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". 

First of All

1 Corinthians 15:3

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

Don't you love a to do list? What about a set of instructions?  Many of you immediately said no. I'm sure you have your reasons. Most of the time people hate lists or instructions because of the order they are given. I cannot stand putting something together at the house that has a book with it. I want to get straight to the finished product. I also want to do that last thing on the "to do" lists. It makes us feel like we have accomplished more by doing the last thing. But if we have bypassed all the others on the list then we've done nothing. 

The words, "first..., first of all..., start with..." are very important words. In a book, these words cannot be overlooked. If you skip over these words you'll never understand anything from that moment on. If it is an instruction booklet you cannot skip over "Step 1". If you do, you will have parts left over that you'll have no idea where they go. 

This morning, if you have passed over receiving the Gospel of Jesus Christ, you can't deliver it to anyone else. If you have not made Jesus the Savior of your life then you can't share Him with anyone else. How can we speak of someone we don't know personally?  We can know things about Him, but not enough to share Him. 

Too many today are trying to tell others about a Jesus that they don't personally know themselves. They try to share the truth of His Love without receiving His Love. Speaking of His Grace without experiencing His Grace. This is why there is such a misconstrued view of who Christ really is. It's why we have a distorted understanding of His a Grace, Mercy and Wrath. 

Before you tell others about Jesus, make sure you have received Jesus. Not just believing in Jesus, but believing upon Jesus. Trusting Him as your Savior. Making sure you are in Christ before you share Christ. Some learned a hard lesson in the Bible about this very thing. 

Acts 19:13-16

Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

Paul said he preached what he received. Lord help us to do the same. 

What's Wrong With The Water?

Exodus 15:23

And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.

This week I set out to make some mint, lemon and cucumber water to drink. I cut the lemons. I sliced the cucumbers. Lastly, I chopped up some mint and put it in the water. I tasted it and it wasn't that strong, actually it was pretty good (at least I thought it was). 

After bed that night, I woke up to get me a cool glass of my new drink, which I thought was still good. I went throughout the day drinking it from time to time. I left for my afternoon bus route and couldn't wait to get back home for another cold glass of the cucumber water. Well, when I walked in the door of our house I went straight to the fridge. Placing my cup under the spout, the fresh water came out. I took it up and drank it down. I let out a big, "Ahhhhh". Then out of nowhere  Jacob, my son, said, "Dad! That water is nasty! Something is wrong with it!"  I almost spit the water in my mouth out because of him. He said, "It taste funny! Like it's bitter". 

The children of Israel came to a place where there was a well. The place was called Marah, which means bitter. The people couldn't drink the water because of its bitterness. And much like the waters, they began to murmur and complain about it. What is so amazing is that our God has a great way of teaching us lessons. The children of Israel had been bitter in their attitude toward Moses, Aaron and even God. So God brought them to a place that appeared to be water and rest and it was bitter. Do you find that funny?  I can't help it, but I do. It seems like their bitterness came back to them. 

Today, this morning, you have to make choices. You will make a choice to rise from bed and begin to work. You have a choice to stay in bed and rest. You have a choice to be bitter or to be sweet. I know that we don't know what the day will bring, but whatever happens we have choices to make. We choose to be bitter. Bitterness is a root of sin that infects the gardens of our minds. What we need is for the Holy Spirit of a God to remove the roots of bitterness from us. Many times bitterness comes from unforgiveness. 

Imagine if people came to you, drew from your well, and spit out what they tasted. What if they said, "Don't drink that! Something is wrong with that water! It taste funny, like it's bitter!"?  One old preacher once told me, "What's in the well, the bucket brings up". Choose to confess your bitterness. Choose to be the pure, clean, refreshing water of life. 

Do you know what's really cool?  God told them to put this certain kind of tree in the waters and it turned them sweet. After this, they began to enjoy the waters of the well because they were no more bitter. If you would confessyour sins to Jesus. If you would allow the man who hung on the "Old Rugged Cross" into your life, your bitter water would become sweet. Your hate would become love. Choose Jesus!