Pastor Johnnie's Devotional Archives
December 2004
December 1, 2004
Psalm 101:7 No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house. No one
who speaks falsely will stand in my presence.
A persistent commitment to righteousness will put a severe - and legitimate!
- strain on one's natural penchant to practice any form of evil or unrighteousness,
whether that be on the street or in the home. And, it will most certainly
affect management of one's comfort zone when it comes to being in the
presence of or participating in the deceitful and lying ways of those
who fear not God. The Holy Spirit is faithful. He will point out to me
the slightest thought that displeases Him. He will reveal the truth about
the seemingly insignificant - but sinful nonetheless! - issue to which
I carelessly gave precious minutes of my time and energy to mull over.
He will compassionately touch my lips or my heart just before or after
a careless word is spoken or unhealthy thought is entertained.
Dear Father, my personal commitment to You is this: I will be careful
to lead a blameless life. I will walk in my house with blameless heart
(101:2). Grant to me and to all my fellow Christians the desire as well
as the ability to do for Your good pleasure (Philippians 2:13). Amen.
December 3, 2004
Psalm 102:2, I'm sure, reflects the prayers we often make to the Lord:
Do not hide your face from me when I am in distress. Turn your ear to
me; when I call, answer me quickly.
(By nature, I'm definitely not inclined to think this way:) Lord, You
are sovereign. As such, You have the right to do as You please, when You
please, however You please. I just know this: You do all things well.
You love it when I pray to You. Your faithfulness in past responses to
my cries/pleas reminds me You have always been consistent; You have always
been unfailing in Your love and concern for me. So, while from my point
of view, this prayer requires a very quick - if not sooner! - response
from You, yet I realize that, for holy purposes, You may allow me to wait.
You are pleased to save me, I don't doubt (Psalm 40:13); and may it be
quickly, from my earthly and personal perspective! But, I also know that
even before I call upon You, You know what (and when) Your answer will
be. You hear me even as I speak (Isaiah 65:24). So, though I may walk
through deep waters or through the fire (Isaiah 43:2), suffice to know
that You are with me and that Your holy purposes for me are always being
worked out in my life for my eternal good. (But I'm glad the Holy Spirit
faithfully gives me other biblical, plausible perspectives to reflect
on; alternative views which can be trusted far more than my own shortsighted
perspective of the relative importance of things!)
Father in heaven, forgive my tendency to want You to change the way
You do things just so I can be happier and more comfortable. May Your
holy and eternal purposes reign supreme in my life! Amen.
December 6, 2004
Psalm 8:9 will be a great verse to focus on throughout this busy day:
O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Osama Bin Laden - Spurgeon - George W. - Armstrong - Yassar Arafat - Vince
Lombardi - Ariel Sharon - G. Washington - Putin - Dali Lama - Billy Graham
- Handel
I didn't give a lot of thought to other names, for obvious reasons. First
of all, there is but one Name that is above all names; that name which
captures my heart and mind like no other: Jesus!
So, what about that name, Jenkins? Well, there's no one like Him! Oh.
And, is there some quality that especially captures your attention, and
'excites your heart' this particular morning, as you say? Yes. He rides
on the heavens to help those whom He loves. Say what?! Uh huh. He rides
on the clouds in his majesty. (Deuteronomy 33:26). All other names fade
into the past and are forgotten. His name endures forever; His renown
remains fresh and vibrant through all generations (Psalm 35:13); the stories
of His greatness never get old. I wish I had time to tell you more. Suffice
to say that His name alone is exalted above all other names; His splendor
surpasses the glory of the earth and the heavens (Psalm 148:13). Yeah.
Ok. Say, Jenky-denk, uh, had a good, thorough checkup lately? Hey! I've
only just begun! I have much more to say!! Yeah, can't stay right now.
Anyway, I'll catch you later.....
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let Your glory be over all the
earth! Amen. (Psalm 57:11)
December 9, 2004
Psalm 9:14 is a continuation of David's comments in verse 13: O Lord,
see how my enemies persecute me! Have mercy and lift me up from the gates
of death, that I may declare your praises in the gates of the Daughter
of Zion and there rejoice in your salvation.
Five years or so ago, the Spirit of God took me through a very unique,
holy experience that left an indelible mark on my ministry and my life.
To the best of my knowledge I have shared that experience only three times
in all these years, so that, as Paul said: no one will think more of me
than is warranted by what I do or say; and to keep me from becoming conceited
because of these surpassingly great revelations... (II Corinthians 12:1-7).
There's this ambivalence within me that says, on occasion I might be trusted
to properly handle spiritual victories in a biblical way: clearly declare
the praises of the sovereign God, and give the Lord all the glory. Yet
on other occasions, I may not be so trustworthy of such holy experiences.
I'm thinking that I might want to go on the TV talk show circuit, write
a book about it, hire an aggressive agent, and make lots of money that
would take me into my retirement years with a financial ease which heretofore
has remained so elusive through over 40 years of ministry. The lesson:
for encouragement, teaching, instruction, and biblical character development,
we are to always proudly declare God's praises and humbly rejoice in His
salvation!
Glorious and holy Father, with joy we daily draw water from the wells
of salvation (Isaiah 12:3) that we might make known to the nations what
You have done and clearly proclaim that Your name be exalted! Glorify
Your name in my life .... and in all the earth! Amen.
December 13, 2004
Psalm 13:6 says: I will sing to the Lord, for He has been good to me.
(The KJV says, "for He has dealt bountifully with me").
On this day, my life partner celebrates another birthday. Actually, the
celebration is always more mine, I think, because this special day serves
as a further reminder that the Lord has been so incredibly good to me.
He truly has dealt bountifully with me through the gift of her love and
companionship for 45 years! He has poured out on me more than a liberal
amount of His love through her beauty, both internal and external. The
measuring unit with which He - through her - has copiously spilled out
His attention, care, kindness, graciousness, mercy and compassion upon
this poor man of earth is so large as to be flowing profusely over me
in a continuing stream these many years.
I'm forever grateful to the living God for His bountiful kindness to me!
Truly, when so many other issues of life and ministry could easily 'trouble'
me, my soul - in this one of so many critically important areas of life:
marriage and faithful companionship! - finds rest in Him and gladly pronounces:
the Lord has been good to me! (Psalm 116:7)
Gracious Father, for Your love, Your mercy, and Your grace to me through
my life partner, I will give You thanks forever. (Psalm 30:12) I cannot
be silent! My heart sings praise to You. I love You.....and her....so
much! Amen.
December 15, 2004
Psalm 15:15 May you be blessed by the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Don't you love it when you can go right to "the top" and not
mess around with underlings?
"Hey, I'll have my Secretary call you soon!"
"You know, that's something I want my business partner to get back
with you about."
"Say, our supplier will really be interested in your concerns. You
should get a call from them in, say, about a week; maybe longer. This
is the busiest time of the year, don't forget!"
It is from the LORD that deliverance comes (Psalm 3:8). It is from the
LORD Himself that wisdom comes (James 1:5), allowing us to be strong in
character and ready for anything. It is from the LORD that every good
and perfect gift comes (James 1:17). Out of all His creation, His children
became His choice possession (James 1:18). And as such, they bypass, as
it were, the long lines and go directly to their Designer and Creator
in time of need. They know that He remains faithful forever (Psalm 146:6).
We truly are blessed, aren't we!
How we praise You, Designer and Creator, God and Father of our LORD
Jesus Christ! You have blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the
heavenly realms because we belong to Christ! (Ephesians 1:3). May our
lives humbly reflect the genuine gratitude of our hearts today! Amen.
December 21, 2004
Psalm 121:2 is one of those peace-giving, encouraging scriptures which
needs to be read and reflected on frequently: My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
"So, how is it that you so often seem to have something positive
to say about life in general?"
"Oh, I'm sorry; I thought you would have known. I'm surprised you
haven't heard! The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends
of the earth. He never grows tired or weary hearing my cries for help
or of intervening on my behalf (Isaiah 40:28-31). So, for me it's actually
very basic, very bottom line: years ago I saw the truth about my own sinful
nature (Romans 7:18; not everyone's favorite verse, for sure!). I realized
that everything 'I' do or say or think is already 'tainted' by the influence
of my sinful nature. The only alternative, at that point, was to acknowledge
that if any 'good' ever came out of or was ever seen in this poor man,
it would have to be coming from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth!
He's an ever present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1). He is absolutely 'awesome'
in His ability to meet me where I'm at and to faithfully supply me with
all I need to live for Him (Psalm 47:2). I speak His wonderful, precious
name frequently in prayer and in my conversations (Psalm 124:8), and I
am more blessed than you could ever imagine! (Psalm 146:5-6)."
Father of glory and truth, thank You for being all I (we) need in
life. My proneness is to be filled with 'me'. Forgive my penchant for
self-trust. May I truly honor You today. Teach me humility and open my
eyes to see the blessing of submitting to You and Your ways. In Jesus'
name, Amen.
December 23, 2004
Psalm 123:2 is such a thought-provoking scripture: As the eyes of slaves
look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid look to the hand
of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God.
C'mon now; this is the 21st Century. We don't talk about slaves and maids
much any more unless, of course, you're way down the social order or something.
They're too dependent upon others to be holding a position that's admirable.
Slaves watch out that they don't say and do things that might displease
their master. They wait on their master hand and foot. They are expected
to be available at their master's every beck (beckon) and call. They are
prepared to lose sleep so that the master's wishes might be carried out,
day or night. The slave makes himself subservient to his master. The slave
can have no agenda of her own; she must be prepared to clean the toilets
and then an hour later move to the kitchen to prepare the next meal, and
have it ready on time.
Like the slave or the maid; "so our eyes look to the Lord our God".
Could we call for a measure of honesty, here? I mean, an independent heart
reacts to the idea of being called a slave or a maid! How's your heart
reacting right now? Temperature going up? Pulse beating faster?
No wonder the Lord was concerned that we carry ourselves like the horse
or mule who have no understanding and who must be controlled by bit and
bridle (Psalm 32:6-9) and the yoke (Matthew 11:29)!
Father, forgive whatever stubbornness and resistance to submission
to you You've had to put up with in me during 2004. May 2005 truly be
different for me and for all the children who call You Father. Amen.
December 26, 2004
Psalm 126:5 Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.
It is a sad thing to 'let go' of a child you have reared, allowing him/her
to go to a foreign country for many years to serve the Lord. The thought
of not seeing them or of having grandchildren whom you will not see except
on rare occasions such as a once-every-four-or-five-year-furlough, is
"tough to take".
It's like the farmer who has precious little grain left, but who knows
he must release some of that grain, bury it underground, and wait, wait,
wait. The expectation, of course, is that the seed will fulfill its required
process of dying (totally out of sight), of springing up out of the ground
in new life, and - finally!- of bearing much more grain than what was
planted. Every good farmer has learned the value of waiting and of letting
God's nature take its full course.
The analogy might continue with the tithing person who feels grief (fear?
anger?) every time they 'let go' of a tenth of their income and give it
back to the Lord. They think of "how much" that 'extra' money
could buy if they weren't giving it in obedience to the Lord. And, part
of that money may go for staff salaries, utilities, new building, Sunday
School materials, a needy person in the congregation, a missionary in
a foreign country, or to bring in a special speaker or musician. The ultimate,
divinely ordained 'benefit' of their obedience may not be understood for
a very long time.
To sow in tears is not bad, we are taught. For, in due time, ordained
by God Himself, is the 'harvest'. Tears will be turned to joy. Confident,
obedient, simple faith will be rewarded.
Faithful Father, teach us the value of tears and weeping - and patience!
- in the context of ministry and every day obedience. Amen.
December 30, 2004
Psalm 30:1 (NLT) says: I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
You refused to let my enemies triumph over me.
Can you believe that there would be those in the midst of the devastating
'04 Tsunami who would dare to say, "Stay away! I don't want to be
'rescued'! I can help/save myself!" With all due respect to the victims
of this horrible disaster and their grieving families, there is a devastation
far greater than many Tsunamis; a devastation from which millions - even
today! - ignorantly think they'll be able to escape: it is the devastation
to be realized by those who will one day be eternally separated from the
presence of the living, loving, holy God. Meanwhile, there is an enemy
who does not want any more of his blind followers to go to God's heaven.
He hates without reason (Psalm 35:19); he gloats over sorrowing humans
whom he mocks and whom he delights in making the object of scorn and derision
(Psalm 79:4).
However, just as God is "able to humble those who are proud"
(Daniel 4:37), He is also able to bring to the point of repentance and
trust in His Son, Jesus - Who is Savior and Lord - those who bend the
knee and humbly "confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory
of God the Father" (Philippians 2:11).
Father in Heaven, may there be many who call to You for eternal rescue
in these last hours of 2004! In Jesus' name, Amen.
|
