See…

See…

“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” ~ Mark 10:51

In our text, a blind man named Bartimaeus, was sitting by the roadside begging. He had located himself near the city gate of Jericho where passersby would be frequent as they came or left the town. When he heard a large group of people along the road, Bartimaeus learned that Jesus of Nazareth was among the crowd. He cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And as I read this passage, I paused, and thought about the time that Jesus encountered me along the wilderness road of my life. It was 35 years old to this day….

It is evident that Bartimaeus knew about Jesus. No doubt he had heard about the miracles Jesus had been performing … the deaf could hear, the lame could walk, and the blind could see. Oh, I can feel his heart pounding even now with the incredulous wonder … Jesus was passing right by him. Yes, Jesus was so close! He thought, “If only Jesus would stop for me.” And then his heart burst forth in great hope as he shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

I, too, knew about Jesus. I had been raised in a Christian home. We went to church every Sunday. I went to Sunday school as a child. Indeed, I had learned quite a bit about God and Jesus. And yet, at 28 years of age, I still did not know Him … not in a personal way. I intently wanted to know Him like those around me at the small-town Assembly of God my wife and I had started attending. I was being drawn to Him week after week, but I was still blind – spiritually. I could not see Him or accept that He would ever love someone like me – the worst of sinners….

But it happened! During a revival in October 1989, the visiting evangelist shared the Word of God … preaching about a point of no return if we (I) continued to reject the free gifts of atonement and eternal life.

John 3:16-19 (NIV)

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.

The gates of hell would not prevail that night as I went to the altar and confessed my sin and my desire to experience the peace that I knew only Jesus could give me. Jesus gave me the hope and the answer I was so desperately looking to find. Indeed, I am a witness to the testimony that Jesus gave to Nicodemus when He said: “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the Kingdom of God unless they are born again.” (John 3:3) In that moment, I was born again of the Spirit! I was finally able to see Jesus! Hallelujah! Praise be unto Him forevermore! Amen!

Yes, Jesus Son of David, had mercy upon me. He opened the eyes of my heart so that I could see Him. And, oh, how beautiful He truly is! He is the Son of God. He is Messiah … the Holy One of Israel. He is Root of Jesse, the Son of David, and the Lion of Judah. He is the Ruler of Nations … He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is Hashem … the name above all names! He is Redeemer, Deliverer, and Savior. He is Jesus … the One I could not see until He healed me.

My friend, if you are like Bartimaeus and want to see Jesus, I invite you to take another look into the Word of God. The Apostle Paul taught: “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of God.” (Romans 10:17) And it is only through faith that you will be able to intimately see Jesus and know Him. Likewise, Paul informed, “The god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the Gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:4)

I believe these are the two greatest spiritual obstacles that each human soul is challenged to overcome. But the Apostle John reminds and encourages us with these words: “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:4-5)

Have a Blessed Day!

Open…

Open…

And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. ~ 2 Kings 6:17

What an incredible experience it must have been for the servant to have the Lord open his eyes to the unseen … to peer into the heavenly realms and encounter spiritual realities hidden from our view. What incredible grace God bestows upon His people … to open our eyes to see those things that elude our natural sight.

In Genesis 21:19, God opened the eyes of Hagar, and she saw a well of water. She went and filled a skin with water to revive her thirsty son. In Numbers 22:31, the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn. Indeed, there are times when the Lord enables us to see the supernatural in order to reveal with His will and to align us with His purposes. But as I study the Word of God today, my heart has been drawn to and identifies with the Psalmist who wrote: “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.” (Psalm 119:18) Yes Lord, “Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law and obey it with all my heart.” (Psalm 119:34)

In Luke 24, we have the story of two disciples who were walking along the road to Emmaus and discussing the crucifixion of Jesus just three days prior. A stranger approached them and began to walk with them; listening to their unfolding of recent events and observing their downcast hearts. Then He said to them: “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter His glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself.”

The stranger expounded on the ancient scriptures to explain their prophetic revelations regarding the Messiah. He affirmed to them that Jesus was indeed the Messiah – the Holy One of Israel. And as He lingered to eat a meal with them that evening, Jesus opened their eyes so that they could recognize Him. In astonishment they asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us? (Luke 24:28-32)

Later that same night, after the two had returned from Emmaus with their amazing news, Jesus appeared to the disciples as they were gathered in conversation. They were startled and afraid at His sudden appearance. Jesus said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” Then He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. (Luke 24:44-45)

My friends, most assuredly, the Lord Jesus Himself is our Master Teacher! Our Savior fulfills every word declared through Moses, the Prophets, and His Spirit. (Hebrews 1:1-3) Indeed, the Spirit of Truth guides us into all the Truth. (John 16:13) And the Truth is Jesus Himself – the Word of God! (John 1:1; 14:6; John 17:17) Oh, how I pray that Jesus would open our eyes to see all the Scriptures concerning Himself; give us burning hearts to receive and understand them; and endue us with His power to believe them! Amen.

Have a Blessed Day!

Recognize…

Recognize…

Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him. ~ Genesis 42:8

Recognize. The word stirs up conviction within my heart as I walk this journey of faith. I find it interesting that after so many years of absence, Joseph was able to recognize his brothers who had conspired to kill him at a young age but later relented and sold him into slavery. Yet even more fascinating is their inability to recognize him. It appears Joseph had thought about them in his mind for years. It would seem they had given him little thought at all over the passing time….

To recognize someone is to identify them from having encountered them before; to know them again. We are able to remember their face and physical features. We can recall the circumstances and the emotions evoked during that prior interaction. We might be grateful that an unexpected reconnection has occurred, or we could feel a sense of trepidation from the chance meeting. Regardless, I believe to recognize someone or something, especially after a long period of absence, could be a great opportunity for better outcomes than perhaps a previous time together yielded….

So, in your encounters with other people, what do you think others would recognize about you? What lasting impressions would ensue from their interactions with you? In Luke 6:43-45, Jesus taught: “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”

My friends, this truly is a defining word for us. Not only do we need to consider what others might perceive from their encounters with us; to me, the most important question is whether they would recognize Jesus in us! Jesus told His disciples, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35) Is love evident in your life? Do you love as Jesus has loved you? Are you recognized as someone conformed to the image of Christ?

I saw a tee-shirt on a young man at church today. It had a quote from Leonard Ravenhill on it which read: “Are the things you are living for … worth Christ dying for?” It is such a provocative question; and it ties with our theme of how we are recognized from our encounters with others. “What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world yet loses his own soul? What will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26) Indeed, it is my prayer that we who profess to be Christians would leave no doubt in the minds of others regarding our identity in Jesus.

Have a Blessed Day!

Guide…

Guide…

In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling. ~ Exodus 15:13

What an indescribable promise our compassionate God and Father has given to His people! By His power and strength, we are led to His holy dwelling … His safe refuge … the place of His abiding Presence! When the Lord led Israel out of the darkness and bondage of Egypt,
by day He 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)

Oh, yes! The Lord has promised to guide His people; and He is our God forever and ever. Indeed, He will be our guide to the end. (Psalm 48:14) The Lord will guide us always; He will satisfy our needs in the desolate wilderness and will strengthen our bodies. We will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. (Isaiah 58:11) As Jesus told the woman at the well, “Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:14)

The Lord bids us to seek His guidance through His Word. And there is much counsel there for us to consider. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way. (Psalm 25:9) I love these words of the Psalmist Asaph as he contemplated the tender mercies of God:

Psalm 73:23-26 (NIV)

I am always with You; You hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward You will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

My friends, the Presence of the Lord is His Spirit! And we receive Him when we place our faith in Christ Jesus. Jesus Himself affirmed: “When He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify Me because it is from Me that He will receive what He will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from Me what He will make known to you.” (John 16:13-15)

How blessed we are to abide in the Presence of the Lord! How blessed we are to have the Holy Spirit to guide us into all the Truth! Let us contemplate these riches of His grace this evening! Let us worship Him in Spirit and Truth!

Have a Blessed Day!

Presence…

Presence…

Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but He will heal us; He has injured us but He will bind up our wounds. After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will restore us, that we may live in His Presence. Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge Him. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; He will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.” ~ Hosea 6:1-3

The Lord God has desired that human beings live in His Presence ever since He created us. He walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden in the cool of the morning. But when they transgressed His commandment, separation occurred. Indeed, when the Lord confronted Cain for his murderous act, Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is more than I can bear. Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence. I will be a restless wanderer upon the earth…. (Genesis 4:13-14) Oh, how deep is the chasm when we do not confess and repent of our sin … for we separate ourselves from the Presence of the Lord.

I am reminded of Moses who contended with the stiff-necked and wayward children of Israel. As they began their journey to the Promised Land, Moses implored the Lord, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here! How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?” (Exodus 33:15-16) Oh, friends of mine, do we not see that it is the Presence of the Lord that demonstrates His grace upon us and distinguishes us from those who are hidden from His presence?

In his great confession captured in Psalm 51, King David understood the magnitude of his iniquity and his desperate need to be cleansed and restored to fellowship with God. He affirms the sovereign holiness and righteous judgment of God. In deep, sincere repentance, David pleads: “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your Presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. (Verses 10-11) Indeed, there is no light, life or redemption without the Presence of the Lord within us.

There is a quiet confidence to be found in the Presence of the Lord. Before Him, there is a heart of surrender and abandonment of any effort to ever leave His Presence. Oh, for the steadfast faith of David to inspire us this morning: “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your Presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. (Psalm 16:11) Yes, as Paul prayed: “May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else…. May He strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the Presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all His holy ones.” (1 Thessalonians 3:12-13)

Have a Blessed Day!

Follow…

Follow…

As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed Him. (Matthew 4:18-20)

I never cease to be fascinated with the stories of people who encountered Jesus as captured for us in the New Testament Scriptures. Jesus invited ordinary people to come to Him first; and then, He told them to follow Him. In Luke 5:1-11, this encounter with Jesus is shared in greater detail, but the outcome is unchanged: They pulled their boats up on shore, left everything, and followed Jesus!

How intriguing and compelling Jesus must have been to them! How irresistible His captivating presence must have felt! These fishermen immediately left everything – their very lives as they had known them up to that moment – to follow Jesus. What a testimony of their conviction and faith! I scare know anyone who has immediately left everything to follow Jesus; and yet, that is what He expects of us….

In Matthew 19:16-30, we read about another encounter. A rich young man met with Jesus to question Him about obeying the Law and eternal life. Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Oh, there is no doubt that to follow Jesus will require sacrifice on our part. Indeed, Jesus has affirmed to us all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)

In spite the cost and self-denial required to follow Jesus, there are great blessings for doing so! Jesus declared, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12) Whoever follows Jesus will know His voice and never follow a stranger. (John 10:4-5) Whoever follows Jesus will serve Him; and where He is, His servants will also be. (John 12:26) These are just a few of the innumerable riches of grace Jesus imparts to us. Indeed, to follow Jesus is to love Him wholeheartedly … withholding nothing within our beings from Him….

My friends, there is an incredible life to be received and experienced when we come to Jesus Christ and follow Him. He redeems us from the old-self … the old way of life. He empowers us walk in newness of life! (Romans 6:3-5) We become new creations; old things pass away; behold, all things have become new! (2 Corinthians 5:17) Yes, come to Jesus! Follow Him! He is the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Him. (John 14:6)

Have a Blessed Day!

Come…

Come…

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Matthew 11:28-29)

Never have there been any kinder, more gentle words than this invitation of our Lord Jesus Christ. There is a deep longing within each of us to hear His voice … calling us to draw close to Him and to surrender every wearisome burden of life. His appeal, “Come to me”, is the heart of the Gospel! Jesus assures us: “Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” And, “All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of Him who sent me.” (John 6:35; 37-38)

Jesus taught, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ (Quoting Isaiah 54:13) Therefore, everyone who has heard the Father and learned from Him comes to me.” (John 6:44-45) And Jesus declared, “As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.” (Luke 6:47-48)

My friends, there is an abundance of grace to be received in His offer to Come! There are benefits to be enjoyed. When we come to Jesus and place our faith in Him, we receive His gifts of salvation and eternal life. Whoever comes to Jesus will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life! (John 8:12) Indeed, Jesus pleads: “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” (John 7:37-38) Jesus is the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Him!

So, I urge everyone to come to Jesus! He is waiting with open arms to embrace and betroth you! Yes, come to Jesus, and joyfully serve Him in love! One day, Jesus is going to come in His Father’s glory with His angels, and then He will reward each person according to what they have done. Indeed, we will hear that precious word again: “Come!” For the King will say, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the Kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.” (Matthew 25:34)

Have a Blessed Day!

First…

First…

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness He called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day. (Genesis 1:1-5)

First there was darkness…. Then God said, “Let there be light!” Thus, the first day of creation was completed, and the order of His work was established. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:5) God has ordained a divine order in which all things must take place. If want to the power of light to fill us, we must first let it subdue the lifelessness of the darkness within us.

There is an order of God we need to understand. Consider how Isaiah prophesied the Messiah must suffer first before His ultimate triumph:

Isaiah 53:10-11 (NIV)

Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush Him and cause Him to suffer; and though the Lord makes His life an offering for sin, He will see His offspring and prolong His days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in His hand. After He has suffered, He will see the light of life and be satisfied; by His knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities.

My friends, there is a pattern we need to see! We, too, must first deny ourselves, pick up our crosses daily, and follow Jesus. (Luke 9:23) Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12) Indeed, the suffering of the cross must come before the crown can be worn! And we must persevere in faith to receive it! As James affirmed: “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” (James 1:12)

Paul testified as well: “The Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to His own people and to the Gentiles.” (Acts 26:23) Likewise, he taught: “If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. It is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven. And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man.” (1 Corinthians 15:45-47, 49)

Have a Blessed Day!

Darkness…

Darkness…

The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble. (Proverbs 4:18-19)

Darkness has been defined as the partial or total absence of light; and it depicts both human and supernatural behaviors associated with wickedness, sinfulness, evil, and iniquity. Darkness has been associated with this particular date through the centuries. It is a time of heightened demonic activity. So, Halloween is neither a holiday nor a holy day at all; rather, it serves to desensitize us and to normalize the spiritual forces of darkness at work in the heavenly realms and in this world.

Paul urged spiritual awareness in believers when he admonished:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. (Ephesians 6:10-17)

This is not a date for us to put on costumes and celebrate with powers of darkness; rather, it is time for us to put on the armor of God and to pray in the Spirit! We are in the latter days and have entered the time that Jesus warned: “Many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.” (Matthew 24:10-12) Let us not join with those who perpetuate darkness or be deceived with so-called “innocent fun”. Satan, the god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers so that they cannot see the light of the Gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Corinthians 4:4)

When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12) My prayer is that all people will decide to follow Jesus … and therefore, not walk in darkness.

Have a Blessed Day!

Holiness – Reverence for God

2 Corinthians 7:1 (NIV)

Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

In our Verse of the Day, Paul gives us a great and timely message regarding our pursuit of holiness out of reverence for God. To me, the point being made is that our motivation for obedience is to be based in reverence and not merely obligation or duty. Let’s look at our passage in the larger context. Since 2 Corinthians 7 begins with the word “therefore,” we need to understand what it is there for. Thus, we will need to go back to 2 Corinthians 6 to get a better idea:

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 (NIV)

¹⁴Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? ¹⁵What harmony is there between Christ and Belial (Satan)? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? ¹⁶What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

“I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” (Citing Leviticus 26:12; Jeremiah 32:38; Ezekiel 37:27)

¹⁷Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” (Citing Isaiah 52:11; Ezekiel 20:34, 41)

¹⁸And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” (Citing 2 Samuel 7:14; 7:8)

Corinthians 7:1 (NIV)

Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

As we look at the larger context, we see Paul admonish us regarding the nature of our walk with God. His concern is about our pursuit of holiness as temples of the living God. And from this perspective, we need to look at how to keep our lives clean and righteous. To that end, Paul stresses that believers should NOT seek a “yoked” relationship with unbelievers because there is an inherent spiritual incompatibility that ensues from the relationship. He is saying we should not “bind” ourselves in such arrangements where spiritual conflict is inevitable. He asks what does righteousness and wickedness have in common? What fellowship can light have with darkness? What agreement is there between the worship of God and the worship of idols? The answer, of course, is there can be no harmony between two such opposite or opposing forces. There is a natural separation in this realm. And so, Paul takes us to the higher reality that we (the Church) are the temple of the living God. We are the Body of Christ through His indwelling/abiding Spirit within each of us….

With this view in mind, Paul sets out to address the scriptural promises that God has made with His people; believers whom He has called “out of the world” and who represent His temple. God says, “I will live WITH them and walk among them. I will be their God and they will be my people.” God calls us out of the world and says to be separate … sanctified (holy) and set apart for service to God. And in another place, God says, “I will be a Father to you. You will be my sons and daughters.” How wonderful are His thoughts toward us! How miraculous is it that the Creator of the universe expresses such a passionate desire to have intimate relationship with His people … those who have consecrated themselves to Him?

Although we live IN the world, we are not OF the world. We are the Church … the CALLED-OUT ones. Jesus said, “If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” (Cf. John 15:19) I think this is the very thing Paul is concerned about in his appeal to the Corinthian Church. We cannot pursue holiness if we continue to pursue the things of this world. Righteousness and wickedness cannot coexist. Light and darkness are separate. What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? We cannot serve both God and the idols of our affections. We cannot have an intimate relationship with the Father if we do not consecrate ourselves to Him through Christ Jesus. But when we separate ourselves from the things of the world and commit ourselves unto the Father, we prepare ourselves for Him to enter into relationship with us. For it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” (Cf. Leviticus 11:44-45; 19:2; 1 Peter 1:16) Thus, Paul urges us to purify ourselves from everything that defiles our bodies and our spirits.

The Word of God is clear that the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ desire to have intimate relationship with us. The question is: “Do we want to have an intimate relationship with God?” If so, then we need to do those things with separate us from the world. The Apostle John taught: “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. (1 John 2:15-17) These are the three primary avenues of temptation for us, and so we need to consider our spiritual strategies for separation from the world. Our greatest tool (spiritual weapon) is the Word of God! We need to read it, understand it, and put it into practice! I believe the more we engage the Word of God in our lives, the more we will find, feel, and express reverence for God.

My friends, I think the application for our Verse of the Day is self-evident. Our mission is to perfect (or complete) holiness in our lives out of respect … out of reverence … out of love for God. We have been chosen “out of the world” by Jesus Christ to serve in His Kingdom … which is not of this world either. (Cf. John 18:36) Think about the great honor and privilege believers have received to enter into His sanctifying work through the Spirit in order to be separated from the world and enter the Kingdom of Light! And the promise is that God will receive us if we are IN Christ Jesus. God Himself will love us and be a father unto us, and He will dwell among us. (Cf. John 14:23) He will be our God and we will be His chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that we may declare the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His wonderful light! (Cf. 1 Peter 2:9) This is why we pursue holiness and righteousness in our lives. Consecration is the expression of our sincere reverence for Father God – the One who sent His Beloved Son to rescue us from darkness … to redeem us from sin … to release us from captivity … to reconcile us to Himself and to grant us everlasting life. Let these promises be our meditation with all thanksgiving for the great mercy shown to us … that we would be CHOSEN to be separated and to have intimate relationship with our Creator. Yes! Let our hearts be stirred up with these thoughts today … with fresh anointing … with fresh fire!

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies. ~ 1 Corinthians 6:19-20