This Week's Passage
"For HE satisfies the longing soul, And fills the hungry soul with goodness." Psalm 107:9 (NKJV)
Strong's:
Satisfies #7646 - saba = to be satisfied, sated, fulfilled, surfeited
Longing #8264 - shaqaq = thirsty
Hungry #7457 - ra'eb - 1c. figurative use = of failing strength
The past five weeks have been difficult for me both spiritually and emotionally. At first, I could not understand why my heart was so heavy and the tears flowed so easily. I am not depressed or unhappy with my life, husband, role, or responsibilities. I am able to function and accomplish what needs to be done. I enjoy my day, but I just felt this heaviness about me that I do not usually experience.
I began to question the Lord about this heaviness. I asked Him to reveal to me the issue and then to deal with it according to His Word. Now, I want to pause here a moment to give honor and glory to the Lord. You see, this is not my normal response to suffering of any kind - large or small. My flesh is very prideful and selfish so my normal response is to be angry that I am dealing with an issue and then I move from anger into my "fix it" mode where I begin to look for the quickest way to remove all the discomfort and return to "life uninterrupted!!" God is gracious and HE has allowed me to study the book of James during this time so my awareness of how HE expects His children to respond to all the trials and affliction in their life is heightened. His truth working in me has enabled me to respond in a way that glorifies Him.
Over the past several weeks, Glen and I have talked and prayed, I have sought counsel from a couple of godly women, and I have stayed in the Word of God seeking Him in the midst of this storm. God is good and HE has walked me through several areas of my heart that needed to be dealt with according to His Word. In fact, two weeks into this particular "storm" one of the ladies I was speaking with said, "Michelle, God has been teaching me that His Word is to be food for my soul!" At once, my heart leaped and I knew that statement somehow fit my situation. I did not know how it fit or what the Lord was trying to teach me, but my spirit agreed with that statement and I quickly wrote that down and began praying and asking the Lord to show me what HE wanted to teach me.
Over the next couple of weeks it became more clear to me. You see, I am an "extremist" (basically, I move from one extreme to the other with very little middle ground). In the past, when I have been given the opportunity to minister I did so with a sinful heart. Because the Lord is a gracious God, HE did not allow me to continue in ministry. HE removed me from that situation and began a long, often painful, yet very wonderful work in those areas of sin and pride. HE has also been dealing with the extremeness in my life. Three months ago, the Lord again opened the door for me to serve. HE gave me the privilege of preparing a Bible study for the ladies' Sunday school class at church. I became very focused on serving in a way that glorifies the Lord and not falling prey to my sinful flesh again in this area.
Over the past three months, my focus has been on preparing, teaching, and serving but I have neglected to allow God's Word to feed my soul. Praise the Lord HE allowed my soul to become heavy and allowed me wisdom to seek godly counsel during this time. Now please hear me say that I have certainly learned a great deal during my individual study and through the wonderful insight each lady brings to the discussion in class. My head knowledge about the Word of God has increased and I really do see things that I did not see before. My understanding of who God is and who I am is heightened; however, what I have been missing is taking time to really allow God's Word to become food for my soul!!
During the discussion last Sunday, we were discussing the commands for teachers in James 3. One lady pointed out that teachers need to be very careful when they teach because they cannot lead beyond the point they are spiritually. That is where I was headed. James continually challenges us to evaluate our faith against the plum line of Scripture. Christians cannot grow in their relationship with Christ if our focus is not on Christ. My Friend, where are you today? Take the Word of God and examine your own faith based on the truths of God's Word. Make sure your faith is in line with Scripture and measure what you say you believe against what you actually do and how you respond to trials in your life.
Read our focal passage once more: "For HE satisfies the longing soul, And fills the hungry soul with goodness." (Psalm 107:9) God's Word is exactly what each of His children need every moment of every day. There is nothing that God's Word cannot satisfy. Our souls were created for an intimate relationship with Him and anything else dissatisfies the soul. Man is continually seeking to fill that emptiness within Him and God Himself fills us to the very core with all that HE is and all that HE has. An example of this is found in John 4:1-42. God's love, mercy, grace, and complete fulfillment is displayed in Christ Jesus' interaction with the precious Samaritan woman at the well.
Jesus sat beside the well where the Samaritan woman drew water each day. When she approached the well, Jesus asked her for a drink. This sparked a conversation between the two because it was very uncommon for a Jew to interact with a Samaritan. During their conversation, Jesus said to the woman, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and HE would have given you living water."(John 4:10). Jesus talked with the woman about her life and the sin that filled it. She listened and HE opened her eyes to see who HE was. She left Jesus and ran to proclaim Him to her city. Scripture says that many in her city believed. Why? "Then they said to the woman, "Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world." (John 4:42).
Christ Jesus knew exactly what the Samaritan woman needed and what she was doing to try to satisfy the longing in her soul. Christ confronted her sin with Truth and HE allowed her to come to Him in complete surrender and acceptance. That is exactly what God is calling each of us to do. HE has opened up heaven to those who will believe and those who will call upon the name of Jesus in repentance, surrender and acceptance. There is nothing that you are doing, seeking, obtaining, or accomplishing that will satisfy to the very depth of your soul. Nothing will last forever except the Word of God. "All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass, The grass withers, And its flower falls away, But the word of the LORD endures forever…" (1 Peter 1:24-25a)
Where are you today, My Friend? This very moment, what is your focus? With what are you trying to satisfy yourself? In what are you basing your hope, your trust, your confidence, your purpose? If it is in anything besides Jesus Christ, you are wasting your time. Bow before the Lord God and allow Him to reveal to you any area that is not completely surrendered to Him. Allow Him to expose anything in your life that is hindering your walk with Him. If you are not a believer, call upon the name of Jesus and ask Him for mercy, grace, wisdom, insight and salvation. HE is faithful. HE is the God of heaven and earth. And HE alone is the source of complete satisfaction. Glory and honor to the only One who saves sinners from the wrath of God!!!!
Friday, February 27, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
Monday Morning Devotion #264
This Week's Passage
"My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality." James 2:1 (NKJV)
Strong's:
Faith #3982 - pistis- In the NT, conviction or belief respecting man's relationship with God and generally with the included idea of trust and holy favor born of faith and joined with it.
Partiality #4382 -prosopolepsia- 2a) the fault of one who when called on to give judgment has respect of the outward circumstances of man and not to their
intrinsic merits, and so prefers, as the more worthy, one who is rich, high born, or powerful, to another who does not have these qualities
_
I must begin this devotion by stating that several of the insights found within this text has been gathered from the Bible study the Lord has called me to write as well as from the ladies' class in which the study is being taught. One of the wonderful blessings of writing this study is that I am able to share it with a group of sisters in Christ and they, in turn, bring so much to the discussion. I am learning so much from the wisdom God has given them as well as what HE is teaching me through the preparation of the lessons.
A few weeks ago, we came to our focal passage and we began the discussion with the obvious question: Do we love and live in such a way that shows partiality? Christ Jesus calls us to love the way HE loves - unconditionally and without partiality. But then another question was raised: Do we dress and act in such a way that places us in a position of receiving favoritism or partiality? God began a huge work in my own heart through the study of His Word in this area and I would like to share with you some of these truths from God's Word.
First, let's all begin by asking the Lord God to open our eyes so we can see His Word clearly. May HE give us each a heart that longs for His Truth and may we each allow that Truth to penetrate to the very core of our being. Lord God, please expose all our hidden sin and bring those areas of our lives to the surface. My Friend, we cannot truly be free if we are bound in any area. Fear can keep us bound in sin. Fear of embarrassment, fear of shame and humiliation, fear of rejection, fear of being exposed for who we really are can keep us from confessing and repenting. Even if we are not participating in a particular sin at this very moment, if we have committed any sin and not confessed and repented of that sin to the Lord God, we are still bound. God requires a pure heart before Him. HE never ignores or forgets unconfessed sin but His Word says, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, HE is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us" (1 John 1:8-10).
God's heart is for His children to be free from this sin, this world, and self. HE offered Himself so that we could live an abundant life in the midst of this fallen world (John 10:10). His desire is for us to stand on His Word and to proclaim Him to all the world. I love how our pastor put it last Sunday, "God could have chosen any method to display His glory, but HE chose to use mere men and women to be the voice for Him." Are you a voice, My Friend, or are you a stumbling block to those looking to you to point them to the cross? Father, may each of Your children be humbled before You and may we come to the place of complete surrender and true humility before Your throne. May You be glorified in us and through us and may others come to You because we have been faithful to lead them to the only place where freedom overflows - the foot of the cross.
Read our focal passage once more. "My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality" (James 2:1).
"Christians are to be an exact representation of Christ Jesus our Lord. We are to love the way HE loves, walk the way HE walked, talk the way HE talked, and serve the way HE served. "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, HE humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross." (Philippians 2:5-8) I love this passage. It is such a challenge to me personally. I struggle with pride and my fleshly desires, but through the finished work of Christ Jesus on the cross, I have the power in Him to overcome those selfish urges and be like Christ. My flesh wants to be satisfied and I have to die to self daily, sometimes moment by moment. Christ loves us with a love that is incomprehensible. HE who was God, became man, yet remaining fully God, lived on this earth in full surrender and obedience to the Father. That obedience required that HE put aside all HE had in glory and to die on the cross for vile and wicked men and women. I was one of those sinners and I am in awe that the Lord of lords, King of kings, the Great I AM would do such a thing for me!
Our focal passage tells us that we are to put aside partiality and love everyone equally. How do we do this? We must begin by seeing people the way God sees them. 1 Samuel 16:7 tells us that man looks at the outward appearance of a man, but God looks at the heart. Now, we cannot see the heart of man, but we can learn to see people through the eyes of Christ. Loving them and serving them no matter what their appearance or social economic status is. Let's pause here a moment. It is easy to say we do not judge others based on outward appearance or status, but is this really true? Take a moment and ask the Lord to reveal any sin of partiality in your own heart…" (A Journey Through James by Michelle Jones pages 63-64).
Another way to show partiality is to demand special treatment for ourselves. When we prepare ourselves in the morning, what is our motive? Do we dress in a certain way that brings attention to ourselves? Keep in mind, we do not have to dress immodestly to draw attention to ourselves. Heart issues drive our actions. When our hearts are pure, our actions are focused on glorifying the Lord Jesus and pointing others to Him. When our hearts are full of pride and self, our actions are directed toward pointing others to ourselves and our achievements and successes. God's Word gives several instructions on how we are to adorn ourselves. 1 Peter 3:3-4 says "Do not let your adornment be merely outward-arranging of the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel-rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God."
Before I expand on this passage, let's make sure we keep this in context. Peter is addressing women and he is addressing them in the context of how they should behave toward their husbands. Peter is urging wives to dress and act in such a way that points their husbands to the Lord and if that husband is not a believer, her actions will lead him to the cross of Jesus Christ. I do think we can all gain valuable insight from this passage regardless of our marital status. The point Peter is making to these ladies is that people need to see more than us! Our looks, our thoughts, our status is not what glorifies the Lord. Yes, God made each of us differently and in the uniqueness His creativity is displayed. There is nothing wrong with God's children expressing themselves uniquely (within the context of Biblical commands), but nothing about us saves the lost from an eternity of separation from the Lord God.
We must understand that God has chosen to use us to display His glory and we are mere vessels for Him to speak to a lost and dying world. When we begin to look at ourselves and feel superior in any form, we have robbed the Lord of what is rightfully His - glory, praise, and attention. We must all be very careful not to become focused on self or on those who appear to have something that will enhance us - wealth, prestige, position, or connections. Let us never forget that Christ Jesus gave to us selflessly. HE became sin for us and died on the cross to save us from eternal destruction. May we never strive to place ourselves above the Most High or anyone HE has created. May our hearts be pure before Him and seek to give all glory, honor, praise, attention, and adoration to Him and Him alone.
How does God expect us to treat one another? Turn in your Bible to Leviticus 19:9-16. God's Word gives us several ways that we are to honor others above ourselves. Each one is geared toward helping others with a selfless heart and a Christ-like love. In Romans 15:1-6, we are instructed to love others through carrying one another's burdens, praying for and with one another and worshipping together in a way that edifies the body and honors the Lord. Let's conclude by reading together 1 John 4:12-13 & 16b "No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him, and HE in us, because He has given us of His Spirit…God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him."
"My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality." James 2:1 (NKJV)
Strong's:
Faith #3982 - pistis- In the NT, conviction or belief respecting man's relationship with God and generally with the included idea of trust and holy favor born of faith and joined with it.
Partiality #4382 -prosopolepsia- 2a) the fault of one who when called on to give judgment has respect of the outward circumstances of man and not to their
intrinsic merits, and so prefers, as the more worthy, one who is rich, high born, or powerful, to another who does not have these qualities
_
I must begin this devotion by stating that several of the insights found within this text has been gathered from the Bible study the Lord has called me to write as well as from the ladies' class in which the study is being taught. One of the wonderful blessings of writing this study is that I am able to share it with a group of sisters in Christ and they, in turn, bring so much to the discussion. I am learning so much from the wisdom God has given them as well as what HE is teaching me through the preparation of the lessons.
A few weeks ago, we came to our focal passage and we began the discussion with the obvious question: Do we love and live in such a way that shows partiality? Christ Jesus calls us to love the way HE loves - unconditionally and without partiality. But then another question was raised: Do we dress and act in such a way that places us in a position of receiving favoritism or partiality? God began a huge work in my own heart through the study of His Word in this area and I would like to share with you some of these truths from God's Word.
First, let's all begin by asking the Lord God to open our eyes so we can see His Word clearly. May HE give us each a heart that longs for His Truth and may we each allow that Truth to penetrate to the very core of our being. Lord God, please expose all our hidden sin and bring those areas of our lives to the surface. My Friend, we cannot truly be free if we are bound in any area. Fear can keep us bound in sin. Fear of embarrassment, fear of shame and humiliation, fear of rejection, fear of being exposed for who we really are can keep us from confessing and repenting. Even if we are not participating in a particular sin at this very moment, if we have committed any sin and not confessed and repented of that sin to the Lord God, we are still bound. God requires a pure heart before Him. HE never ignores or forgets unconfessed sin but His Word says, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, HE is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us" (1 John 1:8-10).
God's heart is for His children to be free from this sin, this world, and self. HE offered Himself so that we could live an abundant life in the midst of this fallen world (John 10:10). His desire is for us to stand on His Word and to proclaim Him to all the world. I love how our pastor put it last Sunday, "God could have chosen any method to display His glory, but HE chose to use mere men and women to be the voice for Him." Are you a voice, My Friend, or are you a stumbling block to those looking to you to point them to the cross? Father, may each of Your children be humbled before You and may we come to the place of complete surrender and true humility before Your throne. May You be glorified in us and through us and may others come to You because we have been faithful to lead them to the only place where freedom overflows - the foot of the cross.
Read our focal passage once more. "My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality" (James 2:1).
"Christians are to be an exact representation of Christ Jesus our Lord. We are to love the way HE loves, walk the way HE walked, talk the way HE talked, and serve the way HE served. "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, HE humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross." (Philippians 2:5-8) I love this passage. It is such a challenge to me personally. I struggle with pride and my fleshly desires, but through the finished work of Christ Jesus on the cross, I have the power in Him to overcome those selfish urges and be like Christ. My flesh wants to be satisfied and I have to die to self daily, sometimes moment by moment. Christ loves us with a love that is incomprehensible. HE who was God, became man, yet remaining fully God, lived on this earth in full surrender and obedience to the Father. That obedience required that HE put aside all HE had in glory and to die on the cross for vile and wicked men and women. I was one of those sinners and I am in awe that the Lord of lords, King of kings, the Great I AM would do such a thing for me!
Our focal passage tells us that we are to put aside partiality and love everyone equally. How do we do this? We must begin by seeing people the way God sees them. 1 Samuel 16:7 tells us that man looks at the outward appearance of a man, but God looks at the heart. Now, we cannot see the heart of man, but we can learn to see people through the eyes of Christ. Loving them and serving them no matter what their appearance or social economic status is. Let's pause here a moment. It is easy to say we do not judge others based on outward appearance or status, but is this really true? Take a moment and ask the Lord to reveal any sin of partiality in your own heart…" (A Journey Through James by Michelle Jones pages 63-64).
Another way to show partiality is to demand special treatment for ourselves. When we prepare ourselves in the morning, what is our motive? Do we dress in a certain way that brings attention to ourselves? Keep in mind, we do not have to dress immodestly to draw attention to ourselves. Heart issues drive our actions. When our hearts are pure, our actions are focused on glorifying the Lord Jesus and pointing others to Him. When our hearts are full of pride and self, our actions are directed toward pointing others to ourselves and our achievements and successes. God's Word gives several instructions on how we are to adorn ourselves. 1 Peter 3:3-4 says "Do not let your adornment be merely outward-arranging of the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel-rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God."
Before I expand on this passage, let's make sure we keep this in context. Peter is addressing women and he is addressing them in the context of how they should behave toward their husbands. Peter is urging wives to dress and act in such a way that points their husbands to the Lord and if that husband is not a believer, her actions will lead him to the cross of Jesus Christ. I do think we can all gain valuable insight from this passage regardless of our marital status. The point Peter is making to these ladies is that people need to see more than us! Our looks, our thoughts, our status is not what glorifies the Lord. Yes, God made each of us differently and in the uniqueness His creativity is displayed. There is nothing wrong with God's children expressing themselves uniquely (within the context of Biblical commands), but nothing about us saves the lost from an eternity of separation from the Lord God.
We must understand that God has chosen to use us to display His glory and we are mere vessels for Him to speak to a lost and dying world. When we begin to look at ourselves and feel superior in any form, we have robbed the Lord of what is rightfully His - glory, praise, and attention. We must all be very careful not to become focused on self or on those who appear to have something that will enhance us - wealth, prestige, position, or connections. Let us never forget that Christ Jesus gave to us selflessly. HE became sin for us and died on the cross to save us from eternal destruction. May we never strive to place ourselves above the Most High or anyone HE has created. May our hearts be pure before Him and seek to give all glory, honor, praise, attention, and adoration to Him and Him alone.
How does God expect us to treat one another? Turn in your Bible to Leviticus 19:9-16. God's Word gives us several ways that we are to honor others above ourselves. Each one is geared toward helping others with a selfless heart and a Christ-like love. In Romans 15:1-6, we are instructed to love others through carrying one another's burdens, praying for and with one another and worshipping together in a way that edifies the body and honors the Lord. Let's conclude by reading together 1 John 4:12-13 & 16b "No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him, and HE in us, because He has given us of His Spirit…God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him."
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