Give Me Ears to Hear

 Scripture:

“So the Israelites did everything the Lord commanded Moses; that is the way they encamped under their standards, and that is the way they set out, each of them with their clan and family.” ‭‭Numbers‬ ‭2‬:‭34‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

God told Moses exactly how He wanted the people of Israel to travel when the cloud and pillar moved in the wilderness. Each family, or clan, had to camp in a certain location, north, south, east, or west of the Tabernacle. They were to group around their banners and camp as a group. He also told them what order to go in when it was time to move. They were given very clear instructions and the did everything the Lord spoke to them.

Application:

I was struck this morning by the word “everything.” They didn’t do most of what the Lord told them to do. They didn’t everything that the Lord told them to do. My end game is to hear the words “well done good and faithful servant.” In order to hear those words, I must do everything the Lord gives me to do. In order to do that, I must hear clearly what I am to do, then I must have the heart to do what God said. As always, I want a listening ear to hear what the Lord is speaking to me. I want to be obedient, but need to hear clearly so I can.

Prayer:

Lord God, open my ears to hear Your voice clearly. Let me not be led astray through other means, but let me hear Your voice. I long to hear Your voice I long to know You intimately. I long to walk with You and hear the desires of Your heart. Open my spiritual ears and eyes so I can see what You want for me, then give me the strength to do what You are speaking.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Power From on High

 Scripture:

“I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭24‬:‭49‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

Jesus had died and resurrected on the third day. In this passage He was with his disciples and told them, just before He ascended to heaven to, “stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” Jesus was clear that they shouldn’t begin doing everything He had left them to do until they had been clothed with power. 

Application:

We tend to move ahead with our plans and ask God to empower them. Jesus told His disciples to wait for power, then proceed forward. I am guilty of moving forward in my own strength at times when I should have waited for the power of the Spirit. As a Spirit-filled person, I want to walk full of God’s power and not just with a message. I want to be clothed in God’s power as I preach His message. I believe that power is mandatory in the proclamation of the Gospel. 

Prayer:

Father, I want to be clothed with power from on high. I need Your presence and Your power to flow through my life. I don’t want to argue religious jargon, I want to walk in power. Fill me to overflowing with Your Spirit. Let me be led by the Spirit, filled with the Spirit, and empowered by the Spirit. Holy Spirit, come and rest on my life. I don’t want to do ministry without You. Your presence is everything to me.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Faithful People Multiply What They Are Given

 Scripture:

““He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭19‬:‭26‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

Jesus tells this story about a nobleman. He was going away and gave one Mina to ten diffent people. When He returned, He wanted to see what happened to the people and with his money. One man had made five more with what he was given, another man made ten more, and on man brought back the one which he was given and returned it to the nobleman. The man took it away and gave it to the one with ten. He then stated, “everyone who has, will be given more, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away.”

Application:

As stewards that God has entrusted things to, we must be faithful and productive. We must work with what we are given to multiply results for God. We cannot just sit on what we have. We must use it for God’s glory. He has given me so much. I need to be faithful and productive for my master. He is worthy of my very best.

Prayer:

Lord God Almighty, help me to follow You well and to use what You have given me well. I want to be a good steward of everything You have blessed me with. Show me how to be productive for Your kingdom. Show me how to multiply ministry and extend Your Kingdom into all the earth.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Unworthy Servants

Scripture:

“So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’ ”” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭17‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬ 

Observation:

Jesus told a story here about a servant and his master. When the servant finishes in the field and comes in, Jesus said that the master doesn’t say sit down and rest, you worked hard. The master tells him to prepare dinner for him. Jesus then says that when we have done everything He asks of us, our response should be “We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.” 

Application:

Rather than feeling like we have done our work for Jesus and have arrived to some level where we deserve to be rewarded, we should remain understanding that we are unworthy servants who just did our duty. As humans, we like to be rewarded and feel we deserve to be treated good. We should see ourselves, not as those who deserve a break, but as unworthy servants who are simply doing our duty. This doesn’t fly very well in 2025. We like to be honored and rewarded for our service. I need to live a life of service, knowing that a reward is coming in eternity.

Prayer:

Father, help me not to expect to be rewarded on this earth. Help me to live a simple life of serving people with a great attitude. Convict me when I get off base on this. Show me when I need to repent for a bad attitude of somehow feeling I deserve better. Teach me to walk in true humility and to do exactly what You speak to me. 

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Faith That Jesus Would Commend

 Scripture:

“I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they could not.” “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.”” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭40‬-‭41‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

A man brought his son, who was demonized, to Jesus’ disciples but they were not able to cast the devil out of him. The above verse describes His reaction. Jesus responded to the fact that His disciples couldn’t cast out a devil by saying they were an unbelieving and perverse generation. He went on to ask how long He was going to have to put up with them. The bot came to Jesus and was immediately set free. 

Application:

Sometimes it’s good to ponder what it would be like if Jesus walked with us today. I wonder how many times He would have to call me an unbelieving and perverse generation. I wonder if what I am doing would be commended by Him as appropriate or would He think I lacked faith. I want to live a life of faith and to do what Jesus would do on this earth. I don’t want any demons hanging around that Jesus would want gone. I walk to walk in step with the Spirit and live a life of faith.

Prayer:

Father, help me to live a life You would be happy with. Increase my faith. Help me to walk in such a way that You would be honored and blessed. Teach me to do what You would do in every circumstance. Lead me daily into Your will for my life. 

Forever Yours,

Jeff

Lord Lord - Obedience

Scripture:

““Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭6‬:‭46‬-‭48‬ ‭NIV‬‬ 

Observation:

Jesus asks a powerful question in this passage. He asks why people call Him Lord, Lord, but do not do what He says. He goes on to demonstrate that a house built on a strong foundation will remain strong during a violent storm and flood. Building on the solid foundation, according to Jesus, is doing what he says. Obedience brings God’s blessing and gives you a solid foundation.

Application:

We need to be cautious about calling Jesus our LORD if we are not going to do what he says. The term LORD implies that we obey whoever the Lord is. Just the word itself tells us we need to walk in submission to Him. We must learn to live submitted lives and obedient lives in the Kingdom. Our job is to do what He says if we are going to call Him Lord.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, I want to serve You well in my generation. I long for Your presence and I want to live a life You can bless. I want to see Your kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Help me to walk in submission to You and Your will all the days of my life. Show me how to walk with You and to live according to Your ways. I want a strong foundation. Lead me and show me what to do each and every day!

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Light and Glory

 Scripture:

“a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭32‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation:

Simeon had been serving the Lord God Almighty for many years. He had been told by the Lord that he wouldn’t die until he had seen the Messiah. When he saw Jesus, he knew he had seen the Messiah. He said these words about Jesus, “a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” This is how Jesus was introduced to the planet by a great man of God. 

Application:

As a Gentile, two-thousand years later, I can say that Simeon’s word was extremely accurate, Jesus has brought incredible light to the gentiles and is the glory of Israel to those gentiles especially. Israel didn’t receive Christ when He came the first time, but they will in the future. The gentiles have received this incredible revelation and we see Jesus as the glory of Israel. Although His own still don’t realize it, He is the glory of Israel and is the reason the whole world watches Israel. Sometimes in life, those closest to us won’t see who we were until much later. That’s okay, we are more like Christ when that happens.

Prayer:

Father, You sent Your Son into this world and Your own people didn’t realize it. You then allowed us Gentiles to be graphed into your tree. You have lit our world. Let Your people see and realize that Jesus is the glory of Your people Israel. Let my life be used to bring revelation to the Gentiles and for the world to see Your glory through Jesus. Use my life to extend Your Kingdom.

Forever Yours,

Jeff