04Mar
14Dec
Contend For The Faith
S. O. A. P.
Here’s Your 90 second AM Devotional!
S-cripture:
Jude 1:3b I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.O-bservation:
Many believe that Jude was the half brother of our Lord. In his short, one-chapter book, Jude writes to Christians everywhere. Theologians believe he was most certainly writing for the Church at the end of the age. However, what he says is true for any "Follower of Jesus," at any time in history. There comes a point in every believer’s life where he or she must CONTEND or fight for what they believe.A-pplication:
If Jude felt compelled to say this, then all of us must feel compelled to ... "Fight the good fight of faith." After all, St Paul said, "Wake up for our Salvation is nearer than when we first believed" (Rom. 13:11b). I'm sure there have been times in your life and mine where we each thought we could cruise through life and take somewhat of a "Spiritual Vacation." Those days are over. Signs of the time indicate that world powers are edging toward a final conflict. The issue is not are we at the end; the issue is will we run to the battle. Daily we witness radical followers of other faiths die for what they believe. Somehow, from where I sit, there is this feeling of “well that's in another place.” Surely that could never happen here. All the while, it is happening here. At the workplace, at the university, and in our neighborhoods we are now ridiculed for "Following Jesus." The question lingers, what are we to do? The brother of our Lord, the writer Jude answers ... "Contend For The Faith."P-rayer:
Dear Jesus, Today, with Your help, I will run to the battle. I'm ready to "Contend For The Faith." After all, it is MY FAITH! Amen
07Aug
When TROUBLE Is At The Door
S. O. A. P.
Here’s Your 90 second AM Devotional!
S-cripture:
Zephaniah 2:3a Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands.O-bservation:
There was a time in Judah's history when they had reached the "Tipping Point" of unrighteousness as a nation. The Lord said, through His Prophet Zephaniah, "Before My wrath comes upon you, seek me, those of you who have lived a humble and holy life." Then the Lord said in effect, "Perhaps you will be sheltered when the TROUBLE comes" (v. 3c).A-pplication:
Throughout history, when calamity comes in any culture in the form of War, Terrorism, or Natural Disasters, there are Loving, Humble, Holy people who perish with the rest. In this case Judah's sin was about to bring the wrath of God upon the nation, but first God warned the Righteous and said, "If there's ever been a day when you need to cry out to Me and humble yourself, this is THE day." We are living in a time where good has been called evil and evil has been called good. It's a time when debauchery is paraded in the streets. The day in which we live features nations who champion human rights and free speech, unless it steps on their own lifestyles. So those of us who live in the midst of a nation that dares God to respond walk around wondering what is one to do ... "When TROUBLE Is At The Door?" Well here it is. We must seek the Lord, humble ourselves, and obey God’s Word.P-rayer:
Dear Jesus, I cannot choose for others beyond my own four walls, but what I can say is this … "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!" Amen
15Nov
God Has Not Forgotten You!
S. O. A. P.
Here's your 90 second AM devotional!S-cripture:
Job 42:10 After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before.O-bservation:
When the Lord finished reprimanding Job, he also gave a severe verbal scolding to Job's three friends. Then he told Job to pray for those men. After prayer, the Bible says that God doubled Job's previous fortune back to him. In fact, the wife that told Job to curse God and die had to give birth to 10 more children!A-pplication:
The most powerful truth of this amazing story is, simply, "God Has Not Forgotten You!" Job had suffered to the point that his name is synonymous with the word suffering. In no way could Job have ever imagined that life could be, not just good again, but exceedingly and abundantly beyond anything he could possibly imagine. And yet that's exactly what the Lord did for Job. I've heard stories as a younger man from survivors of the Holocaust. They told me that while in prison they would pray to die, but certainly not for a future. They assumed God had forgotten them. The ones I've spoken with over the years only want to speak about how great the last part of their life has been. This is the truth: even when life is so bad that you've lost faith for a future ... "God Has Not Forgotten You!"
Dear Jesus,
This AM I'm reminded of the many times I've wanted to give up. Sometimes my pain helped me pray crazy prayers. But one thing I know ... "You Have Never Forgotten Me!” Thank You. AmenP-rayer:
22Aug
PEACEMAKERS
S. O. A. P
Here's your 90 second AM devotional!S-cripture:
Jeremiah 29:7 Also seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers you too will prosper.O-bservation:
Jeremiah, the Prophet over Israel at the time of their exile in Babylon, told the people: don’t be afraid of your oppressors and the great city into which you have been exiled. Instead, embrace the city. Settle there and marry and have a family in the city. Pray for the peace of the city. If it prospers, even you as a foreign exile will also prosper.A-pplication:
In 1994, during a 40-day fast, the Lord used the first part of this letter of Jeremiah to His people as a mandate for my personal mission for the rest of my life. I interpreted this Word from the Lord to say that instead of running to the suburbs in fear of the "Big Cities," I was to pray for and embrace the "Big Cities" of the world and in particular my own country. That passion eventually led us to Miami in 1998. At every point when fear would surface, my wife and I would remember the Word of the Lord from Jeremiah to us. That Word was that we were called to seek the peace of the city and prosperity over the city. That being said, we are no different than any other believer. We have all been called not to Run but to Stay and be what the "Big City" needs ... "PEACEMAKERS."