.....cry

In the beginning, after the creation of the heavens and the earth, "God created man in His own image" Genesis 1:27. The image of God did not refer to our physical appearance but rather the character of our spirit. The spirit of man was created in the image of God for the purpose of bringing Him glory and dwelling with Him for all eternity; "God saw all that He had made, and it was very good" Genesis 1:31.

But when man sinned, a separation immediately formed with God; "they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden" Genesis 3:8. Though man was physically banished from the garden and forbidden to experience the joy of walking side by side with his Creator, and though sin and the resulting separation was inherited by all future generations, there forever remains a damaged spirit which longs to return home.

"How lovely is Your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God."Psalm 84:1-2 This passage was written by one who knew God and the joy of His presence. But the author also knew of man's inability to be satisfied with anything less.

Before we know God, we attempt to stop the cry with all sorts of pacifiers, but nothing satisfies. We pursue pleasures of the flesh, challenges of the mind, and advancement in status, but the cry remains. Sooner or later we realize that Solomon was correct when he said; "I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind" Ecclesiastes 1:14.

Many things of this world are worthwhile as they are done for the glory of God; but in the sense that they attempt to satisfy, they are all meaningless. The ONLY answer to the unsettled and restless longing deep within our soul is to return to a restored relationship with God. When we place our life in the Father's Hands through faith in Jesus, He gives us His Spirit and says, Welcome Home! "The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children" Romans 8:16. And as we learn to walk in this restored relationship, we will finally be at peace.

There are so many things of this world which can occupy our time and consume our thoughts, but none that will truly satisfy. Our search can continue until our time on earth is gone, but the emptiness will remain. Let's return to the Father today and live the rest of our days fully devoted to loving Him. Let's put an end to the chasing and wandering, and finally allow God to satisfy the cry of our heart.

- steve troxel

.....waiting

Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him. Psalm 37:7

A Christian couple was deeply distressed because their married son and his family had quit going to church and were giving God no place in their lives. As their friend, I advised them to continue showing love, to pray, and to avoid starting arguments. But at the family's annual Christmas gathering, the father gave his son a lecture in the presence of the other siblings. The son and his family left in anger and broke off all contact with his parents.

It's hard to rely on prayer alone when you want something to happen right now. But that is what Nehemiah did. He was distraught by the news that the Israelites in Jerusalem were in grave danger Nehemiah 1:3-4. He was a man with great leadership ability and in a favorable position to receive help from the king he served, so he was eager to help his people. 

But he knew that he could be executed for coming into the presence of a Persian king without being invited. Therefore, though he had asked God to give him the opportunity immediately, he trusted God enough to wait. Four months later, the king opened the door for him to make his request Nehemiah 2:1-8.

It's not always easy to be patient, but God can be trusted. 'Wait patiently for Him!"

"Delay is not denial -  pray on!!!"

- dave langerfeld

.....motivated

God has called us to be His witnesses and "ministers of a new covenant" 2 Corinthians 3:6. Our mission field may span the globe or be focused on a few, but our ministries are all the same: we are to glorify God as we proclaim the true gospel of Christ through our words as well as the actions of our life.

If you have dedicated your life to following Jesus, you ARE in full time ministry!! Ministry work can be extremely rewarding as we share the truth and witness real change in the life of someone God places in our mission field. However, ministry work can also be very frustrating and discouraging whenever we forget the reason for our ministry and take our eyes off the One we serve.

We speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. We were not looking for praises from men, not from you or anyone else 1 Thessalonians 2:4,6

God has entrusted us with His gospel message, and we must minister out of an obedience to this trust and a desire to glorify Him in all we do. We are setting ourselves up for failure anytime we become motivated by results or praise. God will often bless us and confirm His leading with fruit in our ministry, but our focus and motivation must always remain on loving Him through our simple obedience. He has called and we must follow for a lifetime, regardless of the result of each individual step.

We must serve and trust that God will bring the harvest in His perfect timing; "for the battle is not yours, but God's" 2 Chronicles 20:15. These are God's battles and ultimately His harvest. Our job is to simply enter the field, plow, and continue to scatter seed. The praises of men will come and go, but the joy of knowing that God is glorified by our obedience is steady and unshakable.

Our efforts may sometimes seem futile, and we may feel completely unqualified, but we must continue - we have been "approved by God!" Our love and encouragement toward others may appear to have minimal effect, but a small nudge today can cause a lifetime of change. An offer of prayer can give renewed hope, and a simple testimony of God's faithfulness in times of trial can soften a heart to the saving gospel of Jesus.

As each of us enter the mission field, God will use us to change the lives of those He places in our path. One day, when we stand in His presence, we may be allowed to see the true impact of our service. But until that time, we must simply continue to serve and be motivated by obedience.

- adapted from steve troxel

.....vision

After entering the promised land, the Israelites were ruled by a series of Judges. This time was characterized by God's discipline when the hearts of His children turned away, and deliverance when they repented and cried out for help. Unfortunately, this cycle was repeated many times! Deborah led the Israelites to forty years of peace, but then; "the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, and for seven years He gave them into the hands of the Midianites" Judges 6:1.

After seven years of oppression, "Midian so impoverished the Israelites that they cried out to the Lord for help" Judges 6:6. The Israelites were living in such fear that when God answered their cry and called Gideon to be the next deliverer of Israel, he was "threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites" Judges 6:11. Gideon would eventually lead a small army to victory and rule Israel for another forty years; but when God first called, he was fearfully sifting grain for his next loaf of bread.

"The Lord turned to him and said, 'Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?' 'But Lord,' Gideon asked, 'how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.'" Judges 6:14-15

Gideon was scared and saw himself as one with little worth, "the least in my family," 

but God saw the next brave leader of a nation. 

Gideon saw weakness, but God saw strength. 

Gideon saw his past failures, but God saw the future victories of a mighty warrior. 

Gideon's vision required him to fearfully work for his next loaf, but God's vision was calling Gideon to boldly lead many others closer to His side.

God sees each of us much differently than we see ourselves; "Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" 1 Samuel 16:7. Not only does God see deeper, He sees with an expanded spiritual spectrum which we can scarcely imagine. Our Father is intimately aware of all our failings...and He loves us anyway! He not only sees who we are, but also who we will become as our heart is fully devoted to Him and we learn to walk in step with His Spirit. He sees every opportunity we will ever have to glorify His name.

Let's put aside the baggage of our past which clouds and distorts our view. Let's refuse to look through the filter of our present understanding and perceived limitations; "fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen" 2 Corinthians 4:18. 

God has called us into His Glorious Kingdom, uniquely equipped us for His service, and given us an assignment to share His love and truth. Our Heavenly Father sees our full potential as we walk in His strength. Let's answer the call and move forward with confidence as we trust His vision. 

- steve troxel

.....mission

The apostles were instructed by the best Teacher the world has ever known; they witnessed the miracles of Jesus' life as well as His death and resurrection. It had been forty days since Jesus walked victoriously out of the tomb, and He was now returning to the loving arms of His Father. But first, Jesus visited with His friends one last time and gave them a charge which would last the rest of their lives.

You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth Acts 1:8

Jesus' death initiated the new covenant agreement between God and man; "this cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you" Luke 22:20. And on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was given to all who believed and had entered into this new covenant. Jesus' final instruction to the apostles was for them to be witnesses of this message of hope - to take this message of the new covenant in Christ and the power of His Spirit into the mission field.

Jesus defined the mission field as "to the ends of the earth," meaning the extent of the known world, but He also said to witness "in all Judea and Samaria", and "in Jerusalem". Jesus was saying: Wherever you go - whether near or far - be My witness and boldly proclaim the good news; "He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant" 2 Corinthians 3:6.

All who truly profess Jesus as Lord and Savior have been sealed and empowered by His Spirit and are now to be witnesses of the Gospel; "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us" 2 Corinthians 5:20. Our mission field will not necessarily be in a foreign land, or with a different language, but it WILL be filled with those who need to hear, see, taste, and feel the message of Jesus. And our life ought to be a clear demonstration of that message!

We should praise God for the missionaries in foreign lands. They are accomplishing a vital service and need our prayers and support - and perhaps some of us are being called right now to join in this vital service in a deeper way! But we should also praise God for ALL who faithfully look for the hurting and lonely, who seek out those in need of love and encouragement, who minister the love of Jesus and proclaim His message through all they do...right where they are!

"I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest" John 4:35. The field is all around us - in our church, our neighborhood, our workplace...even in our own family! Let's accept the charge today to be faithful ambassadors and proclaim the good news wherever He leads. Let's boldly step out in faith and enter the mission field!

- adapted from steve troxel

.....potter

Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. Isaiah 64:8

I remember hearing those words when I was a child sitting in a church pew. I envisioned a man sitting at his pottery wheel, shaping something from a glob of clay. It took me decades to understand what these words really meant.  God is the potter. 

He created us, taking us from an idea to what He imagined we could be, then shaping us into something beautiful.  We are the clay. 

We aren't in control of how we are "shaped" or how long it will take for God to complete His creation. We are at His mercy, but His mercies are beautiful. 

We are all the work of His hand, and we are all in his hands. 

Even when the work He does is painful and lasts longer than we want, the end result is always beautiful. 

Some days I recognize that He is still shaping me, even in my sixth decade, and I wonder why? What else needs to be changed?   On those days, I have to remind myself that I won't always understand what He is doing or why. But what I do know is this: He is the potter, shaping me into the image of His Son.

 

And that is a beautiful thing. 

"And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." 2 Corinthians 3:18.

- tom norvell

.....everlasting

"Long ago the LORD said to Israel: 'I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.'" Jeremiah 31:3

As I ponder the unfailing love of God, I am comforted and pleased to know that God loves His children so intensely. However, I can't help but wonder... Does our own returned love match His? Sure we say we love Him, but would we be willing to suffer and die for His Son, Jesus Christ, the way He did for us so that we may have eternal life?

Thankfully, God does not require us to be killed in order to show our love for Him. However, He does require we offer our life to Him by way of how we chose to live.

The life we live, and all we do and say, is a living and breathing testament of our faith, and reveals bluntly if we are going to not just talk the talk, but also walk the walk. Certainly, there may be times we stumble and fall, but God loves us so deeply that He is willing and able to forgive when there is genuine repentance. 

This, my dear friends, is how we can also show God our most sincere love.  Are we willing to give up sin for Him, even when sin may feel pleasurable? When all is said and done, sin may seem "not that bad," but its reality is that it is destructive, not only to our relationship with God, but to our very bones, and the lives of our family members, and anyone else who is affected by our transgressions.

God IS a loving God, and just as He draws us near to Him, likewise, we must cleave to Him in our strength, and in our weakness. Never should we let go, for never would He let you go.

- melanie schurr   

.....defined

Do not love the world or anything in the world 1 John 2:15; and we need to destroy, without compromise, those areas which take us away from the worship of God, these must be placed in the context of the entire Word of God to be properly understood.

God's Word is a message of love: His love for us and His call for us to love Him. We are to receive His love, return His love, and demonstrate His love by loving others. In addition, we ought to be thankful for His blessings of provision and for the beauty of His creation. We ought to be so filled with peace and contentment that we love our life.

"If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters - yes, even his own life - he cannot be My disciple."Luke 14:26

These may be the most difficult words Jesus ever spoke. Clearly, Jesus is not calling us to a life of hate. That would be completely inconsistent with the rest of God's Word; "A new command I give you: Love one another" John 13:34, and "Love your neighbor as yourself" Mark 12:31. The problem is not with Jesus' use of the word hate but with our understanding of the word love. With the same word we say we love our food, our spouse, our home and...our Jesus?

Jesus is not saying we should love our life or family any less, rather that we should love our Heavenly Father more - much more! He is saying that unless our love for God is so great that our love for the things of this world appears as hatred by comparison, then we do not yet understand the love He desires and deserves.

We are called to love God with ALL our heart, soul, mind, and strength. But this love cannot be properly defined with our limited vocabulary. As we live a life of love, NOTHING must ever come close to competing with His rightful place on the Throne. He alone is worthy of our worship and praise - He alone is worthy of our true love.

There are certainly some addictive behaviors and time consuming bad habits which greatly hinder our relationship with God. These must be removed and destroyed without mercy or compromise. But most areas of our life can be placed in proper order by elevating our love and passion for God. 

Let's allow our attachment and feelings toward the blessings of this world to become as dust when compared with the mountain of hunger and passion for our Heavenly Father. We may forever be stuck with the same inadequate word, but let's live with a heart dedicated to loving God with a newly defined love.

- adapted from steve troxel

.....tags

"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."Psalm 34:18

"The Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted." Isaiah 61:1-2

In the war years, triage referred to the protocol by which medical assistance was given. It was up to the doctors to "color-tag" the wounded, placing them in one of three categories according to their condition. 

   1.  One color meant hopeless - nothing we can do will save them.

   2.  Another color tag meant they'd make it whether they get help or not. 

   3. The third color-tag indicated a doubtful prognosis - a chance to live only if medical assistance is given. 

Since there were severely limited medical supplies, assistance was being given only to this last group.

Lou was badly blown apart, including one leg severely wounded. The doctor who examined him made the decision that Lou was a hopeless case and tagged him as such, leaving him to die. But a nurse noticed Lou was conscious and began to talk with him. They discovered they were both from Ohio. Getting to know Lou as a person, the nurse just couldn't let him die. She broke all the rules and changed his color-tag.

Recovery included a two-day trip in the back of a truck and months in a hospital, but Lou made it. He met a girl in the hospital whom he later married. Even minus one leg, he has led a full and happy life, all because a nurse broke the rules of triage and "changed a tag".

Jesus spent much of his earthly ministry "changing color-tags" - healing the broken-hearted, forgiving sinners and bringing hope to the hopeless. He's still bringing hope to the hopeless - every minute of every day! 

Today, someone you know is feeling hopeless. They desperately need hope. Share the hope of Jesus with them. Look for every opportunity to go around "changing their color-tags"

- dave langerfeld

.....my

I need to pray this prayer...

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer." Psalm 19:14

I need to pray these words so that my words will be kind and accepting because sometimes the meditations of my heart are unkind and judgmental.  

I need to pray this prayer so that my words will be gentle and loving because sometimes the meditations of my heart are harsh and unloving. 

I need to pray this prayer so that my words will be encouraging because sometimes the meditations of my heart are not about encouragement. 

I need to pray this prayer so that my words and actions will build others up, not tear them down. 

I need to pray this prayer so my words and actions will bring gentleness and healing to the hurting and broken.

I need to pray this prayer, so my words and actions will bring light and joy into a dark world of sadness.

I need to pray this prayer because sometimes the contents of my heart are far from pleasing to God, even though He is my rock and my redeemer.

 

I need to pray this prayer daily, and sometimes, I need to pray this prayer many times during the day. 

 

"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer Psalm 19:14

- tom norvell

.....purity

When Jesus was asked to identify the greatest commandment, He said it was to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength" Mark 12:30. God wants ALL of our love! He has no desire to share our love with any of the little "gods" of this world; "For the Lord your God is a jealous God" Deuteronomy 4:24.

Giving God the fullness of our love requires that we live a very focused and holy life; "But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do" 1 Peter 1:15. Our love must be intently focused on the holy things of God rather than the corrupted things of this world. Anytime we allow our love for God to mix with our love for the world, the worldly love initially dilutes and eventually completely overtakes any love for God.

Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water James 3:11-12

Are we trying to walk on both sides of the fence? Do we maintain our "Godly" activities alongside our "ungodly" activities? Do we praise God and discuss Biblical issues during certain portions of the week and then lust after the world during the other? If so, beware! The ungodly will soon overtake and totally consume the Godly...and we won't even be aware it's happening. If we're not careful, we will one day look at what consumes our attention and say, "How did I come to this place in my life? When did I leave God's path?"

The good news is we have been given the Holy Spirit as the Great Purifier. If we make the time to carefully listen, He will "guide us into all truth" John 16:13. If we submit to His leading, He will strain, sift, distill, and refine until all that remains is the fresh and the pure.

Purity does not come by separation from the world, it comes as our heart is wholly separated unto God. We have been planted amongst the weeds of the world and there we will remain until the day of the great harvest Matthew 13:24-30. But while we must live and minister among the things of this world, and while we can certainly be thankful for some of God's worldly blessings and provisions, we must never give our worship to the things of this world: "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him" 1 John 2:15.

Jesus has made us into a new vessel and asked that we be filled with what is pure and holy. Let's stop mixing fresh and salty water, Godly and ungodly devotion. Let's commit every area of our life (without compromise!) to our Heavenly Father and glorify Him in all we do by becoming a vessel of purity.

- steve troxel

.....friend

I no longer call you servants because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you John 15:15

Sam was a great bird dog. If he pointed to a clump of bushes, there surely was a bird in there. He was much more than just a bird dog. Often, we'd share together lazy lunches in an abandoned apple orchard, and the snooze that followed.

Late one afternoon, Sam and I became separated. Neither of us was familiar with the area. I called and whistled. No sign of Sam. I had to get back to town for an important appointment. But how could I leave Sam? If he finally came back and I wasn't there, would I lose him for good? 

Then I remembered a trick an old dog trainer had passed on. I unbuttoned my jacket and laid it on the ground under the branches of a small bush. I worried all night. But when I returned the next morning there was Sam curled up with his nose under the sleeve of my jacket. He looked up and wagged his tail. His eyes seemed to say, "Where've you been friend? I've been waiting for you all night. But I knew you'd come back." - Story by Stephen Sheane

This story made me wonder. When I get lost, do I have the trust to look for God in a part of His Word and curl up in it? To wait patiently, knowing that my Friend will find me if I just have faith in him? God loves us and cares deeply about our friendship with Him. He is the only Friend who will meet us exactly where we are, with no judgement or criticism, but instead will accept us with arms open wide. Whenever you get lost, remember that God has left pieces of Himself for you to find refuge in. 

- crystal b

.....ites

Moses had led the people of Israel through the desert for 40 years and was now preparing them to cross the Jordan River into the promised land of Canaan. As part of this preparation, Moses reminded the people how God had provided for all their past needs and reviewed the laws by which God expected them to live; "and if we are careful to obey all this law before the Lord our God, as He has commanded us, that will be our righteousness" Deuteronomy 6:25

The people of Israel would be brought into a right relationship with God as they worshipped Him and obeyed His commands. But as they entered the promised land, there were many enemies which had to be removed.

"When the Lord your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess and drives out before you many nations - the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you - and when the Lord your God has delivered them over to you and you have defeated them, then you must destroy them totally. Make no treaty with them, and show them no mercy."Deuteronomy 7:1-2

These enemies posed a serious physical threat, but the longer term danger was to their spiritual survival. God wanted these "Ites" completely destroyed because their worldly gods would continually pull at the heart of His chosen people; "Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods" Deuteronomy 11:16

This can be a difficult message with today's soft view of sin. But there is an important lesson for each of us who long for a close relationship with God. Today, Jesus has provided the path to righteousness; "This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe" Romans 3:22. But God still desires the entirety of our heart and expects us to turn from anything which pulls us away from an unhindered and unrestrained devotion.

As he leads us into His promised land of rest and peace, there will always be enemies which entice us to turn from God, many temptations which compete for our time and thoughts...and for our worship. These "Ites" will appear stronger than our ability to conquer. But as we follow hard after God, He will grant us victory; "the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you" Deuteronomy 7:22.

What enemies take us away from the worship of God? What addictions, activities, desires or fears are consuming our heart and keeping us from being focused on Jesus - keeping us from a closer relationship with our Heavenly Father? 

Let's be determined to possess the land and fully give our heart to God. Let's identify the enemies which hinder our walk and, without mercy, let's completely destroy the Ites.

- steve troxel

.....transformation

Our call to hear the words of God AND to "put them into practice" Matthew 7:24, is an indicator of our eternal position in Christ; "We know that we have come to know Him if we obey His commands"1 John 2:3

Salvation is a work of the Spirit, a "circumcision of the heart" Romans 2:29, for those who truly believe in Jesus Christ. This miraculous work of the Spirit will always cause a change and will always produce fruit. However, we must balance this truth with the understanding that spiritual change is a transformation which is sometimes painfully slow. Each new creation in Christ is given the Holy Spirit as a guide, but we will spend the rest of our life learning who we really are in Christ and how to "keep in step with the Spirit" Galatians 5:25.

Even Paul recognized his spiritual maturity was not complete. He had the unique opportunity to receive truths and understanding directly from God; "this is what we speak, not with words taught by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit" 1 Corinthians 2:13, but Paul still fell short of God's glory and had to strive to reach the place Christ desired.

"I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me."Philippians 3:10-12

Paul knew the goal of his life was to bring glory and honor to God by living in the fullness and power of the resurrection. He knew he was to live a submitted life as one who was born "into an inheritance that can never perish" 1 Peter 1:3-4. But he also knew he had not fully attained this goal.

At the moment of salvation, Jesus "took hold" of our life. Every single day after salvation we are given a new opportunity to pick up the pieces and bring Him glory and honor in ALL we do as we "press on toward the goal" Philippians 3:14. We only arrive at the goal when we are called Home and see Him face to face, when we are fully "transformed into His likeness" 2 Corinthians 3:18. But until that time, we are to press forward in the obedience of worship, holiness, and eternal priorities.

No matter how difficult our current circumstances, how terrible our past mistakes or how seemingly hopeless our future, the only step under consideration is our very next. We must begin today to live as a new creation in Christ who desires to step in obedience and glorify His name. Then, we must continue to walk through a lifetime of transformation.

- steve troxel

.....obedience

We must remove ourselves from the construction process and allow God to build every area of our life. We still must put forth effort - sometimes GREAT effort - but we can no longer build according to our own plans or rely on our own abilities; "Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain" Psalm 127:1

We also saw one way to ensure God is building is to live according to the truth of His Word and "do what it says" James 1:22. We cannot serve our Heavenly Father without aligning our life to His Word. At the end of a passage commonly referred to as The Sermon on The Mount [Matthew 5-7], Jesus stated the importance of being obedient to His Word.

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."Matthew 7:24-27

In this wonderful mountainside message, Jesus taught about Salvation; "enter through the narrow gate" Matthew 7:13, but He also taught extensively about basic Christian living - what Paul referred to as being "in step with the Spirit" Galatians 5:25. Jesus said that both the foolish and the wise man heard His words and set out to build a house, but only one man followed God's design, and only one house remained standing after the storm.

Salvation is never earned by "doing," but true believers will strive to be obedient to what Jesus taught; "If you hold to My teachings, you are really My disciples" John 8:31. We are obedient because our heart has been transformed and His Spirit now compels us to follow; "We know that we have come to know Him if we obey His commands" 1 John 2:3. 

We may stumble and sometimes fall, we may even become frustrated at the frequency of our falls, but if we are a child of God we will continue to get back up and move toward obedience because of who we are in Christ!

Each of us have been given a choice on how to build our life: our way or God's way. We must allow our Heavenly Father to become our Master Builder, and, as His plan unfolds, we must learn to trust Him with ALL our heart. He promises to work through us to build something eternally beautiful that will weather all storms. 

But His promise is only applied as we faithfully allow Him to build our life upon the rock of obedience.

- steve troxel

.....attitude

Nick Herman started his first career in the army and later got a position as a dishwasher. It turned out to be the only job he would keep for many years of his life. Washing dishes for 14 hours a day, the ho-hum of pots and pans, he endured the noise of shouting cooks and being the least important of all the workers.

Then Nick made a decision, an attitude change. He chose to bring God into the kitchen! He began to wash dishes as a way to show love for the Lord.  Everything changed.  Nick said, "We ought not to be weary of doing little things for the love of God, who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed. All things are possible to him that believes."

Nick worked 62 years serving others as a lay Carmelite monk in France, and died quietly at age 80. Millions know his spiritual name as Brother Lawrence.  His book, "The Practice of the Presence of God", is still in bookstores 400 years after his death! Brother Lawrence's remarkable faith replaced drudgery with delight in the presence of a loving Lord.

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." 1 Cor 10:31

.....vain

As we are "crucified with Christ" Galatians 2:20 and live "united with Him in His resurrection" Romans 6:5, we begin to view more and more of our life through the eyes of Jesus. What we once saw as critically important begins to fade; and what we once neglected, we now begin to see as valuable by our Heavenly Father.

We can no longer build according to our old set of priorities. In fact, when we truly come in full submission to the cross of Jesus, we find we can no longer build anything according to our own design or in our own strength. We discover we must make God the Master Builder of every area of our life, or we are wasting precious time, energy, and resources.

Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. Psalm 127:1

Our life goes by so fast, and our eternal vision is so very limited. Many of us are frantically building our castle and have failed to see we are building with sand which will crumble with the swell of the next tide. We may be struggling to build in our marriage, children, parents, job, school, friends, or even our ministry. But if we are expending great effort without results which are pleasing to God, we must honestly ask the question: "Who is doing the building?"

Even if our effort meets with apparent success, we must ask the same question and relinquish controls to God. Our greatest projects, if built in our own strength, will one day pass through the fire and be consumed; "the fire will test the quality of each man's work" 1 Corinthians 3:13. The standard of quality is determined by God, not man! It will be a sad day if we find we have spent a lifetime building that which is consumed by fire; "he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames" 1 Corinthians 3:15.

In order for God to properly build, we must first submit to the refining He desires to accomplish. He will mold us into the likeness of His Son as we are fully devoted to loving Him, learning His Word, and applying His Truth as the absolute foundation of our life: "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says" James 1:22-24.

God is not just the best solution; He is the ONLY solution worth pursuing. Heavenly Father, help us to not waste another moment of this precious life you have given. Help us see where we have taken too much control and give us the strength and courage to turn over ALL to You. 

Dear Lord, work through us to build what will last for eternity! Beginning right now, help us to stop laboring in vain!

- adapted from steve troxel

.....resurrected

Our new life begins with faith in Jesus for the forgiveness of our sin. When we are "born again," we cross from an eternal death to an eternal life; "whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life" John 5:24. 

Sin caused our condemnation and required our death, but Jesus took our sin and received sin's punishment. When we identify ourselves with Christ, we also identify with His death; "Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?" Romans 6:3.

True salvation requires that we are "baptized into Christ," which means we completely identify with His life and sacrifice on the cross. He was put to death for our sins and has crucified the old sinful nature of all who believe; "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" Galatians 2:20.

The old nature has been crucified - it is dead! Granted, we often attempt to bring that comfortable old nature back to life and allow it to war with the things of the Spirit, but the old nature can no longer take control - it can no longer win!

This understanding will bring a glorious victory and freedom. The life we live in this body is not our own, we have died with Christ; "The world has been crucified to me, and I to the world" Galatians 6:14. And if we have died to the world, the world cannot harm us and should not cause us to fear. But our new life is much more than the identification with His death. The purpose of being crucified with Christ is so we can also be resurrected with Him and live a resurrected life.

"We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection."Romans 6:4-5

We have not been crucified so we can simply wait to be called Home and taken out of the world. The new life we have received ought to set us free - free from the pulls of this world, free from the world's definition of success and failure, free from the concern of how others evaluate our life, and free to live each day for the glory of God.

Our lives should be a witness to the power of the gospel. 

If the gospel message resides in our heart, then we have been empowered to change the way we live today! We have died to the power of sin and been made alive to the contented joy of Christ. Let's demonstrate the power of the gospel by living a life which is both crucified and resurrected.

- steve troxel

.....enough

I will build you, and you shall be rebuilt. Jer 31:4

Don't allow anybody but God to tell you what you're worth! That's too much power to give anyone. If people can label you, they can limit you.  Until you know how God feels about you, you'll know neither your worth as an individual nor your life's purpose. You'll worry about how you look, what others think, and whether or not you're going to succeed in life.

But when you believe God's promise, 'I have loved you with an everlasting love... I will build you, and you shall be rebuilt' Jer. 31:3- 4, you're free to focus on improving and reaching your God-given potential. What life has torn down, God can rebuild.

Today, if you're suffering from lack of self-worth, here's a prayer to help you: 'Father, sometimes I think I'm of no use, that I can't do anything right, that nothing I do is ever good enough. But I know that when You look at who I am, and who I can be - You see Jesus. And He is even more than "good enough"!  

It's good enough that He shed His precious blood to cover my unworthiness.

    Good enough that He paid the price for every sin I would ever commit.

    Good enough that He's working to perfect me each day.

    Good enough that He sees me as 'righteous' in Christ.

    Good enough that He's interceding for me at the throne of God right now.

    Good enough that He's mending the broken areas of my life and making me whole.

    Good enough that His love for me is everlasting and guaranteed.

Thank You, Father, that everything Jesus does is "good enough", and that in Him, I am "good enough" too!'

.....anxious

A consistent trust ought to invade all areas of our life, how we must be able to trust God for our eternity as well as our daily walk. A good measure of our trust is in our level of anxiety.

Being anxious, or having anxiety, is defined as being mentally troubled with worry or concern. Unfortunately, we have all been battling anxiety ever since Adam ate the forbidden fruit and tried in vain to hide from God; "I heard You in the garden, and I was afraid" Genesis 3:10. The negative effects of anxiety were understood three thousand years ago when King Solomon wrote his proverbs of wisdom; "An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up" Proverbs 12:25.

Anxiety remained a necessary topic as Paul preached the Good News of Jesus. Almost in the same breath that he gave instruction to "Rejoice in the Lord always!" Philippians 4:4, Paul taught on removing anxiety from our life; "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God" Philippians 4:6.

When we find ourselves being overly concerned or mentally troubled about ANYTHING, we must go to God (with thanksgiving) and give our burdens to Him. This doesn't mean we ignore our problems, but we must learn to view the things of this world against the backdrop of eternity. The concerns of this life always fade as we compare them to the eternal glory of His Kingdom.

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry {or be anxious} about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."Matthew 6:25,34

When we feel weighed down, pressured, or stressed - when concerns are coming in fast motion from all directions and we don't know where to begin - we must stop and take a long, deep breath! We must refocus on Jesus and His Word. We must be reminded of eternity in the presence of a loving God and diligently seek His Kingdom; "make every effort to enter that rest" Hebrews 4:11.

As we draw closer to our Heavenly Father, our eyes become adjusted to His light and we see He has already given all we really need. As we love Him more, all fear is removed: "perfect love drives out fear" 1 John 4:18. And as we trust Him more and more, we will receive His gift of peace and no longer live with the burdening weight of an anxious heart.

- steve troxel