The Lord will remove these from us, so that we will ... finally ... turn back to Him.Lamentations 1:19 (NKJV)
I called for my lovers,
But they deceived me;
My priests and my elders
Breathed their last in the city,
While they sought food
To restore their life.
Friends,
We have several friends who minister in what one might call an official capacity to the Body of believers. Over time, each has wrestled with the big questions of ministry... Is the ministry effective? Am I doing the best I can?
But these are not the most important questions. The most critical issue every believer must confront is this:
Am I doing what God wants me to do?
Ephesians 3:6b-7 [NKJV] ... emphasis added
His promise in Christ through the gospel, of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.
No ministry belongs to man. All belong to the LORD. Whether the work is done under the auspices of a recognized organization - like a church or a mission - or not, the work is assigned according to the will of God.
Every believer must ... daily ... pray that the LORD direct his steps (He promises to do so) in the path the advances the Kingdom of God. Then we will recognize that His will is being done.
Be encouraged, Jose
Friends,
Life, in all is glory and misery, happens to all people. We all experience sickness, health, joy, grief, loss and gain. The difference is in how we experience these events. The difference is based on our position before God.
Proverbs 3:3 [NKJV]
The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked,
But He blesses the home of the just.
The justified woman recognizes that the everyday of life is a gift from a kind and loving Father. The carnal man sees the everyday of life as monotonous drudgery.
As believers, we have access to the vision of the abundant life in Christ. Take hold of that vision today.
Be encouraged, Jose
Friends,
We are entering a year of great change. In that kind of setting, there will be plenty of opportunities to make an informed, moral choice. We will be presented with options each and every day. Thousands of decisions will be required of us.
Proverbs 1:10
My son, if sinners entice you,
Do not consent. [NKJV]
Sinners will entice us, brothers and sisters. We are commanded to resist. Do not consent to the easy path of destruction.
Be encouraged, Jose
Friends,
We know that no man, but for Jesus, is perfect. We know that all of us make mistakes, falling short of the glorious and perfect standard set forth for us by a Wise and Omniscient God. These are the facts of the fall. But they are no excuse. We are commanded to learn and grow in the knowledge of the LORD.
Proverbs 1:5
A wise man will hear and increase learning,
And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel [NKJV]
In our world, it seems that the arrogant and conceited are gaining power and authority. But in their arrogance, the intellectual elites have decided that they have all the answers. That they no longer need to humble themselves before the LORD.
We who obey, and who continually seek a deeper intimacy with Christ, will ultimately prevail. We rely on Almighty God for our victory. And when He returns, we who have been humble shall be exalted. And we will throw our crowns at His feet in joyful adoration!
Be encouraged, Jose
Friends,
Why are you doing what you're doing?
Why are you ...
borrowing money to buy things for people who have more than enough?
exhausting yourself to fulfill the inflated expectations of men?
He answered and said to them,
Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?
Matthew 15:3 [NKJV]
The LORD commands us to worship only the One True God in Spirit and in Truth. Where in that does one find license to engage in pagan traditions? Is it to keep peace at home? Is it to make sure the in-laws don't get angry?
These traditions are becoming ever-more burdensome, and they are only there to satisfy the demands of mortal men and women. We owe it to our God to forsake those traditions. We owe it to Him because He deserves are full and complete devotion.
Be encouraged, Jose
Friends,
It seems that hatred and accusations of hatred are everywhere. If two disagree, each accuses the other of hate. If a man stands up for his beliefs and refuses to compromise his faith, then he is accused of hatred.
It boils down to the discomfort some feel when their sinful behavior is called what it is: sin. The sinful ones react harshly, angrily, and sometimes violently. Fortunately, we have a defender:
Psalm 9:13
Have mercy on me, O LORD!
Consider my trouble from those who hate me,
You who lift me up from the gates of death, [NKJV]
Praying for justice is neither hateful nor sinful. Seeking the wisdom of the One who is truly in a position to render a judgment? This is a loving and humble act. We who truly follow Christ do not usurp His authority. We call upon it and depend on it. And we rejoice in the judgments of a perfectly good and sovereign King.
Be encouraged, Jose
Friends,
With so much competing for attention, it is imperative that we be reminded that the Lord is speaking to us. And we He does, it is critical that we listen, hear and obey.
2 Peter 1:19
And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; [NKJV]
It's far too easy to be distracted, to allow the voice of God to be drowned out. No one is immune from this. So be purposeful and intentional about hearing the Lord's word, seeking out His wisdom, and demonstrating your devotion to the Savior.
Be encouraged, Jose
Friends,
It's the rare person who makes a conscious decision to sin. Certainly, a believer whose profession is true would never willfully choose to sin. We might have succumbed to temptation or sinned out of ignorance, but that is a different heart than one who simply doesn't care.
To grow further, though, requires a more decisive stance:
But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
Daniel 1:9 [NKJV]
Daniel's life is characterized by a a daily expression of courageous obedience. This was no accident. His obedience was active, not passive. He made a decision to obey. He purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself.
What is your purpose today? Is it to get through the day? Is it to be get everything done on the list? Have you purposed to obey and not to be defiled? Have you purposed to heed the voice of the Lord?
It is perhaps the most important agreement you can make!
Be encouraged, Jose
Friends,
Everything is important to God.
The reverse is also true: Nothing is unimportant to God.*
With this in mind, we are challenged ... and well-served ... to examine every thought, every action and every word. Measure them against this standard:
Philippians 2:3a [NKJV]
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit
It is truly a great challenge - worthy of energy and great enthusiasm. This passage challenges you and me to stop and think before speaking: are my words self-serving or will they encourage and edify another? These words call us to stop and think before acting: will my actions bring joy and comfort to my brother or sister, or are they meant to draw attention to myself?
To obey this passage is to imitate Christ Jesus and, in so doing, bring great joy to our Heavenly Father.
Be encouraged, Jose
* note: Man cannot function in this state, for when he tries, the result is the opposite. But God is not man. His abilities are not limited.
Friends,
We have been called to a life of holiness. It is a life that expresses the gratitude and respect that we should have for the LORD, given what He has done for us. It is a life that stands in stark contrast to the life of those who refuse Jesus' call.
It is also a life that requires great vigilance. If we allow ourselves to devalue obedience, we will eventually only value disobedience. If we give ourselves permission to indulge in a trivial sin, we will be on the path to pursuing sin with no regard to the call of holiness.
Ephesians 4:17a,19 [NKJV]
This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk ... who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
There comes a point in a man's life that he no longer fears doing evil. We see it as children make the transition from being afraid of getting caught to boldly, brashly and publicly being teenage miscreants.
We are reminded in this passage to examine our walk daily. To vigorously guard our hearts against the plot of the evil one.To actively repent and pursue a life of holiness.
It is the walk that is worthy of the call of Christ.
Be encouraged, Jose
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
Friends,
Each man has a job and a calling. And each man is called upon, at times, to do work outside of that calling.
Nehemiah 3:32
And between the upper room at the corner, as far as the Sheep Gate, the goldsmiths and the merchants made repairs. [NKJV]
Have you been asked to do something for your fellowship that is outside of your "official capacity" ... whatever that might be? Have you resisted the work simply because you believe that it does not fall within your designated role?
The goldsmiths and the merchants (and in other verses, the priests and the nobles) were all called upon to make repairs to the walls of Jerusalem. It did not matter what their job was or what their title was. The work needed to be done. Those that heard and obeyed were blessed to participate in what God was doing.
We have the same opportunities today. The work often lacks prestige. But it does not lack the blessing of Almighty God.
Be encouraged, Jose
Friends,
There is an ongoing search within the heart of every person. Some people are aware of this search. Others are not. But regardless of whether we acknowledge this quest, it is part of who we are. It is a desire ... a deep longing ... for peace. Some men chase it through "self-awareness" while other expect to find it in conquest. There are as many attempts as there are people. And all of them will lead to the same dead-end.
There is only one correct path.
Ephesians 2:4 [NKJV]
For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,
There is only correct path, because there is really only one destination that is truly peaceful -- full of peace. Not all roads lead to it. Only the way of Christ leads to Christ. He is our peace.
Be encouraged, Jose
Friends,
Genesis 27:1
Then Isaac called Jacob and blessed him, and charged him, and said to him: “You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan. [NKJV]
When the Lord called us into His Kingdom, the invitation came with a requirement. That requirement was that we are no longer to be bound and tied to the worldly and carnal priorities. We must no longer seek comfort, strength, love, peace and fulfillment from the world. Rather we are seek those things from the only One who can truly provide them unconditionally and unfailingly ... Christ.
That is why, so many thousands of years ago, Isaac admonished Jacob not seek a wife from the Canaanites. Over and over, the LORD commanded Israel to refrain from making covenants, and treaties with the various people of Canaan. He knew that the Canaanites would draw His people away from Him.
We are faced with the same challenge and temptations. When we form deep relationships with the things of this world, we invite them to be a wedge between us and our Father. And that is why we, too, are admonished not to do so. If we obey this command, we enjoy the promises that were made to our forefather Jacob.
Be encouraged, Jose
Friends,
Although I'm not a lawyer, I've been told that it is well-known legal principle that ignorance of the law is no excuse. Not knowing that an activity is illegal may reduce the severity of the punishment, but it will never remove guilt. That is why all men are accountable for obedience to God's Law:
Leviticus 5:17 (NKVJ)
If a person sins, and commits any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the LORD, though he does not know it, yet he is guilty and shall bear his iniquity.
For this reason, every man needs the saving grace provided by Christ. We cannot ignore those who may not have been taught the laws of God thinking that their ignorance will be sufficient to save them. The wages of sin ... all sin ... is death. And the redemptive power of Jesus is the only way to overcome that just and righteous penalty.
Be encouraged, Jose
Friends,
With each successive sunrise, the day of Christ's return draws closer. We come upon the beginning of the Sabbath, and it is appropriate for us to reflect upon what has transpired during the week and examine it. As His return approaches, have we taken any steps to prepare? Are we more ready to face the Lord than we were a week ago?
Jeremiah 1:12 [NKJV]
Then the LORD said to me, “You have seen well, for I am ready to perform My word.”
Almighty God is fulfilling His promises and His prophecies on a daily basis. And certainly, we wait eagerly for the ultimate fulfillment of what He describes as the end of days. There are those that claim to have pinpointed the date, as if that should change our ways.
It is clearly more important that we be ready today. Whether Christ returns tomorrow morning, later this month, next year, in the next decade, or in the next millennium, be ready for Him now.
Be encouraged, Jose
Friends,
For many reasons, Jesus enjoyed great popularity at various times of earthly ministry. Those reasons are similar to what we see today. People are predictably attracted to sensational events, like healings and feedings and powerful speeches. But, unlike today's "leaders" ... and I use that term very loosely ... Christ was not interested in large crowds and adoring throngs:
Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.
Luke 14:25-26 [NKJV]
Great multitudes followed Him. No doubt they had heard of the miracles the Lord had performed. But the act of following Jesus does not make one a Follower of Jesus.
It is time to examine your life. We must do so daily. We must daily find those elements in our heart that rebel against God and execute them. (This is what Jesus means by hating one's "own life".) For if we preserve them, then we are willfully disobeying Jesus. And to follow Jesus, we must obey Jesus.
Are you a follower of Jesus?
Look at your life, today. Be sure that your thoughts, your words and your actions are in obedience to Jesus. Let there be no doubt.
Be encouraged, Jose
Friends,
Even those who are seemingly deeply devoted to Christ Jesus will find it difficult to hear a rebuke. No one likes to be told that they are doing something wrong. Few enjoy being corrected. And it is the rare man who seeks out criticism ... constructive or otherwise.
For this reason, it is easy to tune out the one comes as a prophet. It is so tempting to dismiss them when they do not have a credential or a title. It is a simple exercise to ignore the fact that the LORD uses whom He will, regardless of what the world calls them.
Micah 2:7
You who are named the house of Jacob:
Is the Spirit of the LORD restricted?
Are these His doings?
Do not My words do good
To him who walks uprightly?
The prophet is not speaking to non-believers. He is not rebuking the world or Satan. Nor is he addressing his words to false professors and hypocrites.
These words are given to those who are named the house of Jacob ... those whom the LORD has adopted into His family and kingdom. We are the ones who, by Christ's grace, walk uprightly.
The Spirit of the LORD is completely unencumbered. He can speak to and through whom He pleases. And when He does, the words do good. Therefore, we must not ignore those words. We must listen. We must heed them. And only then will be in a position to experience the blessings of Almighty God.
Be encouraged, Jose
Friends,
Our study of the book of Isaiah continues, with the LORD declaring that His people will ... must ... suffer the consequences of their persistent disobedience. You'll find these lessons at Bible Study Audio.
Be encouraged, Jose
