Just A Man

Given November 8, 2007
Many great things have been done by people who were just ordinary folks. I was reminded of one recently and the Holy Spirit brought him to mind again during my devotion time this morning. He is Ananias.

In Acts 9, we read the story of Saul's conversion to Paul. The Spirit of Jesus knocked Saul off his donkey, blinded him, then told him to get up and go into the city of Damascus and wait for further instructions. He waited there three days, (Acts 9: 1-9).

In the mean time, here's this believer Ananias, a regular guy, who was going about his daily business and the Lord called him in a vision. Ananias answered and Jesus told him to go pray for this guy who'd been throwing Christians in jail. He gave him the guy's name and the address where he was staying. Ananias was a little hesitant about confronting this bad dude, (aren't we just like that?), but the Lord said "Go" and Ananias went, (Acts 9: 10-17).

Here's the point: God had a plan, Ananias was chosen to perform a task in that plan, he did it, and went back to his regular life. We don't hear of him again. The Lord called, Ananias obeyed, God's plan was implemented, and the world was changed! Just for the obedience of one regular guy!

I'm sure Ananias didn't realize the impact his obedience would have. He probably went back to his wife and said something like, "Honey, you won't believe what just happened over on Straight Street". Indeed. But, what if Ananias had not obeyed? Would God have chosen someone else? But because he did obey, I imagine he and his family enjoyed overflowing blessings even though we didn't hear about it.

We are just regular people too and God could call us, (and probably has), to do something for Him. Notice, He didn't just call some bum off the street in Damascus; He called a believer. I want to be ready when God calls me. How about you?

Rain For All

Given October 27, 2007
"That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. Matthew 5:45". God's sun shines on everyone and His rain falls on all as well. Here's what I was shown on this scripture today: For instance, if I pray for rain for my crops, it will also rain on my neighbor's garden too. They will be blessed because of God's favor toward me.

In addition, if my unjust neighbors know that I am one of "the children of your Father which is in heaven", because I've stepped out of my comfort zone and reached out to them, they are more likely to hear what I have to say. If I show God's love and help them when they're in need, that will open the door a little wider the next time. When this situation develops, God will give me what I need to reach them. Maybe they won't let Him in but thy will me and God will supply me and use me as the "go-between" to get His message to them.

Here's the point: always show the love of God to your neighbors no matter how bad they are and they will see your good deeds and soften up to the Gospel. "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16". Do this and God will supply you with whatever resources you need to get the Word to them. But it starts with living the Christ-like life before them.

God's To-Do List

Given August 2, 2007
As you've prayed, has God told you anything He wants you to do? Have you gotten impressions of something you feel you need to do? Maybe someone you feel you should go see? Well, I sure have. I've begun to write these things down and describe them as, "God's to-do list". Things He wants me to do.

Now, I'm also praying for God to do some things for me. And I know He's got some wonderful things planned so why haven't they come to pass? This is how God described it to me: It's like a teenager who asks his father, "Can I have the car Dad?" And the dad replys, "Have you cleaned your room yet, like I asked? You can't have the car until you clean your room."

God won't do what He's got planned for me until I do my part and do what He's already asked me to do. It's an obedience thing. "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. James 1:22". Yes, I want to be a good kid and do what my Father asks and, I know, He'll be real good to me when I do. What has God asked you to do?

Walk This Way

Given May 2, 2007
God has provided a way for each of us. I wrote about this recently relating to some erroneous advice I'd given my boys about their future and recently God showed me another way to look at it.

Isaiah 30:21 says, "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it"." So, I get the picture of a path laid before me, it's a good road and I can see pretty far up ahead. That's not too hard to follow especially if God is behind me encouraging me to go on.

But, what about when the way ahead is really foggy and you can't see where you're going? You're almost walking blindly into who knows what. That's where trust and faith comes in. We don't need to see where we're going if God has planned our journey and is behind us telling us to keep moving. God told Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. Genesis 12:1". Abram didn't know where he was going but he trusted God to know what was best for him and his family. We must do the same. If we trust God and keep moving, eventually the fog will disipate and the path will be clear. Besides, there may be distractions along the path God doesn't want us to see.

I will be entering into the ranks of the retired soon and I was sort of whining to God in prayer recently about Him not telling me yet what He's got planned for me. The scripture above immediately came to mind along with the phrase, "You'll know when we get there." Okay!

Be What You're Meant To Be

Given April 10, 2007
I realized something on this day that I had been saying wrong for years. My wife and I have four wonderful sons and all of them did very well in school. I told each them that, because of their intellectual ability, they could be anything they wanted to be. No occupation or dream was out of their reach. Sounds like pretty good advice.

However, after hearing a teaching on God's plan for each of us, I realized what I'd been telling them and others was in error. "In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will. Ephesians 1:11". God has a plan for each one of us. Even before we were born, God had our lives planned out but He gave us a free will; we can do our own thing or seek His plan.

That's where I've been in error with what I told my boys. God has blessed them, and us too, with many blessings which are to be used to accomplsh His will in the earth. So, it's not, "You can be anything you want to be." but, "Discover what God wants you to be and be that". God will help us be what He wants us to be but if we leave God out of it, we're on our own! "And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, Isaiah 30:21". We each have unique talents and abilities and they fit in perfectly with some vocation or assignment. We should all pray, meditate on the Word, listen to the Holy Spirit and be what we're meant to be.

God Uses People

Given November 9, 2004
Do you remember the story of Paul on the road to Damascus? He was knocked off his donkey by a great light and heard the voice of Jesus telling him to go to Damascus and wait to be told what to do next. At the same time, Jesus called to a disciple in Damascus, Ananias, and gave him a very frightening task: "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight. Acts 9:11-12".

Ananias protested at first because of Saul's reputation for doing harm to the saints. But when Jesus said, "Go." in verse 15, Ananias went and did what he was told. Think how awesome this was. Jesus chose a believer, sent him on a dangerous, (he thought), mission, he called Saul "brother", laid hands on him and Saul was healed and filled with the Holy Spirit! What an important assignment for Ananias.

The rest, as they say, is history. But don't you think Ananias was blessed for being obedient? And if he had not been, Jesus would probably have chosen someone else. But he was obedient in the face of uncertainty and I can imagine, as he heard reports of the work Paul was doing, he realized how blessed he was for Jesus to have chosen him.

You know, Jesus might just send you or me on some important mission. First, are we, "... a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there. Acts 22:12" as Ananias was. Second, will we be willing to go. Who knows what future great preacher Jesus may send us to minister to; or maybe it will be a down-and-out bum on the street who needs a kind word and something to eat. God uses people to serve His people.

"Our Assignment"

Given February 28, 2007

"Open our eyes to the assignment you've given us." This was my prayer on this morning during devotion time. Here's how it came about.

I saw a group of new soldiers gathered before the general. They were asking him for all the rewards and benefits of being a soldier and he was about to give them their orders. He aknowledged the benefits but said, "Now men, it's time to go into battle."

They were shocked and suprized! They were saying, "What do you mean? We have to fight to get the rewards?" They hadn't signed up for that; they didn't understand.

God made me aware that we, as Christians, are like that. We, "sign up" to be a Christian, go to church, and expect all these rewards and benefits to just come our way. We don't realize that sometime we have to fight for the cause. Many churches are preaching the benefits and not mentioning the fight. "And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God. Deuteronomy 28:2". Part of what the Lord is saying that we are to hearken to is to be strong, believe and not doubt, use the authority and name of Jesus, and go fight the enemy. God told Joshua, "Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. Joshua 1:7".

"Open our eyes, Lord, to the assignment you've given us." May we all see what's involved in being a Christian Soldier.