DAY 1: DETERMINATION...."And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.....Luke 9:62 (KJV).
ACTION: Pray that the Lord leads you to look forward with anticipation to the High Calling of being on your knees as a servant before Him. Don't fret all the things you have to give up in the natural, but thank Him He even considers a wretch like us, to be His mouthpiece!
DAY 2: REJUVENATE...."But without faith [it is] impossible to please [Him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and [that] He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him....Hebrews 11:6 (KJV)
ACTION: The word REJUVENATE means "to restore to original condition". When we are born again, through repentance and belief in Christ (& the Gospels) we are restored to the original relationship God had with Adam! Thank God for Faith and what it really means to be restored, regardless of our current temporary condition, of living in this mortal flesh!
DAY 3: LOYALTY....And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD....2 Samuel 23:16 (KJV)
ACTION: These three of David's loyal soldiers risked life and limb to break through enemy lines, just because their commander David expressed a desire for some water of this particular well. But David was so touched and AWARE of their sacrifice that He made a drink offering to the LORD Our God rather than drink it himself...no matter how thirsty he was! Each man proved himself loyal: the three mighty men to David and David to God. Are you this loyal? Would you have done the same? Look deep into your soul to see if is the case.
DAY 4: PURSUIT...."With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments....Psalm 119:10 (KJV)
ACTION: Man does not seek after God, the Bible says so. It is God Who pursues us, until we either respond or reject Him. Those of us who lovingly, gratefully and mightily accept this Great Pursuit are in AWE of the Hound of Heaven Who seeks after us the way He did! The Psalmist in today's verses "SOUGHT" God with his ENTIRE being, along with his spiritual heart. This is that the verb "wander" signifies. He did NOT commit physical sin because of his own Pursuit, after God had captured his heart and soul. Are you NOW, TODAY or ever in "hot pursuit" after Him like this? Do you love Him enough to chase after the things He loves, so you can love those too? Consider that.....
DAY 5: UNDENIABLE...."But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellencies of the power may be of God, and not of us....2 Corinthians 4:7 (KJV)
ACTION: The power, majesty and Sovereignty of God are undeniable. Everything is created by, through, of and for Him and is OWNED by Him, not us. From the very minute we awake to laying down to sleep, even our breath is His. Therefore, can you and I submit today? Can we put aside our fleshly tendencies to want/have/do it OUR way? Should we? Yes! Look deep inside, we are still holding on to an awful lot of human and spiritual pride. Today- well....dispose of it!
DAY 6: AUTHENTIC...."But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees;[a] for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart....1 Samuel 16:7
ACTION: Shakespeare once said "be true to thyself and thou shall not be false to any man". One of the definition of the word "authentic" is being "accurate in representation of the facts; trustworthy...and genuine", according to most dictionaries. The world can spot a fake Christian over a period of time, after observing the speech and actions of that person. God sees our actions, intentions and our spiritual heart, which is who we really are. If we say we are a Christian, we are saying we are a reflection of Christ. Would both God and those around you agree with that?
DAY 7: REST...."Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience....Hebrews 4:11.
ACTION: Read Hebrews 11 chapter 3:7 through chapter 4:13. Pray for revelation and discernment about this powerful message and passage from the Lord . What is God's "rest" and how difficult it is to live in - DAILY - a state of resting in the Lord? A person can be both busy, hardworking and always on the go, while at the same time, functioning from the assurance which God's Rest gives. Are you that kind of a person?
DAY 8: TESTIMONY...."And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death....Revelation 12:11
ACTION: The word "Testimony" means the giving of evidence in support of facts. In personal terms, it serves as evidence of a life completely converted, rejuvenated and turned around by Jesus Christ. If a person does NOT have a testimony, they have not been saved. Do YOU have a testimony? Can you "testify" under oath...give evidence to...and speak publicly about HOW and WHEN Jesus Christ changed your life? Can you?
DAY 9: COMMAND...."This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success....Joshua 1:8
ACTION: This COMMAND from Joshua to the Israelites entering Canaan is for all people of all time. The book of the Law of God - Bible - is for all generations until He comes. Our calling is the following: NOT to let it depart from our mouths/hearts/minds; to meditate on it always and to walk carefully in Holiness! We can do this! We can do this! Come on now! This is what brings us the victory, in Jesus' Name!
DAY 10: CHOOSE...."And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD....Joshua 24:15.
ACTION: Yogi Berra said when "you come to a fork in the road, take it". Don't get your theology from men, but from God. The choice today is before us on the road of Life. We can choose to fool ourselves and walk with the perishing world in all its sin, perversion, corruption and evil, while thinking we are serving God, thinking He is okay with that....or we can simply CHOOSE righteousness, holiness, purity and consecrate ourselves to Him, as Joshua did. You have to make that choice. There is NO middle ground - what say you?
DAY 11: SERVE...."For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many....Mark 10:45
ACTION: We live in a "me-first" society. In fact, this country, which was once the world's economic engine, has become a land full of "Service Industry". Simply put - we want to be served, and pay top dollar for it. The welfare mentality, created by fifty years of dependency, leads many to expect others to serve them rather than what the Bible teaches. To be like Christ, our service must be other-focused and the joyful fruit of our Salvation. After evaluating yours, are your intentions like Jesus' in today's verse? Do you give first...or like most westerners, expect to be waited on, hand and foot? Think on those things today.
DAY 12: RELIGIOSITY...."Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded....James 4:8
ACTION: Religiosity is described in the dictionary as "exaggerated or affected piety and religious zeal". If you look up the word "affected", it means "something done to impress others"! The "disease" which this word carries, is infectious. Yet if we REALLY follow the command above, we too can have the single exclusive blessings of True Christianity (which is GRACE) rather than two-faced religiosity, which leads to eventual destruction! Therefore - follow the Command today!
DAY 13: PARADIGM...."Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life....Galatians 6:7-8
ACTION: A paradigm is a set of values/beliefs etc from which a reality is viewed, as either a practical or intellectual discipline. But in this verse, we have God's paradigm which He made very simple for us to comprehend! God's values are also God's reality...and therefore, His paradigm. So now, search your heart. Then pray the Spirit sears your conscience. Follow this with a virtual screaming out for forgiveness in Repentance about any sin. Finally, see if the seeds you are sowing, are the very seeds of which Heaven will approve! See if those seeds are the ones which will bear Fruit for the Kingdom! Amen.
DAY 14: REQUIRED...."He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God....Micah 6:8
ACTION: Spiritual Pride is rampant in more and more Christians. Ever since the Lord busted me on this way back in 2005, I am more aware of it now in others and even more careful to "not go there" myself. The verse today SPECIFICALLY spells out how we must conduct ourselves....and by we, I mean those of us who were given much. We are required to be more even-handed and full of grace to those who are worldly. Most of all, we are to do it in ALL humility. So therefore, ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and remove all and any vestiges of Spiritual Pride right now, so that you may always do "what is good" in His Sight.
DAY 15: CONNECTIVITY...."In the same way, even though we are many individuals, Christ makes us one body and individuals who are connected to each other....Romans 12:5 (GWT)
ACTION: Connectivity is not found in the bible, but its concept is. Check out today's verse. While we may be in many types of houses every Sunday morning, we are connected by this only one fact - the God of Heaven sent God the Son to be born; live as a man and die for us, so that God the Spirit can live in us to keep us connected to both Him AND each other! Both the dying world and us will not get this fully, this side of heaven. Our job now is to be the CONDUIT for this Connectivity of Christ's Children- the Church. Are you available RIGHT NOW to be used to love someone new into this exclusive Body of Believers? Are you F.A.T. - Faithful Available Teachable? Think on these things today...
DAY 16: LIFE...."I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live....Deuteronomy 30:19
ACTION: Within a 6 month period (2012-13), two young women in their twenties, passed during an abortion - in Chicago and Maryland respectively. It was obvious they did not choose wisely, as God told us to, through the Prophet Moses. Most of us will never go the route of these two unfortunate women, but we can still mess things up. We have the power with us to choose one or the other. So the action point today, even for matured Christians - don't even listen to your pastor if you have a doubt. Listen to what the Holy Spirit within you says. Listen to Him, take heed and obey. Then you and yours will live in blessing and life!
DAY 17: LEADERSHIP...."Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant...Matthew 20: 25-26
ACTION: The model of leadership has been set for us by God Himself, when He gave up the eternal throne and poured Himself out, then lowered Himself to be born as a man.Fast forward to today....For some reason, some of Christ's under-shepherds, ministers and just plain Christians prefer to be served, in the modern church today....thereby seeing things differently than our Boss (in the above verse). The plan for today is to really search our own hearts and minds to see #1. if we even deserved the Blessings He has given us (NO, we don't) and then, #2. why aren't we then humble and obedient to be His True Servant as He stated? Think on these things...
DAY 18: LIBERTY...." For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery....Galatians 5:1 ESV.
ACTION: No matter how many times, or to how many generations the concept of GRACE - the free unmerited favor and Gift of God - is explained, fleshly humans think THEY have not just the answers but the means to acquiring their own redemption or salvation! Because of this, they put themselves back under the bondage of Judgment by the Law! Hence, today, if you hear His Voice, repent and turn from your sins. Then, like a little child would, ask forgiveness....all the while both pleading and praising Him, that He gave you ALL - He gave you complete, unfettered Liberty and Freedom through Christ Jesus, the Lord!
DAY 19: LONGSUFFERING...."With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love...Ephesians 4:2
ACTION: The word "Longsuffering" is from the original "makrothumia" which really means faithful Godly peace, calm and keeping a Godly head on, while evil abounds all around you. Christians and families who follow the Bible are under attack from governments and society worldwide, including here. It is Sodom and Gomorrah all over again...and again. Still, let's pray to Abba, OUR Father, even as the scoffers' father - the devil - is ramping it up in his last days. Let us pray today (and from now on) to stay humble; to stay encouraged because God has elected us and not man; and to stay focused ON ETERNITY WITH HIM. This will give us the endurance...i.e. the "longsuffering" attribute we need today.
DAY 20: ARISE...."For this reason it says, "Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you....Ephesians 5:14
ACTION: The word ARISE is all about Action. Used 35 times in the Bible, ARISE is positive for all who believe and put their complete Faith and Trust in the Savior. We see natural calamity daily - earthquakes, meteors, storms etc...what would it take for even the elect, who are called by His Name, to shake off the cobwebs from comfort in the church, to ARISE and get moving. Folks, there is not time to waste. Awake from your self-induced sleep-walking through this life and wake up the Spiritually dead NOW. Christ will reward this...or not, if we refuse to obey!
DAY 21: LANGUOROUS...."Be diligent and do not be lazy; be enthusiastic in spirit; be working for your Lord....Romans 12:11 (Aramaic Bible...Jesus spoke Aramaic!)
ACTION: For a country that has the well-deserved historical reputation of hard work and enterprise, Americans are surprisingly spiritually lazy! Some of it comes from human nature, whereby we feel we gave it all at the "office" so there is nothing left for God...the other part is lack of church leadership. None is a valid excuse. The Bible is for ALL people of ALL time and is full of verbs in the present tense. These are direct commands from God.Jesus commanded us to Go...Make...Baptize etc. Moses said to Teach...choose. God said "Act like men"! If you and I are serious about obeying God, we will obey these commands with DUE DILIGENCE and with ENTHUSIASM and be found WORKING for Him until we see Him in Glory.
DAY 22: DOMINION...."For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace....Romans 6:14
ACTION: God gave mankind "dominion" or rule, reign, authority, stewardship etc over creation after the Creation. Adam was allowed to name all animals, birds and such. That divinely-appointed dominion was replaced after Genesis 3 by the dominion of darkness which sin brought into the world, after Adam and Eve sinned again Holy God. Christ defeated the ruler of evil - Satan - on the Cross, yet those who call themselves Christians never fully comprehend the true victory of their redemption. The reason - sin. Until you and I comprehend the TRUE measure of Grace TODAY, we will never gain victory over that which has caused us so much grief. Our Prayer today should lead us to seek to submit to the Spirit's leading into all discernment and Truth.
DAY 23: BEHOLD...."Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age....Matthew 28:20
ACTION: The word "BEHOLD" appears in the Bible (the universally accepted King James...and other versions) over 1320 times! The word means to fix your attention (eyes, mind etc) on something; to fix your eyes upon or to direct your fixed gaze to! The great John the Baptist said "BEHOLD, the Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world". The brutal Pontius Pilate said "BEHOLD The Man!" Are you beholding the Man - Christ Jesus today? Is not just your Sunday gaze, but is your Monday-Saturday night gaze, mind, body, soul and every fiber of your being BEHOLDING Christ and the Beauty and Majesty of Him Who sits on the Throne? If not, what are you waiting for???!!!
DAY 24: BOUND...."for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound....2 Timothy 2:9
ACTION: Many things in life can have us bound - both good and bad. The good ones are the ties that bind - love, family...relationships that are healthy and Godly. The ones which do not please God are the by-products of this evil world which can bind us to it: sin, self-gratification and Satan. But Scripture above says "HIS WORD is not bound"...or "deo" in the original. This means the Bible is the opposite of the unlawful, illegal and unprofitable captivity of worldly sin! The question today is - are there any hidden ties which are stringing you along, for which you suffer silently? Well, the good news - the Sharp Two-Edged sword of the Word of God can cut them right now - for good!
DAY 25: PROPITIATION...."In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins....1 John 4:10
ACTION: Propitiation is one BIG word! Also, it is one of the biggest original words in the Bible which is found nowhere else in our dialogue except to refer to this - the satisfactory self-sacrifice of our Loving Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! In fact, the condition of man was so bad, God had to send God the Son to be the scapegoat for our sins - past, present and future - because that was the only acceptable/satisfactory way for mankind to reconcile with Him. So what are YOU and I willing to sacrifice to fulfill our end of this amazing compact/covenant/contract with Holy God? Whatever it is today, it MUST cost us something....because it cost Him EVERYTHING!
DAY 26: PRESENCE...."You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore....Psalm 16:11
ACTION: You know what blows me away? Well, it's waking up with the words "Coram Deo" in your mind and spirit after having a vivid dream about those two words several hours before! Coram Deo basically means to live your Christian life or walk IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD! AND you know what? In His Presence - He says in Psalm 16:11 "THERE IS FULLNESS OF JOY"! How do we LIVE in the very Presence of God, while on earth? We make sure we're first saved. But more importantly, we love Him with every fiber of our being and SEEK HIM daily through prayer, conversation with Him, reading about Him, talking about Him. So today, make a conscious effort to see and lead others to experience His Presence by seasoning at least 30% of your day sharing about the Goodness of God. He loves you, or you would never be allowed in His Presence. So - talk about Him, shout His Name - from the rooftop if you have to! Love the Lord Your God 24/7....Coram Deo - the Fullness of Joy in His Presence!
DAY 27: PURIFY...."Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow....Psalm 51:7
ACTION: Several times in the Bible, the active verb "PURIFY" is used as both a plea (as in the above verse) or as a command (as in say James 4:8). The latter implores us sinners to ensure that we have clean hearts, hands and minds before we present ourselves before the Lord. But the real purifying and cleansing of all the filth, scum, dross and slag of our lives is done by the Cleansing Power of the Blood of the Lamb. This red Blood from Heaven washes us as white as snow, to prepare us for the Kingdom. The Action to take right now should lead us to look into the mirror of our soul, to see if we are really clean. Christians mess up all the time. Do we need to be purged and purified of any shortcoming or sin today? I am sure we do. Confess it, repent, ask forgiveness from God and make it right...you will feel a whole lot better.
DAY 28: INDWELLING...."Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and He in us, because He hath given us of his Spirit....1 John 4:13
ACTION: The word "dwell" here is also translated "ABIDE" - 'menomen' in the original Greek language. When you and I were converted from the kingdom of darkness to the Eternal Kingdom of God, in Christ, we were given a "Seal of Approval", if you will. This seal is the Holy Spirit of God, the Restrainer, Counselor, Guide and Protector. He was placed IN us and we know it because HE IS ALIVE! He LIVES in OUR spirit and abides, indwells, continues to exist as the Agent of Christ. Our job this morning, even for mature believers, is to ensure we continue to walk in step with Him! If we do not, we will be saved, but all reward will be lost. Ponder your walk in the Spirit this day. Are you in alignment with Him?
DAY 29: STEADFAST...."My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises!...Psalm 57:7
ACTION: The word "steadfast" means firm, established, accomplished or as the King James so beautifully says - "fixed"! To be and remain steadfast, there must be a solid 100% commitment to, for example, any relationship. Your relationship with God through Christ alone, is the only that with eternal significance. Therefore, time for a reality check - are both your mind's eye and your spiritual heart fixed on Jesus - the "Author and Perfecter" of our Faith? Is everything you do, daily, moment to moment, worthy of being His? Are you therefore, solidly steadfast in His Light, His Word, His Ways? Make this gut check a priority today and you will never regret a single moment of this self-evaluation. It will want to make you do as the Psalmist says - "Sing Praises"!!!
DAY 30: FOUNDATION...."And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock....Matthew 7:25
ACTION: The psalm says "unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain...(Psalm 127:1)" Nothing built by this will stand on the Day of the Lord (the Day of Wrath). There is coming a day, when Judgment will rain down on this earth. The majority of people alive now and then do not believe it because they are under the same deception as those in the day of Noah, who perished in the Flood. The only house that will stand is the House of Faith...the House that starts in a redeemed, rejuvenated heart...a heart that has been changed forever by the cleansing Power of Jesus Christ. TODAY, write down a list of your beliefs, then search the Scriptures daily to see if ALL of them line up with the Word of God. If even the smallest one is off, surrender it to Him immediately, repent and ask forgiveness. Then watch Him lay the Cornerstone of True Faith!
DAY 31: PLUMBLINE...."I will test you with the measuring line of justice and the plumb line of righteousness....Isaiah 28:17a
ACTION: My friends, do not miss what the Lord is saying both through Isaiah here...then Jeremiah....then Ezekiel.... and Amos! These Old Testament prophets were not just prophesying against wayward Israel or Judah! They are warning us today - 2600 years later! The Word of God is the Standard...or the Plumb Line, which is used in construction (in the natural world) to keep walls and buildings straight! Plumb line is Standard. God's Plumb Line is Righteousness which only comes through Christ as Lord and Savior. If Jesus is not your Lord, the world will join you in equal justice on Judgment Day. The Measuring Line - used to keep things like bricks and mortar aligned properly - will be the yardstick of His Justice. Today, measure your own righteousness against the Holiness of God. that you may not lose rewards on that day....if you belong to Him! He has promised to hold His people to the Plumb Line of Truth. Remember this - "judgment begins in the House of the Lord".
4 comments:
Needed that word today Bernie! I pray it is our Action to look forward to a Higher calling that shall first bring us to our knees in reverence and humility before God, Himself.
you are my Blessed brother,
Rick
Words to live by Bern! There are some things in our lives that must be confronted now...What would and what will we do as believers..Thank you Bern!! Love and Blessings...
This is good stuff bro!
God bless you everyone this day, that the Lord has made!
1. Thank you dear brother Brian, Pastor of Broken Chains church! I appreciate you very much brother and continue to learn a lot from you, bro! Amen
2. Love and blessings back at you, sister Sherry, let leave all the junk behind in our lives so we can Press In and then Press ON! (Where did I here that Pastor B?!) God be with thee, Sherr!! Thank you for many, many years of fellowship!!
3. Brother Rick, the good thing about our calling from Jesus is that it requires Action on our part...that's when we get to see just what kind of men we are and WHOSE we are! Press on our knees brother! praise God! Thanks for the comment, paisan! Amen
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