God’s Design in Detours

 

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:17)

Have you ever wondered what God is doing while you are looking in the wrong place for something you lost and needed very badly? He knows exactly where it is, and yet he is letting you look in the wrong place.

I once needed a quote for a new edition of my book Desiring God. I knew I had read it in Richard Wurmbrand. I thought it was in his devotional book, Reaching Toward the Heights. I could almost see it on the right hand side of the facing pages. But I couldn’t find it.

But while I was looking, I was riveted on his devotional for November 30. As I read it, I said, “This is why the Lord let me keep looking for my quote in the ‘wrong’ place.” Here was a story that illustrated perfectly that nothing is wasted that we do in the name of Jesus — nothing, not even looking for a quote in the wrong place. Here’s what I read:

In a home for retarded children, Catherine was nurtured twenty years. The child had been [mentally handicapped] from the beginning, and had never spoken a word, but only vegetated. She either gazed quietly at the walls or made distorted movements. To eat, to drink, to sleep, were her whole life. She seemed not to participate at all in what happened around her. A leg had to be amputated. The staff wished Cathy well and hoped that the Lord would soon take her to Himself.

One day the doctor called the director to come quickly. Catherine was dying. When both entered the room, they could not believe their senses. Catherine was singing Christian hymns she had heard and had picked up, just those suitable for death beds. She repeated over and over again the German song, “Where does the soul find its fatherland, its rest?” She sang for half an hour with transfigured face, then she passed away quietly. (Taken from The Best Is Still to Come, Wuppertal: Sonne und Shild)

Is anything that is done in the name of Christ really wasted?

My frustrated, futile search for what I thought I needed was not wasted. Singing to this disabled child was not wasted. And your agonizing, unplanned detour is not a waste — not if you look to the Lord for his unexpected work, and do everything in his name (Colossians 3:17).

SERVE DILIGENTLY!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY MAY 25, 2023.

SUBJECT: SERVE DILIGENTLY! 

Memory verse: "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.” (Ecclesiastes 9 vs 10.)

READ: Colossians 3 vs 22 - 4 vs 1: 

3:22: Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers; but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. 

3:23: And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 

3:24: knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

3:25: But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.

4:1: Masters give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

INTIMATION: 

To serve is; to work for; to labor in behalf of; to exert one's self continuously or statedly for the benefit of; to do service for; to be in the employment of, as an inferior, domestic, serf, slave, hired assistant, official helper, etc.; specifically, in a religious sense, to obey and worship. Diligent service is characterized by care and perseverance in carrying out tasks.

Christians should serve with diligence in everything they do (Romans 12 vs 11). When the Christian is working for his living, therefore, he is working on behalf of the Lord. When one becomes a Christian, his attitude changes concerning his work in making a living. As a Christian, he goes to work every day for the Lord and he works to earn a living to support his own necessities (Acts 20 vs 34).

Since the Creation, God has given us work to do. If we could regard our work as an act of worship or service to God, such attitude would take some of the drudgery and boredom out of it. We should be diligent, and could work without complaining or resentment if we would treat our job problems as the cost of discipleship.

Employees should work for their employers as they would for Christ. With such an attitude of servitude they are doing the will of God. When one is giving service to others according to his social obligations, he must render such as he would serve God. The purpose of the employee is to make sure that his employer is successful. In this way, the employee protects his job and provides for his family.

Can you be trusted to do your best, even when the boss is not around? Do you work hard and with enthusiasm? Do you treat your employees as people, not as machines? Employers should pay fair wages and treat their employees justly. Leaders should take care of their volunteers and not abuse them. If you have responsibility over others, make sure you do what is just and fair. Remember that no matter whom you work for, and no matter who works for you, the One you ultimately should want to please is your Father in heaven. You are accountable to Him.

Employers, on the other hand, should pay fair wages and treat their employees justly. Apostle Paul’s instructions, in the Scriptures we read today, encourage responsibility and integrity on the job. Christian employees should do their jobs as if Jesus Christ were their supervisor. And Christian employers should treat their employees fairly and with respect. Employees should not manifest an arrogant or defiant attitude in carrying out their duties. Their service to their employers should not to be from a hypocritical spirit, but from a sincere attitude of service. Their sincerity in service would reap consideration from their employers. They are to give their service to their employers as they would serve the Lord.

There are instances where employee’s good attitude and work may not be recognized and rewarded by the employer. However, God does recognize such and will eventually reward such in eternal glory. The work of an employee on the job is working for the Lord, for the Lord has ordained that one should provide for his own sustenance.

Christian employers must not extract performance out of their employees through threats. They must remember they have the Lord as their Master, before whom they will eventually give account. They must deal with their employees as they would have the Lord deal with them. 

In fact, one would conclude that an employee in today’s economic structure should treat his employer with even greater servitude in view of the fact that he has freedom to quit the job. In all things, the Christian employee must remember that it is his responsibility to make his employer successful. If through responsible conduct he does not, he will be out of job, and subsequently bring shame on the name of Jesus. 

Employees should carry out their duties with a sincere heart. If they give grudging service, such will bring harshness upon them by their masters. Their service should be motivated out of a heart that fears God. In the Old Testament, the fear of God was in reference to one’s obedience to God. Those who feared God obeyed His commandments. 

Both employees and employers who do wrong to their masters and employers will reap what they sow. Both should work in view of the fact that all men will stand in judgement before God. But the believer works for that which is beyond this life. His work is not in vein, therefore, because his works will be following to eternity. (First Corinthians 15 vs 58; Revelation 14 vs 13). 

Prayer: Abba Father, give me the grace to offer my service diligently at all times knowing that in every service I am serving You the Lord as my works follow me to eternity, and Your reward is with You to give to everyone according to his works, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

The Bedrock of Your Assurance

 

God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit. (2 Thessalonians 2:13)

The Bible speaks of our election — God’s choosing us — in Christ before the foundation of the earth (Ephesians 1:4) before we had done anything good or evil (Romans 9:11). Therefore, our election is unconditional in the strictest sense. Neither our faith nor our obedience is the basis of it. It is free and utterly undeserved.

On the other hand, dozens of passages in the Bible speak of our final salvation (as opposed to our election in eternity past) as conditional upon a changed heart and life. So, the question arises, How can I have the assurance that I will persevere in the faith and holiness necessary for inheriting eternal life?

The answer is that assurance is rooted in our election. Second Peter 1:10 says, “Be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.” Divine election is the foundation of God’s commitment to save me, and therefore that he will undertake to work in me by sanctifying grace what his electing grace has begun.

This is the meaning of the new covenant. Everyone who believes in Jesus is a secure beneficiary of the new covenant, because Jesus said in Luke 22:20, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” That is, by my blood I secure the new covenant for all who are mine.

In the new covenant God does not merely command obedience; he gives it. “The Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live” (Deuteronomy 30:6). “I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes” (Ezekiel 36:27; cf. 11:20). Those are new covenant promises.

Election is God’s eternal commitment to do this for his people. So, election guarantees that those whom God justifies by faith he will most assuredly glorify (Romans 8:30). This means that he will unfailingly work in us all the conditions laid down for glorification.

Election is the final ground of assurance because, since it is God’s commitment to save, it is also God’s commitment to enable all that is necessary for salvation.

GODLY GREATNESS IS THROUGH SERVICE!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

WEDNESDAY MAY, 24, 2023.

SUBJECT: GODLY GREATNESS IS THROUGH SERVICE! 

Memory verse: "But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.” (Matthew 23 vs 11.)

READ: Matthew 20 vs 25 - 28: 

20:25: But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them.

20:26: Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.

20:27: And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—

20:28: just as the Son of Man did not came to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.

INTIMATION: 

Godly greatness is achieved through service. Greatness is the state, condition, or quality of being great; as, greatness of size, greatness of mind, power, etc. Great is ascribed to a person who has achieved distinction and honor in some field. To serve is to meet the needs of, and subject one’s will to that of another. Therefore, godly greatness is achieved through distinctive and honorable commitment to serving God and His creation. To serve God is to subject to the will of God. When we give our lives in service to God, we discover the real purpose of living; you live an exceedingly fruitful life and achieve greatness in God’s assessment. Real discipleship implies real commitment—pledging our whole existence to His service or will. 

All the disciples wanted to be the greatest (Matthew 18 vs 1), but Jesus taught them that the greatest person in God’s kingdom is the servant of all. Authority is given, not for self-importance, ambition, or respect, but for useful service to God and His creation. Jesus said to His disciples in Matthew 23 vs 11, "But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant." Jesus challenged society’s norm. To Him greatness comes from serving—giving yourself to serve God and others. Service keeps us aware of others' needs, and it stops us from focusing only on ourselves. Jesus, the greatest man, came as a servant. Evaluate yourself to find out what kind of greatness you seek.

God requires our all in serving Him. In Matthew 16 vs 24 - 25, Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let Him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” In service to God, if we try to save our physical life from death, pain, or discomfort, we may risk losing our true eternal life. If we protect ourselves from the pains, and discomfort of this world, usually inherent in service to God, we begin to die spiritually and emotionally. Our lives turn inward, we become selfish, and we lose our intended purpose.

Service is a cure for selfishness. In Philippians 2 vs 3 the Bible says, "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself." Considering others' interests as more important than our own links us with Christ, who was a true example of selflessness. We are to lay aside selfishness and treat others with respect and common courtesy. 

We are called to serve even at great cost to us. In Luke 1 vs 26 - 38, God visited Mary through an angel and asked her to serve Him. She was told that she will conceive in her womb and bring forth a Son. Mary wondered how possible this can be, since she knew no man and was only betrothed to Joseph. The angel assured her that the Holy Spirit will come upon her, and the power of the Highest will overshadow her. It is logical for her to have doubted because such has never happened in history, and she ought to have refused because of the enormous negative societal implications of conceiving and bearing a child outside marriage. 

A young unmarried girl who became pregnant risked disaster. Unless the father of the child agreed to marry her, she would probably remain unmarried for life. If her own family rejected her, and she cannot fend for herself as a single parent, she could be forced out into begging or prostitution in order to earn her living. And Mary with her story about being made pregnant by the Holy Spirit, risked being considered crazy as well. Still Mary said, despite the possible risks, "Let it be done to me according to your word." When Mary said that she didn't know about the tremendous opportunity she would have. She only knew that God was asking her to serve Him, and she willingly obeyed. She never bothered about the bottom line before offering her life to God. 

God has a place for all to serve. He knows us more than we know ourselves, and we are called to serve God in specific ways. Therefore, avoid excuses when God calls you to serve. He that called you knows about you and will equip you for any tasks He gives you. Although God promises us the tools and strength we need, we often make excuses. But reminding God of our limitations only implies that He does not know all about us or that He has made a mistake in evaluating our character. Spend the time to make excuses on doing what God wants. 

Jesus, the greatest man ever, came to be a servant to the spiritual needs of humanity. As He made tremendous sacrifices to pay our debt, so we should work to serve the needs of others to achieve real greatness—godly greatness!

Prayer: Abba Father, give me the grace to serve You and others diligently and acceptably with the talents, abilities, and resources You bestowed on me, that I may lead a purposeful and fulfilled life, and achieve godly greatness, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Is Christ Worth It?

 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:26–27)

Jesus is unashamed and unafraid of telling us up front the “worst” — the painful cost of being a Christian: hating family (verse 26), carrying a cross (verse 27), renouncing possessions (verse 33). There is no small print in the covenant of grace. It is all big, and bold. No cheap grace! Very costly! Come, and be my disciple.

But Satan hides his worst and shows only his best. All that really matters in the deal with Satan is in small print on the back page.

On the front page in big, bold letters are the words, “You will not surely die” (Genesis 3:4), and “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me” (Matthew 4:9). But on the back page in small print — so small you can only read it with the magnifying glass of the Bible — it says, “And after the fleeting pleasures, you will suffer with me forever in hell.”

Why is Jesus willing to show us his “worst” as well as his best, while Satan will only show us his best? Matthew Henry answers, “Satan shows the best, but hides the worst, because his best will not [counterbalance] his worst; but Christ’s will abundantly.”

The call of Jesus is not just a call to suffering and self-denial; it is first a call to a banquet. This is the point of the parable in Luke 14:16–24. Jesus also promises a glorious resurrection where all the losses of this life will be repaid (Luke 14:14). He also tells us that he will help us endure the hardships (Luke 22:32). He also tells us our Father will give us the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13). He promises that even if we are killed for the kingdom, “not a hair of your head will perish” (Luke 21:18).

Which means that when we sit down to calculate the cost of following Jesus — when we weigh the “worst” and the “best” — he is worth it. Abundantly worth it (Romans 8:18; 2 Corinthians 4:17). 

Not so with Satan. Stolen bread is sweet, but afterward the mouth is full of gravel (Proverbs 20:17).

YOUR HEARTBEAT FOR GOD!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

TUESDAY MAY 23, 2023.

SUBJECT : YOUR HEARTBEAT FOR GOD!

Memory verse: "As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God." (Psalm 42 vs  1.)

READ: Exodus 33 vs 8 - 11:

33:8: So it was, whenever Moses went out to the tabernacle, that all the people rose, and each man stood at his tent door and watched Moses until he had gone into the tabernacle. 

33:9: And it came to pass, when Moses entered the tabernacle, that the pillar of cloud descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses.

33:10: All the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the tabernacle door, and all the people rose and worshiped, each one in his tent door.

33:11: So the LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. 

And he would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle.

INTIMATION:

A wise person once said, "When God measures you, He puts the tape around your heart, not your head." So what is your heartbeat for God? Our memory verse indicates the heartbeat of David to God; His heart relationship with God that God gave testimony of him and said, "I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will." ( Acts 13 vs 22.)  In the passage we read today, Moses had such heart relationship with God that he enjoyed the presence of God most times. Consequently, God spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. 

Throughout our lives, we look for those rare individuals with whom we feel relaxed and comfortable and can share our heart and our secrets and know they will not betray us, who will always be there for us, and in whom we can have confidence; individuals we can respect and who in turn admire us and want us to be successful.

God wants to be in that type of role with us, but He is even better than any earthly companion. For God is a perfect companion: the One who knows the road we are traveling on and all of the problems that lay ahead; the One who can give us dependable advice; the One who wants to share our life with us and will not put us down when we stumble; the One who will never desert us if we fail or do not live up to His standards. He accepts us just as we are, wants to be with us forever, is able to help us be all that we can be, and can enable us either to avoid or overcome every obstacle or problem in our lives.

Spiritual heart relationship can best be explained through a human illustration. Some children grow up in families where their father is a strong disciplinarian. They obey because they do not want to suffer the wrath of their father. Although they may even respect the father and his accomplishments, they want nothing to do with him on a personal basis. It is not unusual for such children to dread the return of their father in the evening. As adults they spend as little time with him as possible. They have a physical relationship with obedience, but not the close heart relationship out of love. Fear and mistrust are barriers to their ever being close.

On the other hand, some have fathers who have definite standards and rules to obey, but the relationship is one of love and respect. They are excited when Dad walks through the door at night. They love the weekends because Dad can be with them and they do fun things together. Such children obey because they love and trust their father, not because they fear him or the consequences of disobedience. 

In our relationship with God we can respond and obey either out of love or out of fear.

When we realize God's desire to be our ‘Faithful Companion’ in our relationship, we find Him less an authority figure and more a desirable companion—a Loving Father—Who is no less in charge in our lives. We now realize He is on our side, wants the best for us, and how absolutely dependable He is. The inborn unhealthy fear of God that stems from our sin nature, and is often stirred up by the enemy of our souls, is weakened as we get a clearer picture of who He really is.

Unfortunately many people never really seek Him with all their hearts. They are content to learn as a child would, that is, learning and following rules in order to avoid big problems, but not as willing to spend any great period of time with the Lord in the free time they have. There is little delight in the relationship, only obedience out of necessity. Such persons have salvation from penalty of sin, but they will enter heaven "through the flames" (First Corinthians 3 vs 15). They have yet to cross that line of spiritual familial relationship into spiritual heart relationship.

First Corinthians 3 vs 15 states "If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire." This means that good work will be rewarded; unfaithful or inferior work will be discounted. Though unfaithful workers will be saved, but like people escaping from a burning building, all their possessions (accomplishments) will be  lost. Those are the people Jesus Christ described as ‘the least in the kingdom of God.’

Prayer: Abba Father, I desire You as my companion. Build in my heart Your steadfast Spirit, that I may follow and obey You in every aspect of my life out of my love for You. My utmost heart desire is an intimate relationship with You. But by my strength I can do nothing. Help me to accomplish this, in Jesus' Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

 

Jesus Knows His Sheep

 

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them.” (John 10:27)

Jesus knows those who are his. What is this knowledge?

John 10:3 is a close parallel to John 10:27. It says, “The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.”

So, when Jesus says, “I know them,” this means at least that he knows them by name; that is, he knows them individually and intimately. They are not anonymous, lost in the flock.

John 10:14–15 provides another insight: “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father.”

There is a real similarity between the way Jesus knows his Father in heaven and the way he knows his sheep. Jesus sees himself in the Father, and he sees himself in his disciples.

To some degree Jesus recognizes his own character in his disciples. He sees his own brand mark on the sheep. This endears them to him.

He is like a husband waiting for his wife at the airport, watching as each person disembarks from the plane. When she appears, he knows her, he recognizes her features, he sees in her eyes a happy reflection of his own love. He delights in her. She is the only one he embraces.

The apostle Paul puts it like this: “God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are his’” (2 Timothy 2:19).

It is hard to overemphasize what a tremendous privilege it is to be known personally, intimately, lovingly by the Son of God. It is a precious gift to all his sheep, and it contains within it profound, personal fellowship and affection and the promise of eternal life.