Appropriate Praise

Luke 4:15 - "And He began teaching in their synagogues and was praised by all."

At the start of Jesus' ministry, all was "good." Possibly the love offerings were flowing and the healings were happening. If there was radio and TV in those days, there would be those seeking to take him coast to coast, from the Dead Sea to the Mediterranean! However, things were about to change, and we must say, for the better. Later in this chapter, He was being mobbed and He was nearly thrown down a cliff (Luke 4:29). The reason? His preaching had gone from "good" to "perfect" in its truth factor. He had affronted Jewish sensibilities with the idea that God cared for both Gentile and Jew alike. This was untenable to the Jews, thus the firestorm.

We should not seek to be "praised by all." In so doing, we make ourselves a friend of this world which is hostility toward God (James 4:4). If we are doing and saying what God wants, there will come a day when others will seek to dispose of us over a proverbial cliff. Whatever the outcome, we must trust the Lord and speak the truth in love regardless.

Sustaining the Weary

Isaiah 50:4 - "The Lord God has given Me the tongue of disciples, that I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple."

This prophetic scripture regarding how the Lord Jesus learned to disciple others is also applicable to our lives as believers. As Hebrews 5:8 states: "Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered." To disciple others, the Lord knew that he must first be disciplined by His Father. This meant perfect obedience.

What is the condition of our discipleship to others? Do we have "tongues of disciples?" If we do, we will likewise be able to "sustain the weary with a word." Are we speaking life into the souls of our children, spouses, and all those we come into contact with on a daily basis? If we are, we have embraced obedience and discipline from our Lord.

Lord, help us to "listen as a disciple" that we may have life giving tongues to help the weary.

Mistaken Identity

Mark 14:66-67 - "As Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant-girls of the high priest came, and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, 'You also were with Jesus the Nazarene.'”

How tragic for us when those who don't know Christ (and know we profess Him) see us in compromised situations. There are a number of places we might think of in this regard (may the Holy Spirit show us accordingly). These provide absolutely no "spiritual warmth."

The warmth of the fires of this world are indifferent if not hostile to our God. So, why would we seek to betray our Lord by seeking out associations that will never fulfill? The Lord Jesus Christ has promised a fire that will not be quenched, full of His holy love that will dwell in the heart of every believer that would but trust in Him. May we not turn toward the warmth that the world offers that will only promote mockery toward our God. May we seek Jesus and the Eternal Fire that He desires to grow in all those He calls His own.

Committing God to His Great Pleasure

Isaiah 45:11 - "Thus says the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: 'Ask Me about the things to come concerning My sons, and you shall commit to Me the work of My hands.'"

We all enjoy bragging on our kids. Grandparents are especially susceptible to this. We even see bumper stickers that encourage this kind of friendly interrogation (e.g. "Ask Me About My Grandchildren"). When we ask God for wisdom and understanding to fulfill His will for His children, we set in motion the ultimate desire of His heart. Isaiah tells us how God's "delight is in His children." We are His Hephzibah (God's great pleasure!).

Beloved, may we all pray to understand how much God loves and cares for us. Revelation and understanding of this sort will rocket us into another spiritual dimension. We must simply continue to ask, "Papa, show us Your love for us!" When we do, we commit him to His great desire.

The Extraordinary Resurrection

Acts 13:30 - "But God raised Him from the dead;"

An extraordinary verse! Paul's use of the word "but" turns every religion on its ear through his proclamation of Christ's resurrection. Christianity is the only religion in the world to tout a savior dying for a lost race. Jesus Christ tells us there is nothing we can do to gain God's favor -- He has done it all by dying for us and giving us new life.

Never let someone say that Jesus was just a good, moral teacher. If that was the case, there was no need for His death. The "but" qualifies Him to be not only the Great Teacher but the Supreme Lord that rules and reigns in our hearts. That is, if we let Him. May none of us stop short of allowing the death, burial, and resurrection to change our lives.

Our God Who Forgets

Isaiah 43:25 - “I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake, and I will not remember your sins."

Sin is not something God wipes out because of He just doesn't like it – It is imperative because of His nature. He does it first and foremost for His own sake. Compromising with sin in our lives, in any shape or form, would disqualify Him as a holy God. So, to stay true to His nature, He sent Jesus Christ to take our sin once and for all. God chooses not to remember any of our sin once we give our old sin nature to Jesus and accept His gift of salvation.

Since God no longer regards sin for those who are saved by His grace, and as ambassadors for Jesus Christ, how do we look at the sins of others? Do we look at those who have not accepted Jesus as candidates for this same grace? If so, then our lives should be persuading them of an existence free from the tyranny of sin. For those who already know Him, do we remember when they have wronged us? If so, we view ourselves better than God who chooses to forget. May we all give and find mercy as He so freely grants all who seek Him!

Aligning With God in Prayer

Mark 11:24 - "Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you."

As a child, I seldom came to my parents and asked for something I knew was impossible to receive. If I went and asked for a B-52 Bomber (since a Strategic Air Command AFB base was close to our house), my dad would have said, "Oh, we're playing let's pretend, huh?" I had no need for a B-52 and we both knew it. However, if I asked for something reasonable within his power, he would tax all of his resources to get it for me.

What are we praying and asking for? If it is a reasonable request, God will tax all of heaven to answer our prayer. The key word here is "reasonable." The implication with any request is ... are we praying the will of God? That is really all prayer is, agreeing with what heaven already wants to do. Once we have God's wisdom in a situation, then we can "pray through" and know that it is a done deal. 

May we all pray according to His will and align heaven's desires with ours.