A New Thing

“Brethren, I do not count myself

to have apprehended; but one thing

I do, forgetting those things which

are behind and reaching forward to

those things which are ahead, I press

toward the goal for the prize of

the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

  Phil. 3:13-14 (NKJV)

“Do not remember the former things,
Nor consider the things of old.
Behold, I will do a new thing,
Now it shall spring forth.”

     Isaiah 43:18-19 (NKJV)

January is a great time for a fresh start.  Of course, the past doesn’t disappear with the calendar changing to a new year, but we would be wise to take Paul’s testimony to heart.  He said he’s “forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.”  We shouldn’t let our failures and mistakes from the past year hinder us from our Christian walk this year.  Learn from them, then move on.  Don’t let the enemy use our stumbles to keep us down and out of godly service.

I also think we’re to let go of any successes we’ve had in the past year.  Pride can keep us from depending on God in all that we do.  Self-sufficiency is not the Christian way.  Satan can get to us in this area as well—puffing up our egos so we boast and take credit where we shouldn’t.  Whatever we’ve done well is due to God’s help and grace, and He alone should get the glory.

Isaiah also counsels us not to “remember the former things nor consider the things of old” because God “will do a new thing.”  We can trust that He who has begun a good work in us will continue to work in us (Phil. 1:16).  That should give us confidence as we start this new year, regardless of what is behind us and no matter what lies ahead.  Take a few moments to reflect on God’s many blessings you experienced last year.  His faithfulness in the past will be with us this year too.  God is good and He never changes!

With God’s grace, we can start afresh this year.  Indeed, because His mercies are new each morning (Lam. 3:22-23), we can begin anew each day.

Thursday Devotional - What is Good?

Psalm 34:8-10     Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

I think we often misuse the word “good” and therefore misunderstand it when we read it in the Bible. Good isn’t based on our definition of good, but God’s definition.

When describing a person, only God is good (completely and totally perfect in moral character).  

Matthew 19:16-17a Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good.”

As Paul states:

Romans 7:18a “For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.”

When describing things or situations, good is anything God deems beneficial. Good is anything that is pleasing and honoring to Him.

Genesis 1:31a “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.”

Hebrews 10:1 “The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming – not the realities themselves.”

For those in Christ, we truly lack no good thing (as Psalm 34:10 states) because we have all the eternal benefits provided by Jesus’ sacrifice. As you and I think about what is “good” and “bad” this coming year, let’s ask God to help us think about it from His perspective.

Alice

Vegas Rules

“Here I stand.  Testify against me in the presence of the Lord and his anointed.  Whose ox have I taken?  Whose donkey have I taken?  Whom have I cheated?  Whom have I oppressed?  From whose hand have I accepted a bribe to make me shut my eyes?  If I have done any of these, I will make it right.”

“You have not cheated or oppressed us,” they replied.  “You have not taken anything from anyone’s hand.”  1 Samuel 12:4-5

Does anyone know what the term ‘Vegas Rules’ is?  If you remember not so long ago, there was a commercial that talked about getaways in Las Vegas.  The commercial would usually end by saying, “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.”  This stuck with me in my walk of faith particularly when having controversial and private conversations.  I know one should not hold secrets, but there are times where it is paramount that we do so for it is written, “A gossip goes around telling secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence.” (Proverbs 11:13)  Early in my career, a person at work had a problem, and they did not feel comfortable talking to anyone.  They asked if they could talk with me.  Not knowing this person very well, I was curious as to their motives.  So, I asked why they did not feel comfortable talking with their significant other?  They said two things that stuck with me.  First, they felt that I was a good man who would give them wise counsel.  And second, they knew they could trust me, and did not feel they could talk with anyone else.  The first one was easy to buy into because I was Christian, but the second one?  Now let’s not construe this as my doubting my own trustworthiness.  However, this was more about my reputation.  They had friends who did a lot of talking, and in their inner circle, my name came up as someone to be trusted.  It became a theme as this would be the first of many conversations I would have with people who I at times barely even knew.  Whenever someone felt unsure of opening up, I utter the two words are started with: Vegas Rules.  At that moment, they immediately began to talk.

As Christians, we have fundamental principles of not only love but also trustworthiness to uphold.  We cannot survive without God’s word.  Thus, what are we without our word?  Not worth very much.  The story of Samuel is a case and point.  He was a man so trusted, he was allowed not only to name the first King of Israel but also an additional one.  Why?  Because he always followed God’s will from the moment he was called by God to do so.  The impressive thing about this is that Samuel did not even know who God was when called upon, but yet, God trusted him.  And He was rewarded as Samuel followed God faithfully until his death.  He was often chosen by God to bear witness to His greatness, and because he was faithful to God and his word, the people of Israel entrusted him with all important decisions, including the naming of their kings.  We, too, must be vigilant in following the word of God not only in reading, but in living.  Someone told me long ago that the word of God is a living thing.  It lives within each of us, and as our lives embrace its teachings, we become living testimony of it.

Trustworthiness is paramount in our relationship with God.  Jesus spoke of this when discussing of readiness for the coming of the Lord saying, “When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required (Luke 12:48b).”  Like Samuel, our words carry weight only by us following Jesus’ example.  That is what gives our word meaning.  Our desire to follow the example set by Him makes our words credible.  Let us make every effort to be the people God trusted us to be.  Can you be trusted with that which God cares for?  How can you use your position of trust to share God’s vision with others?  My prayer is we live out God’s will to where others confide trusting us like ‘Vegas rules.’  Amen.

Being tested

Imagine getting through a wonderful Christmas with your family, having a new little one due any day and then your world turns upside down completely.  Your young son starts having seizures and spikes a fever.  You get him into the ER and he passes away the next day.  Day after that, his big brother spikes a fever.  How can you go on?  Thank the Lord that son recovered quickly.  The next day, Mom, who is 9 months pregnant breaks her leg and has to have surgery.  Doctors are monitoring unborn baby to determine if they need to take him or wait for it to happen naturally. 

I cannot even begin to imagine what this would be like.  Job certainly comes to mind when I hear about the story above that happened the past 10 or so days to my friends cousin.  While Job was tested beyond anything I can even imagine, he stayed focused on God and trusted God.  In the end, God blessed him. 

Job 42:16-17

After this, Job lived a hundred and forty years; he saw his children and their children to the fourth generation.  And so Job died, an old man and full of years.

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, it is my prayer that no matter what kind of adversity that you face, that you will seek God through it all.  That you will know that he is faithful and will carry you through the tests of time.

By the way, the baby was born this weekend and is doing well.  Mom will continue to be wheelchair bound for a couple of months.  Please be praying for this family.