Prepare for the harvest

Friends,

The world will never give you permission to pursue righteousness. Among the enemy's greatest desires is to make following Christ hard ... really hard. What is "easy" is to focus on the challenges and obstacles ... and then give them the power to stop us from seeking the Kingdom of God, from digging into His Word, and from joining forces with fellow believers int the fight against evil.

Proverbs 20:4 [NKJV]
The lazy man will not plow because of winter;
He will beg during harvest and have nothing.

The LORD admonishes His people - you and me - to prepare for the harvest by persevering in adversity. Let no act of the enemy deny you the opportunity to be in God's word. Overcome the flesh's desire for the easy path.

There will come a time when we reap the rewards of those actions. That will be a time of great joy and abundance. A time of unchallenged intimacy with Christ the King.

Be encouraged, Jose

He has set his own apart

Friends,

The LORD promises something remarkable to those who are godly. He promises that we will be treated as a distinct and unique group of people. We will not experience the same things as those who are not godly.

But know that the LORD has set apart for Himself him who is godly;
The LORD will hear when I call to Him.
Psalm 4:3 [NKJV]

Sometimes, this means that we will be subject to higher standard, and therefore to more severe consequences for our disobedience.

At most times, though, this means that will experience great blessings while the world explodes around us. We will hear the blasts, and feel the percussion. But while the ungodly see only destruction, we will be at peace, seeing eternity.

We are truly set apart. He listens specifically for the voice of His people, just as those who are truly His know the voice of Almighty God.

Be encouraged, Jose

Fervently seeking Jesus

Friends,

There is much in this world that seeks to distract us from following Christ. The busy-ness of life. Idle time in front of the TV. THe dirty house. Soccer practice.

The list is endless, and the temptations they bring are powerful. The Lord's people have always had to fight this temptation. Even the most devoted of believers must be watchful. Consider how the writer of Psalm 119 cried out to God for help in staying focused and obedient ...

With my whole heart I have sought You;
Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!
Psalm 119:10, NKJV

The psalmist declares that he desires to seek the LORD. And yet, he knows that our enemy is always trying to entice him away from that beautiful pursuit.

And you and I are no different. If we seek to follow Christ fervently, the enemy will fervently seek to draw our attention away from Christ. We cannot succeed in our quest in our strength and willpower. We must rely on Jesus.

He will not fail us.
He will answer this prayer.

Be encouraged, Jose

A daily review

Friends,

The believer and follower of Christ Jesus has great assurance in the grace given by the Lord. And when our thoughts, words and actions reflect that assurance, then it will be plain to see.

Jesus said ...
Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.
Matthew 12:33 [NKJV]

If you are known by your fruit, how will you be known? Does the fruit you bear reflect a confidence in Jesus? Does it show that you desire to obey and follow Him?

These are questions that are worth answering every single day.

Be encouraged, Jose

God's limits

Friends,

How often have we deceived ourselves into believing that God's mercy precludes Him from exercising perfect justice? How many times have we accused our Lord of cruelty when He does exercise perfect justice?

The fierce anger of the LORD will not return until He has done it,
And until He has performed the intents of His heart.
In the latter days you will consider it.
"At the same time," says the LORD, "I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people."
Jeremiah 30:24-31:1 [NKJV]

Even though translators have these verses in separate chapters, we can see that they truly flow as a continuous thought. And in this single, unified word, we see the goodness and the severity of our LORD.

Indeed, He is kind and merciful and longsuffering and patient. And truly, the LORD is fiercely just, and exercises perfect judgments over all mankind, including His precious children.

Be encouraged, Jose

Love Defined

Friends,

We know that Christ showed you and me the ultimate love act at Calvary. Beyond His desire to restore the people of God to righteousness was a deeper, more powerful purpose.

This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.
2 John 1:6 [NKJV]

Every thing Christ Jesus did ... every word, every thought, every act ... was in complete obedience to the Father's perfect will. He obeyed the letter of the law and the spirit of the law. And when He was declared to be the Lamb of God, He knew it was His Father's will that He go all the way to the Cross.

Nothing has changed, brothers and sisters. You and I are commanded to obey the Father's will, just as Jesus did. (And as we are transformed into His image, we will do so with greater consistency.) It is how we demonstrate love. It is how we turn love into a verb. And it is how we ultimately bring glory to the Lord of lords!

Be encouraged, Jose

Something to guard

Friends,

During the Israelites' trek through the wilderness, The LORD commanded the them to organize and be numbered into an army. Each tribe was given a specific territory to guard and protect. For all but one tribe, the commission was to protect that land from external enemies. The Levites, however, were given a special duty:

The children of Israel shall pitch their tents, everyone by his own camp, everyone by his own standard, according to their armies; but the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the Testimony, that there may be no wrath on the congregation of the children of Israel; and the Levites shall keep charge of the tabernacle of the Testimony.
-- Numbers 1:52-53 [NKJV]

The Levites were given no land - no physical territory - to live on, to claim or to protect. Rather, they were given charge over the Tabernacle of God. The Holy Place needed to be protected.

But protected from whom?

Since the Tabernacle is located at the center of the camp, the only potential attackers would come from within. And this presents us with a peculiar perspective.

You see, the Lord knows that His church is most vulnerable to those from inside His camp. We, His people, are warned again and again to watch out for false teachers. And it's highly unlikely that any mature believer would be swayed by the teachings of someone who does not profess to be a Christian.

This means, brothers and sisters, that we must carefully guard our heart from any false teaching, even if that teacher is a world-famous preacher, best-selling author or the pastor of some hyper-super-mega-church. We must know the word and submit all we learn to the Lord, regardless of the credentials or reputation of the speaker. By His Word and Spirit, He dispels all confusion.

Be encouraged, Jose

Leave the childish things alone

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
1 Corinthians 13:11 [NKJV]

Friends,

How do you define being a "grown-up"? For me, the answer is ... I know it when I see it.

The adult does not think like a child, speak like a child or act like a child. When an "adult" does think, speak and act like a child, we rightly consider that person to be under-developed. We know that something is not right with that individual.

When we come to a knowledge of Christ, we have similarly passed from one condition into another. We should not think, speak and act like an unsaved person. We should be thinking, speaking, and acting as ones who follow the Lord Jesus Christ and who are being transformed into His image. If we do not, then something is not right.

• Examine your thoughts today. Would the Lord be pleased with what He finds there?
• Examine your words today. Do they edify, encourage and advance the Kingdom of God?
• Examine your actions today. Do they reflect the remarkable transformation that Christ has caused in you?

We are no longer children without knowledge of our God. It is time we leave the thoughts, words and actions of the unsaved to the dustbin of history.

Be encouraged, Jose

Ignore the Faith Fads

Friends,

It seems that everyday, a "bold new ministry" makes its claim for our attention. We see churches incorporating the ways of the world in order to appear "relevant" and "in touch." We see celebrity preachers touting their latest book meant to improve your family, your job or your diet. Or someone else wants us to watch their DVD that explains how to fast, how to pray, how to worship, or how to serve.

We need to learn from those who have been anointed to teach the Body about sound doctrine and appropriate actions. And no one can legitimately claim to have figured it all out. And we know that the Lord is revealing Himself anew each day. Yet, we are wise to return to Scripture, in order to keep all of this in perspective:

Hebrews 13:9 [NKJV]
Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.

Remember that part of the enemy's plan is to distract the Christian from paying attention to the Lord. In so doing, Satan disrupts and hinders the growth of our relationship with God, which slows our transformation into His perfect image. Since we are commanded to resist the devil -- even unto blood -- then vigorously testing the doctrine of the day must be a key element in our battle plan.

Hold up every instruction to the shining light of God's Word. By the Holy Spirit, you will see what is deception and what is truth. And then you can put the truth into action, and experience the freedom and peace that is beyond understanding.

Be encouraged, Jose

Fear cannot stop us

Friends,

Among the many facets of the battles we encounter throughout our lives is one focused on the area of worship. It is a battle principally because the devil wants nothing more than to interrupt and disrupt our relationship with the Almighty. And of course, Satan will use all of his weapons to do so. Our response is to recognize his tactics and be resolved to worship the LORD no matter what.

Ezra 2:3
Though fear had come upon them because of the people of those countries, they set the altar on its bases; and they offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD, both the morning and evening burnt offerings. [NKJV]

Our forebears knew that a genuine worship of God would aggravate and irritate their neighbors. And those neighbors were already hostile, and were most certainly armed. Hence their fear was not irrational.

But fear did not stop them.

And fear must not stop you and me. The world will never give us permission to worship our LORD, and to wait for it is senseless. There will be consequences for obeying God, and it is understandable to be concerned about them. But we must not succumb to our fear of those consequences.

Remain steadfast in our worship of God. He is our strength and courage. And He is our victory.

Be encouraged, Jose

The courage to speak

Friends,

It can be a fearsome thing to say what God wants us to say. It can be even more frightening when we are called to deliver a word of rebuke, admonishment or warning. When the LORD sent Ezekiel to call attention to the many sins that His people were committing, God saw fit to warn His prophet ...

And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you dwell among scorpions; do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their looks, though they are a rebellious house
Ezekiel 2:6 [NKJV]

The LORD repeats this warning several times in the book of Ezekiel, as if to reinforce the message that He knows what His prophets must endure. And even today, His prophets are subject to persecution. Fellow believers call them names and look at them like they've lost their minds. Even pastors, who should know better, will use the power of their office to silence a prophet who says what he doesn't want to hear.

Executing the office of the prophet is difficult. It requires great confidence and intestinal fortitude. It carries few rewards in this lifetime. But each of us is called to bring forth revelation. Each of us is commanded to know what God has to say and to speak it... no matter the consequences. None of us can claim to have obeyed this command perfectly. Yet, by God's grace we can repent of our failure, accept Christ's forgiveness, and then forge ahead ... with courage and conviction.

Be encouraged, Jose

Having a heart of belief

Friends,

Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Hebrews 3:12

According to commentaries, "departing from" does not convey the true meaning of the original text. A better translation would be to say, "rebelling against the living God." In other words, rebellion against God is linked with unbelief, which God declares here as evil.

This is a stark lesson for every one of us. When we rebel against God, we are demonstrating unbelief. And all who do not believe in the One True Living God are evil. Let no one deceive you into accepting the fantasy of "many ways" to heaven.

In this verse, the Lord commands us to "take heed" because diligence and discipline are required to consistently obey the word of God. Our must not be a lazy or passive faith, for we live in a fallen world, whose prince is constantly warring against God's people.

Rather, we must aggressively pursue the good. We must actively exercise our faith in Christ Jesus... keeping our eyes on the glory that He has set before us.

Be encouraged, Jose

Enough is enough

Friends,

For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles - when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.
1 Peter 4:3 [NKJV]

These words hold true now just as they two thousand years ago. All of us has spent plenty of time acting as non-believers. To spend another minute practicing those habits is 60 seconds too many.

When we stop, though, we can expect them to speak ill of us. They will not understand our change in behavior. They will call us names, ostracize us, and seek ways -- overt and covert -- to persecute and afflict us.

Hold on tight, brothers and sisters. It promises to be a bumpy ride. But in these latter days, we can be confident that Christ's return is closer than ever. And our troubles will be forgotten as we revel in the presence of our conquering King.

Be encouraged, Jose

Daily Hygiene

Friends,

When they go into the tabernacle of meeting, or when they come near the altar to minister, to burn an offering made by fire to the LORD, they shall wash with water, lest they die. So they shall wash their hands and their feet, lest they die. And it shall be a statute forever to them - to him and his descendants throughout their generations.
Exodus 30:20-21

I have this scripture posted in our bathroom. I figure it's a good reminder of what to do after you're done doing what you have to do. But all kidding aside, why is it that the LORD demanded that His servants wash away the dirt of everyday life before entering into His chamber?

The answer for back then is the same as it is for now. The activities of daily living contaminate us. There is no getting around it. We live in this world, and this world will affect our Spirit. If it didn't, then Christ would not have washed His disciples' feet before leading them to pray at Gethsemane. It is a daily reminder that we are completely dependent on the Father's mercy, and that daily we must make up our mind to walk in the Spirit.

To be covered with the dirt of the natural world is normal and common. To be cleansed of it, with the outpouring of the Word, is demonstrate holiness.

Be encouraged, Jose

What are they selling?

Friends,

Are you disturbed by promises of benefits and blessings currently seen on TV, in your mailbox, or heard on TV? I get a little sick to my stomach every time I hear the phrase, "And for your love gift of $20, you'll receive ..." Invariably it is some trinket or another that is meant to somehow improve your spiritual life. I wonder if those that are participating in this practice have ever read the following:

When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers' money and overturned the tables. John 2:15 [NKJV]

Scripture is silent on what happened with the patrons of the money changers, but it's not hard to imagine the shame and embarrassment they may have felt. If their motive was to satisfy some religious obligation with the least possible effort, then their hearts most likely burned within them as the Spirit convicted them.

At that, brothers and sisters, brings us to the most important facet of all of this. What is the condition of the heart? Is it set on pleasing the Lord no matter what the cost? To be in that condition is to be aligned with the will of God.

Be encouraged, Jose

Peace flows from obedience

Friends,

how often have we cried out for peace in our lives? Sometimes, those cries take the form of explicit and specific prayers to our Lord. Other times, it just that sense that things could be, or should be, better than they currently are. But the really tough one comes when we look in the mirror and know that we could be... that we should be.... better than we are.

Psalm 119:5-6
Oh, that my ways were directed
To keep Your statutes!
Then I would not be ashamed,
When I look into all Your commandments.
- - - NKJV

We are seeing in this verse an implicit promise. We look into the commandments and, like a mirror, they reflect back to us our performance in obeying our God. When we heed the words of our Savior, we will be at peace. When we do not, we shall find ourselves in the grip of shame's turmoil.

Brothers and sisters, are you at peace today? Are you resting in the safety of true repentance and obedience? Seek the voice of Christ and heed His commands. You will lay up treasure for yourself in Heaven, and your visit through this world will be peaceful.

Be encouraged, Jose

Beware of the fascination

Friends,

I confess that I find myself, on occasion, heavily distracted by politics. Even though there is no question as to who I am voting for and why, I still catch myself seeking out news and opinions on this year's presidential race. Perhaps that's why the Lord pointed out this verse to me today.

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ
- Philippians 3:20, NKJV

So yes, I have responsibilities that come as part of life on this planet, in this country. And those responsibilities include voting according to my beliefs and values (as opposed to media popularity). But I suspect that I'm not alone when it comes to needing help in staying focused on what is eternal, as opposed to what is noisy.

Let us pray together that we be diligent in our duties, but not at the expense of being devoted to Christ.

Be encouraged, Jose

The Backwards Pull

Friends,

There is danger lurking around every corner. It is the temptation to draw back to the world, to succumb to the temporary pleasure of sin. As with all of our issues, this is nothing new. All of us know the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, and what became of those bastions of depravity. And yet, even as those cities burned, there were those who didn't want to leave.

Genesis 19:24-26 [NKJV]
Then the LORD rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the LORD out of the heavens. So He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. But [Lot's] wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

Think about what the normal, human response would be to fire and brimstone raining down from the skies, burning everything they touch. In my mind, all I can imagine doing is grabbing my wife and kids and running ... fast. Surely, the sound of destruction and the heat of the flames will tell me all I need to know about what we're leaving behind. But Lot's wife felt the tug of what she left behind, and it was too much for her. Not even normal self-preservation could overcome her desire to stay immersed in the sin of this world.

A test will be there for us, as well. And it will show us what God already sees. Let us pray now that, when the LORD tells us to leave what this world holds precious behind, that we will run to Him. Not looking back, but looking forward to that place of peace and salvation.

Be encouraged, Jose

That gut feeling

Friends,

Here in America, we use the word "gut" to describe an unmapped part of our being. It's a combination of our intuition, our emotional center, and the holding tank for our courage. We "follow our gut instincts." Shocking news can make us feel like we "got punched in the gut." An act of bravery? Well, "that took a lot of guts." And if asked to point to our gut, it's that (sometimes growing) area between our lungs and our loins.

Let's make a connection now to God's word.

The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul,
But the stomach of the wicked shall be in want.
Proverbs 13:25 [NKJV]

What is going into your gut? Does it have the power of God?

Brothers and sisters, when we take in the Word of God, it nourishes and strengthens our gut. Our intuition becomes better aligned with God's will. Our emotions will become healthier because the heart will be fortified with the Lord's wisdom. And the resurrection power of Christ Jesus will strengthen and embolden us, making us courageous in the face of the world's traps, taunts and temptations.

Be encouraged, Jose

Not necessary Not sufficient

Friends,

The phrase, "Necessary, but not Sufficient" is a bit of technical language. It is a very precise means of describing an attribute that is required, but cannot - by itself - achieve the desired result. Here are a few examples. A human body requires bones, blood, a heart, a brain, and a host of other organs to survive. All of these are necessary, but without the breath of life from our Creator, we're just crunchy bags of water. A basketball game requires a court, 10 players, and 2 baskets. But without a ball, it's just a game of basket.... and it's not much fun.

2 Corinthians 12:9
And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. -- NKJV

The world's religious "experts" have come up with a a long list of things that are required for a correct relationship with God. I will not comment on the accuracy of their teachings. But I will say this: None of those things will be worth anything when you come before the Lord. None of them are sufficient. (It may be that few, if any, are even necessary. But you will have to hear from God directly on that one.)

There is only one thing that is sufficient, brothers and sisters. That one thing is Grace. Without grace, there is no defense that can withstand the holy perfection of God's law. But with grace, there is no accusation that can prevail.

Be encouraged, Jose