Made in Holiness

Psalms 51:1-6 is an honest confession by David for luring Bathsheba to his bed and then killing her husband Uriah so he alone could have her. It is against you and you alone I sinned.  Sexual sin and murder transgress the holiness and sacredness of life God created.

Psalms 51:1-6 (TLB) 1 O loving and kind God, have mercy. Have pity upon me and take away the awful stain of my transgressions. 2 Oh, wash me, cleanse me from this guilt. Let me be pure again. 3 For I admit my shameful deed—it haunts me day and night. 4 It is against you and you alone I sinned and did this terrible thing. You saw it all, and your sentence against me is just. 5 But I was born a sinner, yes, from the moment my mother conceived me. 6 You deserve honesty from the heart; yes, utter sincerity and truthfulness. Oh, give me this wisdom. 

8/2/2020

The Rich Man and the Kingdom of Heaven

Jesus said you must want to find the Kingdom of Heaven so much that a relationship with God and wanting to live within his will is more compelling than the riches of this Earth. Yet, with God’s help, anyone - rich or poor - can enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. 

Matthew 19:23-26 (TLB) 23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “It is almost impossible for a rich man to get into the Kingdom of Heaven. 24 I say it again—it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God!” 25 This remark confounded the disciples. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked. 26 Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, no one. But with God, everything is possible.”

7/26/2020

Idolatry, Promiscuity and Adultery

In the Bible, what appears to be one thing may be representative of something else. Here, the mother is Israel, God is the husband and other men are the false gods Israel prefers. Idolatry, promiscuity and adultery were all linked to grief and destruction, and they still are. 

Hosea 2:2-4 (TLB) 2 “Plead with your mother, for she has become another man’s wife—I am no longer her husband. Beg her to stop her harlotry, to quit giving herself to others. 3 If she doesn’t, I will strip her as naked as the day she was born and cause her to waste away and die of thirst as in a land riddled with famine and drought. 4 And I will not give special favors to her children as I would to my own, for they are not my children; they belong to other men.

7/19/2020

Strength in Oppression

In Egypt the Israelites became stronger the more they were oppressed. The early Christians multiplied and expanded under persecution also. Relying on God, regardless of circumstances, is an internal decision. You and God are stronger than any conditions of this temporal world.

Exodus 1:11-14 (CJB) 11 So they put slavemasters over them to oppress them with forced labor, and they built for Pharaoh the storage cities of Pitom and Ra‘amses. 12 But the more the Egyptians oppressed them, the more they multiplied and expanded, until the Egyptians came to dread the people of Isra’el 13 and worked them relentlessly, 14 making their lives bitter with hard labor — digging clay, making bricks, all kinds of field work; and in all this toil they were shown no mercy.

7/15/2020

The Meaning of War in the Bible

The Hebrew language is precise in the names of people and places. Wars are wars within yourself, depending upon the names involved.  The Amalekites represent giving into thoughts and actions of darkness. God wants to help you to defeat darkness, “from generation to generation.”

Exodus 17:16 (NIV) 16 He said, “Because hands were lifted up against the throne of the Lord, the Lord will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.”

7/12/2020

Respect for Authority

“All authority comes from God.” He lets leaders be in their positions for reasons only he knows. Your holy place is to seek God’s will for what you are to do, be peaceable and law abiding, pray and trust God completely. God will change what you cannot and do it right.

Romans 13:1-2 (NLT) 1 Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. 2 So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished.

7/5/2020

Jesus and the Criminal on the Cross

One criminal at the cross said he deserved his fate; he made a conscious choice to live apart from God. All people are criminals in this sense. You can live separated from God or accept reconciliation and peace in him. Anyone can have this peace. 

Luke 23:39-43 (NIV) 39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

6/28/2020

Resisting Oneness with God

Paul struggled to keep his connection with the Lord at times.  Despite sacrifice and obedience to Christ (torture, prison, teaching, and writing), he said he still came up short. All humans innately resist their oneness in God. It is only possible in relationship with God. 

Romans 7:15 (NIV) 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.

6/21/2020

Go Tell that Fox

In this verse, Jesus says he will continue his service on earth despite threats or resistance from “that fox” Herod. He was given a job by God and he will see it through, not matter what.  Keep going with the purpose God has given you, knowing his timing is always right. 

Luke 13:32 (NIV) 32 “Go tell that fox, ‘I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’

6/17/2020

Heavenly and Earthly Authority

Humans everywhere expect honor and respect of one’s parents and other authorities. All homes and societies depend upon it. In Malachi 1:6-7, the Lord warns the priests that this applies to their honoring him as much as it does to any earthly authority.

Malachi 1:6-7 (NIV) 6 “A son honors his father, and a slave his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?” says the Lord Almighty. “It is you priests who show contempt for my name. “But you ask, ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’ 7 “By offering defiled food on my altar. “But you ask, ‘How have we defiled you?’ “By saying that the Lord’s table is contemptible."

6/14/2020

Judgmental Sin

“...the leaders slipped away one by one, beginning with the eldest.”  You can become blind to your accumulation of self-righteousness and sin and project it on to others, as these leaders did.  Or, you can become awake to the grace of Christ to make you loving and whole. 

John 8:3-11 (TLB) 3 As he was speaking, the Jewish leaders and Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery and placed her “...the leaders slipped away one by one, be out in front of the staring crowd. 4 “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the very act of adultery. 5 Moses’ law says to kill her. What about it?” 6 They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. 7 They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, hurl the stones at her until she dies. But only he who never sinned may throw the first!” 8 Then he stooped down again and wrote some more in the dust. 9 And the Jewish leaders slipped away one by one, beginning with the eldest, until only Jesus was left in front of the crowd with the woman. 10 Then Jesus stood up again and said to her, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” 11 “No, sir,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”

6/10/2020

Your Appointed Work

Ask God to lead you to your perfect work because it is his appointment to make. Whatever your work, your holy purpose is there for a reason. Ask God to show you how to honor him, the job itself and those you work with in your assignment.

John 3:27 (TLB) 27 ... “God in heaven appoints each man’s work.

6/7/2020

Go Away by Yourself to Pray

“Go away by yourself, all alone” to pray. Praying with others is good but when you “shut the door behind you” you are in relationship. You can say anything to God and he will answer you. You become more attuned to his presence and love as you spend personal time in prayer. 

Matthew 6:6 (TLB) 6 But when you pray, go away by yourself, all alone, and shut the door behind you and pray to your Father secretly, and your Father, who knows your secrets, will reward you. 

5/31/2020

Abraham and Issac

A literal reading of God ordering Abraham to sacrifice his son begs the question of whether God will order a father to kill his son. The deeper meaning is that when, in faith, you submit your most precious relationships and beliefs to God, he will not let you down.

Genesis 22:16-19 (TLB) 16 “I, the Lord, have sworn by myself that because you have obeyed me and have not withheld even your beloved son from me, 17 I will bless you with incredible blessings and multiply your descendants into countless thousands and millions, like the stars above you in the sky, and like the sands along the seashore. They will conquer their enemies, 18 and your offspring will be a blessing to all the nations of the earth—all because you have obeyed me.” 

5/24/2020

On the Ledge

Staying grateful and energized about the Lord has its challenges. “As Paul spoke on and on…”, this young man dozed off and the passage tells what happened. The enemy helps you to doze off or, long term, become complacent, so you miss what God has for you.

Acts 20: 8-12 (TLB)  8 The upstairs room where we met was lighted with many flickering lamps; 9 and as Paul spoke on and on, a young man named Eutychus, sitting on the windowsill, went fast asleep and fell three stories to his death below. 10-12 Paul went down and took him into his arms. “Don’t worry,” he said, “he’s all right!” And he was! What a wave of awesome joy swept through the crowd! They all went back upstairs and ate the Lord’s Supper together; then Paul preached another long sermon—so it was dawn when he finally left them!

5/17/2020

The Right Side of the Boat

In John 21:5-6 a few disciples were fishing, without success. Jesus told them to throw their nets out of the right side of the boat and with that they had too many fish to get on to the boat. If things aren’t working out for you, ask Jesus to show you the right side of your boat.  

John 21:5-6 (NIV) 5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. 6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

5/13/2020

The Mind of Christ

When you enter into faith, you see and experience things differently than before you entered. Instead of blind faith, seek understanding, growth and God’s will. God doesn’t leave you fooled or intellectually helpless. You have a part of the mind of Christ working in you.

1 Corinthians 2:15-16 (TLB) 15 But the spiritual man has insight into everything, and that bothers and baffles the man of the world, who can’t understand him at all. 16 How could he? For certainly he has never been one to know the Lord’s thoughts, or to discuss them with him, or to move the hands of God by prayer. But, strange as it seems, we Christians actually do have within us a portion of the very thoughts and mind of Christ.

5/10/2020

The God of the Old Testament

The God of the Old Testament, spoken through the prophets, is not subtle or mysterious. He boldly proclaimed his promises and desire for relationship with Israel. His repeatedly said it was dependent upon their worshiping only him, yet that is nearly always where they failed.

Isaiah 45:19 (TLB) 19 I publicly proclaim bold promises; I do not whisper obscurities in some dark corner so that no one can know what I mean. And I didn’t tell Israel to ask me for what I didn’t plan to give! No, for I, Jehovah, speak only truth and righteousness. 

5/3/2020

Come Boldly to the Throne

Paul said to come boldly to the very throne of God. When you have failed you more likely want to hide from God. Shame has a place in conscience, but when you go wrong, first go directly and boldly to God and stay there. He will lead you to the way to make things right. 

Hebrews 4:16 (TLB) 16 So let us come boldly to the very throne of God and stay there to receive his mercy and to find grace to help us in our times of need.

4/26/2020

Do Not Fear

One of the most repeated phrases, do not be afraid or do not fear, is in the Bible over 100 times. It is a foundation of relationship with God. Everyone is subject to fear but it says to set that aside to trust God. Immediately ask God what to do when you are fearful. 

Deuteronomy 20:1 (NIV) 1 When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, because the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you.

4/19/2020

Reap at Harvest Time

Along the way, you don’t always know your progress. It can seem like nothing is improving and your prayers and good habits have failed. But if you do what you know is right each day and do not give up, God will see to it you reap at harvest time.

Galatians 6:9 (NRSV)  9 So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. 

4/15/2020

Speaking up in Faith

The King of Persia was captivated with Esther and made her his wife.  At the same time the King’s chief aide had a plan to destroy the Jews. God had the solution in the words of this young Jewish woman, speaking up in faith, not knowing if it would matter at all.

Esther 4:14 (TLB) 14 If you keep quiet at a time like this, God will deliver the Jews from some other source, but you and your relatives will die; what’s more, who can say but that God has brought you into the palace for just such a time as this?”

4/12/2020

Two Sides to Every Story

In controversy or drama, even in your own home, a story can be very compelling or emotional until you hear the other side. In these instances, you are best served by hearing more than one side of a story and seeking God’s help to discern the truth and your action. 

Proverbs 18:17 (TLB) 17 Any story sounds true until someone tells the other side and sets the record straight.

4/8/2020

The Lure of Sin

The lure of sin is powerful. It happens quickly. What you can handle today you may not be able to resist later. Being honest with yourself and God on a daily basis, and honestly believing God will always help you if you ask, is the best way to avoid compromising situations.

1 Corinthians 10:12 (TLB) 12 So be careful. If you are thinking, “Oh, I would never behave like that”—let this be a warning to you. For you too may fall into sin.

4/5/2020