Tag Archives: How to Live

Intimidating Expectations

Posted in Daily Devotions: Chapter by Chapter by

Checklist

Today’s Devotion: Deuteronomy 6

I love these following verses in Deuteronomy 6: (Warning: They are very intimidating!)

2 So that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life.

5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

On their own, each one of these verses could be a blog from my heart. Verse 2 reminds us that our actions, values, example and disciplines not only effect us, but the generations that follow after us. I wonder if my great, great, great, great, great grandparents would be proud to know that I’m walking with the LORD today? This technically goes all the way back to Abraham, the father of all nations, whom God promised to give him as many descendant as there are stars in the sky. I’m one of Abraham’s stars, are you? When you take that perspective, it’s pretty convicting to know the responsibility beset upon us for our kids and the generations that follow after us, isn’t it?

Then, to love the LORD with all of my heart, soul, and strength… WOWSA! That is an incomprehensible love to me, but is there anyone else worthy of such love? Love of the one who gave His son for my life, as a sacrifice for MY sins, that gives me assurance of eternal life that I don’t deserve? Should God expect any less from us? I say, “No!”

And He tells us to teach it to our children CONSTANTLY. That assumes we know His Word and know Him ourselves, therefore, have the ability to teach our children. What an awesome, overwhelming responsibility. All three of these verses are awesome, but overwhelming.

I’m going to put this into perspective, my finite mind’s perspective. This Christian walk is a journey. One day at a time, one decision at a time, one moment at a time. If I look at the big picture of Deuteronomy 6, I am plummeted with feelings of inadequacy and unworthiness. But if I recognize that these are, in many ways, are the fruits of what will result from my daily walk with the LORD, it makes me excited to turn the page and take in more of what God desires for me. It takes away the checklist mentality of checking things off like a to-do list that needs to be conquered. This chapter, and specifically these verses, implies that we have a daily commitment to learn, grow and live out His Word in our lives.

So let’s turn the page, let’s start a new day, full knowing that He is providing us with the best knowledge and wisdom we can get on this side of heaven and each day. He is giving us what we need to live successfully.

Shut Your Mouth!

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Shut Your Mouth

Today’s Devotional: Leviticus 24

There is a pretty significant message that God is giving us in Leviticus 24 that seems to over shadow the importance of the ever burning lamp stand. That message is, “Do not curse or blaspheme God!”

God doesn’t even mince words about how He feels about it either, Leviticus 15-16, “Say to the Israelites: ‘Anyone who curses their God will be held responsible; anyone who blasphemes the name of the LORD is to be put to death. The entire assembly must stone them. Whether foreigner or native-born, when they blaspheme the Name they are to be put to death.'”

What does that say about our filthy mouths? It tells me that my mouth can get me into some serious trouble. James has a lot to say about our mouths/tongue in James 3:3-6, “When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.”

I guess this is a great reminder to begin the week. A message from God to refrain from harsh words, that includes swearing or using God’s name in vain. We can’t worship God with the devotion and reading of His Word and then misuse His name as we communicate who He is to the World.

I’m talking to me (maybe more-so) as much as I’m talking to you today. Let’s use our words wisely and show the world, we are His people, His children, His ambassadors and His chosen.

 

Get On Your Holy Pedestal

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Pastor In You

Today’s Devotion: Leviticus 21

Pastors have a special place in my heart. I admire them for their leadership, commitment to the LORD and knowledge of God’s Word. As much as I admire them, I carry a burden for them because they carry a huge weight on their shoulders. They are who God entrusted to us, to teach us biblical truths and lead us the ways of righteous living – and their own lives as being an example to us. I would argue that a Pastor has the hardest, most significant, highest calling, greatest responsibility than any other human being that lives. If you’re a Pastor and you’re reading this, I hope you know and appreciate what you are because you ARE a big deal! What you hold is NOT a position or job to take lightly.

That being said, let’s shift gears for a second. What about you? If you are a believer and profess to be a follower of Jesus Christ – What does Leviticus 21 have to say to you? Well, a lot! As a believer you are considered a saint. Look what my friends at gotquestions.org have to say about this, “The idea of the word “saints” is a group of people set apart for the Lord and His kingdom.” That might make you swallow hard as the responsibility of a Pastor or Priest suddenly becomes more real, and applicable, to you. Read more: http://www.gotquestions.org/saints-Christian.html#ixzz2lHLfJ4ac.

My point is this. Each one of us has a responsibility in word, thought, act, and deed to live as followers of Christ. Leviticus 21 spells out the expectations of the Priest role, but the entire bible spells out examples, commands, guidelines and laws on how we (believers) should live.

Our lives are living testimonies (Romans 12:1-2). As I read Leviticus 21, I am not making a mental checklist of whether or not my Pastor fits the bill, I’m evaluating whether or not I fit the bill. Am I worthy of being labeled a believer in and follower of Chris? It’s a sobering perspective, but a true honor to represent my LORD and Savior in the time God gave me to live on this earth. The best part…. we don’t have to do it alone. We have each other, the body of Christ, and together we are God’s church and representation of our living God to the world.

His Glory, Glorified!

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Glory

Today’s Devotion: Leviticus 9

Leviticus verse 6: Then Moses said, “This is what the LORD has commanded you to do, so that the glory of the LORD may appear to you.”

Does the glory of the Lord still appear to us? We see that the glory of the Lord is everything that makes God, God. All His characteristics, authority, power, wisdom—literally the immeasurable weight and magnitude of God—are contained within God’s glory. Nothing is hidden or held back!

So does the glory of the Lord still appear to us? I say, “Yes!”

What do we have to do to see God’s glory? I think Leviticus 9 gives us a map to how we see God’s glory. I believe it is summarized by these 3 offerings: First, repent of your own sin, then forgive others of their sins, and pray for your relationship to grow in God and with others. Aaron took the first offering, the calf, and sacrificed for his own sin, then the goat offering to cover the people’s sin, and finally the ox and ram for the fellowship offering.

I think this is a really simple equation to what God desires for us to live out our time here on earth. He wants us to be connected to Him, point others to Him, and have a relationship with Him and others. His glory is all around us. Romans 1:20 says, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.”

I recommend we pause for a second and think about what that means for us to day. What do we need to take to God in prayer as our sin offering (confession and repentance)? What can we pray about for others and ask God to help them with their burdens and needs, and what can we do – with God’s help – to deepen our relationship with Him and others that would glorify God?

Dangerous Assumption

Posted in Reflections From My Heart by
Just Believe

Just Believe

Genesis 20:11 Abraham replied, “I said to myself, ‘There is surely no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’

I want to just smack Abraham. Here is a prophet of God and he lies to Abimelech that Sarah is his sister. His rationale, “There is surely no fear of God in this place.” [This is where I would launch a good back hand across the back of his head.] So what Abraham – Isn’t that when God reveals himself? But Abraham is afraid that telling the truth could result in death so he chooses to lie instead?

What?! Like getting caught in a lie would guarantee his safety? As a result, Abraham made a dangerous assumption in Genesis 20.

I’m seeing a theme in Abraham’s life and I believe Abraham’s greatest fault is his disbelief in God. Yet, the single, most fundamental thing that God asks of us is to believe. That is a theme throughout the entire bible and is also God’s message to us. In Genesis, we see evidence of God’s heart for those who believe and then fast forward to the new testament and to sum it up in one verse, Acts 16:31 says, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.” Without belief in God, nothing else matters… NOTHING! From our own salvation to how we live out our lives in reverence to God as a [action] believer!

My message as I interpret what God is trying to tell me in Genesis 20 is to do a heart check on my belief. Do I believe God? Confession… I want too. Maybe I need a good smack to the head too. This should be a no-brainer, but this is where my story and Abraham’s are parallel. I am prone to do things as to how I ‘think’ they should be rather than believe God. I am unapologetic when I say that I believe IN God – It’s the simply “BELIEVING God” that I still need work. Therefore, I rest in His grace and appreciate biblical example’s, like Abraham, who are given to us to show that God is with us, even when we take matters into our own hands.