God's Kingdom Must Be First - Luke 9:59-62

There are definitely things that go on in our lives that we just can not understand. In the 4 passages listed in the title, the Lord shines a little light on why God allows them to happen. It is not about us! It's all about God, His Kingdom, His will in our lives and how we may be best used by Him. There is a little verse that comes to mind; actually it is even a song: "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added onto you..."(Luke 12:31) Verse 60 in Luke chapter 9 is also in Matthew 8:22; "Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead". This sounds a little harsh, doesn't it? But in Luke 9:60 he adds; "but go thou and preach the kingdom of God". I actually think the next portion of scripture is harshest; Luke 9:62, "No man, having his hand on the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God". That one hits hard and personal... We might ask ourselves why; 'why did I loose my job', 'why did I loose my house', 'why did I loose my kid', 'why did I loose my spouse', and on and on... But God would have us say, "Lord where are you leading me?"

"What meaneth this?" - Acts chapter 2

..."they were all with one accord in one place."
God's people came together for the express purpose to glorify God; and He was glorified. They did not ask for it or even expect it, but God poured out His Spirit and it just happen. A multitude of people were directly spoken to, and in their native tongue. They heard the works of God being proclaimed in their language and were confounded.
Sometimes God can be manifested in our circumstances. We did not ask for it, or even expect it, but through it and in the midst of it, God is glorified. Then those that are standing by or onlookers are amazed, confounded and wonder "What meaneth this?; which can lead to the next question
"What must we do?". Yes, there are those that while watching say things like, "this just doesn't make any sense", or "you must be crazy". However, when we are determined in our hearts to give God the glory, no matter what; then He is glorified. When God is glorified His wonderful works are manifested. When His works are manifested Jesus is proclaimed. When Jesus is proclaimed people get saved, hearts are turned towards Him and cities are turned up side down.
I have this song stuck in my head!!!! "Let the Glory of the Lord rise among us..."

There is fear in Love - Psalms 103

What a wonderful God we serve!!! You may have heard the expression that "there is no fear in love", well today I beg to differ. There is a fear we must process in our love for God. This fear is more of a reverence, which is a basis for religion; in other words, I will religiously reverence God.
In Psalms 103; which is titled, 'God's Love' in my Bible; David mentions several times that God shows mercy to them that fear Him. We must have a reverence for God in our love for Him, and if we fall short or stumble there is another meaning to the word fear: anxious. We must be eager to be restored, pronto!!!
Psalms 103:12 says, "As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us". Lord I pray that I keep going east...

Count the Cost - Luke 14:28

I am convinced that the apostle Paul struggled with loveing his bothers as himself. I don't think they had anger management in his day, but if they did he might have had to partake once or twice. Love is not an emotion, contrary to what the world would say. Love is a commitment because it is based on a commandment. In John 14:31 Jesus stated that the Father had given Him a commandment and to prove His love for the Father He would do it. His commandment was to die on the cross for our sins; How often do you think He counted the cost of that love? I don't know about you, but I have never had to struggle with something so profound that it caused me to sweat blood.
In Luke 14 Jesus was illustrating that there was a price for love. In other words it's going to cost me something to love God with all my heart, mind, soul and strength. I must forsake all that I have known and loved of this world and love Him more. This is called picking up your cross and following Jesus. What is your cross? Well it's not your burdens, afflictions or any other number of specified negatives. It is our banner of love. That's right, the cross is a banner for all to see. Let your light shine before man...Wait a second...This kind of means I have to love people too. I must illustrate my love for God by demonstrating in loving others. I see said the blind man!!!
This kind of commitment requires me to die to myself, daily. Just like Paul, sometimes I can be so hard headed. You ever hear the expression; "his heart was right but his head got in the way", well that's me. My mom always use to tell me when it came to instruction; "don't think, just do".
Sometimes when we start to analyze what we are told to do, we can really mess things up. Let me sum it up another way; "analyzing turns to agonising". That's when your cross becomes a burden!

Motivated by Love...John 14:15

There was a time when I was motivated by fear; prior to September 1981. Being raised in a JW belief that no matter what I did I was going to get judged by God for my sinful nature, and my only hope was to try and get the good to out way the bad. I knew that I could not be good enough to erase the sin in my life. I could not hand out enough magazines, or have enough dogs bite me to be found worthy. Besides, I was told that I was not allowed in heaven; that was only for a few chosen ones. Instead I would be here on earth having picnics every day with people of all color and joining us was all kinds of carnivorous animals that just wanted to eat fruit and vegetables.
Well that didn't work. By the time I was twelve I was numb to the fear. In fact, I would say I was eager to challenge fear, any fear. But in September of 1981 I meet Jesus, and for the first time I knew what John 3:16 really meant. God did not send a son for a ransom sacrifice! God sent Himself to die for my sins; all my sins. I no longer had the fear, or even the need for the fear of being found not worthy. The millstone around my neck had been taken off; the shackles of sin had been removed. Not only that, but I was no longer under the old covenant that was based on "Thou Shalt Not Do That". I was under a new covenant that said "Thou Shalt Love God and Love Thy Brothers".
Jesus says, "Do you love me? Then keep My commandments." There are no longer 10, but now there are only 2; 'To love God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength' and 'To love my brother as myself'.
Now I am motivated by love. Now I am going to be judged on how much I loved, not sin in my life. God will now hold me accountable in a whole new way. Before I was condemned, lost and separated from God. But now I am forgiven, justified and glorified before God by what Christ Jesus did on the cross. I have been able to experience the Love God has for me first hand and now that I have, I must live out that Love in my daily life.

New Years Day

I woke up this morning thinking about the difference between being motivated by fear or by love; which lead to thinking about what it means to fear God; which lead to the love of God; which lead me to a really great time of devotion. When I thought about fearing God the one thing that did not make any sense was to be afraid of God. How can I be afraid of a God who Loves me so much? But I did come to consider the things I do that take advantage of that Love; and then I became afraid. Not afraid of God, but of my own actions which may cause offence to the One that loves me so much. However, when I started thinking about words which could define what it means to fear God, they took thier place right along side the Love of God. Words like: amazment,
reverence, humbled, astonished, mesmerized, floored; down I went...