PERSONALIZING SCRIPTURE

This letter is from Paul, Jesus Christ’s slave, chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News. This Good News was promised long ago by God through his prophets in the holy Scriptures. It is the Good News about his Son, Jesus, who came as a man, born into King David’s royal family line. And Jesus Christ our Lord was shown to be the Son of God when God powerfully raised him from the dead by means of the Holy Spirit. Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name.
 
Romans 1:1-5
 
There are some passages of scripture, as God speaks to your spirit, which are appropriate for personalization. Take a verse like John 3:16 and make the pronouns speak about you.
 
‘For God so loved me that He gave me His only begotten Son, that if I believe in Him, I will not perish but I will have eternal life.’
 
How might you make Paul’s introduction to the Book of Romans (vs. 1 & 5) personal to you?
 
‘I, ______________ (insert your name), a servant of Jesus Christ, have been chosen by God to witness for Him and tell others about His Good News. Through my personal relationship with Jesus Christ, God has given me the privilege and authority to tell everyone I know what God has done for me. What He has done for me, He has also done for them, so that they will believe and obey Him, bringing glory to His name.’
 
Are you at a place in your relationship with Christ that you can say this verse like this and really mean it? Pray for God to give you the power, the strength, the courage to make this passage personal and a reality. It starts with the Good News (vs. 2-4) being your claim to redemption.

TREATMENT OF OTHERS

“Stop judging others, and you will not be judged. Stop criticizing others, or it will all come back on you. If you forgive others, you will be forgiven. If you give, you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use in giving—large or small—it will be used to measure what is given back to you.”
 
John 6:37-38
 
I have most often heard this scripture used in reference to giving in the church. “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over…”(KJV). How does the song go?
 
You can’t beat God giving, no matter how hard you try.
The more you give, the more He gives to you.
Just keep on giving because it’s really true.
You can’t beat God giving, no matter how hard you try.
 
Taken out of context, the verse is used to encourage the congregation to give but that is not what Jesus was talking about. He was talking about our not being judgmental of others. Jesus calls us not to be critical but rather to be forgiving. The measure of the mercy and compassion we show is reflective of the mercy and compassion we can expect to receive.
 
Oh yes … you can’t beat God in showing mercy, but try as hard as you can!

JESUS IS COMING BACK

“Don’t be troubled. You trust God, now trust in me. There are many rooms in my Father’s home, and I am going to prepare a place for you. If this were not so, I would tell you plainly. When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know where I am going and how to get there.”
 
John 14:1-4
 
The King James Version of this text uses the word mansion. That is a word that will catch your attention. Whether it is a mansion, a home, or just a room, how wonderful it is to know that Jesus has prepared it and know that it will be perfect … all you need.
 
God used this passage of scripture when He called me into preaching ministry. The vision was of a home among many homes that had a new resident, my uncle who had just gone home to glory. This passage was burned into my heart as it was repeated over and over at his home-going celebration.
 
What I want to catch your attention and be burned into your memory is not the part about the mansion. It is this: “When everything is ready, I will come…” Jesus is coming back and we must be ready. He has prepared the place. Have you prepared your heart? Have you trusted Jesus for your salvation? Today is the perfect day to do that if you have not already. Tomorrow may be too late. Get on your knees and ask Jesus to come into your heart and forgive you of your sins. He surely will if you mean it when you ask!

WISE COUNSEL

And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are all called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise. Use his words to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.
 
Colossians 3:15-16
 
A fight broke out among the kids at school and the young lady was so excited to tell the school bus driver about it on the ride home that afternoon. She talked about the number of kids involved and about how kids on the sidelines were taking sides. A few even jumped in. Several would get long suspensions. Then she threw in another piece of information. When sides were taken, race became a factor. Without asking, she was giving the school bus driver an opportunity for wise counsel.
 
“Now you kids have got to figure out how the ‘live at peace’ with each other. You will continue to go to school together. When you get out of school, you will have to work together.”
 
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” – Romans 12:18
 
This is just an example of how to “Use his words to … counsel each other.” No preaching … no time to open your Bible … just plain talk with His words as the basis.

THE SAME AS PAUL

But Paul replied, “I am not insane, Most Excellent Festus. I am speaking the sober truth. And King Agrippa knows about these things. I speak frankly, for I am sure these events are all familiar to him, for they were not done in a corner! King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do—”
Agrippa interrupted him. “Do you think you can make me a Christian so quickly?”
Paul replied, “Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that both you and everyone here in this audience might become the same as I am, except for these chains.”
 
Acts 26:25-29
 
The Apostle Paul’s desire that those in his audience “become the same as I am” was about something far greater than class, education, fraternity, neighborhood or any of those other things on which we put so much importance. First and foremost, he desired that they know Jesus Christ for who He was … the Messiah … the risen Lord … the Son of God. He desired that they have more than just head knowledge of Him … that they would invite Him into their heart and have a personal relationship with Him. Second, Paul desired that they too would be free to preach the Good News and witness to what Jesus had done for them. “…except for these chains…” Paul was proof that the Good News could be proclaimed in chains but how much more effective they could be without them.
 
We need some folks who are the same as Paul. Can you be counted in that group?

Overcoming Darkness

In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and he was God. He was in the beginning with God. He created everything there is. Nothing exists that he didn’t make. Life itself was in him, and this life gives light to everyone. The light shines through the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.
 
John 1:1-5
 
The world we live in is filled with darkness and we face it each and every day. When we believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, the believer is filled with the Holy Spirit of God. Get this! The world is filled with darkness. The believer is filled with the Holy Spirit.
 
“…the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.” – 1st John 4:4
 
The darkness that is in the world can never extinguish the light that is in you. Isn’t that Good News!

ONLY THE RIGHTEOUS

Our city is now strong! We are surrounded by the walls of God’s salvation. Open the gates to all who are righteous; allow the faithful to enter. You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the LORD always, for the LORD GOD is the eternal Rock.
 
Isaiah 26:1(b)-4
 
The gate will be opened and only the righteous will enter.
 
Your thought may be that God will have compassion and because He is love, He will surely let you in. Yes, God is compassionate! Yes, God is love!
 
No, God will not do anything that is contrary to His Word. Only those who have right standing with Him will enter His eternal Kingdom and the only way to that right standing is through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. No amount of good deeds are enough. It is impossible to be obedient enough. You can’t even give enough to buy your way in.
 
Jesus is the only way. Pray to receive Him into your heart today and be assured of you place in the Kingdom.

RESPONSE TO THOSE WHO HURT ME

“If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.
 
Matthew 6:14-15
 
“Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” – Romans 12:19b
 
I can’t get even.
 
“Make every effort to live in peace…See to it that no…bitter root grows up to cause trouble... – Hebrews 12:14-15
 
I shouldn’t make trouble or even pout about it.
 
“…forgive those who sin against you…”
 
The only Godly response to someone who has hurt me is forgiveness.

LED ASTRAY

But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him publicly, speaking strongly against what he was doing, for it was very wrong. When he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile Christians, who don’t bother with circumcision. But afterward, when some Jewish friends of James came, Peter wouldn’t eat with the Gentiles anymore because he was afraid of what these legalists would say. Then the other Jewish Christians followed Peter’s hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was influenced to join them in their hypocrisy.
 
Galatians 2:11-13
 
None of the disciples were perfect. They were sinners, saved by grace, just as we are when we put our faith in Jesus Christ for salvation. God has revealed their imperfection so that we can learn and be on guard not to be led astray.
 
Peter and Barnabas, both of Jewish heritage and converts to Christianity, were allowing the burdens of the Jewish faith (the Law) to influence their relationships with Gentile believers. Peter and Barnabas were not bad people. They were living for Christ but had not turned loose of the chains of the Law. Jesus Christ had set them free of the burdens of the Law but they continued to live as if they were still in bondage. Their positions (early church leaders) were positions of influence. They were able, by their wrong behavior, to lead other believers astray.
 
Are you being led astray? Are you following some well intentioned leader (as Peter and Barnabas were) in some tradition that is just doesn’t measure up to the grace of God?
 
Are you, by your imperfect behavior, leading someone you have influence on, astray? Hear the words of challenge the Apostle Paul spoke to Peter and Barnabas and let them speak to you today!
 
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” – Galatians 2:20.
 
Don’t be led astray. Don’t live in bondage to wrong traditions, leading others astray. “…live by faith in the Son of God…”!

THE ZEALOT

You know what I was like when I followed the Jewish religion—how I violently persecuted the Christians. I did my best to get rid of them. I was one of the most religious Jews of my own age, and I tried as hard as possible to follow all the old traditions of my religion. But then something happened! For it pleased God in his kindness to choose me and call me, even before I was born! What undeserved mercy! Then he revealed his Son to me so that I could proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles.
 
Galatians 1:13-16a
 
Before God “revealed His Son” to Paul, He already had given Paul the nature of a zealot. Don’t take that word wrong. The dictionary says that a zealot is one who has an eager desire (zeal) or gives a great effort. Society has placed negative connotations on the word zealot but I believe God wants us to have zeal for Him.
 
Saul (his name when he was a zealot for Judaism) “tried as hard as possible” to be a good Jew. When God “revealed His Son” Jesus to Saul and changed his name to Paul, he continued, with great effort, to “proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles.” Yes, Paul had the nature of a zealot as a Jew and that continued as a Christian.
 
What nature had God given you and how are you using that God-given nature for Kingdom building?

THE "DREAM" OR LIP SERVICE

“Shout with the voice of a trumpet blast. Tell my people Israel of their sins! Yet they act so pious! They come to the Temple every day and seem delighted to hear my laws. You would almost think this was a righteous nation that would never abandon its God. They love to make a show of coming to me and asking me to take action on their behalf. ‘We have fasted before you!’ they say. ‘Why aren’t you impressed? We have done much penance, and you don’t even notice it!’” I will tell you why! It’s because you are living for yourselves even while you are fasting. You keep right on oppressing your workers. What good is fasting when you keep on fighting and quarreling? This kind of fasting will never get you anywhere with me.
 
Isaiah 58:1-4
 
The United States pauses today to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. As we pause, I beg to question whether we, as a nation, are striving to rid ourselves of injustice and inequality or are we only giving the “Dream” lip service? More pointedly, is the Church today in the same condition it was in when the Prophet Isaiah spoke to them about their empty worship. If you read Isaiah_58 in its entirety, you might be shocked with the parallels to the conditions in our cities, our churches today.
 
There is a healing needed in our nation … in the church … in the Body of Christ. It will only come (Isaiah 58:8) when we begin to live out what was expressed to us in Dr. King’s “Dream”  and not just give it lip service once a year.

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

So be careful how you live, not as fools but as those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but try to understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, let the Holy Spirit fill and control you. Then you will sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, making music to the Lord in your hearts. And you will always give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
 
Ephesians 5:15-20
 
The Apostle Paul was about to launch into some instructions on family relationships which probably were just as difficult for the recipients of his letter to accept in that day as they are for us today. Our culture has changed and yet we struggle with family relationships still.
 
“…you will submit to one another…”
 
“…You wives will submit to your husbands…”
 
“…you husbands must love your wives…”
 
“…A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one…”
 
“…each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband…”
 
“…Children, obey your parents…”
 
“…Honor your father and mother…”
 
“…you fathers. Don’t make your children angry by the way you treat them…”
 
Read Ephesians 5:15–6:4 for the complete text of Paul’s instructions. Follow them with thanksgiving as you “let the Holy Spirit fill and control” your family relationships.

HOLDING ON

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
 
James 1:2-4
 
James says to us, “… whenever you face trials…” He doesn’t say you may face a trial someday. He says when. If you are not in a trial right now, hold on, it’s coming.
 
I read in a book, “Preaching Through the Storm”, that we are in one of three places: (1) In a storm; (2) coming out of a storm; or (3) there is a storm brewing on the horizon, even if we can’t see it yet.
 
God has a purpose for these trials in our lives. They help us develop perseverance … endurance … build our faith. We are becoming more “mature and complete” when we are able to focus on the LORD in the storm vs. focusing on our circumstances.
 
“Count it pure joy…”
 
A thought from today’s devotion … if you would like to easily journal your prayers on your PC, check out this link: http://www.pcpray.com/index.php

THERE IS A COST

“I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, I will spit you out of my mouth! You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. And also buy white garments so you will not be shamed by your nakedness. And buy ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see. I am the one who corrects and disciplines everyone I love. Be diligent and turn from your indifference.
 
Revelation 3:15-19
 
The church at Laodicea is known as the lukewarm church that Christ rebuked in Revelation. Jesus exhorted them to be on fire for God rather than middle of the road, fence-sitters. Within that rebuke Jesus tells them to buy three things; “…gold…white garments…ointment…”
 

1. The gold was purified by fire. The cost of being a disciple is that you will have to turn from your attachment to dirty money.


2. The garments are white which also indicates purity. You will have to reject all immorality.


3. Who would ever knowingly put an ointment in their eyes that would blind them? You must see the needs of a lost world, count the cost and not be indifferent.

 
Salvation is free. Jesus paid that cost at Calvary. There is a cost however in being a disciple, a follower of Christ.

AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE

“‘Who are you, sir?’ I asked.”
 
And the Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. Now stand up! For I have appeared to you to appoint you as my servant and my witness. You are to tell the world about this experience and about other times I will appear to you. And I will protect you from both your own people and the Gentiles. Yes, I am going to send you to the Gentiles, to open their eyes so they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me.’
 
Acts 26:15-18
 
In the language of the Bible, a person was either a Jew or a Gentile. Yes, there were other classifications but this was the bottom line distinction. A person was either part of Israel (a Jew, the circumcised, one of God’s chosen) or not (a Gentile, the uncircumcised, a heathen).
 
When Jesus spoke to Saul (later renamed Paul, the great missionary) on the Damascus Road, He made it clear that his witness would be to the world. As Paul spoke to his own people (Jews) and the Gentiles, he would be provided protection. He emphasized Paul’s ministry to the Gentile but also made it clear that “God’s people” are those “who are set apart by faith in me” (Jesus).
 
God’s gift of grace is available to everyone who will receive it and place their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. As it was Paul’s, this too should be our witness to the world.

THE GROWTH PROCESS

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
 
Philippians 1:3-6
 
The Christian life does not begin at maturity. Scripture repeatedly reminds us that the Christian walk is a growth process:
 
… grow in grace … - 2nd Peter 3:18
 
You must crave pure spiritual milk so that you can grow into the fullness of your salvation. Cry out for this nourishment as a baby cries for milk… - 1st Peter 2:2
 
Study to show thyself approved… - 2nd Timothy 2:15
 
… let us go on unto perfection… - Hebrews 6:1
 
To grow physically requires daily nourishment. The same is true for growth in the Christian life. Feast daily on the bread of life … the Word of God.
 
“In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and he was God.” –John 1:1

THE PRECIOUS NAME

Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal’s death on a cross. Because of this, God raised him up to the heights of heaven and gave him a name that is above every other name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
 
Philippians 2:5-11
 
The name of Jesus is so sweet;
I love its music to repeat.
It makes my joys full and complete.
Oh, the precious name, the wondrous name, of Jesus.
 
“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.” – Exodus 20:7.
 
God does not take lightly the use of His name. The Old Testament Jews understood this and (to the extreme) would not even let the name cross their lips. At the other end of the pendulum swing are those who throw around God’s name in vulgarity and cursing. Take care in how you use God’s name.
 
“…at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord…”

PREACHER'S PRIMARY REQUIREMENT

“However, the Levitical priests of the family of Zadok continued to minister faithfully in the Temple when Israel abandoned me for idols. These men will serve as my ministers. They will stand in my presence and offer the fat and blood of the sacrifices, says the Sovereign LORD. They are the ones who will enter my sanctuary and approach my table to serve me. They are the ones who will fulfill all my requirements…They will teach my people the difference between what is holy and what is common, what is ceremonially clean and unclean.
 
Ezekiel 44:15-16, 23
 
Have you ever come home from church on Sunday afternoon and get the question from someone you are talking with, “We’ll what did the preacher talk about today?” You think and you can’t come up with a single thought. Why do you think that might happen?
 
Maybe you went to church, not prepared to hear the Word. You were focused on something else … who you might see … what you were wearing … the service you had to give (usher, choir, nursery, etc.) … your after church activities. What the preacher had to say was crowded out by everything else you had going on in your life.
 
Maybe the preacher didn’t fulfill his primary requirement … to teach God’s “people the difference between what is holy and what is common” … to challenge you on the basis of righteousness. Are we afraid to address the issues of right and wrong because we don’t want to hurt someone’s feelings? Are we allowing the world’s ‘anything goes’ mentality to sneak in and influence the preaching? God forbid!
 
Pray for your preacher to be the holy man of God who fulfills his primary requirement.

THE BIBLE

But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.
 
2nd Timothy 3:14-17
 
What is your belief about the Holy Bible?
 
For hundreds of years and still today there is debate about the authenticity of the scriptures. Even among theologians, discussion rages as to the way we should interpret what we have. Are these just nice stories or should we take the Bible literally as God’s Word?
 
Scripture says about itself that God is the source. It is God-breathed! Scripture also says about itself that we should not doubt it but rather believe its truths. You can participate with all the debaters and doubters if you like. You can study with all the scientist and archeologist (who have only been able to confirm what scripture says is true … who have nothing to disprove any of scripture). Or you can accept and believe by faith.
 
It is the Bible that gives “you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.”

DRESS UP FOR ETERNITY

So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual sin, impurity, lust, and shameful desires. Don’t be greedy for the good things of this life, for that is idolatry. God’s terrible anger will come upon those who do such things. You used to do them when your life was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old evil nature and all its wicked deeds. In its place you have clothed yourselves with a brand-new nature that is continually being renewed as you learn more and more about Christ, who created this new nature within you.
 
Colossians 3:5-10
 
I grew up in a life style that required that we dress a certain way to go to church. In my closet hung clothes that were labeled ‘Sunday-go-to-meeting’. That meant they were only worn to church events and a few other very important occasions. The religious significance of this was based on coming into God’s presence … into God’s house … in only your very best. Anything less was considered flippant and disrespectful.
 
1st Samuel 16:7 gives us some incite on God’s thoughts on this idea. “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn’t make decisions the way you do! People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at a person’s thoughts and intentions.”
 
God is more interested that “…you have clothed yourselves with a brand-new nature…”
 
By no means do I want to disrespect the teachings and traditions of parents and grandparents or be flippant or disrespectful of God. There is nothing wrong with ‘dressing up’ to go to church. I just think it is most important to God that we ‘dress up’ for eternity by putting off the “old evil nature” and putting on the “brand-new nature” we get through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

FRESH START

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
 
Matthew 6:9-15
 
Is there someone from your past or maybe even your present that you are holding in unforgiveness?
 
Pray about it. Ask the Holy Spirit to bring to your mind anyone who you need to forgive. You just might be surprised by who pops into your mind.
 
“I thought I had forgotten all about him.”
 
“That situation is long past. It is not an issue in my life any more.”
 
The truth is you may have never worked through the forgiveness process, no matter how old the circumstance. Allow the Holy Spirit to lead you to those you need to forgive, whether they are aware of it or not. This would be a wonderful fresh start for the New Year. Experience God’s refreshing peace as you release the burden of unforgiveness.

Happy New Year

God bless you in 2006!