8-18/19-2018 Take It Through The Week

8-18/19-2018 Take It Through The Week

Monday – Deuteronomy 7:6–9 The idea that God would have a chosen people seems offensive in this day and age. The idea that God would take the most stubborn people and make them His own is exactly the opposite of what we would do. We would choose the best, the wisest, the most impressive. Just look at Hollywood. We are most impressed with those who are most impressive. But God is always most impressed with those who are ready to make themselves unimpressive…the humble, the poor, the widows and orphans. God choose Israel to bring the Messiah to the rest of the world. He didn’t choose them because there were many of them, but because they were few. God bringing salvation to the world in that way, brings Glory to God, not to man. We exist for Him, He does not exist for us. And yet, He chooses to be for us, to care for us. He chooses to extend promises to us that extend to a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commands. Pray with me. Lord help me and my family to learn and to do your commands. We want to be a holy people belonging to You. Bless my home and my family with obedient hearts toward You and Your commands. Help us to serve You in all we do. Help us to tithe and to give toward Your Kingdom. Bless us as we follow You. In Jesus Name we pray, Amen.
 
Tuesday – Nehemiah 13:22 Nehemiah was called of God to lead the children of Israel out of captivity in Babylon and rebuild Jerusalem. There were challenges to the rebuilding, so Nehemiah established some priorities to keep the city safe. Then I instructed the Levites to purify themselves and guard the gates… Maybe we would guard the gates first but they were commanded to purify themselves before guarding the gates. The Levites were the worship leaders in that day. That was their job. To purify themselves meant to turn their attention inward and perform a series of self-examining rituals. Only then could they truly keep the Sabbath day holy. We must prepare in the same way. Our worship of the Lord and self-examination every day prepare us to gather together on Sunday. When we gather it should be with a sense of anticipation and also preservation. We anticipate meeting with other believers and with the Lord. As we worship and lift up His Name, we preserve a legacy of godliness that can be passed on generation to generation. It must be purposeful and intentional.
 
Wednesday – Psalms 61:5 We are not to swear, but we are instructed to make vows to the Lord and to ask His help in fulfilling them. That may seem a strange concept, but it is really not. Anytime we hear the Word of God, or open it and read it, it will begin its cleansing, purifying process in us. Many times it even begins without us noticing it. Sometimes it happens with sense of power and we are overwhelmed. But if we are exposed to the Word of God, we will be challenged and changed. As a result, we pray…we repent. That is a vow. It is the vow of an imperfect and unable servant, overwhelmed by the wishes of His master, but it is nonetheless a vow. God hears those vows, the desires of our hearts to please Him. Not only that, He has given those of us who reverence His Name, the ability to pass that desire on to our children. If we love Him and live for Him and allow Him to live through us, our children will as well. Read Is. 55:11. What will you allow God’s Word to do in you today? Write down below what God lays on your heart.
 
Thursday – Psalms 115:13–18 Sometimes pastors can be concerned with numbers. How many people attended last Sunday? How many people got saved last year? In the book of 2 Peter we are told that He is not willing that any should perish, but all would come to repentance. Here in Ps. 115, it says may the Lord add to your numbers, both yours and your children’s. God wants to bless us. He wants to bless us with the bounty of the earth. The heavens are the Lord’s, but the earth He has given to the human race. Believers who love and serve the Lord, are the ones who will inherit the earth. Ask the Lord to bless you today. Ask for blessings in every way, spiritually, mentally, physically and materially. Tell the Lord you love and reverence Him. Carry your needs to Him. Make sure you don’t call what you want, a need. But if you have a need, carry it to Him. Claim the blessings He promises in this passage and …praise the Lord, both now and forever. Hallelujah!
 
Friday – John 17:9–10 Just before He went to the cross, Jesus prayed for the believers who would carry the Message of the Cross, to the world, through the ages. Jesus prayed for us. Notice He didn’t pray for the world. I am not praying for the world… Why didn’t He pray for the world? That’s because we are God’s message to the world. If we are spiritually healthy, then we will be victorious over the world. If we walk in victory, we will show the world who Jesus is. And some will make the choice to follow Him and become new believers. That is why Jesus prayed for us and not necessarily, the world. We are His message to the world. Then in verse 10, Jesus makes a powerful statement. Everything I have is Yours and everything You have is Mine, and I have been glorified in them. This means everything God possesses belongs to Jesus and ultimately to us, as long as our hearts desire is to glorify Jesus. I pray that statement encourages you at some point today, just when you need it the most. Be blessed today.
 
Saturday – 1 Corinthians 3:19–23 …everything is yours, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God. This pretty much includes everything. Of course, we see yet another picture of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit in us, Jesus in heaven seated at the right hand of God, interceding for the Saints. Even though the wisdom of this world is foolishness and he catches the wise in their craftiness. Even though the reasonings of the wise are meaningless, and no one should boast in human leaders, for everything is yours. In other words, nothing of man can be trusted, but God has given everything to believers in Him. Everything is yours, believer in Jesus Christ! Everything is yours, Saint of the Risen Lord Jesus Christ. Read Luke 11:9-10. Pray with me. My sovereign Lord, I kneel before and admit that You are God and God alone. Father I thank You for Jesus, and Jesus, I thank You for the Holy Spirit. I ask Your continued blessing in my life. I ask You to meet the needs of our family. As we prepare to worship You on the Sabbath Day, I ask you to bless us materially that we might tithe and serve You with all our hearts. We commit all our ways to You. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.