[Pray] “that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you” (Romans 15:32 NKJV)

August 2, 2015

In Paul’s closing remarks to the church in Rome, he shared his prayer that the Lord allow him to visit them. He prayed that he might come to them with joy so that both might be mutually refreshed. There is an encouragement that refreshes us when we fellowship with other believers in the joy of the Lord. We have had this prayer answered as we visited our brothers and sisters in London this past week. It had been our heart’s desire for some time to visit and know this mutual refreshment. And God finally made it possible. Do you know this fellowship that refreshes?

“Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day” (Psalm 25:4-5 NKJV)

August 1, 2015

Today’s constant prayer: Show me, teach me, lead me… I’m waiting. Not passively, but actively. Not without moving, but as I move today, being fully present looking for You, O Lord.

“The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the Lord has made them both” (Proverbs 20:12 NKJV)

July 31, 2015

One can have ears and eyes, yet still be deaf and blind. The Lord has made both the physical and the spiritual ability to hear. Both are grace. The physical all understand, but few recognize the spiritual. The first offers wisdom of the physical world, the second makes one receptive to the gospel and believing. One is not the other. Only God makes the “hearing ear” and the “seeing eye.” This was God’s calling to Paul and to us: “I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me” (Acts 26:18-19).

“This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed” (Romans 13:11 NKJV)

July 30, 2015

Spiritual and gospel urgency. Spiritual urgency, because we must put off sin and any hindrance that belongs to the flesh, so that we might finish the race of life well. Gospel urgency, because “time is running out” on those who haven’t heard and received the Good News that we are called to announce. Are you living with a sense of spiritual and gospel urgency?

“Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion” (Romans 12:16 NKJV)

July 29, 2015

Paul described the state of mind that the believer should maintain. In this verse, he focused on our thinking towards others. Be “same-minded,” but not “high-minded.” Be careful not to think of yourself more highly than others. Be willing to “associate” with those of humble status, instead of rushing to be with the popular and important. Stop being a know-it-all. One who has this state of mind, has been “transformed by the renewing of their mind,” so that they have the mind of Christ. What’s your state of mind today?

“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Psalm 22:1 NKJV)

July 28, 2015

David wrote this Messianic psalm that predicted not only what Christ would say on the cross but the manner of His death as well. Centuries before the Romans devised the torture of crucifixion, David described it in this psalm. Jesus, the Son of David took our place. He took our sin, our separation, and our death. He offers us His righteousness, His relationship with the Father and eternal life. He that had never experienced a moment of separation from the Father was forsaken for our sakes. So, He cried out in anguish, fulfilling the Scripture and expressing His real agony. Yet, the Father raised Him up, and in the same way He shall raise up all those who believe in Him in the Last Day.

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17 NKJV)

July 27, 2015

True faith needs an object as its anchor. It’s not the amount, nor the quality of faith that matters so much. It’s the reality of the object and its quality that counts. It is the gospel, God’s Word that saves. And it is hearing and believing this Word that brings salvation. Our faith is activated by hearing the Word. And it is by continual and constant hearing that we grow in faith. Yet, all this requires a preacher. And a God who calls and sends.

“So they taught in Judah, and had the Book of the Law of the Lord with them; they went throughout all the cities of Judah and taught the people” (2 Chronicles 17:9 NKJV)

July 26, 2015

King Jehoshaphat began his reign well by sending out teachers of God’s Word to teach all the people of Judah. Jehoshaphat took delight in the Lord and led his people to follow Him. And so, the fear of the Lord fell on the surrounding peoples so that they didn’t attack Judah, but instead brought tribute and gifts. How important it is for a leader (king, president, pastor, or parent) to teach those under their care the Word of God. A nation or family grounded in God’s Word will prosper. One that departs from it will end up like King Ahab who did not heed the Word of the Lord.

“And in the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa became diseased in his feet, and his malady was severe; yet in his disease he did not seek the Lord, but the physicians” (2 Chronicles 16:12 NKJV)

July 25, 2015

King Asa started well but finished poorly. He trusted God early in his reign and overcame a million man army. But later, he put his trust in his accumulated wealth and tried to bribe a foreign king to help him. God rebuked him for this, but he was unrepentant, ending his life with a bitter heart and bad feet. Where have you placed your trust? God is looking for those whose hearts are fully trusting Him. Will you finish well?

“He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32 NKJV)

July 24, 2015

God already gave us His best. Therefore, do not accuse Him of withholding any good thing from us. If we do not have it, it is because He has something better for us. Our God has given everything to Christ. We that are in Christ are already co-inheritors of “all things.” Wait for it.