Exiting The Blogosphere

The Johnston Family Vacation has arrived! We've been looking forward to this upcoming week in Utah for 9 months! What's in Utah? We don't know... just a 4 bedroom condo (FOUR!), and we're gonna fill it! Whatever else is in Utah will be bonus...

So, while I'll still be having DevosEveryday... I won't be posting them. I'm un-plugging.

Grace to you!
Neil

Jealous For Worship

He then brought me into the inner court of the house of the LORD, and there at the entrance to the temple, between the portico and the altar, were about twenty-five men. With their backs toward the temple of the LORD and their faces toward the east, they were bowing down to the sun in the east.

17 He said to me, "Have you seen this, son of man? Is it a trivial matter for the house of Judah to do the detestable things they are doing here? Must they also fill the land with violence and continually provoke me to anger?

Ezekiel 8:16-17

"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." 9Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
11"You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being."

Revelation 4:8-11

God is jealous for the worship He deserves. The men in Ezekiel 8 had their backs to God and worshipped the sun He created. The 24 Elders in Revelation 4 fell face down before God Almighty, casting their crowns before Him, declaring His worth.

I will worship no other. As I see the beauty of creation, it will cause me to worship the Creator.

You are worthy, Father, to receive worship from Your creation, of which I am a part. I give You this day the honor and glory that is naturally Yours. You are awesome and worthy of praise.

Saran Wrap

These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. 3Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.

Revelation 3:1-3

A reputation is just that – a reputation. It is not necessarily the truth. With God reputation means nothing because He fully knows the truth. Reputation is like Saran Wrap to God. We may cover ourselves with our ‘good’ reputation, but God sees clearly the contents of our hearts. For the church in Sardis, they had a good reputation… a reputation of being alive, but Jesus knew that they were dead. Their life and deeds were not complete in the sight of God. Jesus’ words to the church were: “Wake up! Strengthen what remains but is about to die.”
• Remember the Gospel message
• Obey it
• Repent from a life that is absent of true devotion to Christ.

I think of the recent Sprite commercials: “Image is nothing; Thirst is everything; Obey your thirst!” Nice marketing. Catchy. What’s the message to the church with a good reputation but has no deeds to substantiate it? “Reputation is nothing. Lordship is everything! Obey your Lord!” If people think well of you and you have a good reputation, but you don’t have the heart or character to substantiate your reputation – look out! Believing your own reputation will be spiritually dangerous for you.

I want/need to be a disciple who is true to the core. That my Saran Wrap of reputation would be evident to all. That what people think they see in me and what I think of myself would be consistent with the reality that God sees.

Lord Jesus, above all I want people to see You in me. Not a fake, surface representation of You in my life, but the real You living Your life through the real me. Increase my authenticity today. May I care far more about what You think about my character than what other people think. Make my good reputation a fruit of my walk with You. Make me unsatisfied with image, and fully satisfied with You as my Lord. Thank You for Your love which leads me to repentance and Your grace with makes growing in character possible. I worship You today.

Be Faithful

This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking.

Ezekiel 1:28

Ezekiel experienced the glory of the Lord and his response was the same. He fell facedown.

Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.

Revelation 2:10-11

The church in Smyrna was about to go through persecution. There was this synagogue of Satan that would bring trouble their way. Even Satan himself would bring about prison for some of the disciples. The church would soon be suffering. Jesus’ words to them were: “Be faithful.” Don’t give up, don’t give in, even to the point of death – be faithful. For those who are there is a crown of life waiting for them. “He who overcomes,” the Spirit says to the churches, “will not be hurt at all by the second death.” This requires an adjustment of thinking that cannot be done without faith. A person living for Jesus in the midst of persecution and the threat of martyrdom must make the switch. Although threatened with death, they will remain faithful to Jesus so as to overcome the second death. A first death in the body here on earth, a death you can see firsthand, must be superceded in your mind by a second death that can only be seen by faith. The temptation is to lose faith, not believe the word of Christ and to escape the first death however possible. Jesus’ words to the church: Be Faithful. The one who overcomes is the one who escapes the second death, not the first. How do you overcome? Not by escaping persecution and pursuing a life of ease, but you overcome by being faithful. As we see and understand by faith the nature of eternity, and submit ourselves to the Lordship of Jesus (regardless of the circumstances), we overcome.

Living in a free society might mean spiritual bondage for me. The tactics of the enemy may be less overt, but the call to faithfulness remains the same! I need to overcome this world that I can see for that which is to come… that which can only been seen by faith.

Lord Jesus, give me the spirit of an overcomer. One who is sold out for Your Kingdom - unwilling to compromise for the kingdom of this world. Unswerving in my commitment to You. Unashamed of the gospel of Christ. I pray for boldness this day to be the man of God You are calling me to be. By Your Spirit, I live and pray.

As Though Dead

On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 11which said: "Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea."

12I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13and among the lampstands was someone "like a son of man,"[a]dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. 14His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.

17When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

Revelation 1:10-18

John hears the voice of Jesus behind him, giving him instructions. When John turned around to look at Him, he saw the glory of Jesus! He falls at His feet as though dead. Jesus touches him and says ‘Do not be afraid.’ This is the consistent message to people when they see the glory of God Almighty (Luke 2:9-10). John’s response will be everyone’s, I believe. Every knee with bow and every tongue confess… (Philippians 2). “Look, He is coming with the clouds and every eye will see Him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of Him. So shall it be! Amen.” (Revelation 1:7).

Jesus is glorious! He is loving, kind and gentle – and these qualities, while true, can cause me to be too comfortable with Jesus. He is my friend and He is God Almighty, the First and the Last. When I see Jesus face to face, my response will most likely be like John’s! I will fall on my face as though dead. He is glorious…

My worship of Jesus is not to be because of how my life is better because of it, although it is. My worship needs to be because He is glorious! There is no other like Him. No other deserves worship. No other holds the keys of death and Hades in His hands.

Lord Jesus, Your Name is above every other name. You are the Living One who gives life and sustains it by Your very Word. You are the First and the Last; the Alpha and Omega, the One who was and is and is to come. I am in awe of You… Forgive me for taking You for granted, ever! Forgive me for considering You in any way less than who You are. Thank You for placing Your hand on me and saying, ‘Do not be afraid.’ My trust and my life are in You.

The Plans

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:11-13

This letter to the exiles off in Babylon is true for all of us, isn’t it? God has a plan for us – and it’s a good plan. He doesn’t want harm to come to us, but blessing. We will prosper as we live out His plan for our lives.

How do I know His plan? God’s plan for my life is centered around my relationship with Him. Through Jesus I am a son of the Most High. My life in Him is prosperous! I will seek and find Him when I seek Him with all my heart.

This day, Father, I give You my full devotion, my full attention and all of my heart. I want to live in step with Your Spirit, so guide me in the ways and thoughts you have for me today. In Christ I pray.

30 Years

I realized earlier today that this is the 30th Anniversary of my baptism into Christ. I'm grateful and nostalgic a bit. It's been quite a ride...

He is good!

Agreeing With God

But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.

1 John 1:7

God is light – in Him there is no darkness. If we walk in the light and not in the darkness… if we are honest about who we are; our need for a Savior; if we are truthful and transparent; if we agree with God about the most important of things – what’s the result?

1. We have fellowship with one another
2. The blood of Jesus purifies us from all sin

The way to be free from the ugliness and weight of sin is not to pretend that you are not plagued with it. This is lying… this is walking in the darkness. The way to be released and set free from the devastation of sin is to own up to it. When we are honest about our sin, this is walking in the light. This level of authenticity creates “koinonia” – biblical fellowship! And the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. Amazing! We are free.

May the peoples praise You, O God;
May all the peoples praise You.
May the nations be glad and sing for joy for You rule the peoples justly and guide the nations of the earth.
May the peoples praise You, O God;
May all the peoples praise You.

Psalm 67:3-5

No King But Caesar

It was the day of Preparation of Passover Week, about the sixth hour.
"Here is your king," Pilate said to the Jews.

But they shouted, "Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!"
"Shall I crucify your king?" Pilate asked.
"We have no king but Caesar," the chief priests answered.

John 19:14-15

The Jews despised the Romans and hated being under the rule of Caesar, and yet they chose him over Jesus. "We have no king but Caesar." Even God is eliminated from the possibility... Caesar is king.

Do my words or actions ever deny Christ? Do I choose someone else to be king? There are others who would aspire to the position, but none that are worthy. Only Jesus is King.

Lord, I thank You for finishing the work on the cross. Your blood has set me free and I am forgiven! I reaffirm Your Kingship over the universe and over my life this day.

God's Patience Isn't Eternal

Surely these things happened to Judah according to the LORD's command, in order to remove them from his presence because of the sins of Manasseh and all he had done, including the shedding of innocent blood. For he had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, and the LORD was not willing to forgive.

2 Kings 24:3-4

After years of warning through the prophets, here in 2 Kings 24 the exile of God’s people in Judah takes place. He had brought them out of slavery in Egypt with mighty miracles. He led them for 40 years in the wilderness, providing for their needs with manna from heaven. He triumphantly led them into the Promised Land, and through Joshua, removing the peoples of the land out before them. And now, because of their sin, they were being deported to Babylon, away from God’s Presence in Jerusalem and into captivity. The Lord did this. He was “not willing to forgive.”

God is forgiving and patient, but there will come a time when His patience will end and he will thrust those who do evil away from His Presence. There will be a day when those who are not in Christ (who is God’s provision of grace to all; the way of salvation and by whom sins are forgiven) will be thrust away from God’s Presence. “Living in the absence of God” is a good definition of hell. Yes, there are those experiencing “hell on earth.” But one day the absence of God will be eternal for many souls. He is a holy God and cannot co-exist with sin.

What kind of disciple should I be?

• I should tenaciously follow Jesus, embracing the salvation found in Him and worshipping God with gladness because of His amazing provision of grace to me in Christ.
  
  
• I should be bold in my witness for Jesus, willing to take risks because if people die without Christ being their Lord, it will mean separation from God forever. That is hell.
  

It may seem like our lives don’t matter too much on the grand scheme of things, but they do! The way we live matters. Our denial of self and the sinful patterns we can so easily live in matters! Our passionate pursuit of Christ matters! God is patient and forgiving, but not forever. There will be a Judgment Day, the Bible teaches. I need to fully live in the grace of God each day and take none of them for granted.

Father, thank You for Your forgiveness and grace that is firmly found in Christ. I worship You this day because of who You are and what You have done. Send me people this day that I can be a witness of Your grace to. I want to join You in what You are doing today in the lives of people. If this means preparing thoroughly for Sunday, I will do what You’ve called me to do. If it is serving my family better than I have, I am available. If it is leading someone to Christ today, use me I pray!

There Is An Enemy

Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one. 15My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 17Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

John 17:11, 15, 17

Jesus prays to His Father for protection for His disciples. He prays that the evil one would be kept at bay; that unity would rule the day; and that His disciples would be set apart for the work of the Kingdom. This sanctification comes through the word of truth.

Life is dangerous. Following Christ is not all roses – there is trouble! Following Jesus will lead us as He went… and He was always creating trouble and disequilibrium in the hearts of people – especially leaders who were determined to protect the status quo. The danger comes because of the epic battle between God and Lucifer. God has already won the victory in Christ and Satan’s doom is sure, but he doesn’t operate as if that’s the case. There is trouble and heartache in life delivered from the pit of hell. Satan is going after those who are following Christ. He is attacking leaders in the church… and he will take out whole congregations, if he can. So Jesus prays for His disciples, that they would be protected from the evil one so that they would be one, just as He and the Father are one. Image the gloat of hell when churches are divided and split. How many months or years will it take for the Kingdom to advance again through those disciples? For some, never. Unity is to be protected at all costs. Jesus prayed for our protection.

Lord, give me eyes to see how the enemy is trying to gain a foothold in my life, in my family and in your church. Protect us by the power of Your Name, I ask.

Tumbleweed

5 This is what the LORD says:
"Cursed is the one who trusts in man,
who depends on flesh for his strength
and whose heart turns away from the LORD.

6 He will be like a bush in the wastelands;
he will not see prosperity when it comes.
He will dwell in the parched places of the desert,
in a salt land where no one lives.

7 "But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
whose confidence is in him.

8 He will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit."

Jeremiah 17:5-8

A fruitful tree or tumbleweed, this is the imagery here in Jeremiah 17. What makes the difference? It depends on whom you trust. Place your confidence and trust in people and you’ll be rolling around in that barren place. If your confidence is in the Lord, you’ll be planted and fruitful!

The strain and stress of life is too great not to be planted. Having roots down deep provides stability for me. Having roots drawing from the river of life provides sustenance and will be the reason there is good fruit.

Father, my confidence is in You and nowhere else. I will boast in what You will do (and have done). In the year of drought I will have no worries because I am closely connected to You. Thank you for providing everything I need for life and godliness. You are an awesome God – worthy of praise – and I worship You today.

Showing Myself As A Disciple Of Jesus

This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

John 15:8

Jesus is the vine and I am the branch. The Father is the Gardener (vs. 1). Bearing fruit requires being connected to the vine because it is the life-giving source. Jesus said, ‘Apart from me you can do nothing’ (vs. 5).

If the branch is bearing no fruit, it is cut off completely and tossed into the fire. If a branch is bearing fruit, the Gardener prunes it so that it will bear even more fruit. Ooh! Pruning! Not an enjoyable experience, but done so that more fruit is produced… and this brings glory to the Gardener. “He is quite the Gardener… look at the fruit on THAT branch! He knows what He is doing.”

“This is to my Father’s glory,” Jesus said, “that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

What do I need to bear fruit for God’s glory? I must remain connected to the vine and embrace the Gardener’s pruning. Remaining connected to Jesus will mean being in relationship with Him. Devotionally loving Him and receiving love from Him. Finding my identity in Him. It will also require obedience. Jesus also said, “If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love” (vs. 10). He, of course, is my example. “Just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in His love.”

Lord Jesus, thank You for giving me life and for producing your good fruit through me. Father, I embrace the pruning You want to do in my today so that You may receive more glory.

They're Gonna Be Mad

...I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.

John 8:28-29

This was true of Jesus and it ticked people off. The religious leaders wanted to kill him. May it be true of me...

May I do nothing on my own, but speak only what the Father has taught me, realizing that Jesus is always with me (Matthew 28:20). He has not left me alone. May I always do what pleases Him. (And if I do, it's gonna tick people off...)

Lord, I want to please you, not people. Thank you for the promise that you are always with me.

Strong And Loving

One thing God has spoken,
two things have I heard:
that you, O God, are strong,

and that you, O Lord, are loving.
Surely you will reward each person
according to what he has done.

Psalm 62:11-12

What an awesome God we have! He is perfect in all He does… and perfect in how He relates to people. He is strong and He is loving! If He was strong but not loving, we would not exist. We would be gone as a species for God cannot co-exist with sin. He would have long ago, without any difficulty, done away with sinners. His grace towards us in Christ comes from a heart of love.

If God were loving but not strong, we might feel His care for us, but there would be no hope for a better life. Without His strength God would not be “my mighty rock and my refuge” (vs. 7). “He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken” (vs. 2). God is a rock and He provides Himself to us as the security and strength we need for living. With all the uncertainty of life, it is a powerful thing to place your trust in God Almighty. Regardless of what happens, He is Sovereign. We can place our full confidence in Him because He is strong, and not even the powers of darkness will alter His plan and purpose. God, by His strength, will receive great glory.

“I am more sinful than I realize and more loved that I can imagine.” Through God’s strength and love my sin is taken care of in Jesus and my future as a son of the Most High is promised. For God so LOVED the world…

Father, my soul finds rest in You alone. It finds trouble and heartache everywhere else. My salvation comes from You. You alone are my Rock and my Salvation. You alone are my Fortress and I will not be shaken. You are my Mighty Rock and my Refuge. I worship You today for Your infinite strength and Your amazing love. Thank You for being strong and loving toward me. I look to You… I fix my eyes on Jesus… and I thank You that You will finish what You’ve begun in my life. Thank You that I can live for You this day and that You will reward me according to what I have done. You are an awesome God… and I live for You today.