Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God. (2 Corinthians 2:15 The Message)
During my “walk with God” this morning along the New River Trail it seems that my olfactory receptors were at their optimum performance today. In other words, I smelled a lot of stuff that I generally do not pay attention to. I love to smell the honeysuckle, the pine, and cedar smells that hang in the air along the route. As I was thinking about what the topic for the devotion would be today I walked past a field of cattle and the smell of cow pies seemed overwhelming! Several of them were at the fence grazing in the early morning shade and one was chewing and mooing as I walked past. I stopped to see what the big deal was about and the thought hit me; wonder what I smell like to God? I remembered reading somewhere in the Bible that we are called sheep, but I cannot remember ever being referred to as a cow. I know God is good at using what is available to teach us so she would suffice for my daily lesson. I sit down on the bench that just happens to be in the perfect location for cattle watching and pie smelling to get gravel out of my shoe. As I sat there meditating, smelling, and listening this verse came to mind. Not in the text of The Message, but rather as I have read in my New King James; we are the aroma of life to some, and the aroma of death to others, but to God we are the fragrance, (smell or aroma), of Christ. Gee! I smell sweet to God! When I asked Christ to save me, He washed me of my sin and clothed me in His righteousness. The stench of death which is attached to sin had been removed as the sweet smell of eternal life permeated my soul. When God takes a whiff of me now He smells the lingering fragrance of His Son upon me!
You may smell like Aqua Velva, Old Spice, or Obsession today in the physical, but if you have put on Christ you smell sweet to your heavenly Father! I was a real stinker to Him at one time so I am glad today that Jesus never turned His nose up at me, and He will not turn His nose up at you either. Man, I am glad He never created me to be a Tumblebug.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
Character or Hypocrit?
Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character. ~ Psalm 105:19 (NLT)
An old gentleman came everyday to the nursing home to hand feed his wife that had Alzheimer’s, her lunch. One day a nurse asked him why he came and did that for her because she had no idea who he was. He replied, “I do it because I know who she is.”
Character; the Hebrew terms used in this verse mean the act of refining; a process in which dross is separated from silver so that you end up with a pure substance. Our English dictionaries have one definition that states that character is a distinguishing feature or attribute. My definition of character is simple; it is the real you. It is who you are when no one is watching. It is what you actually think and not what you actually say. It is who you really are in Christ; not just who you want others to think you are. Joseph was tested with time and trials. Wait upon the Lord the Bible says. I have a tough time waiting at red lights. We live in a drive through world. Pull up to the speaker, order, go to the window and pay, pull up to the next window and get the bag of grub. We want it right and we want it right now. This attitude has crept into our faith. Dr. Luke tells us that many times people were healed immediately. The Apostle Paul tells us that his eyes were never completely healed after being blinded. Commitment and character go hand in hand. Joseph was committed to God, Jesus was committed to God, and Paul was committed to God. All three had their character tested. They did not go on Facebook and complain about their problems as to seek sympathy or glory for their situations. They endured as good soldiers of God. Paul said, “I thank God for my weaknesses, because in them His strength is glorified!” Character is the fruit of commitment. Hypocrisy is the fruit of fake commitment. Joseph never became bitter because of his situation. Paul never blamed his teachers for not teaching him the truth. Jesus never blamed us for having to go to the Cross. It was not my fault He had to die for my sins; He died for me because He loves me and was committed to redeeming me. His character was without flaw because His obedience was without flaw. His commitment never waivered. His love never diminished. Joseph was a type Christ. He was falsely accused, punished unjustly, and yet showed mercy to his enemies.
Are you up against it today? Maybe God is testing your commitment. Maybe He is testing your character.
An old gentleman came everyday to the nursing home to hand feed his wife that had Alzheimer’s, her lunch. One day a nurse asked him why he came and did that for her because she had no idea who he was. He replied, “I do it because I know who she is.”
Character; the Hebrew terms used in this verse mean the act of refining; a process in which dross is separated from silver so that you end up with a pure substance. Our English dictionaries have one definition that states that character is a distinguishing feature or attribute. My definition of character is simple; it is the real you. It is who you are when no one is watching. It is what you actually think and not what you actually say. It is who you really are in Christ; not just who you want others to think you are. Joseph was tested with time and trials. Wait upon the Lord the Bible says. I have a tough time waiting at red lights. We live in a drive through world. Pull up to the speaker, order, go to the window and pay, pull up to the next window and get the bag of grub. We want it right and we want it right now. This attitude has crept into our faith. Dr. Luke tells us that many times people were healed immediately. The Apostle Paul tells us that his eyes were never completely healed after being blinded. Commitment and character go hand in hand. Joseph was committed to God, Jesus was committed to God, and Paul was committed to God. All three had their character tested. They did not go on Facebook and complain about their problems as to seek sympathy or glory for their situations. They endured as good soldiers of God. Paul said, “I thank God for my weaknesses, because in them His strength is glorified!” Character is the fruit of commitment. Hypocrisy is the fruit of fake commitment. Joseph never became bitter because of his situation. Paul never blamed his teachers for not teaching him the truth. Jesus never blamed us for having to go to the Cross. It was not my fault He had to die for my sins; He died for me because He loves me and was committed to redeeming me. His character was without flaw because His obedience was without flaw. His commitment never waivered. His love never diminished. Joseph was a type Christ. He was falsely accused, punished unjustly, and yet showed mercy to his enemies.
Are you up against it today? Maybe God is testing your commitment. Maybe He is testing your character.
Monday, June 13, 2011
He Has The Right
{Matthew 9:5 NKJV}
For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’? Which is easier? Jesus posed this question after a scribe accused Him of blasphemy, a crime which was punishable by death according to the Law of Moses. Of course it is easier to say your sins are forgiven. For how can anyone say of another that his or her sins have actually been forgiven? How can we know for sure that even our own sins have been forgiven? We believe they have by faith; the faith we have in God and His word. When Jesus told the man his sins were forgiven He was taking on the authority of God. For only God has the authority and the right to forgive sin. We can forgive trespasses against each other but we cannot forgive others trespasses against God! We have no right to give absolution of someone else’s sin regardless of who we are in Christ. We do have the authority given to us by Jesus to preach Gods word and tell others that HE can and will forgive them. Jesus proved that day that He really does have the authority to forgive sin. When He told the man to arise and walk the people knew immediately that only God could do that. A teacher of the Law, Nicodemus, would make the statement; “We know You are from God for no one could do the works You do unless God was WITH him.” Forgiveness of sin takes place in the heart, out of sight of man. Physical healing is done right in front of our eyes. Because someone is not healed physically does not mean their sins have not been forgiven and because someone is healed physically does mean their sins have been forgiven. Even before Jesus died on the Cross that our sins may be forgiven He forgave this man. He could do that because He knew the Cross was ahead of Him. If you need your sins forgiven then come to Christ and ask Him. He will say to you just as He said to that man; “Arise and walk.” Arise and walk in your new life! Your sins have been forgiven! I say that not on my authority, but on the Authority of the Almighty God. We walk by faith, not by sight.
For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’? Which is easier? Jesus posed this question after a scribe accused Him of blasphemy, a crime which was punishable by death according to the Law of Moses. Of course it is easier to say your sins are forgiven. For how can anyone say of another that his or her sins have actually been forgiven? How can we know for sure that even our own sins have been forgiven? We believe they have by faith; the faith we have in God and His word. When Jesus told the man his sins were forgiven He was taking on the authority of God. For only God has the authority and the right to forgive sin. We can forgive trespasses against each other but we cannot forgive others trespasses against God! We have no right to give absolution of someone else’s sin regardless of who we are in Christ. We do have the authority given to us by Jesus to preach Gods word and tell others that HE can and will forgive them. Jesus proved that day that He really does have the authority to forgive sin. When He told the man to arise and walk the people knew immediately that only God could do that. A teacher of the Law, Nicodemus, would make the statement; “We know You are from God for no one could do the works You do unless God was WITH him.” Forgiveness of sin takes place in the heart, out of sight of man. Physical healing is done right in front of our eyes. Because someone is not healed physically does not mean their sins have not been forgiven and because someone is healed physically does mean their sins have been forgiven. Even before Jesus died on the Cross that our sins may be forgiven He forgave this man. He could do that because He knew the Cross was ahead of Him. If you need your sins forgiven then come to Christ and ask Him. He will say to you just as He said to that man; “Arise and walk.” Arise and walk in your new life! Your sins have been forgiven! I say that not on my authority, but on the Authority of the Almighty God. We walk by faith, not by sight.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
He Is Willing
“I am willing; be cleansed.” [Matthew 8:3 NKJV]
I wouldn’t touch him with a ten foot pole. You have heard that before haven’t you? I am not sure where it originated from but if that idiom existed in the Aramaic language I am sure people were saying it about lepers. They were the outcasts of society. People believed that if you were stricken with leprosy you had done something awful and God was punishing you for it as He had been known to do. What if we took that same way of thinking and applied it to cancer? All who have it did something that caused God to put it on them. No, sin brought disease upon the body and God did not bring sin into the world. As a society we do not avoid those with cancer but do our best to treat them. As Christians many of us lay hands on them, anoint them with oil, and pray for them. We certainly do not marginalize them as outcasts. Jesus changed their way of thinking by healing lepers. I can imagine someone in the crowd saying, “He touched him! He touched him! He touched that leper!”
It was not the physical ailments Jesus was so much concerned with because He knew the body would die anyway at some point. He healed their physical bodies so their suffering would be eliminated. He demonstrated His power over disease that we may know He has power over sin. We can define uncleanness several ways but the way God defines it has to do with our spiritual condition. A diseased soul is much worse than a diseased body. The body eventually dies; the soul never will. Our lesson is not to marginalize the sin laden souls but rather to embrace them and allow Jesus to touch them through us. What an honor to have someone say of you, “Look, look, he is talking to a sinner!” Look, look, she is praying for that drug addict!” Remember Jesus touched us when we were unclean and He is still willing to cleanse others!
I wouldn’t touch him with a ten foot pole. You have heard that before haven’t you? I am not sure where it originated from but if that idiom existed in the Aramaic language I am sure people were saying it about lepers. They were the outcasts of society. People believed that if you were stricken with leprosy you had done something awful and God was punishing you for it as He had been known to do. What if we took that same way of thinking and applied it to cancer? All who have it did something that caused God to put it on them. No, sin brought disease upon the body and God did not bring sin into the world. As a society we do not avoid those with cancer but do our best to treat them. As Christians many of us lay hands on them, anoint them with oil, and pray for them. We certainly do not marginalize them as outcasts. Jesus changed their way of thinking by healing lepers. I can imagine someone in the crowd saying, “He touched him! He touched him! He touched that leper!”
It was not the physical ailments Jesus was so much concerned with because He knew the body would die anyway at some point. He healed their physical bodies so their suffering would be eliminated. He demonstrated His power over disease that we may know He has power over sin. We can define uncleanness several ways but the way God defines it has to do with our spiritual condition. A diseased soul is much worse than a diseased body. The body eventually dies; the soul never will. Our lesson is not to marginalize the sin laden souls but rather to embrace them and allow Jesus to touch them through us. What an honor to have someone say of you, “Look, look, he is talking to a sinner!” Look, look, she is praying for that drug addict!” Remember Jesus touched us when we were unclean and He is still willing to cleanse others!
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