Understanding?

Who has understood the mind of the LORD, 

or instructed him as his counsellor? 

Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him, 

and who taught him the right way? 

Who was it that taught him knowledge 

or showed him the path to understanding?         Isa. 40.13,14

The answer to each one of these questions is a resounding “nobody”. God is God, and God is supreme. No one can teach Him anything. He looks to no one because He needs no one. He is self-contained and self-sufficient. He is also sole provider, sole protector, and the sole source of all love, grace, mercy and blessing.

God is all that we need. In the depths of our hearts, He is all that we want. We will find everything in Him. He is the source of all joy, happiness, contentment and fulfilment. God is ever dependable and always there. What a powerful blessing it is to start the day knowing this!

For centuries humans, mostly male, have put time and much effort into trying to work God out. I see this as somewhat dis-honouring to God, and something of a waste of time. I don’t believe we will ever work Him out, nor does He want us to do so. 

I believe God wants us to receive Him when He comes to meet us. He desires us to know Him, not know about Him, and to live in sweet, deep and full relationship with Him. He wishes to live with us, and for us to live with Him. He asks me to trust Him. As I do so, He provides for me. I have not gone without since I’ve given to Him all the trust I am able to give. I have no cause to worry for I know that He is in charge despite what I might see in the world around me. I am so grateful to my mighty God, my precious Saviour, and my dear Friend.

Lord, Mighty God,

I thank You for the wonder of relationship with You. Thank You for drawing me to You when You did. Thank You for all that has been given to me through the time of our relationship. Thank You for the assurance that this will never end.

Thank You.           Amen.

No deceit

I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up.                              Gal. 1. 11

Paul is writing to the church in the region of Galatia. It is not clear how many churches he is addressing but there appears to be several (v2) It also seems that these churches are struggling with the truth even, perhaps, to the point of losing the truth.

He reminds them of his agenda and aim. He tells them that he is not about seeking man’s favour or approval, but God’s. He is truly a servant of Christ.

As Christ’s servant he looks to Christ for all his knowledge and learning (v12). He does not fabricate stories to please men or to say what they want to hear, but he shares what he has received by revelation form Jesus Christ.

Lord God,

I do not wish to make up anything that I share in ministering for You. I want the gospel that I preach to be the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. I have Your Word, Lord. I ask You to speak to me from Your Word and uncover the truth for me.

I pray for Your revelation. It is Your Word and I ask You to reveal it to me. I pray for direct revelation from Jesus Christ. I ask You also to work through Your Holy Spirit bringing to me enlightenment of the mysteries of God.

Lord, let me never resort to fabrication or even supposition. When I speak from my own experiences let me be sincere. If I borrow examples from others, lead me to give full acknowledgment. But, first and foremost, let me speak forth the truths that You reveal to me.

Let me be truly be sent, like Paul, by Jesus Christ and God the Father. Let me minister always in the anointing and power of the Holy Spirit. Let me freely share the love of God with compassion and grace. I love You, Lord. Use me to minister for You, in Jesus' name I ask.                Amen.

The Way

A voice of one calling:

“In the desert prepare

the way for the LORD; 

make straight in the wilderness 

a highway for our God.”                                                      Isa. 40.3

I have just realised a misunderstanding I have carried for years. I have long taken this verse to begin with: A voice of one calling in the desert.Today I have seen that this is not so. The voice is calling, of course, but it is directing people to prepare a way for the Lord – in the desert of their lives.

What, then, might the desert be? My guess is that the desert represents the barren parts of life, those times of straying from the Lord, or even being downright disobedient to Him. This cannot be ignored, for such times are real. It is grievous that God’s children can act in such a disparaging way, but this is the truth.

Whilst these words are recorded in respect to Jerusalem, I hear them speaking to me. I do not think this is wrong. Indeed, I think what God may have to say to anyone could well be taken up by me.

So, I am required to prepare the way in the desert and make a straight highway there for my Lord and God. How do I do this? I immediately think of those precious words from the letter to the Hebrew believers: Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith. (Heb. 12.2) Jesus allows me to prepare the way for God. Jesus has made it possible for me to make a straight highway for God in the wilderness of my life. As I focus on Jesus, and look first for the Kingdom of God (Matt. 6.33), so God will lead me on right paths (Ps.23) where He will be ever with me.

Lord God,

I cannot live without You. Forgive me for those times when I have strayed from the straight ways. Guide me along the path of Your highway. Strengthen me to live in You, to the fullness of my being. Thank You.             Amen.

Provision

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.                                                                  2 Cor. 9.10

I wonder if these words from Paul are a reminder to me today. Is God sending me further encouragement? Paul’s words say that not only will the store be supplied, but it will also be increased. I receive these words. I trust God, and I know that He will provide all I need. His provision will be neither meagre nor mean, but He will provide in abundance.

Furthermore, God’s provision will result in a harvest of righteousness. Could this mean ministry? This is my wish I know but, again, the reality must be left with God – in His time, in His way.

He knows my heart. He knows my earnestness to be used by Him. He doesn’t need me. I am clear on this, but He just might choose me. How wonderful that would be. But I must leave it with Him.

Lord God,

I’m rambling a bit this morning and I ask You to forgive me. I receive these words of Paul very personally. Perhaps I am not meant to. Please correct this if it is so.

There is such encouragement in this verse and I thank You for this. You are indeed the provider – of all things. Your provision is always timely and most appropriate. Praise God!

I commit the day ahead to You. I pray for strength, wakefulness and alertness. I commit this whole day to You. Empower me, guide me, and use me as You will, in Jesus’ name I ask.           Amen.

God's family

Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.                                                     2 Cor. 7.1

The promises that Paul refers to are very likely the words of God as contained in the final verses of the preceding chapter.

God says of believers: “I will live with them. I will walk among them. I will be their God and they will be my people. I will be a Father to them, and they will be my sons and daughters.

But there are also directions from God to His children: “Come out from them and be separate. Touch no unclean thing and I will receive you.”

Paul demonstrates his own heart by his encouragement to his “dear friends”. In starting with purifying ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, we may progress to a perfecting in holiness. Our motivation for this is reverence for God.

Of course I want to do this. But, without making excuses, I cannot do it on my own. So I shall take God at His word. He says, “Ask, and you will receive.”

Lord God,

I so want to follow this encouragement of Paul’s. I want to be purified of anything and everything that might contaminate my body and spirit. I want to embrace perfecting holiness. And I want to do these things out of holy reverence for You.

I cannot achieve these things in my own strength. Therefore I ask of You. I ask You, dear Lord, to lead me in purification of body, mind and spirit. I ask You to lead me in perfecting holiness. And I ask You to lead me in deeper reverence for Yourself.

I love You and want to demonstrate my love in pleasing You. I ask Your help in this, in Jesus’ name.           Amen.

Reality

I said, “I will not again see the LORD, 

the LORD, in the land of the living; 

no longer will I look on mankind, 

or be with those who now dwell in this world.”                       Isa. 38.11

I note the first verse of this chapter:

In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, “This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.”

God warned Hezekiah of his coming death. Hezekiah was distraught and cried out to God. God responded by granting him a further fifteen years of life.

The verse quoted (v11) is part of Hezekiah’s response to this interaction. It would seem that, notwithstanding the granting of an extra fifteen years, Hezekiah feels he will face death “in the prime of his life.” (v16)

The reality for us all is that we are not assured of any length of time on this earth. Verse 11 needs to be heeded by every believer. I know that it is certainly speaking to me. At any time I could find that I will not see God again as my earthly life comes to a close. This is not grievous to me, for I know, when I leave this place, I shall see Him face-to-face.

Hezekiah also mentions that he – and I, of course – will not look on my fellow humans or be with them. This is a present reminder to me of the work I wish to do before I die. I realise this is what I wish. God may have other plans, yet I can hold on to my desire, and hope that His wish is for me to continue in service to Him.

Holy Father,

I love You deeply. Whilst I long to see You face to face, I also strongly desire to do more for You, and with You, whilst I remain on this earth. 

Please hear this, my plea. Please hear me and allow me further ministry in You. I have a sensing that the present time will open up new work for me. I hope this is so. I pray that I might hear from You in confirmation of this. I ask these things in Jesus’ name.                  Amen.

Please Him

So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.                                                2 Cor. 5.9

Paul refers to our earthly body as a tent – a temporary and flimsy thing, frail, vulnerable and wasting away. After this tent, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven. There is nothing flimsy about our eternal abode. It is a solid and permanent structure.

Paul talks of our desire to be in the heavenly rather than the earthly abode: at home with the Lord. I know this to be my preferred option. There are days when I so long to go home. When you have an expectation of something good and wonderful to come it is understandable to want to experience it. 

But then Paul brings us to what I see as a levelling verse for this earth-heaven seesaw. I take this verse and receive it for myself. My goal is not to leave this earthly dwelling because I feel ready for heaven. Rather, my goal is to please Him, to please Him in where I’m at and in what I do – to please Him in everything.

Right now, my place to please Him is here on earth. Until He elects to take me home. I dedicate myself to His service where I am.

Lord God,

Again I have opportunity to declare my love for You. I love You, Lord, and I’m delighted to come to You today in love.

This love brings forth a desire in me to please You. Whatever I do, and wherever I find myself doing it, my goal is to please You. Let Your will, not mine, be done.

The day stretches out before us. I ask You to lead me through this day. Show me the way. I want to go Your way.

May I please You, in everything I do, in Jesus’ name I ask.            Amen.