"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." ~~ I John 3:16
This last Thursday in one of my 8th grade classes, my students were lamenting and railing about some new rules in the cafeteria. These rules were recently introduced for all because of the behavior of a few. Being the teacher that I am (once we had completed our academic lesson, of course), I opened up the floor for discussion and life lesson. I listened while they voiced, and they listened while I shared my limited wisdom. At one point, a student complained, "I don't see why we have to pay for what other kids did! It's not fair!" Without hesitation or filtration, I responded, "Well, I don't see how it's fair that Jesus Christ had to die for everyone else's sins..." Shock and silence. I waited for the politically correct police to bust in with the camera crews and cuffs to carry me off to wherever they take our kind.
This exchange - and many other daily interactions - compel me to the cross of Christ. My mind cannot comprehend the sacrifices He made for me. For you. For all of mankind for all time. This devo may come out a little "scattered", but that is where my thoughts take me when I consider Christ's whole work. My finite mind is only able to hold a portions of Such an Infinite Love as This...
"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." ~~ John 1:14
Jesus Christ elected to leave the glory and comfort of Heaven to wear this garment called flesh. He elected to surrender kingship for servanthood. The only concept I can equate this to would be today's missionaries who choose to sell and leave everything they have and know to dwell in third-world countries for the Gospel of Christ...in lands that are impoverished and vile, lands where they are often despised and persecuted. Such a Love as This...
Bright Morning Star, Lily of the Valley, Prince of Peace, Light of the World, Faithful One, Emmanuel...
"He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 'Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.'...And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground." ~~ Luke 22:41-42, 44
Intercessor, Hedge of Protection, My Rearguard, The Great Shepherd, Shield and Strong Tower...
"...he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified...They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. 'Hail, king of the Jews!' they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again." ~~ Matthew 27:26b, 28-30
Jesus received the beating that I deserved. He endured the pain that I have inflicted with my sins. He did not fight the crown of 3-inch thorns as it was thrust upon His tender scalp. He did not defend or speak up against false accusations and mocking, as I have often done myself. Such a Love as This...
Merciful Savior, Lamb of God, Lion of Judah, Lord of Justice, Healer, Anointed One, Bread of Life...
"So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). Here they crucified him, and with him two others -- one on each side and Jesus in the middle." ~~John 19:16b-18
I can scarcely imagine the excruciating pain Jesus knew -- physical pain, emotional pain, spiritual pain -- as He carried that 300-pound, rough-timber cross upon the open and bleeding wounds of His back. Then he willingly laid down upon the cross to be crucified with long, heavy spikes. Such a Love as This...
Chosen One, Deliverer, Gift of God, Holy One, Horn of Salvation, Messenger of the Covenant, Redeemer...
"From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?' -- which means, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'...And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit...When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, 'Surely he was the Son of God!" ~~ Matthew 27:45-46, 50, 54
We don't willingly do much or give up much. Honestly, we don't. Our flesh despises sacrifice and selflessness. Yet, Jesus sacrifices all. His place in Heaven to come to earth. His love. His service. His healing. His wisdom. His very life and spirit. Such a Love as This...
Who Was, Who Is, Who Is to Come, The Way, The Truth, The Life, Messiah, Faithful Witness, Almighty...
"On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when the entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightening stood beside them...'Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!'" ~~ Luke 24:1-5
Such a Love as This...
King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Commander of Angels, The Dominion over Demons, Lord of Hosts, Name Above All Names...
"Then Jesus came to [the disciples] and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.'" ~~ Matthew 28:18-20
These few verses can scarcely express and cannot contain the life and sacrifice of Jesus. Words pale and become flat in trying to describe the suffering of the cross, the glory of His resurrection, and His parting command to Believers. If we cannot express in words or grasp in thought, then how are we to seize and personify Such a Love as This...
Bridegroom, My Banner of Love, Dwelling Place, Sustainer, Provider, Teacher, Triumphant and Mighty, Victorious Conquerer, God of Forgiveness, Soon-Coming King...
"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers...Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." ~~ I John 3:16, 18
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Call to Persevere, Part One
Jude 17-19
Jude, brother to Jesus and James...a man of few words...a man with powerful words. This letter, though comparably short in length, is not short on depth. It bears much to chew on and digest in our spirit. In these verses, Jude boldly offers a firm exhortation...
"But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold." (v.17)
We are compelled to read the Word, study the Word, know the Word, remember the Word. The Bible does not just reveal factual, historical accounts; it is living and active...it is effectual...it is eternal. In order to remember the Word, we must first know it and fix our minds upon it. When we abide in the Word, it is sown into our spirit-man.
"They said to you, 'In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires." (v. 18)
In numerous verses in the Scriptures, the disciples warn of false teachers and heretical teachings that will permeate the body of Christ. (2 Pet. 2:1-3; 1 Tim. 4:1-2; Titus 1:15-16; 2 John 1:9-11; Romans 16:17-18; Col. 2:8, just to list a few) False teachers do not likely come in appearance and with messages flagged with flagrant warnings. They are extremely subtle and appealing to the eyes and the ears. They will weave in a sprinkling of Truth to season their lies. False teachers will flirt with desires of the heart that come from broken places and false belief systems. They will work into minds that are not being conformed to the mind of Christ.
"There are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit." (v. 19)
Once they have their followers' divided attention from God, false teachers seduce people into spiritual adultery. One common indicator is that the teacher is worshiped above Jehovah God, and the teacher's words are held as authority before and above the Word of God. Instead of offering a list of heretical teachings and themes, I encourage you to know the Word...to test every spirit of teaching (even mine) against the Word of God (I John 4:1-6).
Yes, every pastor and teacher who serve the Living God is going to mis-speak, misinterpret, misstep on occassion. I have inadvertently done this myself...and work to correct it as soon as it is discerned. However, the false teacher has an established pattern or progression of denying the work and power and authority of Christ, minimizes the Scriptures, and dillutes the working of the Holy Spirit.
Our guard against this prevailing work of the enemy is to have God's Word so richly cultivated in the tender soil of our hearts that as soon as false teaching leaves the lips of the false teacher, our very spirit will quicken within us and rise up with Truth to cast down the lies. My prayer is that we would take personal responsibility to grow and abound in the knowledge of the Lord, the depth of His Word, the increase of discernment, and the fullness of His authority...in the precious and most Holy name of Jesus.
Gloriously in Him ~~
Tammy
Jude, brother to Jesus and James...a man of few words...a man with powerful words. This letter, though comparably short in length, is not short on depth. It bears much to chew on and digest in our spirit. In these verses, Jude boldly offers a firm exhortation...
"But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold." (v.17)
We are compelled to read the Word, study the Word, know the Word, remember the Word. The Bible does not just reveal factual, historical accounts; it is living and active...it is effectual...it is eternal. In order to remember the Word, we must first know it and fix our minds upon it. When we abide in the Word, it is sown into our spirit-man.
"They said to you, 'In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires." (v. 18)
In numerous verses in the Scriptures, the disciples warn of false teachers and heretical teachings that will permeate the body of Christ. (2 Pet. 2:1-3; 1 Tim. 4:1-2; Titus 1:15-16; 2 John 1:9-11; Romans 16:17-18; Col. 2:8, just to list a few) False teachers do not likely come in appearance and with messages flagged with flagrant warnings. They are extremely subtle and appealing to the eyes and the ears. They will weave in a sprinkling of Truth to season their lies. False teachers will flirt with desires of the heart that come from broken places and false belief systems. They will work into minds that are not being conformed to the mind of Christ.
"There are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit." (v. 19)
Once they have their followers' divided attention from God, false teachers seduce people into spiritual adultery. One common indicator is that the teacher is worshiped above Jehovah God, and the teacher's words are held as authority before and above the Word of God. Instead of offering a list of heretical teachings and themes, I encourage you to know the Word...to test every spirit of teaching (even mine) against the Word of God (I John 4:1-6).
Yes, every pastor and teacher who serve the Living God is going to mis-speak, misinterpret, misstep on occassion. I have inadvertently done this myself...and work to correct it as soon as it is discerned. However, the false teacher has an established pattern or progression of denying the work and power and authority of Christ, minimizes the Scriptures, and dillutes the working of the Holy Spirit.
Our guard against this prevailing work of the enemy is to have God's Word so richly cultivated in the tender soil of our hearts that as soon as false teaching leaves the lips of the false teacher, our very spirit will quicken within us and rise up with Truth to cast down the lies. My prayer is that we would take personal responsibility to grow and abound in the knowledge of the Lord, the depth of His Word, the increase of discernment, and the fullness of His authority...in the precious and most Holy name of Jesus.
Gloriously in Him ~~
Tammy
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Giveaway from Renee Swope...
Renee Swope is offering a friendship pack giveaway, which includes her new book, "A Confident Heart" and a Starbucks gift card. Visit her blogspot to enter: journeyofmyheart.blogspot.com
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Sit Down and Be Quiet
" 'Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.' The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress."
~~Psalm 46:10-11
Get the kids up for school. Coffee. Get to work on time. More coffee. Teach middle schoolers who are more interested in socializing and talking and texting than they are with sentence structures and editing and literature. Still more coffee. Grading papers, state testing, parents. Grocery lists, grocery shopping, grocery cooking. Baseball games, dance class, prom preparations, graduation announcements...((graduation announcements)). Church on Wednesday, church on Sunday, Bible study, women's ministry. Family time, family talk, family taxi. Grandbabies, girlfriends, good night. {Just to name a few...}
We live...abundantly. Our time and our thoughts are consumed with the present and the next obligation...some even with the past. Lately, God has been impressing upon me that He is about to do something new in my life and ministry. I have been "working" to find what that is. Praying, studying the Word, seeking...beneficial disciplines. However, this weekend, God has brought this Scripture (and two others) to me three times through three different venues.
In church this morning, we hosted a guest evangelist and his wife. Imagine the quickening when - at the end of his message - he invited the people who were struggling with a decision or were at a crossroads to come forward for prayer. I moved to the front of the sanctuary and received their prayers over me, then his wife offered some counsel. To paraphrase, she said, "God will reveal the details to you in a way that you will not mistake it. Stop striving to find your answer." This advice...for this season...resounded in my spirit.
Prayer is beautiful communion with God. Studying the Word strengthens our spirit. Seeking God's will is prudent. Sometimes, though - like God is saying to me now - it is time to be still and know that He is God. In the language that my cluttered mind and stubborn heart understand, He is actually saying, "Sit down and be quiet." This is a much more difficult discipline than praying, studying, and seeking. He wants me (and you) to withdraw to our prayer closet, sink into His presence, relax our minds from external distractions, and quiet our mouths. When we are still in spirit, we will more readily perceive and discern His voice. This, precious sisters, is the springboard for obeying His personal will for our lives. How can we obey what we do not hear?
I am caused to consider an old argument my kids have presented...ohhh...at least 5,000 times. It's a result of selective hearing...you know, when I tell them to do something, they don't do it. As they are being discipled for not doing what they were told, they protest, "I didn't hear you." Well, the fact that they didn't hear me does not negate the fact that I gave the command. They often do not hear because they choose not to listen.
It is often the same way with God: He has revealed this to me in a profound manner this weekend. He has my quiet attention. I will continue to pray, to study, and to seek His will...but for this particular matter in this precise season, I will stop striving and practice stillness in His presence. As a result of being still and knowing God, He will be exalted.
Most Joyfully,
Tammy
~~Psalm 46:10-11
Get the kids up for school. Coffee. Get to work on time. More coffee. Teach middle schoolers who are more interested in socializing and talking and texting than they are with sentence structures and editing and literature. Still more coffee. Grading papers, state testing, parents. Grocery lists, grocery shopping, grocery cooking. Baseball games, dance class, prom preparations, graduation announcements...((graduation announcements)). Church on Wednesday, church on Sunday, Bible study, women's ministry. Family time, family talk, family taxi. Grandbabies, girlfriends, good night. {Just to name a few...}
We live...abundantly. Our time and our thoughts are consumed with the present and the next obligation...some even with the past. Lately, God has been impressing upon me that He is about to do something new in my life and ministry. I have been "working" to find what that is. Praying, studying the Word, seeking...beneficial disciplines. However, this weekend, God has brought this Scripture (and two others) to me three times through three different venues.
In church this morning, we hosted a guest evangelist and his wife. Imagine the quickening when - at the end of his message - he invited the people who were struggling with a decision or were at a crossroads to come forward for prayer. I moved to the front of the sanctuary and received their prayers over me, then his wife offered some counsel. To paraphrase, she said, "God will reveal the details to you in a way that you will not mistake it. Stop striving to find your answer." This advice...for this season...resounded in my spirit.
Prayer is beautiful communion with God. Studying the Word strengthens our spirit. Seeking God's will is prudent. Sometimes, though - like God is saying to me now - it is time to be still and know that He is God. In the language that my cluttered mind and stubborn heart understand, He is actually saying, "Sit down and be quiet." This is a much more difficult discipline than praying, studying, and seeking. He wants me (and you) to withdraw to our prayer closet, sink into His presence, relax our minds from external distractions, and quiet our mouths. When we are still in spirit, we will more readily perceive and discern His voice. This, precious sisters, is the springboard for obeying His personal will for our lives. How can we obey what we do not hear?
I am caused to consider an old argument my kids have presented...ohhh...at least 5,000 times. It's a result of selective hearing...you know, when I tell them to do something, they don't do it. As they are being discipled for not doing what they were told, they protest, "I didn't hear you." Well, the fact that they didn't hear me does not negate the fact that I gave the command. They often do not hear because they choose not to listen.
It is often the same way with God: He has revealed this to me in a profound manner this weekend. He has my quiet attention. I will continue to pray, to study, and to seek His will...but for this particular matter in this precise season, I will stop striving and practice stillness in His presence. As a result of being still and knowing God, He will be exalted.
Most Joyfully,
Tammy
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