Justice and Love

 Scripture:

“Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of his special people? You will not stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing unfailing love.”‭‭Micah‬ ‭7‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

This passages tells us about the incredible unfailing love of God for His people. Micah asks the question, “Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of his special people?” Micah had just prophesied God’s wrath coming, but he also knew the love of God that never fails. He knew that God’s punishment will last a season, but His favor will last a lifetime.

Application:

We must be able to know God in all of who He is. He is justice and love combined. He hates sin, but loves sinners. He doesn’t overlook sin, but forgives those who come to Him. I want to know all of God’s characteristics, not just the good ones I claim in the verses I like. God is fear-invoking, yet full of love and compassion. He is awe-inspiring, yet cares about our smallest needs. He is incredible!

Prayer:

Father, I want to know You in all Your ways. Teach me to walk like You. Help me to represent You well. I want to know You in all Your ways, not just the ones I like. Teach me Your ways. I want to know Your heart clearer and clearer. Show me how to serve You well.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Ministry for Personal Gain

 Scripture:

“You rulers make decisions based on bribes; you priests teach God’s laws only for a price; you prophets won’t prophesy unless you are paid. Yet all of you claim to depend on the Lord. “No harm can come to us,” you say, “for the Lord is here among us.”” ‭‭Micah‬ ‭3‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

God speaks here to the rulers, priests, and prophets. He says they have made it all about the money instead of all about representing God. He says the rulers are controlled by bribes, the priests teach for a price and the prophets want pay. Ministry cannot be about money. It must be about the heart of God and doing what He wants you to do.

Application:

As a minister, my life must remain devoted to the Lord first and foremost. I cannot make decisions based on money, but on the will of God. My answer must be yes, Lord, yes, to whatever He speaks to me. I will stand accountable to the Lord one day, not for how much money I made, but for representing Him well and delivering His word with accuracy and conviction. I want to walk in humility and serve the Lord well in my generation.

Prayer:

Lord, let ministry never be about money for me. I do want to see Your blessing on my life because I want my family to see Your goodness. I want to leave a legacy and an inheritance to my children that they may see the blessing of serving God completely and totally. Keep my heart pure and let ministry never be for an offering or for personal gain. 

Forever Yours,

Jeff

God’s Heart for the Nations

 Scripture:

“But Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals. Shouldn’t I feel sorry for such a great city?”” ‭‭Jonah‬ ‭4‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Jonah was upset that the Lord had caused Nineveh to repent. He knew the Lord was going to do that, but didn’t want God to do it because he hated the Ninevites. God replied to Jonah’s disgust by asking him “shouldn’t I feel sorry for such a great city?” The heart of God has always been for people. 

Application:

When we experience the heart of God, we will weep for cities that don’t know Him. All people are on God’s list of those in need of Jesus and i need of someone to speak to them. God doesn’t want anyone in any city to walk in spiritual darkness. He wants the eyes of people to be opened spiritually and them to come to repentance. I want to be part of answering God’s cry for my city and for the cities of the world. 

Prayer:

Father, use my life to bring people to Christ. Help me to see the vast number of people around the world like You see them. Fill me with Your Spirit and let me reach more and more people in my latter years. I want to see more people come out of spiritual darkness and into Your amazing light. Let Loudoun County see the light of Your glory. Let those around me see the light of your glory. Let there be a revival of repentance and turning to You.

Yours,

Jeff

Without a Single Fault

 Scripture:

“Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault.” ‭‭Jude‬ ‭1‬:‭24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Jude gives glory to God in this passage and tells us that He “is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault.” In other words, we can’t save ourselves or be holy enough, but God can bring us into His presence without a single fault because of Jesus Christ. God not only tells us not to fall away, but gives us everything we need to do so.

Application:

We need to know that when we put our trust and faith in Christ, He is able to keep us as we pursue Him. We need to walk in confidence that we have been cleansed from sin and are pure before God Almighty. We need to know our position in Christ. He has already overcome the world, therefore, we have also. If we remain in Him, we will be presented “without a single fault.” We must believe that the blood of Jesus truly takes away all our sins and their stains.

Prayer:

Father, Thank You for sending Your dear Son to die on my behalf. Thank You that my sins are blotted out and under the blood of Jesus. Thank You that one day I will come into Your glorious presence without fault. You saved me. You sustain me. You are the source of everything in my life and I worship You today. Help me to see myself as You see me.

Yours,

Jeff

Truth and Love

 Scripture:

“Grace, mercy, and peace, which come from God the Father and from Jesus Christ—the Son of the Father—will continue to be with us who live in truth and love.” ‭‭2 John‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

John says here that grace, mercy, and peace will continue to be with those who live in truth and love. Truth and love are powerful in the Kingdom. When we operate in them, we will see results in our lives. When we pursue truth and love, we will walk in grace, mercy, and peace.

Application:

Truth and love are the bedrock of the Gospel of Christ. As He walked in absolute truth and absolute love, we also must walk as He did. When we operate the way Jesus did, we will see powerful results. Truth is hard when it means confrontation for me. I like people to like me and that can cause me to settle for not being completely truthful. I don’t necessarily lie, but I avoid telling everything I know. 

Prayer:

Father, thank You for convicting me with Your word today. Help me to walk in absolute truth as Christ did. Help me not to water down the truth, but to call it out. Let Your love flow through my life. Help me to love well. You are my example. Empower me to live as You lived here on this earth. I need You desperately.

Yours forever,

Jeff

The Blessing of the Lord

 Scripture:

““The time will come,” says the Lord, “when the grain and grapes will grow faster than they can be harvested. Then the terraced vineyards on the hills of Israel will drip with sweet wine!” ‭‭Amos‬ ‭9‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Amos had prophesied some very difficult things because of Israel and Judah’s disobedience to God. He then tells them of a day where they would return to the Lord and to their land and God would bless them because they were following Him. The Lord tells them that the fruit will be produced faster than they could harvest it and Israel would drip with sweet wine. There is a promise that, when they turn to God, He will prosper them and cause them to see growth and abundance.

Application:

When we are seeing lack and wondering how we are going to make it, we must examine our ways and see if we are truly walking in obedience to the Lord. If so, we can be assured that God does reward faithfulness and obedience to Him. Barren times don’t last forever. We must believe that when we serve God wholeheartedly, that He will cause His blessings to flow into our lives. I am looking for the day of fruit coming faster than we can harvest it. 

Prayer:

Father, I want to see Your blessing in my life, my family, my church, and my region. I ask You to let the fruit of continual obedience begin to come quicker than we know how to harvest it. I ask You to fill our church with new people coming to Jesus and being transformed. As I have obeyed the words You gave me, I pray for the day of Your blessing on our obedience. I look for the day of quick and strong growth according to Isaiah 54;1-3.

Your Son,

Jeff

Obedience

 Scripture:

““But you caused the Nazirites to sin by making them drink wine, and you commanded the prophets, ‘Shut up!’” ‭‭Amos‬ ‭2‬:‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

God speaks here to Israel and Judah about how they treated those who were fully committed to Him. He speaks against them because they made the Nazirites, who are in covenant to never drink wine, to drink wine. These people told the prophets to shut up. They didn’t want to hear what God was saying and therefore, God was coming after them for their disobedience. 

Application:

Disobedience to God and His principles is not a healthy choice to make. As believers, we don’t live our own lives and do what we want. We are in a covenant with a holy God. It is a covenant of love, but it is still a covenant of obedience. When we obey God, we see His blessings. When we disobey Him, we can expect things not to go well for us. Our place is a place of obedience and trust. We obey Him because we know He loves us and wants to bless us. 

Prayer:

Father, help me to walk in obedience to You every day. Open my ears to hear Your voice and give me a heart of obedience in all things. I want to serve You well and walk in Your blessings. You are incredible and I want to reflect Your heart to Your people.

Sincerely Yours,

Jeff