EVE

On the day before Christmas, many get ready with last minute actions for tomorrow. For some it is a trip to the grocery store to buy baking ingredients. Others trek to the mall to find that elusive gift for someone special. This is a day of preparation and especially for children, one of anticipation.

However, a far greater eve than the time we celebrate Jesus’ birth is upon us. A much more important day arrives. To celebrate His birth we remember the cosmic grandness of God’s love (John 3:16). Awaiting His return, we center upon His awesome judgment and the fulfillment of His promise to liberate us from our fallen nature. Sadly, too many Christians invest in the birthday at the expense of the birthright.

Meditation

2 Thessalonians 3:1,2—Finally, pray for us, brothers, that the Lord’s message may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not all have faith.

When you gather around a decorated tree and celebrate a gift exchange, will you ask God to reveal His Gift to the countless masses clueless to His love? When you eat food with loved ones remember the purpose of the Bread of Life. When you sing cheerful carols to Christ and melancholy reminders of the lowly Babe, remember that “Go tell it on the mountain!” is far more concerned with propagating the good news of salvation.

If Christmas is not a pleasant day for you and conjures memories of abuse and pain, look ahead to the eve of Jesus’ return and take hope. We can learn from Scripture, which aside from the gospel account of Jesus birth, records no passages of followers gathering to reflect on nativity. They focused on the priority of telling Jews and Gentiles of His life and what that life meant (Romans 10:8-10). The cross and not the manger is what spurred their sense of urgency. Paul asked for prayer that the gospel would spread quickly and receive honor. It is the most important message of all time.

Merry Christmas! Thank God for the birth of His Son. Celebrate! Moreover, when the winds of this birthday celebration pass, ask God to renew in your heart the willingness to do all you can to prepare people for the day He returns. “Besides this, knowing the time, it is already the hour for you to wake up from sleep, for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed” (Rom. 13:11). Is not the greatest eve to know and to be prepared for the Day of the Lord and the brightness of His coming? Something to think about . . . in reveration!

Inspiration

Had I a thousand souls, if they were worth any thing, I would give them all to God; but I have nothing to give, when all is done . . . It is impossible for any rational creature to be happy without acting all for God; God Himself could not make him happy any other way.—David Brainerd

DISCOURAGEMENT

Wando* and I drove to Tigard to pick up the parts we needed to fix the broken pipe in my garage. The first two hardware stores we checked did not have the couplings necessary to fix the half-inch pipe so we had plenty of time to chat. Wando shared about his failed marriage. It bothered him that his life bore the stain of an unsuccessful relationship. I took the opportunity to share with him about Jesus and how essential I believe the Son of God is to holding marriages together. He agreed in the importance of “a higher power.” I hope I get to talk to him again—I want to share that his fulfillment is not tied to a woman.

Meditation

Ezra 9:3,4—When I heard this report, I tore my tunic and robe, pulled out some of the hair from my head and beard, and sat down devastated. Everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me, because of the unfaithfulness of the exiles, while I sat devastated until the evening offering.

If devastation is the sudden realization of disaster, discouragement is the lingering pain of when will life ever be right. Ezra returned to his homeland from Babylon. Once back in Jerusalem, God’s holy priest discovered that the Israelite people, to include priests and Levites, took wives from the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians and Amorites. God strictly warned them not to do this. The act of intermarrying often led to worshipping foreign idols and turning away from Yahweh.

Realizing the severity of their sin, the people gathered around Ezra. Together they wept bitterly. It was the rainy season and the weather reflected the gloomy spirits. If you have ever seen a five-day-old helium balloon, you have an idea of their energy level. Then Shecaniah, a suffering bystander, proposed a difficult solution. “Let us therefore make a covenant before our God to send away all the foreign wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God. Let it be done according to the law. Get up, for this matter is your responsibility, and we support you. Be strong and take action!” (10:3,4)

An energized Ezra got up and made the leaders take an oath to do what Shec proposed. A proclamation circulated calling the people to separate from their foreign wives. The people responded in agreement. Can you imagine this happening today? The outcry, legal maneuvering and excuses not to obey God would fall thicker than a heavy rain. Perhaps this is why discouragement is so prevalent among God’s children. Have we become so conditioned to living as we please, that we refuse to take the difficult steps to be holy? I believe the cure to discouragement is to do what is right. God is pleased when we obey Him. He empowers us when we move in accordance with His will not when we move by the dictates of our flesh. Friend, if you are discouraged, ask God to show you what you need to do. Get up and do it. Be strong and take action! If you need prayer or moral support, send us an email—we’re behind you!

Inspiration

God grant we may get to the place where discouragement is as impossible to us as it was to the Lord Jesus. The one dominant note of His life was the doing of His Father’s will.—Oswald Chambers in Run Today’s Race

*Not his real name

SELF-CENTERED

I make it a habit to read the Bible daily because I want to grow in my relationship with God and I need the wisdom His word gives to help me live in a God-pleasing manner. Sometimes Scripture jumps from the pages and slaps me. Such was the case recently when reflecting on 1 John 1:3,4.

This is how we are sure that we have come to know Him: by keeping His commands. The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” without keeping His commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”

If I know God, why don’t I keep His commands? If I have a love relationship with Him, why then do I still have a lust relationship with the world? If I’m reading John correctly, lust of the flesh and lust of the eyes cannot cohabit with love for God. “If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him” (2:15b). This profoundly disturbs me. Obviously, I don’t know and love God very well. Too often, my thoughts course down Self-Centered River. My boat seems inexorably caught in currents that flow away from His presence. The intimacy I crave for with Him is sabotaged by intomesee.

Meditation

Haggai 1:9—“You expected much, but then it amounted to little. When you brought the harvest to your house, I ruined it. Why?” This is the declaration of the LORD of Hosts. “Because My house still lies in ruins, while each of you is busy with his own house.”

The prophet Haggai relayed to his countrymen God’s displeasure with them. Instead of rebuilding His temple and worshiping Him, they were preoccupied with their own things. While the temple sat in ruins, the Israelites looked after personal needs. Because of their self-centered attitude, God kept them from experiencing blessing. He knew they were not in love with Him!

The paradox of spiritual blessing is that it comes at the cost of personal indulgence. Jesus stated clearly that if we want to pursue Him we must deny self-wants (Luke 9:23). In essence, the mark of spiritual intimacy is the disappearance of self-gratifying love. God’s command is “Do not love the world.” How do we know what worldly love is? When extended to its conclusion it is meaningless. Possessions wear out and leave us unfulfilled. The best lust ends in death. Feelings lead to failings. Nature fades the planet burns. Anything we pursue that pulls us away from God is pointless.

God is not saying we cannot experience pleasure—that would contradict His purpose in creating us. I believe what He is saying is that it displeases Him when we are so busy with our own house that we neglect His house (Him). Disobedience is intimacy’s cancer. Our kingdom must never displace His Kingdom. So how do I remove my self-centered bent? I need God’s help. I cry out, “Lord, I want to know You, but I don’t know how to rid my heart of its idols. Help me. I’m sorry for letting the love of me displace the love for You. Thank You for forgiving me. Please let me know and fully love You. Help me to be what You intended when You made me to love You. Without You, I am nothing.”

Inspiration

Whenever self comes into the ascendant, the life of the Son of God in us is perverted and twisted; there is irritation, and His life suffers. Growth in grace stops the moment we get huffed.—Oswald Chambers in Grow Up Into Him

AFRAID

My friend David Brown was in a bicycle accident and broke his neck. Aside from the reality that he should be dead, I cannot imagine how he felt when he was fully conscious and realized that he was dealing with significant paralysis.

Meditation

2 Chronicles 20:2-4—People came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast multitude from beyond the Dead Sea and from Edom has come to fight against you; they are already in Hazazon-tamar (that is, En Gedi). Jehoshaphat was afraid, so he resolved to seek the LORD. So he proclaimed a fast for all Judah, who gathered to seek the LORD. They even came from all the cities of Judah to seek Him.

An approaching army of astounding size moved in confidence to destroy the nation of Judah. King Jehoshaphat faced three nations intent on his eradication. No wonder he was afraid! He had several options. He could seek help from other kingdoms—a ploy frequently used. He could surrender and pay tribute to his captors. He could fight, but his army was badly outnumbered. Instead, he set his heart on God for help. Men, women and children from all around the country traveled to join him and they all literally stood together, waiting on the Lord to respond.

We honor God when we give our fear to Him. The Lord spoke directly to King Jehoshaphat and the gathered crowd through the prophet Jahaziel. He instructed them on how He would deliver them from their enemies (20:15-17). If you want to read an amazing battle account, read 2 Chronicles 20:18-30!

Like Jehoshaphat, David in his own fear had several options. He could give up and despair of life—overcome by the panic of no feeling and difficulty breathing. He could blame God for his accident and live in anger and bitterness. He could turn inward and cut out those around him. Instead, like that Judah king of old, he sought God choosing to worship Him. Daily, David covers fear with praise. He ministers to the nurses and doctors and prays for them as they provide therapy. Amazingly, he is regaining movement in his feet, hands and arms. He will walk again! Those around him cannot help but see the hand of the Almighty.

When fear fills your mouth so you can barely swallow, what do you do? How you evaluate, engage and emerge from what threatens you says much about where you invest your trust. Face your greatest enemies and know that God is greater. Give your horror to Him and peace emerges. Submit your terror to prayer and experience His arms. Death is stingless if Jesus is your selected Savior—something to think about . . . in reveration!

Inspiration

“Do not fear those who kill the body”—leave that alone, but beware of being disobedient to your own spiritual stand before God because that will kill both body and soul, that is, make you reprobate.—Oswald Chambers in The Servant as His Lord

VETERANS

Meditation

Isaiah 42:13—The LORD advances like a warrior; He stirs up His zeal like a soldier. He shouts, He roars aloud, He prevails over His enemies.

For those who believe the military is an evil profession or who decry the wearing of a uniform and the responsibility that comes with it, please consider these thoughts.

1. The prophet Isaiah uses a warrior, a soldier to provide an analogy for God’s actions.

2. The man Jesus most admired for faith during His ministry on earth was not a Jew but rather a Roman centurion. (Matthew 8:5-10)

3. When Jesus died upon the cross, betrayed, beaten horribly and abandoned by His own followers, it was a centurion with fellow soldiers who truly recognized Him as God’s Son. (Mat. 27:53,54).

4. When God revealed to Peter that the gospel was to be preached not just to Jews but to the Gentiles, it was a centurion named Cornelius that he was sent. Cornelius and his family were mightily filled with the Holy Spirit to the astonishment of Peter. (Acts 10)

5. The Apostle Paul when mentoring Timothy, used the soldier as the model by which to teach Timothy about suffering and keeping free of worldly entanglements. (2 Timothy 2:3,4)

6. Before sending out His disciples a second time to minister, He instructed each without a sword to sell his robe in order to buy one. (Luke 22:35,36)

7. Nowhere in Scripture does God forbid serving in the military. Not once in the gospels do we find Jesus speaking against the Romans that occupied Israel, or forbidding believers from serving in the military. The reason for this is clear—so long as we live in a fallen world where evil is committed, we will need armies, police forces and civil defenders.

Perhaps the reason the Bible portrays soldiers favorably is because a soldier knows that he must be honorable and be willing to lay down his life for his nation if he is to be successful. Is it not true for followers of Christ, that we must be willing to live holy lives and to die if necessary to be true to our faith and allegiance to God? So on this Veterans Day, perhaps it would be good to remember about warriors:

They are not dead—they are alive. Men and women still serving—an ongoing expression of duty and devotion to the United States and the constitutional principles written in its foundation. Some are recently retired and look back with mixed emotions on a career that demanded sacrifice, created a “band of brothers” and wrought pain, joy, wisdom, and a cascading range of feelings born beneath a uniform. Some are aged and think back to their time when much was different and sacrifice was measured often by an entire nation gripped with war. They don’t understand so many of the values and thoughts espoused today but they stand ever tall to those hallowed words, duty, honor, country.

They are not dead—they are wounded. Some carry the hidden demons of horror and know the sweat-stained sheets of nights rolled in restless nightmare. Theirs is the burden of explosions, ambushes, the searing pain of bullets tearing flesh and the ever-present fear, “I might not make it.” Some have fought these memories of yesterday for decades, scarred as well by the shameful treatment they received by thoughtless citizens upon returning to the very people for whom they fought. Some are more recent returnees, mostly from deserts of searing heat and an enemy whose concept of life is as twisted as the metal fragments blown outward by their ideological hatred. These veterans left spouses and children, jobs and friends countless times to serve an overstretched military. They are the new faces of PTSD, the amazing heroes who sacrificed limbs and measured loss and yet still press forward to serve and to matter.

They are dead. They lie in ground known and unknown—silent testaments to sacrifice; souls in the hands of God. Some will rise to reward, all will rise for judgment. Male and female, they paid the ultimate price—laying down their lives for their comrades, their families, their friends, their countrymen and strangers in the very land they fought or worked. They no longer march but their ranks still pass us by. Their lineage is that of patriots.

These are your veterans—Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Navy and Marines. They deserve your moment of silent recognition. They appreciate deeply your thanks. Gratitude matters.

To all of you who serve, may God bless you and keep you safe and may God bless America.

Inspiration

Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved.—Martin Luther

AKABA

In 1931, a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit took place in Rwanda. Believers in several nations prayed for God to transform Rwandan lives. Consequently, men and women became deeply convicted of their wrongdoing and in true repentance humbled themselves confessing their sins. Those who had wronged others apologized and made restitution. At the center of Rwandan revival, new believers were called Abaka, which meant “those on fire.” As A.C. Stanley Smith wrote in his book, Road to Revival, joy constantly reflected in the faces of these believers and everywhere they went they modeled powerful testimony.

Wherever the Holy Spirit transforms lives there is the unmistakable face marking of joy. An altered life is like a newly commissioned beacon. But a lit match is not the same as a roaring forest fire. When peace is elusive, famine common, water polluted, debt ascendant and emptiness a bestseller one or two new believers hardly garners the attention of the lost. This is a great time for us to pray for Abaka—a large harvesting of new believers!

Imagine what would happen if your city became so convicted of sin that instantaneously people fell on their knees and cried out to God for forgiveness! Can the Holy Spirit charge dead cells of entire neighborhoods with the roaring love of Jesus if they will cry out for the Savior? I believe He can and I suspect you do as well.

Meditation

2 Chronicles 7:13,14—If I close the sky so there is no rain, or if I command the grasshopper to consume the land, or if I send pestilence on My people, and My people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.

Sin is a sure determinant in keeping God from awesomely working through His children to bring revival. If we are feeling the effects of divine punishment, we ought to understand that we have opportunity to apply a scriptural prescription found in 2 Chronicles 7:14. This inspired word from heaven tells us how to gain God’s favor which is a huge precursor to revival. First, we who are called by God’s name, must humble ourselves. Our pride is the sure symptom of spiritual dystrophy. Second, we must pray and seek God’s face. This is not a one-time formulaic prayer but rather a persevering heart cry! Alongside prayer comes our third step, we must turn from our wicked ways. God never flowers what sin waters. A historical study of revivals shows that when these conditions are present, God often brings Akaba.

Inspiration

If God’s people would only accept their sacred role as the army of God, if they would call one another to God’s priority of prayer, if they would join one another in militant, Spirit-guided, Spirit-anointed intercession, we could see Satan defeated and revival visitations descend from God. We could see the greatest harvest of souls we have ever known.—Wesley L. Duewel in Touch the World through Prayer

AUTHLICISM

Often when I am driving on the road for long periods of time, I will tune in to listen to different radio talk shows. I have observed a pattern across the spectrum of those who claim to represent conservative America. Often they speak disrespectfully of politicians with statements like “he is an idiot” or “she is a moron.” They mockingly belittle the mental competency of their intended targets or accuse them of evil motives. Several of these hosts skillfully move between humor and anger and it is easy to be sucked into the emotion-charged airwaves.

Meditation

Romans 13:1-4—Everyone must submit to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist are instituted by God. So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God's command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves . . . For government is God's servant to you for good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For government is God's servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one who does wrong.

While it is okay to speak out against corruption or question policy, we must be wary that we don’t become disrespectful and ugly towards those who are in positions of authority. For by judging and smearing those appointed to lead us, we give up the high ground of spiritual nobility for the sleazy soil of slander. By speaking against leaders, we may unwittingly speak against God for as the wise prophet Daniel noted, “He (God) changes the times and seasons; He removes kings and establishes kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding” (Daniel 2:21).

Watchman Nee wrote in Love Not The World, “Wherever in the world a nation’s government is left to itself, it follows its natural course which is further and further away from God.” But why camp on the bluff of disparagement? We know the world is an evil place—this is not some shocking revelation. Ought we not to pray for those in power? Shouldn’t we cry out to God to work His will, to redeem the unholy, to fix what is broken and to give us opportunity to be His rightful ambassadors? No government officials will find Jesus in the language of smear and vitriol spoken by those who claim to be His followers. Why wouldn’t authorities look to marginalize and hurt those engaged in destroying them verbally? Jesus said, “bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:28).

Not only should we pray for those who rule, we are expected to “Submit to every human institution because of the Lord, whether to the Emperor as the supreme authority, or to governors as those sent out by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.” (1 Peter 2:13,14). Paul coached Titus in a time of great governmental corruption to share with those he taught the following:

Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to slander no one, to avoid fighting, and to be kind, always showing gentleness to all people. For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, captives of various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another. (Titus 3:1-3)

God never asks us to submit to laws or obey decrees that violate His moral and higher authority. For example, we have the right to refuse unlawful orders or lawful orders that put us in direct violation of what God commands. Peter respectfully reminded his Jewish authorities who ordered him not to mention the name of Christ, “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).

Our challenge as God’s children is not to engage in conduct unbecoming saints. There is no glory in ruler-bashing or attacking leaders with saber-sharp language. I have coined a word for such behavior. I call it authlicism—criticizing those who are in positions of authority with disrespectful language. We don’t have to find satisfaction from our tongue; we should be living in victory through the One in our hearts who is Lord of all! Something to think about . . . in reveration!

Inspiration

There is not a square inch in the whole domain of human existence over which Christ, who is sovereign over all, does not cry out “Mine!”—Abraham Kuyper, former Dutch prime minister and theologian.

PROMISCUOUS

One of the reasons I love to study the Bible is the amazing way God speaks to the times in which we live. Read what the prophet Hosea wrote to his countrymen sometime between 755 and 722 B.C. and see if his words speak to your nation.

Meditation

Hosea 4:1-14—Hear the word of the LORD, people of Israel, for the LORD has a case against the inhabitants of the land: There is no truth, no faithful love, and no knowledge of God in the land! Cursing, lying, murder, stealing, and adultery are rampant; one act of bloodshed follows another. For this reason the land mourns, and everyone who lives in it languishes, along with the wild animals and the birds of the sky; even the fish of the sea disappear. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge . . . They will eat but not be satisfied; they will be promiscuous but not multiply; for they have abandoned their devotion to the LORD. Promiscuity, wine, and new wine take away [one's] understanding . . . For a spirit of promiscuity leads them astray; they act promiscuously in disobedience to their God . . . People without discernment are doomed.

At the root of our vast national decline is our lack of knowledge of God. We have abandoned a thirst to know Him with a craving to please our flesh. The result of this headlong plunge into pleasure is the replacement of truth with lies, the betrayal of fidelity for unabated lust and ignorance of God whereby cursing, lying, murder, stealing and adultery paint the walls of our cities. Degenerate people cause the land and all that live in it to suffer. Instead of the proliferation of evil driving people to return to God, the opposite occurs—an insatiable appetite screams for worse. The liturgy of promiscuity worships with two key words, “Please me!” For flesh to be gratified, anything based on truth must be discredited and labeled as intolerant and wrong. The Creator is disobeyed and unwise people are doomed.

So what do we do when society manifests all the signs of a freefall to hell? Certainly, this is not the time for isolation. Seclusion results in obsolescence (no longer useful). Hosea did not hide in the hills when Israel was dying; he took God’s message to the streets. Certainly, this is not the time to fear, cowardice only reaps defeat. This is not the time to doubt. God’s omnipresence is not earth-exclusive nor is His power muted by fools. This is not the time for brotherly backbiting! Unity is essential wherever ignorance and wickedness speak. This is the time to run after God, to seek His presence and in living for Him enable others to see Him. This is the time to know God. Anything that scorns or disdains pursuing Him is promiscuous.

Inspiration

A beetle in dung thinks himself a king.—Paul Vithayathil in Proverbs and Wise Sayings

VOID

Have you ever boycotted a product because its maker was associated with wrongdoing? A company that endorses corruption or whose reputation is tainted by sleazy actions will not last long. Reputation is not something to be taken lightly.

Meditation

1 Chronicles 5:1—These were the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel. He was the firstborn, but his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel, because Rueben defiled his father’s bed. He is not listed in the genealogy according to birthright.

Reuben could have been one of the most popular names in the mideast and western world. As Jacob’s firstborn of twelve sons, he was the possessor of the birthright which entitled him to a double portion of inheritance (see Deuteronomy 21:15-17) and royal succession might have followed through his sons. Unfortunately, Reuben made a huge blunder. Genesis 35: 22 records, “While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father's concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard of it.” This was an outrageous affront, a brazen act of disrespect to his dad. Unfortunately, it was not the only thing Reuben did wrong. He had a reputation for being “turbulent as water.” On Israel’s deathbed as he spoke final words over his sons, he refrained from blessing Reuben, instead telling him he would no longer excel (Gen. 49:4). His birthright went to Joseph’s sons Ephraim and Manasseh. Rueben’s tribe never really amounted to much.

If history ran its normal course, do you realize that you and I would be void? Because a holy God cannot associate with evil, by His own right standard of justice we should be eternally separated from His presence. In effect, we would have no spiritual inheritance. I don’t know about you, but I (too my shame), can think of many things I have done that were wrong, that clearly violated God’s law. I am guilty. I have no excuse. My tribe of one, would be exiled forever to some superheated plot in hell were it not for Jesus.

If sin makes us void, grace makes us valid. But we have to renounce our sin and follow Jesus to receive that grace. If we continuously choose to ignore what God wants, to have what we want, then grace clearly is not at work in us. A life changed by the Holy Spirit resists sin. A life continually running after sin will fill a space void of God and void of meaning.

Inspiration

“Void” means the aftermath of destruction by judgement, or the result of Divine judgement.—Oswald Chambers in Biblical Psychology

ANGELS

On several occasions, I have read or heard amazing testimonies of people who experienced God’s deliverance via angels from an enemy intent on their destruction. God’s Word extensively teaches us about angels with over a 105 references to them in the Old Testament and more than 170 times in the New Testament. The Bible teaches that angels:

· were created by God prior to earth’s creation—Psa. 148:2-5.

· initially were all good, but when Lucifer turned against God, he was able to coax a large number into following him in rebellion. We call evil angels demons—Rev. 12:9.

· take orders from God and serve Him by intervening, instructing or rescuing God’s children—Gen. 16:9; 19; 24:40; Psa. 91:11; Luke 1:26-28.

· drive out/destroy enemies so as to help God’s people and powerfully serve as God’s instruments of punishment and judgment and will one day gather and separate the wicked from the righteous—Exo. 33:2; 2 Sa. 24:16,17; 2 Ki. 19:35; Psa. 103:20; Mat. 13:41,49; Rev. 7:2.

· are incorporeal (without material form) and often invisible—Num. 22:25-31; Heb. 1:14.

· can appear as people—Gen. 18:1-8; Heb. 13:2.

· immediately transport from place to place not effected by fire or elements on earth—Jud. 6:21; 13:20.

· are completely reliable as God’s servants—1 Sa. 29:9.

· are able through God to predict future events to people—Jud 13:3.

· evidently eat food in heaven—Psa. 78:25.

· praise the Lord and live in His presence in heaven—Psa. 103:20, 148:2; Rev. 7:11.

· appear to people in dreams to provide instruction—Mat. 2:13.

· may actually be assigned (guardians) to protect people—Mat.18:10.

· are unmarried and pattern what we will experience after the resurrection—Mat. 22:30.

· can bring healing to people—John 5:4.

· help bring the gospel message to the lost—Acts 10:22.

· will return with Jesus when He comes back—Mat. 25:31.

· are prominent in heaven and seem to have a rank structure—Luke 12:8,9 Eph. 1:20,21; Col. 1:16.

· experience emotions such as joy and have their own mind (wisdom) and will—Luke 15:10; 2 Sam. 14:20; Rev. 22:8,9.

· are eternal—Luke 20:36.

· are not to be worshiped but must themselves worship God—Col. 2:18; Heb. 1:6.

· are countless in number—Rev. 5:11.

· fight against Satan and his demons—Rev.12:7.

Meditation

1 Kings 19:5-7—Then he [Elijah] lay down and slept under the broom tree. Suddenly, an angel touched him. The angel told him, “Get up and eat.” Then he looked, and there at his head was a loaf of bread baked over hot stones and a jug of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again. Then the angel of the LORD returned a second time and touched him. He said, “Get up and eat, or the journey will be too much for you.”

Elijah, on the heels of a great victory over false prophets went into a panic when the wicked queen of Israel, Jezebel, threatened to murder him. He fled for his life and yet in the midst of great despair to the point of giving up on life, God sent an angel to minister to him. Elijah didn’t ask God to dispatch an angel to rescue him. The Bible doesn’t tell us if he even recognized his benefactor as an angel. It just informs us that he was strengthened by the food and water he received.

Do you ever wonder if God protects your life or provides for you supernaturally through an angel? Angels did not cease working after the time of the apostles—nowhere does the Bible even hint to such a thing. So we can safely assume that they are active on the earth serving God’s purposes today. This encourages me to be more alert for them, to live more obediently since angels may be observing my behavior, and to be more mindful that when I am in trouble, it makes good sense to call out to God for His help. He has an enormous body of beings able to make a difference. We are not alone and that’s something to think about . . . in reveration!

BOWLING

The difference between a strike and a split is but a matter of inches. If the bowling ball hits the center pocket correctly, all ten pins fall down. But if the ball veers just slightly off its intended course all kinds of crazy formations can appear to include the dreaded split where pins are left standing on opposite sides of the lane. I had my share of splits last night as the bowling ball just missed the strike zone!

Meditation

Psalm 25:4-5—Make Your ways known to me, LORD; teach me Your paths. Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; I wait for You all day long.

When I try to live life on my terms, I have a great idea of what needs to happen. Unfortunately, the result of self-determination is truth deviation. My path leads to problems. To negotiate life correctly, I need to be on God’s path. King David was probably not a bowler, but he knew all about center pocket living. Here’s what he reveals in Psalm 25.

1. We need the Lord to show us His ways. His ways are perfect! This calls for prayer on our part—asking for God’s help.

2. We need to be teachable so we can learn God’s paths. This calls for humility.

3. We have to be malleable so that God is able to guide us in His truth. This calls for flexibility and a willingness to be directed.

4. Our eyes have to look to God for His direction at all times. This calls for patience and eyes that look not to the world but to God for instruction.

Psalm 25 offers more great news.

The LORD is good and upright; therefore He shows sinners the way. He leads the humble in what is right and teaches them His way. All the LORD’s ways show faithful love and truth to those who keep His covenant and decrees . . . Who is the person who fears the LORD? He will show him the way he should choose. (vs. 8-10,12)

Despite our tendency to find the gutter, God is willing to show us His way. He honors the humble by revealing His leading will. His mannerisms are full of love as we do our part to obey Him. When we revere Him, He reveals for us. Given what God offers isn’t it amazing how quick we are to ignore Him or miss His instruction and try and negotiate life by our own stubborn will! Let’s remember where our salvation comes from and live accordingly!

Inspiration

Prosperity in home, in business, and in every way comes from following God’s instructions in each detail.—Oswald Chambers in Biblical Psychology