Invests?"  It was driving me crazy. 

The true meaning of this phrase is supposed to be a joke against Jewish people. It is intended to speak of Jews being tight with their money and investing it instead of spending it. But that day, and forever since, God showed me something quite different. I know that we can't put much stock in bathroom theology, but let me explain to you what Christ showed me. 

From studying the Word of God I clearly see that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. By trusting and placing your life into His, we are forever saved. So it is very evident that Jesus Saves!  

John 3:17

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

By studying deeper I have found that Moses couldn't save anyone. He could only lead people to God by investing in their lives. No matter the preacher or Christian, we can never save them as Christ Jesus can and will. We will only be able to invest into their lives. Remember the first scripture?  Moses rehearsed the things of God into their ears. People will have to ultimately make a decision on their own. We are called to invest!  

So you see sometimes, definitely not all, the bathroom theology could teach us something great. Of all the things That I have seen on the walls of a gas station bathroom, this one is a lesson I'll never forget. Thanks to Moses for investing, but thanks be unto Jesus for His salvation. 

Could You Say That?

Acts 3:4-6

And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

Our scripture this morning tells us of a story about a man who laid at the gate of the temple called Beautiful. He asked for money everyday. The reason that he laid at the gate is because of his condition. He was a lame man. Day after day, this man had to have someone take him to this place to beg for help. Same routine, many of the same faces, somedays it would rain and others the sun would shine brighter than it had days before. Everyday his routine wouldn't waver much. He would just beg everyone who passes by. 

But on this day someone finally spoke up. Look at what Peter tells this man. He says, "Look on us". He asked this man to look at them. He wanted the attention of the lame man to be focused. Noticed what the lame man does..."He gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them". This man looked upon Peter and John expecting maybe some money or some food but instead he received something far greater. 

Peter tells this man that he didn't have any silver or gold, but what he did have was from Jesus Christ. On this day, the lame man walked away from the gate that his friends brought him to everyday. No more begging! No more depending on others to carry him!  

Look at how it all started. "Look upon us", said Peter. He then pointed him straight to Jesus Christ. Can we tell the world that is lost and hurting to look upon us? Can they look upon us to find Jesus?  Looking upon us for good deeds or a good heart isn't enough. They must see Jesus in us. So, can they say this about you?  Could you say that?

Lord Jesus, please help us today to be just as you. Help us today to portray the very likeness of you to the lost and hurting. When people need you, may I please say, "Look upon us".