Pastor Johnnie's Devotional Archives
June 2004
June 2, 2004
Psalm 102:27 says: You remain the same, and your years will never end.
In a home where there is not the consistent behavior of grace, a child
can become very insecure and unstable. They never know if mom and dad
are going to be lovey-dovey or if they're going to scream and yell and
make threats. If many children were able to know what maturing and permanent
changes basic obedience to the scriptures could ultimately make in their
parents' lives and they were able to express themselves accordingly, their
words and cries would make us weep, I'm sure. It will always do us spiritually
well to study the scriptures and observe the life of His Son, the Lord
Jesus. He remains the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
He doesn't change like shifting shadows or at the whim of fleeting and
varying emotions (James 1:17). His 'sameness' creates a sense of unbelievable
security and stability within the hearts of His children. And, His faithfulness
and consistency in dealing with me makes me want to continually cry out,
for the sake of my wife, my children, and those around me: It is as imperative
that You become greater and greater in my life as it is that I become
less and less (John 3:30). You must increase; I must decrease!
Thank You, Father, for the consistency of Your loving and gracious
behavior toward Your children. Please make us stable and secure in Your
love and grace. Amen.
June 4, 2004
Psalm 4:3 says: Know (i.e. acknowledge; be diligent to discern) that the
Lord has set apart the godly for himself; the Lord will hear when I call
to him.
Moses once asked the Lord (Exodus 33:16), How will anyone know that you
are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What will
distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of
the earth? And the Lord said, I will cause all my goodness to pass in
front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence.
Sanctification is that continual process whereby God uses people and events
in our lives to produce the character of Christ in us; a divine, orderly
series of steps toward His desired end: to set apart His people for His
holy purposes; a glorious and wonderfully effective plan to assure that
as we live and walk and work in this sin-darkened world, we will be clearly
distinguishable from those who do not belong to Him. May we humbly submit
to Him and go along with that process today.
We are humbled, holy Father, that You have set us apart for Yourself
and Your holy purposes. Glorify Yourself in us and through us today, for
Jesus' sake. Amen.
June 11, 2004
Psalm 11:7 says: ...the Lord is righteous, he loves justice; upright men
will see his face.
Last Saturday, my oldest brother, visiting Kentucky from his home in Louisiana,
suddenly died. We just returned home last night from handling some of
the legal and practical issues related to his death, funeral, and burial.
I don't doubt that David is in the presence of the Lord right now, gazing
upon the beauty of the righteous Lord's face. Like I, David was a sinner.
Certainly, as I would not be, he was not saved and taken to heaven because
he lived a righteous life. He was saved and taken to the presence of God
because of the promise God gave him years ago: believe on the Lord Jesus
Christ and you will be saved; if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus
is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him (Jesus) from
the dead, you will be saved. Through faith in the precious blood of the
Lord Jesus Christ, shed on the cross for our sins, he was (and I am too)
saved by the grace of God. What about you? If you were to die today, do
you know where you would spend eternity? Are you facing eternity on your
own, thinking that God will accept you on the basis of some perceived
'goodness' you might have apart from Him? Deceive yourself no longer!
"People are declared righteous because of their faith, not because
of their work". (Romans 4:5)
Faithful Father of justice, surely You have granted David eternal blessings
and made him glad with the joy of Your presence (Psalm 21:6). And, we
who know Christ as our Savior also look forward, with immeasurable joy,
to being in Your presence as well. Strengthen us to walk in righteousness
before You until that day comes. Amen.
June 14, 2004
Psalm 14:2 says: The Lord looks down from heaven on the sons of men to
see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.
That He looks at all brings joy and delight to my heart! That He sees
'all mankind' (Psalm 33:13) and yet is able to focus on the 'any' who
are seeking Him, is mind-boggling! To know that He hears the groans of
the prisoners and that He seeks to release those condemned to death (Psalm
102:19-20) is breathtaking, revealing again to us His compassion and grace.
To know that He is interested in strengthening those whose hearts are
fully committed to Him (II Chronicles 16:9) is very humbling!
All this in spite of the fact that entire nations have conspired against
Him; whole people groups and kings and rulers have taken a stubborn stance
against Him (Psalm 2), in defiant opposition to His holy purposes.
Rejoice today that He sees you and me in the midst of it all. Let us commit
ourselves again to seeking Him and to understanding His high and holy
ways, for the glory of God!
Thank You, precious Father, that You see and treat me and each of
Your children as unique objects of Your love. May our heart response be
to continually seek Your face and to humbly walk in Your ways. In Jesus'
name, Amen.
June 16, 2004
Psalm 16:8a and 9 say: I have set the Lord always before me. Therefore
my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure.....
I'm guessing that 'priority living' is as difficult for you as it is for
me. To put Christ first is a wonderful axiom but a difficult task. Lance
Latham, founder of Awana, once wrote a chorus that says, Let's be true
to Jesus, though a thousand voices from the world may call. To set the
Lord always before me means that I continually have to make some tough
choices while so many other nice things, so many other attractive temptations
are vying for my attention, my time, my energies.
But oh the joy, the pure delight, the genuine happiness, the peace, the
sense of having pleased my Father and knowing His approval that possesses
my soul when I make the right choices! What great rejoicing!
Holy Father, teach us to make right choices. May we be good learners
who, when we make the wrong choices and face the sadness it brings, will
nonetheless repent and renew our commitment to set the Lord always before
us. For Jesus' sake, Amen.
June 18, 2004
Psalm 118:15-16 Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the
righteous: "The Lord's right hand has done mighty things! The Lord's
right hand is lifted high; the Lord's right hand has done mighty things!"
When was the last time you participated in a power-packed, Spirit-of-God-induced
testimony meeting? Whole families were prepared to rejoice in the Lord's
goodness (Deuteronomy 12:12). The majesty of the Lord was proclaimed;
truth, humility, and righteousness were focused on by those who have witnessed
the awesome deeds of God's powerful right hand (Psalm 45:4).
So much more meaningful conversation could be shared or generated, both
in worship service witness stands and in post-worship service conversations!
In this day of isolation and 'private spirituality', we must remember
that it is fitting and proper; it's ok; it's the 'expected' thing; it's
very appropriate for us to freely speak out, to throw all caution to the
wind and freely praise the Lord for His goodness (Psalm 33:1). His faithful
intervention on our behalf is so that we might sing out, shout out, and
not be silent (Psalm 30:11-12)!
Glorious Father, may gladness and joy so overtake us (Isaiah 51:11)
that we might constantly be testifying to others of Your love, Your mercy,
and Your grace! Amen.
June 20, 2004 HAPPY FATHER'S DAY, DADS!
Psalm 20:6 Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed; he answers him
from his holy heaven with the saving power of his right hand.
It takes some of us many years to come to the conclusion that David penned
in this verse. Now I know! 'Now' implies henceforth or whereas. Sometimes
it may seem that the Lord doesn't care for His anointed. Rather, He allows
us to go through the fire or to feel the deep waters of undesirable experiences.
We may chafe at the word 'yoke' and are irritated by the sweet purposes
for which it is graciously and purposely placed around our neck (Matthew
11:29). We forget Who it is to Whom we are eternally yoked. We must remember
that the Lord of the yoke is the strength of His people; a fortress of
salvation for His anointed one (Psalm 28:8). His answer, the saving power
of His right hand from heaven comes at the right time, in a timely manner,
and always for the right purpose: to further His process of conforming
us to the likeness of His Son, Jesus, our Savior (Romans 8:29).
Incredible Father of grace, we know You are merciful and gracious to us,
Your people. Help us to submit to the yoke of Your timing and Your holy
purposes as we await the saving power of Your right hand from heaven.
For Jesus' sake, Amen.
June 22, 2004
Psalm 22:22 is a great challenge to Christians in any generation: I will
declare your name to my brothers; in the congregation I will praise you.
"I will" implies a firm commitment to obedience that comes even
from the heart of one who may feel awkward in a public forum or may feel
embarrassment trying to express what's in their heart. Not to worry: God
has provided a wonderful 'venue' in which to swallow all pride or fear,
and in which to freely and humbly speak out: in the congregation! It's
with people who've been where you've been. It's with those of like faith.
It's with other disciples who also may have fears which keep them from
speaking out at times when their words of encouragement or challenge could
bring immeasurable blessing and help to fellow Christian family members.
The family of God needs fresh input from those who do not seal their lips;
who do not hide the Lord's righteousness (to them) in their hearts; who
do not conceal the love of God or the truth of God from the great assembly
called the family of God (Psalm 40:9, 10).
Precious Father, even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me until
I have declared your power to the next generation, your might to all who
are to come (Psalm 71:18). For Jesus' sake I pray, Amen.
June 25, 2004
Psalm 25:1, 2a To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul; in you I trust, O my
God.
I would imagine if we could literally 'hear' the heart of God, we might
'hear' His great disappointment over the fact that, in so many times of
need for wisdom or guidance or encouragement, or provision or help in
some way, we more often than not 'lift up our souls' to another human
being, or seek an experience rather than seeking our Lord. We ask friends
"What do you think?" We buy books, watch particular programs,
and make appointments with 'professionals' "who can give specific,
'professional' help you can't find in the Bible" (I've actually had
that said to me!). In general, we either ignore or completely by pass
the Lord of glory. Not sure why. Maybe we fear the emotional and spiritual
impact lifting up our souls in deep worship to Him might bring (I Samuel
1:15). We need to be continually reminded of the dangers of lifting up
our souls to any kind of 'idol' (Psalm 24:4) or to even the best of friends
(I Corinthians 15:33) or to others who might influence our hearts in a
wrong way (I Kings 11:1-3). When we lift up our souls to Him, He gives
joy (Psalm 86:4), wisdom (James 1:5), and life direction (Psalm 143:8),
just to name a few of the benefits of trusting in Him!
Father, Jeremiah said (3:41, 42a): Let us lift up our hearts and our
hands to God in heaven, and say: 'we have sinned and rebelled....'. Forgive
our tendency to forsake You the Source of all we need (II Peter 1:3),
and to dig out our own cisterns (i.e. to find our own sources of 'help'
- Jeremiah 2:13). Train us to lift up our souls to YOU! It is truly for
Jesus' sake we pray, Amen.
June 28, 2004
Psalm 28:8 says: The Lord is the strength of his people...
I just came home from the funeral of a beautiful 7 month old girl. From
the time Nia's mommy and daddy learned of several physical, life-threatening
'problems', they have been staunch and confident in the expression of
their confidence in the Lord Jesus. Sure, they have shed many tears, just
as Jesus did over Lazarus' situation. They have also witnessed to untold
numbers of doctors and nurses over the past few months. Their friends
- like it or not! - have listened to countless testimonies of how the
Lord has done this or that and how He ultimately equipped them to pass
through this time of testing with what I would call 'flying colors'! The
Lord IS the strength of His people. He is also their light, their salvation,
and their stronghold (Psalm 27:1). He is their shield of protection (Psalm
140:7). He is their sure foundation. He is a rich storehouse of provision
for His people (Isaiah 33:6). He is their music, their song (Exodus 15:2).
Is He your strength, your all....today? Remember: the Lord gives strength
to his people; the Lord blesses His people with peace (Psalm 29:11).
Father of tender mercies, it is true, just as the song writer has
penned: You are my all in all! Teach us to live in the light and reality
of that truth, for Jesus' sake. Amen.
June 30, 2004
Psalm 30:11, 12 are powerful! You turned my wailing into dancing; you
removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to
you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever.
We don't see much godly 'wailing' (over sin) or the wearing of sackcloth
(a loose cloth or sacking used in mourning or in humiliation) any more.
We are a proud generation of people who struggle to admit we're wrong
at all, let alone be sad and brokenhearted over obvious sin. David makes
a great case here for God turning repentant sadness into rejoicing and
dancing; but without being too cynical, in my ministry I hear far more
interest in rejoicing and dancing than of being broken over sinful words,
thoughts, actions, or attitudes. But, the sacrifices of God are a broken
spirit; a broken and contrite heart God will not despise or ever treat
lightly (Psalm 51:17). It is not the supposed sinless, unconfessing person
but rather the humble, the brokenhearted whom He crowns with forgiveness
and salvation (Psalm 149:4). May He fill the church with many such people!
Father, thank You that Your anger against sin and wickedness lasts
only a moment, but that Your favor lasts a lifetime (Psalm 30:5). Teach
us the humility which comes through brokenness over our sin.... so that
we might appreciate these truths of forgiveness and salvation more deeply.
For Jesus' sake we pray. Amen.
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