Great is His Love

Being Honorable

Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

Exodus 20:12 NIV

Anyone who attacks their father or mother is to be put to death... Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.

Exodus 21:15,17 NIV

I have to tell you that one of the things that I see in society today that I find most alarming is the incredible lack of respect people generally have for each other. As and educator I see it everyday. Sometimes parents come in to discuss an issue concerning their son or daughter and the interaction between parent and child is as if two adults or two children were talking with each other. The child does not honor their parent and the parent, frankly, is not honorable in front of their child. When a child believes they have an equal position in the relationship then their extremely limited, immature and inexperienced point of view becomes the focal point of any issue. That is a formula for failure.

OK, I'm king of going off here, but, I believe that much of the problems in society today have their root problem in the break down of the family unit. God, as our Creator, set up the family as a foundational part of society. When someone knows how to honor their parents they understand that everyone has a place, important and valuable but not supreme (that is God's place alone). In life we all move from being children who are taken care of by their parents to adults who take care of their parents as they get older. As a child I was to obey my parents in the Lord. As an adult I (when the time comes) take care of my parents. Both actions honor them. 

Showing honor and being honorable are two sides of the same coin. But it starts when we teach our children to honor us. We teach them how to communicate, how to relate, how to express themselves even when they believe they are wronged, and how to trust God even when they can't see the end from the beginning. And that brings us the bottom line: Honoring your parents, honors God. My prayer is that you and I teach our children, by example and instruction, to show honor and be honorable.

Remember Where You Came From

And God spoke all these words:

"I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

Exodus 20:1-2 NIV

It's funny, in a sad way, how easy it is for us to forget where we came from. Just the the Israelites who just came out of Egypt and God was reminded them not to forget that they were just recently in slavery in Egypt, we sometimes need to remember that we were slaves to sin. 

I am not saying you should dwell or revel in your past. But, sin is a cruel and deceptive master. It desires to have you. In a bad way. Sin may seem good for a season but in the end it only separates you from God and those you love. We need to remember that Jesus is God, who brought us out of sin. Sin is not good. Sin is destructive. 

The Ten Commandment begin with God reminding the Israelites that he, the LORD, is their God and that he is the one who brought them out of Egypt, the land of slavery. We need to remember that he is the LORD our God who brings us out of the slavery of sin. I don't know what that looks like to you, but I do know it is good to remember that you are no longer a slave to sin, but have been set free in Christ. 

God Hears Your Distress Signal

Good Leaders Listen and Empower

   "But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied." 

   Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. 

Exodus 18:21-24 NIV

Moses did a couple of things here that anyone in leadership should pay attention to. First, he listened and second he empowered. Two characteristics you will find in good leaders and notice they are lacking in poor leaders.

First of all, Moses listened to his father-in-law. He could of ignored him or resisted the advice on grounds that Jethro wasn't a "prophet" or didn't say something like "thus saith the Lord". Moses listened to his father-in-law's advice and discerned that it was from God, so he listened and did everything Jethro said. 

Secondly, by taking Jethro's advice he empowered others. Notice that he didn't just delegate responsibility, he delegated authority. This is really where great leaders set themselves apart from simple dumping delegators. Many leaders delegate, then try to micro-manage those they delegate. Then they get frustrated because things don't work out or that they have to manage what they "delegated" so much. I call that dumping, not delegating. Think about Jesus, he didn't just delegated jobs to the disciples, he empowered them with authority to drive out demons, heal in His Name, and proclaim the Kingdom of God (Matthew10:1, Luke 9:1-2). Moses learned to not just delegate but to empower capable men to make decisions. That's empowering leadership.

Final thoughts: Listen and empower. Who do you need to listen to? Who can you empower? Also, how is Christ empowering you?

Battle On, Lift Up Your Hands

As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 

Exodus 17:11 NIV

Joshua led the army and fought the battle, yet the focus of this narrative is Moses holding his arms up to the Lord, interceding, if you will. Later in the chapter the Lord  tells Moses to make sure that Joshua hears about it. 

The lesson for Joshua was that it was the Lord who gave him the victory. As Moses, Aaron and Hur recounted the day to Joshua, recalling when Moses' arms lowered and they lifted them back up, Joshua remembered how the battle took its ups and downs. It was a lesson I believe he learned and knowing that it was God who fought his battles gave him the courage to lead the Israelites when Moses died. 

The lesson for us is that while we may think we are all alone in the battle Christ is interceding for us (Hebrews 7:25) and the battle is not just us, but the Lord with us. Christ is always interceding for us and the good news is that he never gets tired. There is one other part of the lesson and that is that sometimes we are called to lift up holy hands in prayer for someone we know who is in a battle, to be the intercessor. So, battle on and lift you hands in prayer to those you know in the battle they are fighting.

The Lord Will Fight for You

Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Exodus 14:13-14 NIV

This is a great chapter for a lot of reason. One is that God will fight for us as we stand firm. We don't need to be afraid because God will go before us and as the Israelites would see, God will stand guard behind us too. 

I also find it interesting that Moses told them to stand firm then he cried out to the Lord and the told asked him, "Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on?" Then the Lord sends them through the sea. If I put myself in Moses' place I don't think taking a short cut through the sea would be my plan. He probably thought God would just wipe out the Egyptians right there, that's why he told them to stand firm and they would see the deliverance of the Lord. 

Sometimes our deliverance takes us through a route we couldn't even conceive. We might have to walk through the sea to get to where God wants us to be. If I was an Israelite and I was backed into a corner, then sent into the sea, and the sea is standing up on both sides of me, I would kind of be in shock, awe and maybe a bit afraid. I just would of never thought of that as being a possible deliverance. 

What's the lesson for us? Stand firm and see the deliverance of the Lord. Don't be surprised if deliverance leads you down a path you never would of thought of. But, trust him to deliver you. 

Day or Night, He Will Guide

By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. 

Exodus 13:21 NIV

Many of us may want a pillar of cloud or fire to let us know which way we should go.  But, God has given us his Holy Spirit to lead and guide us. He has given us the Bible. II Timothy 3:16-17 tells us, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God my be thoroughly equipped for every good work." Reading the Bible with humility and faith will allow the Holy Spirit to be your pillar of cloud and fire. 

Humility is realizing who you are before God in Christ. We are all finite beings created in the image of God. While we were yet sinners Christ died so that we may be reconciled to God. Like Paul, I consider myself the chief of sinners. The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God to teach us, to rebuke us, to correct us and train us in righteousness. The catch is; you have to read it. 

I encourage you to allow the Holy Spirit to guide you by day and night by reading the Bible and let the Spirit, teach, rebuke, correct and train you in righteousness. 

The Grace of Distinction

But among the Israelites not a dog will bark at any person or animal.’ Then you will know that the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel. 

Exodus 11:7 NIV

Let me ask you this: Were the Israelites perfect people? No. Moses was a murderer and the rest of the book of Exodus (and the rest of the Bible) matter-of-factly recalls the Israelites' sinful imperfections. 

Yet God, in his amazing patience, mercy and grace, makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel. Following Christ is not a matter of performance and perfection. Christianity is about living by faith. Faith in God's patience, mercy and grace. I don't know why he chose me, but he did. I know I don't deserve his patience, mercy and grace, but, I'll take it! 

The only real response is to live in that mercy and grace. The Israelites had been in slavery for their whole lives. That's all they knew. Yet God, delivered them when they couldn't really even conceive of what that actually meant. 

Think about it. If the Lord spoke to you that he was going to take you out of your present situation and give you a home and new life, wouldn't you find that a bit difficult to really imagine. God let Moses have a peak at the promised land, just to see what it really looked like. God knows we can't see the end from the beginning. All we can do is take the next steps of faith and live in his mercy in grace. 

So You May Know

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his officials so that I may perform these signs of mine among them that you may tell your children and grandchildren how I dealt harshly with the Egyptians and how I performed my signs among them, and that you may know that I am the Lord.”

Exodus 10:1-2 NIV

Here's the bottom line: we may not understand the depths of free will, choice and all that doctrinal stuff, but, the desired end of it all is that we may know that He is the Lord. God's ways are not always discernible to us. We are  finite created beings. The Lord, is infinite and eternal, the everlasting one. 

The Lord was showing Pharaoh, the Egyptians, and the Israelites that He was the Lord. At first it didn't seem that great to the Israelites because they just had to make more bricks with less straw. Then, as the plagues progressed they saw how God protected them. I am sure it was quite a site to look over from Goshen and see the rest of Egypt infested with gnats and locus, darkness. 

The point is that God shows himself Sovereign and faithful in many different ways. It's not our choice, except to live by faith. Sometimes we need to just watch and see what God is doing. Crazy things may be happening around us, but God is still the Lord and working his will as he so chooses. 

Remember His Wonderful Acts

Lord, thank you for being our strength. Thank you that you have done wonderful acts on our behalf and in our lives. Thank you for giving me the strength and wisdom I needed last week! Praise and glory be to you in and through all our lives!

It's Friday, Please God

May my meditation be pleasing to him,

   as I rejoice in the Lord.

Psalms 104:34 NIV

It's Friday and most people are looking forward to the weekend. There is a lot of things to enjoy, perhaps some chores to be done, maybe a honey-do list. If you have children, you probably have little league, football, soccer or Scouting. Some people just look forward to hanging out with friends or watching football. 

Reading these verses this morning made me think of what sort of is in the background of my mind as I go through this day. I thought about what pleases God. I don't think I have to be constantly quoting a verse to myself, although that is a good thing. But, it is a good thing to just think about filtering my thoughts with the idea of pleasing God. 

You see, if we decide to do our jobs, as unto the Lord, then it just keeps things in perspective. Again, if we seek to be a servant of all, even at work, because we are seeking to abide in Christ, we meditate on his Sovereignty to be at work in our jobs. May that be our prayer, that our thoughts and actions may be in Christ, and please God by trying to love and serve at home and at work.

To Serve is to Know

Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.

1 Timothy 3:13 NIV

Notice Paul says,"Those who have served well", not, "led well." Knowing Christ is serving Christ. Quite often I get caught up in the notion that serving Christ is separate from knowing Christ. It's not that I consciously think that way, but naturally I tend to want to serve to prove myself worthy. 

I think truly serving teaches you that it's all of grace. Being a part of God's work in people's lives is humbling because you realize that you can't really change anyone, you can only love people. You also see that God does things in his own time. Serving also forces you to look outside yourself and see things from God's perspective. Seeing the Spirit work in yourself and others gives you that assurance that God loves you as is always working Sovereignly in your life. 

Being known as a someone who serves others is to have "an excellent standing" in your faith. This is opposite of the world where leaders are served by their employees. But, in the kingdom of God, the leader, like Christ, serves.

If I'm know for anything, I hope it's that I serve others and know Jesus. 

God is Concerned

and they believed. And when they heard that the Lord was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped.

Exodus 4:31 NIV

Isn't it good to "hear" that the Lord is concerned about you? I don't just mean listening to a sermon or reading a devotional, I mean where God does something that let's you know he hears and is concerned. 

This past summer I was assigned a new position. I had been praying for a long time about a new position. I was pleased with the opportunity to do something different. I was thankful too. Like the Israelites, I was thankful because it reminded me that God heard my prayers and that he was concerned about me. There are other things that when I stop and think about it reminds me that God hears and sees my misery. 

I want you to stop and think about how God has shown you that he hears you and sees your "misery"... Then, thank him and worship him. 

Finally, I would really appreciate if you would share with me and anyone reading this, how God showed that he was concerned about you by writing a note in the comment section. Thanks and God's blessings upon you! 

God Sees

The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.

Exodus 3:7-8 NIV

I don't know what you are going through or how you got there. I do know that God has seen your misery. He hears you crying out and he is concerned about your suffering. 

I won't tell you that if you pray a certain way all your troubles will go away. Because God's timing is different than mine, or yours. We think God must help us now, yet, he is working in someone else to prepare the way. Or, he may be working in us to prepare the way. Like Moses who had to get his BSD (Back Side of the Desert) Degree before God could use him. But, God saw, he heard and he is concerned. 

Now God spoke to Moses from the burning bush and told Moses that he was concerned about the Israelites. God didn't tell Moses this because he wanted to give him a warm fuzzy. The Lord spoke to Moses because he wanted to use Moses to help deliver the Israelites and give them their promised land. So, maybe God isn't allowing you to go through whatever you are going through just for your sake, maybe, he wants to use you to help deliver someone else? 

He Will Not

He will not always accuse,

   nor will he harbor his anger forever;

he does not treat us as our sins deserve     
   or repay us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

   so great is his love for those who fear him;

as far as the east is from the west,

   so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Psalms 103:9-12 NIV

God will not always accuse, the enemy does that. 

He will not harbor his anger forever because although he is just, in Christ he is also forgiving.

God does not treat us as our sins deserve. In Christ, we are forgiven. 

Because we are forgiven in Christ he is no seeking to repay us what we deserve. 

Think about that... the depths and riches of his love, can not be understood until we realize, what God does not do. Yes he's forgiving, but don't forget what God does not do...

You Intend, God Intends

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 

Genesis 50:20 NIV

I think most of us have quoted Romans 8:28 that "in all things God works for the good of those who love him", but few have been able to say it and with grace like Joseph after going through what he did. 

Nothing hurts more than family. People may hurt you, but when your brother or sister does something, that can leave a scar. Joseph's brothers tried to kill him, but, ended up selling him as a slave! Just put yourself in Joseph's place for a minute. Imagine looking up from that cistern and hearing them argue about what to do with you. They finally pull you out, only to find yourself sold as a slave. Then, your masters wife tries to seduce you and you get falsely accused of attempting to rape her because she's mad you rejected her. Next, you interpret a few dreams but the dreamers forget to tell anyone about you. But God had not forgotten Joseph. 

Joseph tells his brothers flat out that even though they meant harm, he knew God intended it for good. First, think about Potiphar's wife. If Potiphar, the captain of the guard, had believed Joseph tried to "make sport' of his wife he probably would of killed him. So, instead of being killed Joseph was just placed in prison. And you know the rest. He ends up second to Pharaoh, trusted by Pharaoh to run the nation.

Now the amazing thing is that when he sees his brothers, he sees them through the eyes of grace and forgiveness, knowing that God used all things to work salvation through even their betrayal. In verse 17 we are told that "Joseph wept" (sound familiar?). He wept because God's grace had worked in his heart to allow him to forgive and love his brothers. God always intends salvation. 

Where does God have you that even though others may have hurt you, God intends salvation? 

Be Willing

To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 

1 Peter 5:1-2 NIV

One character trait of Peter that we may miss is that he was willing. Willing to be the only one to follow Christ. Willing to step off the boat, onto the water. Willing to fight for Christ. Willing to try to follow Christ on the night of his betrayal. Willing to shepherd and feed Christ's sheep. Peter was willing. 

As an elder, as a Christian, being willing is part of the life of faith. Faith is really trusting God to do whatever he wants through you. Are you willing to let God use you? 

The Benefit of Love

Praise the Lord, my soul,

   and forget not all his benefits—

who forgives all your sins 

   and heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit 

   and crowns you with love and compassion,

Psalms 103:2-4 NIV

The benefit of love, God's love for us, is that he crowns us with his love. That crown of love has three jewels, if you would, in it. 

The first jewel is that God is abounding in love for you (verse 8). If you are abounding in love means you have great quantities of love. God has great quantities of love for you. First and foremost he sent his One and Only Son to die for your sins. He has promised to never leave you or forsake you. Also, think of how many times in your life God's love has abounded toward you...

The second jewel is that his love is great for those who fear him (verse 11). The greatness of love that God displayed in Christ is almost incomprehensible. Yet, while we were still sinners Christ died for us. Not only that but he ever lives to intercede for us at the right hand of the Father. Great is his love, to choose you to be his child... 

The third jewel is that God's love is with you from everlasting to everlasting (verse 17). Before the creation of the world, before you or I were even a twinkle in our mama's eyes, God loved us. He knew he choose  to redeem us in Jesus Christ, knowing the sins we would commit. His love will not cease. The love of God for you and me is from everlasting to everlasting. From eternity, God chose to love us, not for a moment, but from  everlasting to everlasting...

Thank you, Father, for crowning us with love. Open our eyes to see your abounding, great and everlasting love in our lives. Praise be to you in us today!

The Word of the Day: Redeems

who redeems your life from the pit 

   and crowns you with love and compassion,

Psalms 103:4 NIV

One of the benefits of being a child of God is that he redeems our lives from the pit. I am involved with the Scout Center where I live. This past Saturday evening we had our annual fund raising Spaghetti dinner. Scouts had sold tickets and people brought them in, redeemed them, and enjoyed a salad, garlic bread and spaghetti. In a sense, redemption is when something is used for its' intended purpose. We were created to know God and serve him. Christ redeems us to abide in him and bear good fruit. 

Another side of redemption is the Redeemer. Paul teaches us that Christ is our redemption (I Corinthians 1:30). Knowing Christ, our Redeemer is no small thing. That is our life. Jesus does not redeems us to give us another chance to do things on our own. He redeems us to live a new life, as a new creation, created for good works, loving and serving by faith. My alma mater's (Columbia Bible College, now Columbia International University) motto is, "To know Him and make Him known". The more I walk with the Lord, the more I appreciate that statement.

Finally, the pit. From a purely devotional and personal position, are you in a "pit"? Maybe a pit you dug yourself or a trap of the enemy. Whatever the pit you have fallen into, Christ died to redeem you from it. Be redeemed! Praise God for all his benefits, and today we thank him because he redeems our lives from the pit. Thank you, Lord!

Send Help, Be the Help

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Matthew 9:35-38 NIV

Two Sides of Gracious Sovereignty

   And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

   “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. 

Genesis 45:5-8 NIV

There's two very different perspectives here. One from Joseph's position and the other from his brothers experience. Joseph had worked out the "why me" issues but his brothers were stuck on the "why did I do that", "if only I had" questions. Both perspectives, both experiences are covered by the gracious sovereignty of God.  

Maybe you are like me and there are a few choices, sins even, that you made that you honestly wish you hadn't made. I would be surprised if you weren't the recipient of the result of someone else's choices and actions. Some more harmful than others. "But God.." Those two words flip everything around, turning what is meant for harm into what was good, very good. This is a wonderful example of God sovereignly working all things out for good. Don't you think it is amazing that God shows us both sides; Joseph who really didn't do anything and his brothers who definitely sinned? 

In the end God worked out salvation for Joseph, his brothers and his father. So, I wonder what "salvation" God has planned for you and I? 

Father, you are Sovereign Lord, Almighty Father. You work all things out for the good of those who love you and are called according to your purposes. We are yours. Graciously work in our lives and bring salvation through us. 

Remember the Benefits

Praise the Lord, my soul;

   all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

Praise the Lord, my soul,

   and forget not all his benefits—

Psalms 103:1-2 NIV

The benefits knowing and serving Christ are many. Forgiveness, healing, redemption, his holiness for ours, and many more. Now, think for a moment of the fruit of those benefits. 

The benefits of forgiveness are not just that we don't go to hell. Forgiveness becomes a part of all our relationships. We forgive because Christ first forgave us. Forgiveness keeps our relationships open and alive. Without the benefit of forgiveness our relationships suffer separation and deadness. The benefits of forgiveness, the fruit that results from it, are at the very core of abiding in Christ.

Let me ask you. What are the fruits of all the benefits of knowing Christ that you have experienced or are experiencing? His healing, redemption, love, compassion and... How are you benefiting from these? 

Immeasurably More

I'll be honest, most of the time when I pray, I pray within myself. What I mean by that is that I pray and ask with the limits that I can possibly foresee. It's not that I mean to try to limit God, I just naturally don't see things from an eternal perspective. 

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV

When we pray, it is good to stop and remember that God is able to do immeasurably more that all we ask or imagine. Think about that. What is immeasurably more than you are asking for now? 

In 1:19-20 Paul describes God's power at work within us as the same as the mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him at the Father's right hand. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work within us. That is a lot of power. 

Honestly, I don't think I even get how much power that actually is. Probably because God is interested in changing my heart, my mind, my inner being, while I am interested in paying of my bills or something like that. When I think of power I think of pure brute force, which can often just destroy. The power that raised Jesus from the dead, brought life, not destruction. 

Where does God want to do immeasurably more than you are asking or imagining? Sometimes we are a bit afraid when we pray "Not my will, but your will be done" because we only think of what God may not do or take away. But God wants to do immeasurably more than we ask. 

Father, we come before you and ask you to do what you want, immeasurably more than we can imagine...