Selfish Ambition

I Corinthians 3:3 - "For you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?"

Paul says in another place that the companion of godliness is contentment (I Timothy 6:6). Have we become content with Jesus Christ who lives within? Have we, like the Psalmist, come to that place where we are like a weaned child resting against a mother, not grasping for anything? (Psalm 131:2)

As long as there is jealousy over what God may be doing in another's life – and it is accompanied by selfish ambition rather than contentment – we must agree with James "there is disorder and every evil thing" (James 3:16). Beloved, may we rejoice in the Body of Christ and all that is being done through our Lord and not envy another. May we allow Jesus Christ to move freely within our hearts and allow His gifts to manifest through us in His time.

Relative Truth

Judges 21:25 - "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes."

In America and in many places around this world, there is no longer spiritual kingship over the land. We have allowed demonic, devilish princes to rule from the heavenlies rather than inviting heaven to invade earth through the Kingship of the Lord Jesus. We have sought for ourselves those who would tickle our ears, letting Hollywood set our moral standards.

Just as in the days of Israel, there will come a reckoning for our apostasy. May the Lord have mercy upon our modern idolatry. May we turn back to God before it is too late! May the Lord draw us all to a place of repentance and restoration!

Governing With Godly Fear

I Chronicles 21:30 - "But David could not go before it to inquire of God, for he was terrified by the sword of the angel of the Lord."

David forsook his arrogance when he sinned against the Lord. Therefore, he became terrified of God's judgment. Beloved, we need those who rule over us to have a vision of the "sword of the angel of the Lord." We need them to see how He is poised over our land to reap the grapes of His wrath and trample them in His vengeance.

Lord, we pray for those who You have set over us. Move upon these as You did in the days of Jonah – just as You did with the wicked king of Nineveh – and give them the understanding to see we are on the precipice of destruction. Give wisdom and insight to these before it is too late. Cause Your Spirit to have His way in the hearts of all our elected officials, and then allow Your Spirit to move through the electorate. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Not of Works

Hebrews 9:14 - "How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"

What is the difference between dead works and live works? The former is steeped in arrogant pride that says my work for God is good therefore He should sanctify it for His glory. Live works are those which come from a humble heart and faith that the blood of Jesus has cleansed us from all unrighteousness. From this state comes a life that wants to serve the Lord out of thankfulness rather than duty and guilt.

Beloved, I pray that God would allow us to see with His eyes how He has set us free from having to do anything ever again to save our souls. We are saved and being saved (sanctified) by our willing sacrifice of a thankful life, confirmed by our desire to serve Him.

Feigned Obedience

Genesis 35:4 - "So they gave to Jacob all the foreign gods which they had and the rings which were in their ears, and Jacob hid them under the oak which was near Shechem."

The difference between feigned obedience and obedience from a willing heart is love. As parents and leaders in our homes, churches, etc., we will exercise devotion according to what is in our hearts. If we still love the sordid, questionable things in our lives, then we will bury our idols for a season. If, however, we are serious about loving the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and might, then we will destroy them.

Beloved, those we influence will only regard our devotion with the degree of passion we give to whatever we worship. May we all love Jesus zealously as we destroy all things which would keep us from utter devotion to Him.

Eternity in the Heart of Man

Ecclesiastes 3:11 - "He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end."

Time has its purpose, to give structure to our lives. However, there is also the deep, abiding longing within the heart of every person for eternity. The conundrum of eternity's great mystery – its lack of explanation – and our desire to embrace it are constant dynamics which keep us longing for the everlasting. To put it simply, we are immortal beings trapped inside mortality.

Yet, the more we gaze at the Eternal One, the result is increased glimpses into our uniform destinies. Beloved, it is what all creation yearns for, the swallowing up of time-bound creation by the eternal. Come Lord, Jesus!

Ancient Paths

Jeremiah 6:16 - "Thus says the Lord, 'Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; and you will find rest for your souls.'"

Are we humble enough to stand "by the ways" that others have walked before us and take instruction? This might be possibly looking to those in our past who have lived with great peace because of the fear of the Lord upon their lives. They have lived in the tradition of the Bible and did not attempt to make it fit their lives, but instead humbled themselves to live according to God's ways.

Beloved, if we will first observe the right way to go, and then walk in it, we will then know peace. Rightness of soul does not come by merely seeing and asking, but by doing. May we all walk in the richness of God's unchanging wisdom, for in it are the paths of peace.