Times of Encounter

 Scripture:

“They called out to one another, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord who commands armies! His majestic splendor fills the entire earth!” The sound of their voices shook the door frames, and the temple was filled with smoke.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭6‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

When Isaiah encountered the presence of the Lord, it was life-transforming. He saw seraphim crying out to each other, “Holy, holy, holy.” Their voices shook the doorframes and the temple was filled with smoke.  It was an awe-inspiring moment that changed him forever. 

Application:

In our lives, we need times where we strongly encounter God. I don’t believe we should be experience-based in our theology and beliefs, but I do believe that God encounters His people to build the faith and strength their walk. Encounters like this are throughout Scripture. Holy moments like this happened in the Old and New Testaments. There is no reason it should not happen today. My life has been marked by some awesome moments in the presence of the Lord. 

Prayer:

Father, I want to encounter You! I want to see You high and lifted up. I want to see Your throneroom. I want to experience Your incredible power. I want others to have some encounters like I have had in the past. Let me be a conduit for Your glory and power. Show me how to help people to truly encounter Christ. 

Your Son,

Jeff

The Justice of God

 Scripture:

“Tell the innocent it will go well with them, for they will be rewarded for what they have done. Too bad for the wicked sinners! For they will get exactly what they deserve.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭3‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

Isaiah begins his prophetic words with a strong rebuke of God’s people. In this verse, he declares the justice of God. He tells the innocent that they will be rewarded and the sinners that they will get what they deserve. He shows justice both directions, to the righteous a blessing and to the unrighteous a curse. 

Application:

As for me, I want to be on the blessing side of God’s justice and not the cursed side. I want to live a life that brings a smile to God’s face and makes Him want to bless me, not bring judgment into my life. Justice is coming one day when God will make every wrong thing right. I want to live in such a way that blessings flow and not punishment. 

Prayer:

Father, let my life be filled with Your love, Your grace, Your compassion, and Your strength. Help me to live with eternity in mind. When I stand before You, I want to hear well done good and faithful servant. Let my life be used for Your glory. Open doors and help me to walk confidently through them. Show me every decision I need to make. I want to follow Your voice and Your ways. 

Yours,

Jeff

A Crown of Righteousness

 Scripture:

“Finally the crown of righteousness is reserved for me. The Lord, the righteous Judge, will award it to me in that day – and not to me only, but also to all who have set their affection on his appearing.” ‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

Paul is writing here to Timothy. It is his final letter as he is fast approaching his own death. He declared that a crown of righteousness was reserved for him when he graduates to heaven. He then completed his thought by saying that it was also reserved for all those who have free their affection on His appearing. That’s anyone who is looking affectionately for the Lord’s appearing. 

Application:

Have I set my affections on Christ’s appearing? Do I live to receive a crown of righteousness? Do I live for the temporal or the eternal? These are questions we must ask ourselves. As for me, I want to receive a crown of righteousness. I want to live on this earth with eternity in mind. I want to be about my father’s business till He comes again.

Prayer:

Lord, You are everything to me. You are my life. You are my source and my resource. You are my hope and my help. Teach me to live with my affections on Your appearing. Let me live a life that honors Your name and expects Your return. I want to take as many people to heaven with me as possible. Help me to be effective in everything You entrust me with.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Waters Cannot Quench Love

 Scripture:

“Surging waters cannot quench love; floodwaters cannot overflow it. If someone were to offer all his possessions to buy love, the offer would be utterly despised.” ‭‭Song of Solomon‬ ‭8‬:‭7‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

We are told here that no waters can quench love. Even floodwaters can’t overflow it. In other words, love is super powerful. According to the author, it is something you can’t buy, no matter how rich you are. Love is a powerful force and people will do crazy things for it. 

Application:

We have to be careful with love. It has caused people to do crazy things. It can become a fire that cannot be quenched. Love is a beautiful thing, created by God to hold two people together throughout their lives. It is something valuable and powerful. Nuclear bombs are also valuable and powerful. We must handle love like a nuclear bomb, with great caution and respect. Love is meant to be shared between two people for life.

Prayer:

Father, let my love for You grow every day. To have been faithful and good to me and I want You to know that out of my love for You, I will scale mountains and preach Your word all over the earth. Let my love for Cheryl increase every day as well. Let me be the husband she needs and the lover she wants. 

Yours,

Jeff

Pursuing My Bride

 Scripture:

“O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places of the mountain crags, let me see your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.” ‭‭Song of Solomon‬ ‭2‬:‭14‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

In this passage, Solomon is pursuing his bride. There is a deep desire for the groom to hear the voice and see the face of his beloved. He is pursuing her passionately. 

Application:

As a man, we are the pursuers of our brides. They need to know that we love them, and desire them. They should never question our love for them. We should be pursuing them constantly. My wife should feel the desire within me to be with her. 

Prayer:

Father, help me to be a better husband to my wife. Show me how to pursue her appropriately. Teach me how to show her love and to let her know how much I love her. Help me to be the husband that Cheryl needs every day and in every way. Let her feel from me how special she is.

Yours,

Jeff

Exercise

 Scripture:

“For “physical exercise has some value, but godliness is valuable in every way. It holds promise for the present life and for the life to come.”” ‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

Paul tells Timothy here that physical exercise has value, but godliness has more value because it is good for mow and for life in heaven. He tells Timothy to focus more on things that will be eternal than things that will go away on earth. 

Application:

Physical exercise is good, but spiritual exercise is better. One makes us feel good now, the other works now and after we die as well. One is temporal and one is eternal. I like the fact that he doesn’t forbid exercise, he actually says it is valuable, but spiritual exercise is more valuable. We must take care of the temporal, while investing in the eternal part of us all the more. We need physical exercise, but we need spiritual exercise more.

Prayer:

Father, help me to be a balanced person. Help me to take care of the body You gave me to work with while on this earth. Help me to lose weight and get this physical body healthy so I can serve You better, stronger, and longer on earth. Teach me to prioritize the eternal in my life. I want to invest in my walk with You. I want to know You more.

Yours Always,

Jeff

Fear God and Follow Him

 Scripture:

“Having heard everything, I have reached this conclusion: Fear God and keep his commandments, because this is the whole duty of man. For God will evaluate every deed, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.” ‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭12‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

After much talk about everything in life being meaningless, Solomon closes his quotes with these verses. He summarizes everything he has pondered and tells us to fear God because He will evaluate every secret thing, whether good or evil. he tells us to keep God’s commands. After telling us how nothing really makes sense in this world, he tells us to fear God, because He keeps good records.

Application:

When life is at its end, we will stand before God. We will give an account for every idle word and every action in our lives. He knows every detail and we must live our lives knowing we will stand before Him one day. Our goal should be to hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of the Lord.” We should live for the approval of God and not the applause of man. 

Prayer:

Lord God, You are great and glorious. You are powerful and victorious. Help me to walk humbly before You and to fear You appropriately. Teach me Your ways and show me Your paths for my life. I need You and I ask You to help me navigate life in a way that is pleasing to You and that fears You.

Yours,

Jeff