GOD SEEKS A MAN!

Ezekiel 22:30 (NKJV) So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.

When the Prophet Ezekiel penned these words under the inspiration and dictation of the Lord, great evil was being done throughout the land. This verse follows a long list of wrongs done by God's people - including other prophets. God was speaking through the Prophet Ezekiel, looking for a man who would have faith in God in spite of the storm of public opinion to the contrary. God has always wanted better for mankind than mankind wants for himself. And that is true for you, too. God wants better for you than you want for yourself, too often.

So God is looking for a certain kind of man. He is looking for a man of faith. The man of faith would have to be willing to do some things that the world might find strange, even offensive. He would have to buck the culture. He would have to articulate God's goodness to a world that otherwise couldn't see it. He would have to warn the world about God's justice to a world that otherwise didn't believe it. That kind of man is needed today.

That kind of man is needed in our homes. Our children are being thrust into indoctrination camps we call public schools five days a week. Our children come home with strange new ideas they've heard from their teachers and peers only to sit in front of a screen for hours of follow-up indoctrination through the TV or internet. Who will have the courage to take measures in the homes to stand in the gap? Moms? But the kids need DAD to do it, too. His example and active influence is unparalleled. If he is disinterested, Mom's influence is diminished greatly. If he is uninvolved, Mom's influence is diminished greatly. If he openly opposes faith, Mom's influence can be removed all together. Dads need to stand in the gap between God and the world to protect their families.

That kind of man is needed in our public square. All corners of the square, from business, to schools, to medicine, to law, and everything in between face the temptations and morays to serve self rather than truth. God is truth. There is a great move to get God and His morals out of the public square. And so corruption moves in. Who will be a man and stand in the gap? We need a man of faith, a man who trusts that God will both protect and provide for him as he stands before his community to declare that God is real, good, and just. No wrong will go unpunished, and no good unrewarded. Who will be that man?

That kind of man is needed in global society and politics for the same reason as in the public square. He is needed in the courts for the same reason. He is needed wherever corruption, blasphemy, and paganism rule, for God is not mocked, and will pour out His indignation on them for their wicked disregard for His Holiness and Truth. They will learn of their lies at the judgment, and then pay for their deeds. Their only hope is that someone, some man, will stand in the gap and warn them of this in time for them to repent and turn to God's only Hope for Mankind - Jesus Christ, God's Son. 

What Jesus did on Calvary's Cross was to take the full wrath of God upon Himself for these sins of corruption and faithlessness. All who will receive Him as Lord of their life (Commander in Chief) and turn from their wicked ways to follow Jesus' ways, will be spared the wrath of God. Those who will not turn to follow Jesus will face God's wrath themselves.

What kind of man will trust God and love his fellow man enough to stand in the gap and warn his fellows, his family, and his friends?  Will YOU be that man?

And that's "Just A Thot" for today.

May the Lord bless you as you heed His Word today!

HOLINESS, NOT HAPPINESS

Contrary to popular opinion, God's greatest wish is NOT our happiness, it's our HOLINESS.  Jesus didn't die to make us happy, He died to make us holy.  He didn't forgive us so we could be free of guilty feelings, He forgave us so we would be free of the penalty for our sin - eternal separation from our righteous Creator. 

A change in our lifestyle, interests, and pursuits is in order.  Before salvation, we lived for ourselves, we did ungodly things, and we were unholy in our thoughts and our deeds.  We had no hope of being able to do or think rightly, godly, and purely.  But God, in His mercy, sent Jesus to pay our penalty on the Cross of Calvary.  God in His grace, offers this truth to all men, that those who receive salvation through Jesus Christ will learn to deny the ungodliness and worldly lusts and live for the godly, rightous, and pure ways of God.  There really IS a way out of much of the pain of living in this world - and it is by living for Jesus rather than self!

Titus 2:11-14 (KJV) ¹¹  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, ¹²  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; ¹³  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; ¹⁴  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

This means that the drug addicted, sex addicted, homosexual, rapist, murdering, abortionist, lying, stealing, bitter, lonely, drunken, judgmental, angry, hopeless, fearful, gluttonous, deviant persons in this world have hopes of being made pure and right with God forever.  The salvation that Jesus brings is a salvation from all these things, not a means of gaining happiness through them, or an excuse to continue. 

But before you try to reform yourself to obtain that salvation, you'd better think again.  It is not in the deed that the sin resides.  It is in the desire!  That means that you'll need to be made into someone you aren't!  And that is exactly what the grace of God is when applied to your life.  God makes you a new creature in Christ Jesus - complete with new desires, abilities, and purpose in life. 

2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Suddenly, happiness is intertwined with holiness.  What will now make you happy is that God has made you holy!  And you will work alongside the Lord to grow in holiness.

Are you saved?  Is living for Jesus an act of gratitude for His grace to you by making you perfectly holy in God's sight (Your position in Christ)?  Are you living a more holy life today than you were yesterday (Your practice in Christ)? 

If not, will you take a moment and repent of your sins, and seek the Lord's grace of forgiveness and ask Him to make you new today?  Give yourself to Him, let Him teach you what is sin, and purify you from it - for the rest of your life.  You will not be disappointed when holiness is your aim.

That is Just A Thought for today.  May the Lord bless you and keep you as you practice these things.

LIVING IN THE SPIRIT

Romans 8:5-6 (NKJV) ⁵  For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. ⁶  For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Sin's great origin is the nonspiritual mindset and the carnally minded heart. 

I find myself to be carnally minded, with my mind set on things of the flesh all too often.  Frustrations come when my fleshly mind is thwarted by events and circumstances.  My will is not done because the world stands between me and my desires too often. 

But when I set my mind on spiritual things, what happens to me here on earth is of little consequence.  Greater things are happening, a Greater God is in control, and my will is wrapped up in serving my Savior - come what may!  It is then that peace floods my soul, and fear, bitterness, judgment, etc. flee.  What a wonderful place to live. 

And this spiritual life is not what the world calls "spiritual."  It is what the Bible calls "spiritual."  The context of today's devotional passage reveals what the writer means by "spiritual."  He says this:  "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit." - Romans 8:1 (NKJV)  The contrast of the spirit "in Christ" is clearly made over against walking by the "flesh."  There is no true "spiritual" mindedness outside of Jesus Christ.  All spiritists should be put on notice by this at this point.

In truth, there is a bit of a problem with the way our lives work.  Our mindset affects our heart, and our hearts affect our mindset.  When we set our minds on the things of the flesh - the ways of this world - our heart begins to value and follow the world.  When our hearts value and follow the world, our thoughts are directed toward what we value and follow.  Likewise, if we set our minds on things above - Jesus Christ - our hearts are transformed from valuing earthly things to become delighted with heavenly things.  And our minds will follow.  We are also told to take every thought captive to Christ (2Corinthians 10:5).  For then, our hearts will also be captive to Him! 

And that's Just A Thought for today!  May the Lord bless you as you keep your mind stayed on Him today.

Thinking about Loving Jesus

Been thinking lately – I know, that’s a dangerous thing – about many things in the news. Wouldn’t it be nice if folks would just fall in love with Jesus again? Imagine what the outcome would be…

Folks would start imitating Christ instead of lesser heroes
Folks would start loving one another instead of loving self
Kindness would be King, and rudeness would be removed
Worship would be commonplace, and life would slow down
Grace would abound, and justice would reign
Families would stay together, and nothing could re-define what one is
Right would be right again, and wrong would be punished
Generosity would be great, and greed would be gross.
Children would be loved, and pornography would be prevented
Folks would start repenting instead of rationalizing their sins
Wisdom would win out over the merely convenient
Eternity would be more valuable than the moment
Truth would be absolute, and opinions would be relatively unimportant
Money would be used for good rather than gain
Hope would be present, and doubt would be put away
Faith would replace fear
Delight with Jesus would fill the hearts of the depressed
The Diverse would be united rather than divided
Belief would mean trust rather than mere intellectual assent
Life would be a Divine Right to all humans – regardless of age
Hospitals would be caring and compassionate instead of just a business
Heaven would be heaven because Jesus is there – and that’s all that’s needed.

Will you put the things of the Lord over the things of this world and make your circle brighter because you have fallen in love with Jesus?