The Most Valuable Resource….

The most valuable resource a man or woman can possess is the insight to order his/her life by the standard of truth. It’s more precious than gold. Money can’t buy it. And without it, we live a tumultuous life, never knowing what’s next, or how to deal with things. It’s the reason Jesus said, “you will know the truth, and the truth shall set you free”. Free from what? Condemning ourselves. Embrace truth today, nothing compares to it.

10 Choose my instruction rather than silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold. 11 For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies. Nothing you desire can compare with it. Proverbs 8:10-11

Why Do We Need Jesus?

Why do we need Jesus? The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. He knows our strengths and weaknesses. He knows our breaking point. He knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows our future. That is why we need Jesus. Because He is our future and our hope. He is the Savior of the world. Without Him, there is no salvation, no redemption, and no hope.

40 Then He returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with Me even one hour? 41 Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!” Matthew 26:40-41

Our Willingness To Serve God….

The one quality that makes all the difference in the world is having a willing heart. Even if you never fully accomplish what you’re willing heart was promoted to do, because it never came to be (not of your own doing), it gave you the right attitude and changed the way you treated, viewed, or perceived others, correct? Ninety-nine percent of the time it prompts action that accomplishes great things. It’s our willingness to serve God that matters most. Our attitude of service, respect, and knowing our place, is what God seeks. Some might call it humility, meekness, or even “being poor in spirit”, but God is pleased when we employ it, for it brings Him glory. This willingness of the heart is the right response to God’s love. And it’s all a matter of the heart. Never forget this.

So the whole community of Israel left Moses and returned to their tents. 21 All whose hearts were stirred and whose spirits were moved came and brought their sacred offerings to the Lord. They brought all the materials needed for the Tabernacle, for the performance of its rituals, and for the sacred garments. 22 Both men and women came, all whose hearts were willing. Exodus 35:20-22a

Repentance Clears The Air For Future Generations…..

God is full of compassion, unfailing love, & faithfulness. He is quick to forgive, but does not excuse the guilty. So what does this mean for us? It means when we “mess up”, we are to “fess up” to God. That’s what He expects from us. When we don’t, our sinful behavior is impressed on our children who repeat the same sinful be behavior, and if it isn’t dealt with, is passed on to their children. If God is so forgiving, and wanting to lavish us with His unfailing love, why are people so miserable and unfulfilled? The answer is simple. It’s because we fail to repent. We don’t see our own sinfulness as detrimental to our living. The longer it goes on, the worse things get. It’s our pride, our volitional rebelliousness to God (our sinful nature), that keeps us from experiencing God’s best for us. And in this process we tend to blame God for our own self-inflicted grief. If we make the decision to repent, we not only please God and help ourselves, but we clear the pathway for our children and grandchildren to be free of the burden we created and kept going. Repentance clears the air for future generations. It frees them from the smog they’d have to breathe that we created. Repentance is more than “I’m sorry”. It’s exactly what God wants. It’s exactly what we were created to be. And that is knowing God intimately; knowing He is forgiving because of His love for us. Knowing He’s just and ready to cancel the debt we created. Knowing God means knowing ourselves. Knowing God means repentance is required. Knowing God means knowing our place. Knowing God is everything. Pursue Him today, and put to death this generational sin that has been passed down in your family for generations. It starts with you, and stops with you as well.

5 Then the Lord came down in a cloud and stood there with him; and He called out His own name, Yahweh. 6 The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The Lord!The God of compassion and mercy!I am slow to angerand filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.7 I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations.I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin.But I do not excuse the guilty.I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren;the entire family is affected–even children in the third and fourth generations.” Exodus 34:5-7

When We Don’t Start With Prayer….

The other day in Sunday School class, we were discussing modern day issues. We were talking about one particular issue, when one of the members said, “I never understand how people, when they are debating controversial issues, don’t start with prayer”. I thought, that’s exactly the problem. We can debate, quote scripture, and make rational arguments for our cause, but if we don’t consult God, and invite Him into the conversation, our words and pursuits will be in vain. What sets believers apart from the “world” isn’t based on status, or possessions, or favoritism. What sets people of faith apart is God’s presence. It’s God’s presence that sets all faith followers apart from all other people on earth. It’s when we ask Him to be present, to fill us with His Spirit, that things get accomplished. People’s hearts are opened, their eyes start to see spiritually, when God moves in their lives. There’s nothing wrong with debates, public demonstrations, or apologetics. The problem lies when believers forget to invite God unto the arena, that things get out of hand, and fail to accomplish His will. It’s God’s presence that sets His people apart. It always starts with prayer. It sets the mindset of the believer to demonstrate God’s qualities, to be like Him, when it starts with prayer. Always remember this truth: start everything you do in prayer. It’s what sets us apart, and makes the biggest difference in the end.

15 Then Moses said, “If You don’t personally go with us, don’t make us leave this place. 16 How will anyone know that You look favorably on me–on me and on Your people–if You don’t go with us? For Your presence among us sets Your people and me apart from all other people on the earth.” Exodus 33:15-16

A True Seeker Is Bold…..

A true seeker is bold. It takes boldness and persistence to pursue God. Daily seeking leads to knowing God more deeply. You have to be willing to ask, in order to find what your looking for. Moses did this, and so should we.

12 One day Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Take these people up to the Promised Land.’ But You haven’t told me whom You will send with me. You have told me, ‘I know you by name, and I look favorably on you.’ 13 If it is true that You look favorably on me, let me know Your ways so I may understand You more fully and continue to enjoy Your favor. And remember that this nation is Your very own people.”14 The Lord replied, “I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest–everything will be fine for you.”15 Then Moses said, “If You don’t personally go with us, don’t make us leave this place. 16 How will anyone know that You look favorably on me–on me and on Your people–if You don’t go with us? For Your presence among us sets Your people and me apart from all other people on the earth.”17 The Lord replied to Moses, “I will indeed do what you have asked, for I look favorably on you, and I know you by name.”18 Moses responded, “Then show me Your glorious presence.”19 The Lord replied, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will call out My name, Yahweh, before you. For I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose. 20 But you may not look directly at My face, for no one may see Me and live.” 21 The Lord continued, “Look, stand near Me on this rock. 22 As My glorious presence passes by, I will hide you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will remove My hand and let you see Me from behind. But My face will not be seen.” Exodus 33:12-23

The Other Half Of The Truth…..

The second we think we have God figured out, we need to stop and realize we don’t. God’s ways are above our ways, His thoughts are above our thoughts (Isaiah 55). Here is a great example. God tells Moses to take the Israelites into the Promised land. But He also tells him that He (God) won’t go with them because if He did, He would destroy them along the way due to their stubbornness and rebellion. What we think about God, may not always be accurate. Here the Israelites would think God’s absence was because of something they did (their rebellion). And it’s partly true. The other half of the truth is God stayed away to protect them, for their benefit. Yes, He was angry, but in His anger He still did the right thing. Never allow yourself to get too comfortable in your own skin, that way when we think we “got it figured out”, we aren’t shocked to find out we don’t. God is in control; that’s where our confidence and security comes from. Faith in Him is where our true purpose exists. Never forget this truth.

1 The Lord said to Moses, “Get going, you and the people you brought up from the land of Egypt. Go up to the land I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I told them, ‘I will give this land to your descendants.’ 2 And I will send an angel before you to drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. 3 Go up to this land that flows with milk and honey. But I will not travel among you, for you are a stubborn and rebellious people. If I did, I would surely destroy you along the way.”4 When the people heard these stern words, they went into mourning and stopped wearing their jewelry and fine clothes. 5 For the Lord had told Moses to tell them, “You are a stubborn and rebellious people. If I were to travel with you for even a moment, I would destroy you. Remove your jewelry and fine clothes while I decide what to do with you.” 6 So from the time they left Mount Sinai, the Israelites wore no more jewelry or fine clothes. Exodus 33:1-6