Stand Firm

First things first: Can I just ask for you all to forgive me? I apologize for leaving you blogless these past few months. It was necessary in the beginning, and then I just lost my mojo. I have no words. I am ashamed. I have prayed. God's forgiven me. Will you? I thank you in advance for your mercy.

On another note, I've missed blogging. I'm not sure if I will return to daily posts, though. But, I don't want to give up the blog totally. I will, however, be posting more regularly moving forward. I'm still figuring out how to make things work.

So, on to today's inspirational moment.

It seems like every single day there is news about how the church is being challenged to give ground to the world and accept the world's way of doing things. The church is consistently being asked to compromise what the Bible says for what is the current views of the day. And, far more frequently, the church is giving in.

I can only assume that many believers don't want to be seen as bigots or hateful or crazy or unreasonable. We don't want our friends, family members, co-workers, or society in general to place us in an unflattering light.

So, we find little ways to compromise. Maybe we misinterpreted that scripture on fornication. Perhaps a child really doesn't become a human being until a certain point during pregnancy. There are pastors who are gay now, so maybe the original thoughts on homosexuality were incorrect. God is so loving perhaps there are multiple ways to get into heaven.

Little by little, we keep giving in. Yet, how long until we have nothing left to stand for?

When Daniel was torn away from everything he knew and was chosen to serve a new king, he purposed in his heart not to defile himself with the king's provisions. (Daniel 1:8) There were other Jews who were taken into captivity as well. But Daniel was the one who chose to remain true to the Lord's will. He stood up for what he believed in. And the Lord showed him favor. Because of his stance, the Lord blessed Daniel with wisdom and insight far greater than anyone else in the king's service. (Daniel 1:19, 20)

Are you allowing the world to make you compromise what you know is right and holy? Are you standing for righteousness? Can the Lord count on you to stand firm in the midst of complacency?

Today, purpose in your heart to follow after God no matter who around you is giving in. Don't compromise what you know is right for the popular view of the day. The Lord will bless you and show you favor because of your faithfulness to His Word.

Verse of the Day: But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. Matthew 10:33

Wednesday's Word: You Must Be Born Again

Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council.
He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him."

Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again."
"How can someone be born when they are old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother's womb to be born!"
Jesus answered, "Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

"How can this be?" Nicodemus asked.
"You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things? Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven--the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him."

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

John 3:1-21 (NIV)

 

 

Have you been born again? Are you living in the light? The word is clear: we must be born again. God sent His only Son so that we could have eternal life. Eternal life comes when we believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus has been lifted up on the cross. Believe on Him and find eternal life.

 

Have a blessed day!

For God's Glory

When Mary and Martha's brother Lazarus died, they were rightfully devastated. Of course they were upset with the death of their brother, but it hurt even more because they were close to Jesus. While Lazarus was still alive they sent word to Jesus for Him to come and minister to their brother. Yet, by the time Jesus showed up, Lazarus had been in the grave for a couple of days.

Martha voices her distress to Jesus: "...Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died." (John 11:21b) Mary reiterated the same view when she saw Jesus. However, Jesus was unfazed.  Even as he worked through his own emotions, Jesus pointed out that the occurrence was a prime opportunity to see God's glory.

Jesus had the family roll away the stone, and He called Lazarus back into the land of the living.

Sometimes we feel like Mary and Martha. We consider ourselves to be close to the Lord, but it seems as if our prayers have gone unanswered. We sought the Lord in times of true need, and it seems like He didn't show up for us.

Could God possibly be working something out in a way that will allow you to see His glory?

The Bible says that Jesus will never leave us or forsake us. He will never leave us hanging. He will always answer when we call. Even if your situation now seems unsolvable... even if it seems like the subject is dead... even if you have buried away the thing that you cried out to God about... don't let your faith die.

Continue to trust in believe in the God that can do exceedingly, abundantly, and above all that you can ask or think. It's never over, until God says so.

Verse of the Day: Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.

And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go. John 11:40-44

 

 

 

12 Days of Christmas: Hold on to God's Word

When Jesus was taken to the temple by His parents, a man named Simeon was led by the Spirit to the temple that same day. Simeon knew by the Spirit of the Lord that he would not die until he saw the Messiah. When he saw Jesus, he gave thanks to the Lord and knew that he could finally die in peace. The Lord revealed that Jesus was the One Simeon had been waiting for.

What has God promised to you? What has He spoken over your life that has yet to come to pass?

Make sure you stay in the Spirit! Don't lose hope. Don't give in. Don't allow the passing of days, weeks, months, or years to stop your faith. Remain ready to follow the Spirit of God. Keep your eyes peeled for the manifestation  of God's promise!

Simeon remained sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading. Imagine if he had not kept a prayerful attitude. He might have missed the very day that Messiah was brought to the temple. Or, he may have been present and not have recognized that the Savior was in the building!

God is not a man that He should lie. (Numbers 23:19) Whatever He has spoken to you, He will bring it to pass! Keep your faith strong. Believe in the promises of the Lord, for they are sure. God is going to do what He said!

Verse of the Day: And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name [was] Simeon; and the same man [was] just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word... Luke 2:25-29

Why Do You Believe?

I read an interesting article this morning about a woman who walked away from her faith and is now an atheist. What caught my attention is that she listed her reasons for walking away from religion but I couldn't find any reasons for her to disbelieve in God.

So that got me thinking. It's true. Some aspects of faith are illogical - they don't make sense to our human minds. Many aspects of Christianity rely on belief in a supernatural element. There are tenets that hinge on the spiritual, unseen realm. They require a solid foundational belief that God is real.

Many people today are introduced to Christianity by going to church. They're taught to believe there's a God "somewhere". They're taught to read the Bible. They're taught to say their daily prayers.

But we don't teach how to seek God. We don't instruct how to hear His voice. We don't spend quality time showing others how to build solid, personal relationships with the Lord. People view faith in God as adhering to a set of rules, living according to a moral code, or simply church attendance.

As a result, they can be tricked into seeing Christianity as invalid. They can be persuaded that "God" can mean different things to different people and still be correct. They can even go as far as to not believe that a God exists and see Him as a "nice idea".

Why do you believe? What persuades you that the Lord is real? Have you had a personal encounter with the Lord? Can you say that you know that God is real with certainty?

If you haven't experienced God on a personal level, I encourage you to seek God. Simply ask God to reveal Himself to you. Ask Him to speak to you, to show you His existence in a way that will give you a certainty beyond any doubt that He is real.

I know that the Lord will answer your request. How do I know? Because I asked Him for myself one day, and He answered my call. I know God is real, and no one can make me think any differently.

Verse of the Day: But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king... Jeremiah 10:10a