Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Tell Your Children

Scripture:

Exodus 10:2  "I've also done it so you can tell your children and grandchildren about how I made a mockery of the Egyptians and about the signs I displayed among them - and so you will know that I am the Lord."

Observation:

God gave Moses the why of what He was doing with the plagues in Egypt in this verse.  He said He was doing it so they could tell their children and grandchildren about how God mocked Egypt and His signs, so they can know He is the Lord.  God wants his children to know his power and to let their families know of His power and to tell His story.

Application:

There is no doubt, God wants us to tell His story to our kids, grandkids, neighbors, etc.  He wants the world and everyone in it to know He is the Lord.  We must never be shy or afraid to tell people what the Lord has done for us.  When we tell others, His name is glorified.  We must get good at telling the stories of what the Lord has done in our lives.

Prayer:

Lord God Almighty, help me to follow Your wholeheartedly.  Teach me to follow Your ways and to walk in Your paths.  Let my kids and grandkids hear Your stories.  I also want them to know You are the Lord.  You have done so much in my life.  Help me to share the stories with anyone who will listen.

Yours,
Jeff

Tuesday, January 30, 2018

God is Greater!

Scripture:

Exodus 7:12 "They threw down their staffs, which also became serpents!  But then Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs."

Observation:

Pharaoh's magicians were able to imitate most of God's plagues, but in this instance, God wanted to show His power was greater.  Moses threw down his staff and it became a snake, then the magicians did the same.  Moses threw his down one more time and it ate theirs.  It was just a beautiful way to demonstrate how God's power is greater than all other powers.

Application:

God's power always outdoes every other power.  He loves to demonstrate that.  As believers, we must believe that God is greater than any other power.  We must walk in faith and believe our God is greater than any other.

Prayer:

Lord, increase my faith.  Help me to be the person You want me to be.  Let your power be seen in my life and ministry.  I don't want to just preach Jesus, I want to demonstrate Your power so that none can deny it.

Your Son,
Jeff

Monday, January 29, 2018

I Will Claim You

Scripture:

Exodus 6:7  "I will claim you as my own people, and I will be your God.  Then you will know that I am the Lord your God who has freed you from your oppression in Egypt."

Observation:

God is speaking to Moses concerning bringing His people out of Egypt and using him and Aaron to do it.  In prepping him for the job, God tells him, "I will claim you as my own people, and I will be your God." 

Application:

Even though God's people were in bondage, serving as slaves in Egypt, He saw them as His own people.  God has always looked for a people who would claim Him and who He can claim as His own.  We need to walk in confidence in our relationship with God.  When we claim Him, He will claim us.  If I claim someone as a dependent on my taxes, it means I provided for them.  God is our provider and He claims us.  Even though we mess up, He still claims us as His own, we can trust in that.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for claiming me as Your own.  Thank You for loving me and helping me daily to walk with You.  Your love is amazing, Your grace and mercy is unending.  Thanks for making me feel loved!  You are the best Abba!

Claimed as Your Son,
Jeff

Saturday, January 27, 2018

Teach to Obey

Scripture:

Matthew 28:20 "Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.  And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age"

Observation:

This passage is one of the most well-known passages in all the Bible because it is some of the last words of Jesus before His ascension.  All of my life, I have heard "Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit".  This commission, I memorized years ago, but never heard it through other eyes.  Here, Jesus says, teach them to OBEY all my commands.

Application:

In churches, we do a lot of teaching.  We have some of the most knowledgeable believers the world has ever seen.  We have churches full of people who have had tons of teaching, but are doing nothing with it.  Jesus emphasized teaching to OBEY.  I need to help people learn to OBEY instead of just LEARN.  Growth comes when we begin DOING the will of God, not just knowing it.

Prayer:

Father, help me to obey the words of Jesus.  Empower me to teach people to OBEY.  Help me to communicate Your truth effectively and to emphasize obedience over knowledge. 

Yours,
Jeff

Friday, January 26, 2018

I Want Your Will

Scripture:

Matthew 26:39 "My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me.  Yet I want your will to be done, not mine."

Observation:

Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane, at the lowest point of His life.  He had poured Himself out as a drink offering to His Father in prayer.  At this point, He tells the Father, if there is another way to do this, I really don't want to suffer like this.  He then says the most powerful words, "Yet I want your will to be done, not mine." 

Application:

All of us struggle with selfishness to some level.  We all want what we want.  We all want things that will bring us comfort and convenience.  As a matter of fact, we usually equate the will of God with being something simple that brings us pleasure.  Sometimes God asks us to do things that are not easy.  Our response should be that of Christ, I want Your will to be done, not mine.  We need to be people who want the will of God above our own will.

Prayer:

Father, help me to live fully submitted to You and Your will.  Help me to walk out the will of God in my everyday life.  Teach me to be more like Christ in this area.  Help me not to do the convenient or easy thing, but the thing You want me to do at all times.

Yours,
Jeff

Thursday, January 25, 2018

Endurance and Preaching

Scripture:

Matthew 24:13-14 "But the one who endures to the end will be saved.  And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come."

Observation:

Jesus tells his followers much about the last days before His return in this portion of Scripture.  He says they will go through a lot of stuff, then tells them those who endure to the end will be saved.  Endurance is standing strong when you feel like giving up.  He goes right on to say the Gospel will be preached in the whole world, then the end will come. 

Application:

Our job in these last days is to endure and preach the Gospel in all the earth.  We need to stay strong in the coming persecution and continue preaching the Gospel in all the world.  When things get hard, we must learn to endure and keep on preaching Jesus.

Prayer:

Father, strengthen me to preach your word in all the earth.  Enable me to preach the Gospel and I will go.  I will declare Your goodness to the ends of the earth.  Teach me to endure all things I must suffer while preaching Your Good News to the world.  Help me to be found faithful in doing Your will in these last days,

Your Son,
Jeff

Wednesday, January 24, 2018

If You Have Faith

Scripture:

Matthew 21:22 "You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it."

Observation:

Jesus had just cursed a fig tree in front of His disciples and it withered right in front of them.  They asked Him how it withered so quickly and His reply was that "if you have faith" you can move mountains and "if you pray for anything", you will receive it because you have faith.

Application:

Jesus simply told His disciples they could ask for anything and if they had faith, it would be done for them.  He didn't go into much detail about what that faith looks like or how to develop that faith.  He just said, "if you have faith".  It takes faith to be saved, so we all have some faith if we are born again.  I want to increase my faith and see more prayers answered.

Prayer:

Father, increase my faith.  I fully and completely believe Your Word.  I trust the words of Jesus and many times He said things like this.  Help me to walk by faith and to see my prayers answered.  I want to live a life that pleases You and I know faith pleases you.  Increase my faith!

Yours,
Jeff

Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Forgiveness From the Heart

Scripture:

Matthew 18:34-35 "Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt.  That's what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart."

Observation:

Jesus told a story about a man being forgiven of a huge debt, then the man went and found someone who owed him a fraction of what he was released from and demanded payment.  Jesus said that man was sent to prison to be tortured until he had paid his debt.  Then Jesus goes on and says that's what God the Father will do to us if we don't forgive from the heart. 

Application:

These are very scary words from the Master.  These words let us know how serious God is about forgiveness.  He had to pay for our forgiveness with His Son's blood and death.  He expects us to forgive people the same way He forgives us.  We should make it part of our life's mission to be quick to forgive.  Christ forgave us, we have no reason not to forgive those who hurt us.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to be quick to forgive and to truly always forgive from the heart.  Help me to never get cynical about this, but to take it as seriously as You do.  Let my life reflect Your glory.  Let my life be an example of someone who truly follows You with integrity of heart.

Yours,
Jeff

Friday, January 19, 2018

Love Your Enemies

Scripture:

Matthew 6:44 "But I say, love you enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven.  For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike."

Observation:

Jesus tells us here to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.  He says then we will be acting like children of God.  We act most like God when we love those who hate us and pray for those who are against us. 

Application:

We need to be people who love, no matter what happens to us.  When evil is done to us, we need to forgive and love like our heavenly father does.  When people speak evil of us and put us down, we need to pray for them instead of trying to prove our point or get them in trouble.  Our place, and the most godly thing to do is simply to love, then we are being like our Father.

Prayer:

Lord God, help me to be more like You.  Let me represent you well on the earth.  Help my attitude to reflect Your attitude.  Help me to walk in the Spirit and live by the Spirit instead of doing whatever I feel like doing.  Teach me to live Your way instead of my own.  Empower me to live a life that brings you glory.

Your Son,
Jeff

Thursday, January 18, 2018

Bold Proclamation

Scripture:

Matthew 3:7 "But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize, he denounced them.  'You brood of snakes!' he exclaimed.  'Who warned you to flee the coming wrath?'"

Observation:

John the Baptist didn't sugarcoat anything when he dealt with religious people.  He went straight at them.  Jesus called him the greatest of the prophets.  He truly spoke what he felt without trying to make it easier or more palatable for the Pharisees or Saducees.

Application:

When God calls us to say the hard things, are we going to listen and communicate what we feel He wants us to?  When God wants to rebuke people, can He do it through me?  When God wants to confront things, can He do it through me?  I need to be willing to let God use me in more than one way.

Prayer:

Father, make me more willing to confront, speak up, and say hard things.  Help me to say what You want said, in the way You want it said.

Yours,
Jeff

Wednesday, January 17, 2018

Kind Speech

Scripture:

Genesis 50:21 "No, don't be afraid.  I will continue to take care of you and your children.  So he reassured them by speaking kindly to them."

Observation:

When Israel died, Joseph's brothers were afraid he would change his mind about how they had treated them in the past.  They were terrified that, with the death of his father, he would get angry at his brothers and have them killed.  He assured them he wouldn't do them any harm and would continue to take care of them.  He reassured them by speaking kindly to them.

Application:

A kind word is very powerful.  It has the ability to diffuse really bad situations.  A kind word can assure people that you are not angry.  A kind word can let people know you are under control and not going to lose it about something.  We need to be people who use kind words and peace will follow.

Prayer:

Father, help me to always bring a kind word, even to those who try to destroy me.  Help me control my tongue at all times.  I want to speak blessings, not curses over those around me.  Give me the right words to speak at all times.

Yours,
Jeff

Thursday, January 11, 2018

The Power of a Smile

Scripture:

Genesis 33:10 "But Jacob insisted, 'No if I have found favor with you, please accept this gift from me.  And what a relief to see your friendly smile.  It is like seeing the face of God.'"

Observation:

Jacob had fled for his life from his brother Esau many years prior to this and expected a bad situation when he tried to return.  He had gone out of his way to try to appease his brother by sending gifts ahead of him.  When he finally saw his brother, he was greeted with a smile and it was to Jacob "like seeing the face of God".

Application:

A smile is  very powerful thing.  A smile has the ability to change people's day.  A smile lets people know everything is okay.  A smile can lighten a difficult situation.  For some people we run into, a smile might be like seeing the face of God.  We need to smile more.  As a believer, I have a lot to smile about and I know I need to smile more.  I use to have a contagious smile, but have let it fade.

Prayer:

God, give me my smile back.  Help me to enjoy life again and to stop being so pre-occupied that I forget to smile at those I am communicating with.  When people see me, may they say, "It is like seeing the face of God."

Your Son,
Jeff

Wednesday, January 10, 2018

God's Favor

Scripture:

Genesis 30:27 "Please listen to me, Laban replied, I have become wealthy, for the Lord has blessed me because of you."

Observation:

Jacob had worked for his father in law for a long time and was telling him it was time for him to be on his own and provide for his own family.  Laban, the father in law, realized his flocks had done amazing under Jacob's shepherding.  He realized that his wealth had greatly increased and realized that it was because of the Lord's blessing on Jacob's life.

Application:

When God blesses His children, even their employers will realize they are blessed because God's child works for them.  When the favor of God really comes on a person's life, everything they touch becomes prosperous.  Just as with Jacob, God still blesses His people and those around them will be blessed by association.

Prayer:

Father, let Your favor be on my life.  May those around me see that You are incredible and that You bless your children.  Let my life bring You praise and glory.  Bless the work of my hands and let them prosper.  Bless our congregations and let them prosper.

Yours,
Jeff

Friday, January 5, 2018

Righteousness by Faith

Scripture:

Genesis 15:6 "And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted his as righteous because of his faith."

Observation:

God had shown Abram the land he was going to give him and promised his a son to be his heir.  He also told Abram He was going to make him wealthy and that his descendants would be like the stars in the heavens in number.  Abraham believed the Lord and God counted it as righteousness.

Application:

When you boil it all down, faith is believing God.  It is trusting something you cannot see.  Abraham heard the Lord and determined to follow Him and the Lord counted it as righteousness.  God wants His children to believe what He says and to act on it.  When we do, our lives change dramatically because God always responds to faith.  Our righteousness is not as much about what we do or don't do, but about believing God in faith do doing what He wants.

Prayer:

Father, teach me to walk by faith.  Help me to hear Your voice and to do exactly what You ask me to do.  Help me to fulfill Your will for my life in every way.  Teach me to walk humbly before You and to trust You totally.  I want to live a life of faith in the God who answers.

Yours,
Jeff

Thursday, January 4, 2018

Because of Sarai

Scripture:

Genesis 12:17 "But the Lord sent terrible plagues upon Pharaoh and his household because of Sarai, Abraham's wife."

Observation:

Abraham had told Sarai to act like his sister instead of his wife so that people wouldn't kill him, wanting her.  She did so and the Pharaoh brought many gifts to Abram, wanting Sarai.  As he was pursuing Sarai, the Lord sent plagues among Pharaoh's people and he realizes he was pursuing another man's wife.

Application:

God takes care of his kids.  Pharaoh didn't even realize he was doing wrong toward Abram and Sarai and God judged him for it anyway.  We need to realize that God is always fighting for us, even when we have messed up and done wrong.  We are in a covenant with Him and He honors His end of that covenant and will protect and keep us.

Prayer:

Father, thank you for showing me how you take care of Your people.  You are always looking out for Your kids and protecting them from harm.  Thank You for keeping Your end of the covenant, help me to always walk faithful to You and Your words. 

Your Son,
Jeff