Come Back

 Scripture:

“So now, come back to your God. Act with love and justice, and always depend on him.”  ‭‭Hosea‬ ‭12:6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Hosea tells Israel that they have walked away from God and worshiped images made by hand.  He let them know that God was displeased with their behavior.  God cries out to His people, even after many attempts, to come back to Him.  He tells them to act in love and justice and to always depend on Him.  Notice part of their going away from Him was seen in not depending on Him.

Application:

In the Christian life, there are times when we drift.  Maybe we don’t turn our backs on God, but we simply stop depending on Him and trusting Him like we did early in our walk.  When we do this, we are telling GOd we don’t need Him anymore and that we can handle life on our own.  I hear Him calling, “Come Back.  Come back to walking in intimacy with Me.  Come back and walk trust me to open all the right doors in your life.  Come back and lean on Me again.  Come back and believe and trust in Me again.”

Prayer:

Lord, I come back to You.  I look to You.  Help me to not make decisions on my own, but to walk in step with Your Spirit.  Help me to live a Spirit-led life that is dependent on You.  Help me to walk in obedience at all times and to believe You can do what You ask me to do.  Help me to trust You more than I trust myself.

Your Son,

Jeff

Love and Not Obligation

 Scripture:

“I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings.”  ‭‭Hosea‬ ‭6:6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

In this passage, God is speaking to His people.  They were offering sacrifices, but their heart was far from Him.  They were worshiping other gods and wanting to include worshiping the Almighty with worshiping the other things made by hand.  God spoke clearly and strongly letting them know He wanted their heart and not just their words and sacrifices.

Application:

It is easy to allow Christianity to become something we do instead of serving God out of passion and love.  God doesn’t want robots who do right things at the right times.  He wants people who long after Him and worship Him with pure hearts.  He wants worship fueled by love instead of simply obedience.  God wants us to seek Him out and desire Him.  I want my life to be a life of passionate desire for the Lord.

Prayer:

Father, you are awesome and I want to serve You well all the days of my life.  Let my love for You never grow cold and stale.  I want to finish my days in passionate pursuit and not religious obligations.  You are my heart’s desire and I long for You.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Love Covers

 Scripture:

“Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.”     ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭4:8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Peter tells his audience that the end of the world was coming quickly.  He then tells them because of that, they should show deep love for each other.  He adds this little statement, “lover covers a multitude of sins.”  When God saw the very first sin, His love for man made him a covering.  

Application:

We often hear of tough love and many believe that real love confronts to bring healing.  I personally believe in both, but I also see what Peter is saying here.  There is a time when love will cover things over and a time when love will expose things to bring healing and restoration.  I am in a situation when I have to overlook some things right now and this verse is helping me.  There is a time for each type of love, I just need to hear from God as to when to display each.

Prayer:

Father, teach me to love like You love.  Show me when to be strong and direct and when to overlook or cover things.  Help me not to be an enabler, but to truly bring healing to multitudes.  I want to serve like You would serve and live like You would live. Teach me Your ways.

Yours Forever,

Jeff 

Accept His Authority

 Scripture:

“Now Christ has gone to heaven. He is seated in the place of honor next to God, and all the angels and authorities and powers accept his authority.”  ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭3:22‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Peter tells us here that Christ has gone to heaven and sat down at the right hand of the Father.  He goes on to say that his position is above all authorities, powers, and angels.  They all accept His authority.  There is no doubt about His authority in heaven, 

Application:

There is no doubt about Christ’s authority in heave, but sometimes we struggle to believe that on earth.  We must have absolute confidence that Christ is greater than any other principality or power.  We must see Him like the angels and demons see Him.  He is greater than any person or thing that can ever come against us and He is interceding for us even now before the Father.  We must accept His rule and reign in our lives.  He is authority.

Prayer:

Jesus, let me walk in confidence each day that You are elevated above everything that could ever come against me.  You are higher and greater than an enemy arrayed against me.  You are my everything.  Thank You for loving me and placing me under Your authority.  Help me to walk in the authority You have given me as well.

Yours,

Jeff

Ten Times More Capable

 Scripture:

“Whenever the king consulted them in any matter requiring wisdom and balanced judgment, he found them ten times more capable than any of the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom.”  ‭Daniel‬ ‭1:20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Daniel and his friends had been deported to a country which was not there own.  They had to learn a new language and the culture of Babylon.  They quickly learned the language, culture and history of Babylon and the king was extremely impressed.  The king felt when he consulted with them that they were ten times more capable than any of his other advisors.  God can make us ten times for capable in the secular world and bring us to the top of our fields if we do things His way.

Application:

As children of the living God, we have the Spirit of God living within us.  We have the founder and creator of wisdom and knowledge living in our hearts.  We should stand out to the rest of the world as people who are ten times more capable, not only in spiritual things, but in secular things.  Christians should be seen as the most capable in every area of society.  God doesn’t just give us wisdom on how to live a godly life, He gives us wisdom that the world needs.  We should be the consultants that the world looks to when they need direction.

Prayer:

Father, let me stand out as ten times more capable than those around me so that You can be glorified in my life.  Help me to live surrendered to Your purpose and plan for me.  If you can bless Daniel and his friends in a country that was not their own and have kings asking them for their wisdom, then You can bless my life and let me consult leaders and influencers.

Your Son,

Jeff

Peace Farmer

Scripture:

“And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.”  ‭‭James‬ ‭3:18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

James tells us here that peacemakers plant seeds of peace and get back a harvest of righteousness.  In the notes of the NLT it says they will reap a harvest of good things or of justice.  Planting seeds of peace really stuck in my mind as I was reading this morning.

Application:

I want to be a peace farmer in my generation and in this time in history.  I want to plant seeds of peace everywhere I go.  When we sow seeds of peace, good things, justice and righteousness will grow.  This world is in chaos and peace is one of the things Jesus died to give us.  I want to walk in peace every day and let the world know there is a better way.

Prayer:

Father, I give You my life today.  Let me be a peace farmer.  Help me to sow seeds of peace everywhere you lead me.  Jesus, You brought peace everywhere You went.  Let me walk in Your divine peace, which is a fruit of the Spirit and let my life exude peace to those around me in this crazy time we live in.

Your Son,

Jeff

The Lord is There

Scripture:

 ““The distance around the entire city will be 6 miles. And from that day the name of the city will be ‘The Lord Is There.’ ””  Ezekiel‬ ‭48:35‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Ezekiel describes His city in this passage along with the description of where each tribe would have their boundaries and would stay.  In the last verse, the Lord says “from that day the name of the city will be ‘The Lord is There’”.  He named the city as the place He would be.

Application:

In the Old Covenant the Lord was in one place at one time.  The city referenced about was called “The Lord is There.”  Now the Lord lives inside each of His people and wherever we go, His presence is with us.  He is not contained within a city or a building, but in the hearts of His people.  When people come in contact with us, May they say, “The Lord is There” or “The Lord is with him.”  May it be recognizable in our churches that “The Lord is There.”  I want to world to encounter Christ in a real way and when they walk in our building I want them to say, “The Lord is Here.”

Prayer:

Father, let me reflect Your glory.  Help me to walk in step with Your Spirit and to yield completely to Your will.  Enable me to demonstrate Your goodness to the world around me.  Let people say, “The Lord is There” concerning our place of worship, my home, my heart, and my life.  Let Your presence increase in my life.  I want more of You in my life every day.  Fill me up till I overflow.  I want more of You!

Your Son,

Jeff

Justice

 Scripture:

“And the prince may never take anyone’s property by force. If he gives property to his sons, it must be from his own land, for I do not want any of my people unjustly evicted from their property.””  ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭46:18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

In this passage, God is talking about the prince being able to extend their property and give property to their sons.  It says that the prince cannot give someone else’s property to their sons because God doesn’t want any of His people evicted from the property.  God takes care of the little guy and doesn’t want them crushed by the rich and famous.

Application:

God is a god of justice.  He doesn’t like to see His little ones crushed or taken advantage of.  Even the king can’t take advantage of the little people in God’s eyes.  God hates unfair trade, incorrect measures, and lying.  He will fight on behalf of those who are being taken advantage of.  This year the Lord has had me praying for justice more than any time in my life.  He is just and as His people, we should cry out for justice.

Prayer:

Father, bring justice in the United States.  Expose corruption at all levels and reveal Your plans and purposes for this nation.  Deal with those who lead people falsely.  Let lies and hypocrisy be exposed and dealt with.  You bless right measures and accurate counts.  Reveal truth and let Your kingdom come and Your will be done in my nation.

Yours,

Jeff

Face Down Worship

 Scripture:

“Then the man brought me through the north gateway to the front of the Temple. I looked and saw that the glory of the Lord filled the Temple of the Lord, and I fell face down on the ground.”  ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭44:4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Ezekiel had some powerful encounters with the Lord and angels.  In this one, He saw the glory of the Lord as it fulled the Temple and he fell face down on the ground.  Though he had been in the presence of the Lord many, many times in his life, Ezekiel still understood that face down is the heart of true worship.  Face down means I’m not looking at myself anymore, I am humbling myself before the King of all Kings.

Application:

Sometimes we need to come to the place of face down worship.  First, we need the presence and glory of God to come into our meeting times with Him.  When it comes, there is no problem with face down worship because when He comes at that level, the only option is to fall on your face before Him.  I want to glory of the Lord to come into the house of the Lord once again in a strong way so people fall face down before Him in worship.

Prayer:

Come Holy Spirit.  I long for Your presence.  I long to encounter you like Ezekiel did.  I long to enter Your glory and be changed.  Show me Your glory.  Let Your presence fill my life at new levels.  Let Your presence so fill our church that people fall face down in worship.  Come to Your people O Lord!  I long for You.

Your Servant,

Jeff

Wastelands to Gardens

 Scripture:

“And when I bring you back, people will say, ‘This former wasteland is now like the Garden of Eden! The abandoned and ruined cities now have strong walls and are filled with people!’”  ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭36:35‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

God is speaking here to Ezekiel about His people who had been exiled and taken away from there homeland.  He planned to restore them, but their home had become a wasteland that seemed good for nothing.  The Word of Lord was that the wasteland would become like the Garden of Eden and that GOd would restore and rebuild its cities.

Application:

Sometimes in life it can feel like we have entered into a wasteland that isn’t prospering and hasn’t been maintained.  We can have times when we feel like we are in the desert, but God turns deserts into gardens and causes growth in what seems impossible places.  We have to stop seeing wastelands and start seeing gardens.  God wants to turn our dry areas into blossoming flowers.

Prayer:

Father, take the dry places of my life and let them blossom again.  Pour Your Spirit on my life and let me flourish in You.  I want to know You more and more.  I want to walk with You and work with You to build Your kingdom.  Let me preach with passion that You can turn people’s wastelands into the Garden of Eden.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Feed The Sheep

 Scripture:

““Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds, the leaders of Israel. Give them this message from the Sovereign Lord: What sorrow awaits you shepherds who feed yourselves instead of your flocks. Shouldn’t shepherds feed their sheep?”  ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭34:2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

God speaks through Ezekiel here to the leaders of Israel.  He says that sorrow awaits the shepherds who feed themselves instead of feeding the sheep that have been entrusted to them.  He speaks to leaders about serving themselves instead of serving those who had been entrusted to them.  Leadership is not about getting ahead and feeding our own egos, reputations, or influence.  It is about taking care of the sheep entrusted to us.

Application:

Leading as a shepherd is crucial in the body of Christ.  I don’t want to lead like a CEO, but a shepherd that feeds the sheep so they follow, not out of position or title, but because they are getting healthier and their needs are being taken care of by their shepherd.  I need to get serious about feeding those better who are entrusted to my care.

Prayer:

Father, forgive me for trying to lead an organization instead of leading people.  Help me to serve Your people well and feed them what You desire them to eat.  Help me to make those You have entrusted to my leadership strong and healthy.  Enable me to lead Your people well and may they be super strong and resilient because they have eaten what is good for them and not just what feels good.

Your Son and Servant,

Jeff

When God Speaks

 Scripture:

“Although I have caused his terror to fall upon all the living, Pharaoh and his hordes will lie there among the outcasts who were slaughtered by the sword. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!””  ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭32:32‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

During the previous several chapters of God’s revelations to Ezekiel, God repeatedly says He is going to destroy the different nations for their sins.  He goes into detail about many nations.  In this passage, God has spoken that Egypt will fall into the pit and be destroyed for how they treated His people.  He ends His words to them by saying, “I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!”  It is like He is saying, “it is spoken, therefore, you have no hope because when I speak a thing, it comes to pass.”

Application:

When God concludes speaking with saying, “I the Lord have spoken.”  We can rest assured, whatever He spoke, will come to pass.  He is a God of His Word.  When He speaks something from His mouth, it will come to pass, we can rest assured of that.  God doesn’t lie and we can trust His word.  We would do well to know what God has spoken and walk in it.  When Jesus said, “It is finished”, it was like God saying, “I have spoken.”  Through he cross, God has spoken about our freedom from sin, our sicknesses being healed, our deliverance being completed.  He has spoken and we can rest assured that what He said is true and trustworthy.  We need to hear His word, the Bible, because HE HAS SPOKEN.  We need to accept what He has spoken.

Prayer:

Father, You have spoken to us through Your word.  Your word is alive and powerful.  When You speak a thing, it will come to pass.  Speak over my life.  I want to fulfill Your will in every area.  I want to follow You completely.  Let my life be used for Your glory.  Help me to hear Your voice and know that what You speak... will come to pass.

Yours,

Jeff

God’s Ultimate Plan

 Scripture:

““And the day will come when I will cause the ancient glory of Israel to revive, and then, Ezekiel, your words will be respected. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”  ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭29:21‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

God had been speaking about destruction coming to everyone everywhere it seemed like.  Then He throws in these words about Israel.  He says that the glory of Israel will revive, then Ezekiel’s words will be respected and they will know that God is the LORD.  The other things I observed here is that Ezekiel preaches a lot before his words were respected.

Application:

God’s ultimate plan is always to bring people back to Himself so He can bless them.  He wants us to have fellowship with Him.  He will do whatever it takes to bring us back into relationship with Him when we walk away and do our own thing.  Even in judgments, God talked to Ezekiel about reviving Israel.  God wants revival more than we do, we just need to tune into Him.

Prayer:

Lord God Almighty, You are awesome, powerful, majestic, and glorious.  You love us and desire relationship with us, even when we mess us and do our own thing.  Your ultimate plan is always to bring us into knowing You more.  Even in judgment, You are looking for revival.  I want to be part of that revival that I know is coming to America.  Help me to be in tune with You so I can walk in it.

Yours,

Jeff

God’s Got Your Back

 Scripture:

““This is what the Sovereign Lord says: The people of Philistia have acted against Judah out of bitter revenge and long-standing contempt. Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will raise my fist of judgment against the land of the Philistines. I will wipe out the Kerethites and utterly destroy the people who live by the sea.”  ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭25:15-16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

God has such a heart for His people that, even when He punishes them, He will judge those He used to judge His own people.  He will bring revenge on those who mess with His people.  In this passage, God is speaking about Philistia who came with revenge against Judah.  He says He will utterly destroy them and raise His fist of judgment upon them.  God remembers everything and vengeance belongs to Him.

Application:

God keeps good records of how His people are treated and He will repay.  In the NT we see God who is defined by love and good things.  In the OT we are introduced to a God who fights and destroys those who come against His people.  The good news for us is that during the season we are in, God still sees every time we are mistreated.  He still sees every detail of our lives and He will right every wrong.  God takes care of His own and He will work on their behalf.  Our place is to remain faithful to Him and walk in His ways.  When we do, the God who judges the people of Philistia will work on our behalf.

Prayer:

Father, You are so good to Your own.  You have blessed me, favored me, given me opportunities in so many places.  You have helped me so many times I can’t recount them.  Thank You for reminding me this morning that You’ve got my back and that nothing happens to me that You don’t see and that You will repay those who fight against Your own.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Not in My Day

 Scripture:

““I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one.”  ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭22:30‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

God told Ezekiel that He was going to destroy Israel for their many sins and how they had prostituted themselves with other gods.  As the LORD was finishing up His words on this topic, He told Ezekiel that He didn’t want to destroy Israel, but that He looked for a person to stand in the gap and rebuild the wall of righteousness, but couldn’t find anyone.

Application:

May we never be a country where nobody is standing in the gap.  Our nation is struggling right now and turning away from God.  Fortunately, we have many intercessors who are standing in the gap and rebuilding the wall.  This is a terrible message for Israel, but a good message to America.  May we always have someone standing in the gap, especially during this election season.

Prayer:

Father, help me to be one of the ones You are looking for to stand in the gap and call people to righteousness.  Teach me to follow Your ways, to hear Your voice and to walk in step with You every day of my life.  Show me better how to stand in the gap and build a wall of righteousness.  Empower me to bring others into the same so there are always many interceding on Your behalf for the people of The United States.

Yours,

Jeff

You Can’t Blame Someone Else

 Scripture:

““‘What?’ you ask. ‘Doesn’t the child pay for the parent’s sins?’ No! For if the child does what is just and right and keeps my decrees, that child will surely live.”  Ezekiel‬ ‭18:19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

God is speaking here to Ezekiel concerning children paying for their parents sins.  He says that if a child does what is right and keeps His decrees, that child will surely live.  Nobody is judged based on their parents, their upbringing, or anything else.  We will stand before God based on what we did and we can’t blame anyone else.  God is a just God and He would never make one person pay for someone else’s sins.

Application:

I can fully trust God and know that He would never blame me for someone else’s actions.  I will stand before Him on my own and He will judge me according to what I did and I don’t have to fear receiving condemnation for what someone else does.  I make my decisions and I will stand before God on them.  I want to live right before God and man. I want to serve Him well in my generation.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for being just.  Thank You for not judging me for someone else’s sins.  You are faithful and true.  Your ways are the highest and Your thoughts are above all.  Help me to live my life in completer obedience to You.  Speak to me clearly so I may run with Your instructions.  What I don’t hear, I can’t do. Open my ears to hear You and my eyes to see You.

Your Son,

Jeff

God’s Love and Faithfulness

 Scripture:

“And I will reaffirm my covenant with you, and you will know that I am the Lord. You will remember your sins and cover your mouth in silent shame when I forgive you of all that you have done. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!””  ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭16:62-63‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

God is speaking through Ezekiel to the people of Jerusalem in this passage.  He tells how they have abandoned Him and done terrible things, down to sacrificing their children to other gods.  As he approaches the end of promising destruction to His people for their gross sins, He says, “I will reaffirm my covenant with you, and you will know that I am the Lord... when I forgive you of all you have done.”  Even in the midst of judgment, you can see God’s extreme love and faithfulness to His people.

Application:

God judges sin!  There is no doubt about that.  He hates sin and disobedience, and His justice demands that sins be paid for.  Even when we have messed up and walked away from God and His ways, He is always looking for a way to restore us to Him.  Even when He has expressed his hatred of our lifestyles, He never loses sight of His extreme love for us.  We can be confident that God doesn’t walk out on us when we mess up.  He is faithful and always restores.  He just waits on us to see the error of our ways.

Prayer:

Thank You Father, for never giving up on me.  Thank You for Your love and faithfulness, even when I mess up and do my own thing.  You are incredible!  Your love is amazing and Your faithfulness is incredible!  Help me to honor that and never give You reason to have to put up with my disobedience.  Help me to honor You all the days of my life.  I want to do your will all the days of my life.  Let me walk in step with You and never miss out on Your desires and will for my life.

Yours,

Jeff

Don’t Copy Those Around You

 Scripture:

“and you will know that I am the Lord. For you have refused to obey my decrees and regulations; instead, you have copied the standards of the nations around you.””  ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭11:12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

In this passage, God was speaking to Ezekiel about His people.  He says that Israel and Judah had copied the standards of the nations around them instead of following God’s standards.  He says that His people had refused to obey His decrees and regulations.  God has a way of doing things and He expects His people to live according to His ways, not the ways of the people around them.

Application:

It is easy to want what other people have.  The grass always seems greener in someone else’s yard.  When God’s people walk away from Him, it is usually because something looked more valuable or better to them.  When they compare with the world the world may look better, but God doesn’t want us to desire the things of this world.  He doesn’t want us to compare ourselves with other people.  he wants a people who will trust Him and do things His way instead of trying to do what everyone else is doing.  We need to make sure we are seeking God for His will in our lives and not just wanting what others around us may have.

Prayer:

Father, You said that godliness with contentment is great gain.  Help me not to compare with the world around me, but to follow You completely.  Teach me to hear Your voice and to be led by Your Spirit.  Show me how to honor You well and not seek after the things this world sees as important.  Help me keep my focus on You and on Your Kingdom.

Yours,

Jeff

Expose Deception and Bring Justice

Scripture:

““Have you seen this, son of man?” he asked. “Is it nothing to the people of Judah that they commit these detestable sins, leading the whole nation into violence, thumbing their noses at me, and provoking my anger?”  ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭8:17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

In this vision, the LORD took Ezekiel and showed him the sins of Israel and Judah.  He took him inside the Temple and showed him what was going on behind closed doors and in secret.  He exposed the terrible things that led the whole nation into violence, thumbing their noses and God and provoking His anger.  Israel and Judah were born to be places where God was honored, not mocked.  Their sins brought about the wrath of God.

Application:

If God could take us inside the halls of Washington DC we would see some very corrupt things going on in our nation.  We have walked away from God and His principles.  We have thumbed our noses at Him and we have provoked His anger.  God isn’t angry when pagan nations walk away from Him.  He gets angry when His people walk away from Him.  The US was founded by Him and for Him.  Inside Washington there is corruption in massive ways. It must be exposed and repented of, then the blessing of God can come on our nation again.

Prayer:

Father, expose every evil deed happening in our country.  Expose those who are deceiving people.  Expose the lies, the hypocrisy and those who are cheating.  Your people are crying out to You to expose and bring justice to this nation that proclaims with their lips that they are under God.  Turn this country back to Yourself.  Expose corruption.  Show the hidden things and let those who have been working in secret be dealt with so You can bless our nation again.  We long for You.  There is a strong remnant in the US who loves You and desires to follow You completely.

Your Son,

Jeff

Let His Word Sink into Your Heart

 Scripture:

“Then he added, “Son of man, let all my words sink deep into your own heart first. Listen to them carefully for yourself.”  ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭3:10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

This comes at he beginning of Ezekiel’s ministry where God is calling him and telling him that the people would not listen to to him, but he had to go and speak the word of the Lord anyway.  As his ministry preparation, the Lord had him eat the scrolls of the Word of God.  He then told him to let God’s words sink deep into his own heart and listen to them before going to deliver them to others.

Application:

Any time I am going to preach God’s word, I need to let it sink down into my own heart first, before I share it with anyone else.  I need to allow God’s word to work in my own life as I prepare to share it with those around me.  Before we teach, preach, or prophesy, we should allow those words to sink into our own heart so we share what we have processed and not just good information.  I want to preach from my spirit and not just from my head.

Prayer:

Father, help me to spend time in Your word allowing it to work on me before I present it to others.  Let it sink deep into my spirit so I present it to your people with accuracy and fervency.  Help me to communicate well on Your behalf as You give me opportunity.  Forgive me for messages I haven’t spent time letting sink into my own heart before sharing.

Your Son,

Jeff

Peace and Holiness

 Scripture:

“Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.”  ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12:14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

The author of Hebrews tells us to work at living in peace with everyone.  In other words, there is some work to do if we are going to live at peace.  It means we have to do something.  Work means exerting some force or energy.  He goes on to say that we are to work, exert energy or force, at living holy because without holiness we won’t see the Lord.

Application:

We are told to “work” at living in peace and “work” at living holy.  We are often told these days that the Christian life has nothing to do with works.  Salvation has nothing to do with works, but works demonstrate our salvation.  We have to put some effort into living at peace with everyone.  We have to put some work into living holy.  That means these things don’t come easy or without determination.  They are things we have to work toward.  These are two areas that we need to work at.

Prayer:

Father, help me to live at peace with all men and to live a life of holiness.  I want to serve You well and demonstrate Your goodness to the world around me.  Let me be a peacemaker and live a life of holiness.  Help me to build a bridge of peace to those who have hurt me.  I want to be wholly Yours.

Your Son,

Jeff

Better Covenant, Better Promises

 Scripture:

“But now Jesus, our High Priest, has been given a ministry that is far superior to the old priesthood, for he is the one who mediates for us a far better covenant with God, based on better promises.”  ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭8:6‬ ‭NLT‬

Observation:

The author of Hebrews does an amazing job describing how the ministry of Jesus was so much better than the Covenant God made with Moses.  Jesus here is seen as far superior to the old priesthood.  We are seen to have a better covenant and better promises within that covenant.  Because of Jesus, we have better promises and our sins have truly been eradicated.

Application:

Today my heart is overwhelmed at all Christ did for us.  He has paid the way to a better covenant with His own precious blood.  He is our mediator.  He works on our behalf and has already paid the price for all we need.  We have a high priest who is better than the priests of the Old Covenant.  We should serve with greater passion for Christ because of what He has done for us.

Prayer:

Father, thank you for sending Your Son to mediate a better covenant on my behalf.  I want to thank you ou by giving You my life and dedicating my days to Your purposes.  Enable me to do more for You and Your Kingdom.  Teach me to walk in Your ways and to do the things that are important to You.  Jesus, thank you for mediating for me.

Yours,

Jeff