Keep the Fire Burning

 Scripture:

“but the fire which is on the altar must be kept burning on it. It must not be extinguished. So the priest must kindle wood on it morning by morning, and he must arrange the burnt offering on it and offer the fat of the peace offering up in smoke on it. A continual fire must be kept burning on the altar. It must not be extinguished.” ‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭6‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

God tells Moses here that the fire on the altar of the burnt offering was to never go out. It had to keep burning 24/7. It was never to be extinguished. This speaks of a continual place where we can bring our sacrifices and offerings. It is a reminder to us to keep our spiritual fires going at all times and never let them go out.

Application:

To keep a fire burning day and night, there must be fresh wood on the fire and there must be occasional taking out of the old ashes. The embers have to be stoked sometimes, or the fire will go out. In our spiritual lives, there are certain things that help us maintain our fire. This is our personal prayer and devotional time. It is our personal outreach time. When we continue to put fresh wood on the fire, there are certain fire will never stop burning, but there is action required on our part. We need to be faithful in taking care of the fire of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Prayer:

Father, never let my fire go out. Help me to keep the fire burning bright for You all the days of my life. Teach me to walk more intimately with You. Let my fire burn brighter as I age. I don’t want to go anywhere or do anything without Your presence. I long for You to move in my life and church. Come Holy Spirit and set us on fire again.

Yours,

Jeff

Bless the Priests

 Scripture:

“The remainder of the grain offering belongs to Aaron and to his sons – it is most holy from the gifts of the Lord.” ‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

Leviticus starts out with a listing of all of the sacrifices that were to be presented to the Lord. This one, called the grain offering, was unique because they were to bring it to the Lord, then bring the remainder to the priests, Aaron and his sons. The Lord then said, “it is most holy from the gifts of the Lord.” In other words, this is important to remember as you sacrifice to the Lord, take care of God’s servants as well.

Application:

There are times when we should honor men of God who give their lives unselfishly for the Kingdom. According to this verse, “it is most holy from the gifts of the Lord.” In other words, It is important to honor those who serve God with a sincere heart and to bless them with offerings. I need to get better at this. I love to honor God’s servants, but I should make sure we really bless those who serve the Lord because it is a holy thing to do. I want to be a generous person who blesses God’s servants well.

Prayer:

Father, use me to bless Your servants. Teach me how to honor those who are working hard at serving You. I want to honor what You honor and put down what You put down. Help me discern well when to give, how much to give, and how to give whenever there is opportunity. I want my gifts and sacrifices to serve You and Your purposes well.

Forever Yours,

Jeff

Accompanying Signs

 Scripture:

“They went out and proclaimed everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through the accompanying signs.]]” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭16‬:‭20‬ ‭NET‬

Observation:

This is the final verse of the book of Mark. It describes what the disciples and followers of Jesus did after His ascension to heaven. They did what He said to do. They went out and proclaimed everywhere, and the verse tells us that the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through the accompanying signs. After His resurrection, He was still working WITH His people through the Holy Spirit. He remained active, just through His followers. 

Application:

Many times when we think about evangelism or spreading the Good News, we think we are on our own and have to know everything in the Bible, but really when we go for Him, He will go with us. He stills works WITH us to confirm the word with accompanying signs and wonders. He may have gone to heaven and changed location, but He is still very active in and through the lives of His people. We should expect signs and wonders as confirmation that Jesus is working with us. We should also be busy going out and proclaiming everywhere that Jesus is Lord.

Prayer:

Jesus, work WITH me as You did with the early Church. Teach me to proclaim and demonstrate Your words effectively. Help me to go out and do what You said to do. I ask You for signs and wonders when I declare Your truths. Help me to walk boldly and confidently in obedience to Your word. 

Always Yours,

Jeff

Generosity

 Scripture:

“He called his disciples and said to them, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the offering box than all the others. For they all gave out of their wealth. But she, out of her poverty, put in what she had to live on, everything she had.”” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭12‬:‭43‬-‭44‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

Jesus showed His disciples this lady that threw two copper coins into the offering. It amounted to very little, but to her, it was a massive sacrifice because she needed that money to buy something to eat. She gave out of her poverty and everyone else gave out of their abundance. Sometimes, it’s not what we give, but what’s leftover after we have given.

Application:

Generosity is really observed by how much we have left after we have given. Sacrificial giving will cost you something, but it gets God’s attention. God has been challenging me about sacrificial giving for His kingdom and purposes. I’ve heard it said, when God blesses you, don’t increase your standard of living, increase your standard of giving. I want to live a generous life that God can bless.

Prayer:

Father, I want to hear Your voice concerning giving. You are the Lord of my life and I surrender my finances to You. Help me to listen and obey when You speak. Teach me to keep kingdom priorities above my own priorities. Let me have a generous spirit that listens and follows Your direction at all times. 

Your Son,

Jeff

Believe

 Scripture:

“Then Jesus said to him, “‘If you are able?’ All things are possible for the one who believes.”” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭9‬:‭23‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

In this passage, Jesus was speaking with a man whose son, from birth, would be thrown into the fire or water because of a demon. The disciples of Jesus were not able to cast out the demon and get the boy healed. When Jesus arrived and was informed about the situation he asked the man what he wanted. The man replied, “if you are able, heal my son.” Jesus replied that all things are possible for the one who believes. 

Application:

We must realize that the all-powerful lives within us and that all things are possible when He is at work. Nothing is impossible for God, therefore, nothing is impossible for His people. Our job is simply to believe. His job is to make the miracle happen. We can never question “if” God can do something. He can!!! We must simply believe He can and will do what He says He will do.

Prayer:

Father, You are great and glorious. You are mighty and majestic. You are incredible and awesome. Help my unbelief. Let me be a true believer, who believes You not only can, but will step into every situation. Increase my faith. Help me not to see the impossible, but to know that You specialize in the impossible. You are amazing, let my faith grow each day!

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Just Believe

 Scripture:

“But Jesus, paying no attention to what was said, told the synagogue ruler, “Do not be afraid; just believe.”” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭5‬:‭36‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

While Jesus was healing and touching lives, Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue, came to him and said his daughter was sick. As they were speaking, one of his servants came to him and told him not to bother Jesus because his daughter had died. The response of Jesus was so powerful. He told him, “Do not be afraid, just believe.” They walked to his house, Jesus resurrected his daughter and everyone witnessed a miracle. 

Application:

So many times in our lives we get bad news and the first thing that enters our mind and heart is fear of what will happen next. We generally begging to play out our downfall in our minds because something bad happened to us. Rather than listening to fear, Jesus told Jairus to “just believe.” Fear and faith cannot co-exist. I want to be a faith-filled person and not ever walk in fear. Fear is a manipulator, but faith changes things. I want to live my life fearless and full of faith.

Prayer:

Father, I want a simple walk with You that “just believes” what You speak. Increase my faith to see what You want me to see. Teach me to walk with You in confidence and boldness. Help me to overcome fear and to let faith guide my life instead of fear. Let my thoughts remain on You and let my response always be a response of faith instead of fear.

Yours,

Jeff

A House Divided

 Scripture:

“If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭3‬:‭25‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

Jesus was accused of casting out devils by the power of Beelzebub. He replied that a devil can’t cast out a devil. He then offered this one statement, “If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.” This statement has powerful truth in it. Division destroys, but unity is powerful. There is no power in division, but there is incredible power in unity. 

Application:

In the Body of Christ, we must realize that we need each other. We need unity. A house divided against itself cannot stand. We need undivided heart, undivided homes, undivided churches, and undivided businesses. We cannot stand if we are divided. I want to be a unifier in the Body of Christ. I want to be a unifier in my home. I want to live with an undivided heart. 

Prayer:

Father, let me live an undivided life. Help me to serve You completely and never be divided in my devotion. Let my life bring unity to myself, my family, and my world. I want to build things that will last. Help me to unify Your people.

Yours,

Jeff