VOTD

In Search of Joy in a Discouraged World Pt 1 – VOTD.08.28.17

Even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an unspeakable joy that is full of glory. 1 Peter 1:8

God fills His people with joy. But we often have a hard time living in that joy. You see, we live in an unspeakably distressed world and that negativity affects us, and those depressing events can end up leaving us feel hopeless and dejected. Even if discouragement sometimes seems like the easiest mindset to fall into, we know that joy is by far the happiest and most fulfilling way to live our lives.

It is in joy that we are filled with God’s own glory. Joyful people are more content with their life circumstances, and are more fulfilled and satisfied with life. Joyful people are more content in the mundane tasks of life, and they are more engaged in their work and more productive.

Have you ever wondered how joyful Christians manage to routinely be that way? I want to share a few ideas on that this week:

1. Joyful Christians have unshakable faith that God is working all things out for our good for us (Rom 8:28). Confidence in God is always the key to feeling good about ourselves, and joyfulness is no exception. When we know that we know that God is in control and He’s a good God—then we have the confidence to reach for all we can be in Him—then joy is the natural result. (more…)

Continue ReadingIn Search of Joy in a Discouraged World Pt 1 – VOTD.08.28.17

In Search of a Hungry Heart pt 2 – VOTD.08.15.17

A woman named Martha welcomed (Jesus) into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and was listening to what He said. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks, and she came up and asked, “Lord, don’t You care that my sister has left me to serve alone? So tell her to give me a hand.” The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.”  Luke 10:38-42

Martha’s choice: Good      Mary’s choice: Best

Last time we talked about common reasons that believers have wimpy appetites when it comes to hungering and thirsting for God: We know how this works in the natural. Our bodies were designed to require nourishment, so it’s normal for us to feel hungry—unless our appetites have been suppressed by sickness or quenched by something we ate previously.

The spiritual sicknesses we covered last time were things like unbelief and unforgiveness. Today I want to look at quenching our spiritual appetites and what we can do about that.

Spiritual snacking can ruin our appetite for Jesus—We’re talking about allowing other things or people or even duties and obligations to come before communing with Jesus. These things may be perfectly OK, even good stuff. But their result has the same effect on our appetites for Jesus as being in sin. (more…)

Continue ReadingIn Search of a Hungry Heart pt 2 – VOTD.08.15.17

In Search of a Hungry Heart pt 1 – VOTD.08.14.17

As the deer pants for streams of water, so pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. Psalms 42:1,2

It’s likely that all Christians struggle at times with their spiritual appetites. We know they aren’t what they once were, or what they might be, or we look at other believers who are hungering and thirsting for the presence of God and wonder what’s wrong with us.

Many have never experienced a hunger for God in any tangible way; some even teach that such a hunger doesn’t exist once we’re saved in the first place. “Once Jesus lives in you,” they teach, “you have all of Jesus there is to have.” While that is true in one sense, it doesn’t mean we live in an experience of all of Jesus that He wants to reveal to us.

Spiritual hunger is not something unusual that is reserved for only a few impassioned believers; the normal state of a Christian is to be thirsty and hungry for God. He “satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things” (Ps 107:9). All we need is to be thirsty and hungry.

Song of Songs presents a parable where Jesus lays a banquet of His presence before us. And if we’re not feasting out at that banquet it’s usually because either we’re sick—or we’ve been snacking on something else.

The most common spiritual “sicknesses” are unbelief and unforgiveness. “Without faith it is impossible to please (God), for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Heb. 11:6). Most of us believe that God exists, but if we don’t really believe that He will respond to our pursuit of Him with a greater experience of Himself, we are likely to be half-hearted seekers. (more…)

Continue ReadingIn Search of a Hungry Heart pt 1 – VOTD.08.14.17

In Search of a Thankful Heart pt 2 – VOTD.08.08.17

Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.  Hebrews 12:28

Last time we saw that a genuinely thankful person is satisfied in the moment. (How many songs proclaim that ‘Jesus is all I need?’) But we miss that in the ‘now’, because other emotions take center stage. We looked at a few of these seemingly innocent gratitude-breakers and today we’re going to look at a few of the more diabolical ones:

We can’t be thankful and be Arrogant, Impatient, Greedy, Bored, or Judgmental. Why would this be? Because thanksgiving can only come from a humble heart… Thankfulness can only be felt by those who know that no one owes them what they’ve gotten.

In the same way Impatience stems from an attitude of, “my time is more important than yours.” In other words, it stems from arrogance. Thankfulness stems from Love…Love is patient, and true gratitude can only spring forth from love (1 Cor 13:4).

Thankfulness can’t be greedy. The two are opposites. Thankfulness says, “I am satisfied.” “I have enough.” A greedy spirit never has enough. (Col 3:5)

Bored?? Yes, a thankful heart isn’t bored. Boredom nearly always results from dissatisfaction in the moment; this is the opposite of thankfulness. Face it, there are always things to do. But a bored person isn’t stratified with the options… that person wants MORE… No wonder it’s often said that boredom is a tell-tale sign of moral issues at some level or other. (more…)

Continue ReadingIn Search of a Thankful Heart pt 2 – VOTD.08.08.17

In Search of a Thankful Heart pt 1 – VOTD.08.07.17

Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.  Hebrews 12:28

According to today’s verse we are receiving the kingdom of God… the very presence of the King is being received by us… not just once, a long time ago at an altar, but continuously, right now… It’s not some day in the future in heaven, either. It’s continuously, right now…

Since we are receiving the presence and majesty of Jesus on a continual basis, “Let us be thankful”. What an understatement! You would think that since we’re receiving a Kingdom we’d be overwhelmed with gratitude, but apparently Hebrews has to remind us to be. I wonder why?

Why do we have so much trouble being thankful in the NOW? Today’s verse suggests it’s because we aren’t satisfied with the Kingdom we’re receiving. I suspect that’s because we have trouble being satisfied with Jesus in the now.

There are some seemingly innocent emotions that can be gratitude-breakers in our lives. Fore example, how can we be thankful and be Angry, Depressed, Discouraged, Jealous, or Full of self-pity? These things are incompatible with genuine gratitude. Here’s why: (more…)

Continue ReadingIn Search of a Thankful Heart pt 1 – VOTD.08.07.17

Recreated in His Image – VOTD.08.01.17

Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.  Psalms 148:13

Last time we learned how Jesus is the dreaded Lion to those who run from Him, while He’s the tender Lamb to those who seek Him.

If we are seeking Jesus, we are already in the holy of holys, next to God’s heart (Eph 2:6). Veil after veil has been removed (2 Cor 3:16). This enables us to experience the intimacy with our Savior.

While the North American Church has led many into a salvation experience with Jesus, we’ve often not led them into the beauty of God or experiencing Him in our every-day lives.

I say this not to tear down those who come across as “super saints”, but to build up those who know they are simply ordinary saints, because in the end the super-saint is a mirage… there is nothing but ordinary saints out there. Some Christians are experiencing Him far more fully than others, but all believers have been recreated in His image and He loves us. (more…)

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Lion and Lamb – VOTD.07.31.17

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.  2 Corinthians 9:8

We don’t have to be second-class Christians. God is able to make all grace overflow in you and me. Why? So we’ll have all we need to abound in Jesus and in His work. It’s all from God and He makes His grace overflow in us through Jesus.

Not all Christians are overflowing in grace. You and I can make the Lord our refuge, our dwelling (Ps 90:1), or we can try to run away from Him.  The first is blessed and the second is tragic.

The Bible refers to Jesus as the “Lion of Judah”, and the “Lamb of God” (Rev 5:5/Jn 1:29). There is a tension there.

When the Lion of Judah roars, those who are running from Him had better be afraid. When the Lamb of God draw those who are running toward Him to Himself, those who seek Him, will find Him in a deeper way than they ever thought possible.

Jesus alone is our ultimate protection and safety. Jesus has eyes only for us, and demonstrates His incredible love over and over. He’s relentless in His tenderness for those who seek Him… He’s relentless in his provision of security and passion for us (Ps 27:8). (more…)

Continue ReadingLion and Lamb – VOTD.07.31.17

The Big Question – VOTD.07.24.17

Last time we brought up a burning question about maintaining and growing in the presence of God in our lives. The answer to the big “Question”… really to all questions regarding spiritual growth is given to us by Jesus in these two words:

“Follow Me.” (Mk 1:17, 2:14)

Today we have a throng of unbelievers who think the whole Christian experience can be summed us in words like: “follow My religion” or “follow My rules” – Worse, even some believers go through their lives thinking that that is the essence of spiritual living.

But as we’ve seen, Jesus said, “Follow Me.” It’s all about Jesus – not Christianity, not Christians, but Christ.

I was at a seminar on evangelism, after I’d written the last few weeks of meditations, and the speaker brought up a parallel thought: The excuses many non-Christians bring up for not accepting the Gospel revolves around the Christians and churches they’ve known.

“Christians are just a bunch of hypocrites”
“All the churches want is money”
“I’ve known some drug dealers who behaved better than some ministers”

Was Jesus a hypocrite? Was Jesus all about money? Did Jesus live His life in anything less than righteousness? (more…)

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Following – VOTD.07.17.17

“Follow Me.” Mark 1:17, 2:14

In the final analysis, walking in the presence of Jesus come down to two simple little words: “Follow Me”. Those of us who want more of the presence of God have to want to be with Him where He is. To be with Him where He is, we must want His will.

There simply isn’t any other way… Jesus must reign. But the legitimate question is raised… What is His will?

Consider those two words from Jesus that answer almost every question regarding what we are supposed to do as Christians. “Follow Me.” It’s Jesus’ personal invitation which He extended to us who would be His disciples. And He continues to extend this invitation to every one of us who want to walk in discipleship.

“Follow Me.”
(more…)

Continue ReadingFollowing – VOTD.07.17.17