TOZER DEVOTIONAL
Sun, May 21, 2017
Embracing God's Thoughts
Whenever and wherever there is a controversy between God and a man, God is always right and the man always wrong. "So that you may be proved right in your words and prevail in your judging" (Psalm 51:4).
The only way any man can be right is to come over onto God's side. Whoever sticks to his own side is forever wrong.
The points at which God's way and man's intersect are likely to be four (though there may be others), and we will usually find our differences with God to occur somewhere in these four areas.
First, our thoughts. Divine inspiration has declared that the thoughts of man are vain, and in the prophecy of Isaiah, God sets His case before us so plainly that comment is hardly necessary: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8-9).
Verse
'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the LORD.
Isaiah 55:8
Thought
Living on God's side involves embracing God's thoughts as a habit of life. Not just thinking His thoughts for a small part of the day (our 'quiet time') but as our philosophy of life and intellectual pattern.
Prayer
As much as humanly possible, I want to grasp Your thoughts and ways, Lord, as my understanding of life.
Sunday, May 21, 2017
Saturday, May 20, 2017
Luke 2:49 "Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" (NIV)
Our passion to experience the presence of God must be reflected in our devotion to seek and obey the will of God. We cannot separate ourselves from our Lord’s sovereign presence but we may well miss His intimate fellowship if we fail to seek Him with all our heart, soul and mind – we must will to live with total devotion to Him and His Word. There is no such thing as devotional moments to Him – we are never separated from His presence, we choose to give ourselves to and acknowledge His loving grace and mercy – our Lord desires that all hope, desires and purpose be given to Him. God is not looking to control us but to inspire our devotion and love for Him. My business is my Lord’s business, my life is God’s provision, my faithful loving obedience is my Lord’s desire. We have one overriding purpose, to ‘glorify and worship’ our heavenly Father. This is possible only as we devote ourselves to His gracious offering of intimate fellowship – to learn of Him and His ways. Our dependence upon God is expressed more in our gratitude than our desperation.
Read through the Bible in one year – May 20/ John 6:45-71; 1 Chron. 10,11,12
Part of God's plan, is for us to be rooted together in our faith, being able to stand tall together in the buffeting winds of the storms in our lives , those heavy loaded, test and trials we face day by day, life is directly related to the Love and support we receive from God and one another . And then, as the writer of Hebrews says, we too, do good and share "(13:16).Think of how tough it would be to withstand adversity if someone were not sharing the roots of their strength with us. There is great power in the entwining gifts of words of encouragement, prayers of intercession, weeping together, holding each other, and even just sometimes sitting with one another sharing the presence of our Love. Lord thank you for entwining Your strength in our lives, lead us to others, who need the love of shared strength from the resources you have blessed us with - again as quoted in HEBREWS 13:16 Do not forget to Good and Share!
Thank you, Father , I pray for blessings on all near and far, family and friends and the Lost in Jesus's Holy Name. AMEN. (Love you, Lord
Love ALL).
Thank you, Father , I pray for blessings on all near and far, family and friends and the Lost in Jesus's Holy Name. AMEN. (Love you, Lord
Love ALL).
Wednesday, May 17, 2017
Hebrews 11:35 Women received their dead raised to life again. And others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.
The more we embrace the values of this world, the more our grasp of the eternal slips from our fingers. If we neglect the eternal promise of God, we will never understand the abiding presence of Jesus Christ. Too many have convinced themselves that life is found in this mortal existence and most of our devotion to the Lord centers upon making things easiest and more pleasant. We should be gripped with shame and repentance as we view the sacrifice and devotion of others who have offered their lives to simply honor and glorify our Lord. Our forefathers did not devote themselves to simply make their lives more comfortable – they wanted to experience the fullness of God in their lives. True believers have never placed a higher value upon living than their devotion to obedience – they were possessed with a passion to know God and His ways; always looking to their eternal promise. Many churches have become places of entertainment to elicit attention rather than convict and challenge devotion. Jesus is presented to bring us comfort and blessing rather than life transforming change. The Holy Spirit is sought to stimulate our emotional comfort rather than challenge our spiritual maturity. God help us to prepare for spiritual warfare in our times of peace that we might stand strong in the presence of our Lord.
The more we embrace the values of this world, the more our grasp of the eternal slips from our fingers. If we neglect the eternal promise of God, we will never understand the abiding presence of Jesus Christ. Too many have convinced themselves that life is found in this mortal existence and most of our devotion to the Lord centers upon making things easiest and more pleasant. We should be gripped with shame and repentance as we view the sacrifice and devotion of others who have offered their lives to simply honor and glorify our Lord. Our forefathers did not devote themselves to simply make their lives more comfortable – they wanted to experience the fullness of God in their lives. True believers have never placed a higher value upon living than their devotion to obedience – they were possessed with a passion to know God and His ways; always looking to their eternal promise. Many churches have become places of entertainment to elicit attention rather than convict and challenge devotion. Jesus is presented to bring us comfort and blessing rather than life transforming change. The Holy Spirit is sought to stimulate our emotional comfort rather than challenge our spiritual maturity. God help us to prepare for spiritual warfare in our times of peace that we might stand strong in the presence of our Lord.
Read through the Bible in one year – May 17/ John 5:25-47; 1 Chron. 1,2,3
Lots and lots love living off benefits in this world life, while many are starving and at war. As Christians, we are commissioned to claim the benefits, by living by the Power of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:16 -21 ). As God seeds of truth flourish in our hearts, the spirit produces an increase in our ability to express "love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control "(vv22-23 ). Once we have surrendered our lives to JESUS, we no longer have to be controlled by our self- centered inclinations (v24) ). Over time, The Holy Spirit can change our thinking, our attitudes, and our actions. As we grow and mature in Christ, we can have the added Joy of loving our neighbors by sharing the benefits of His generous harvest. Lord by your wonderful support, cultivate the fruit of the Spirit support in our hearts and minds so that our neighbors can enjoy can enjoy Your sweet fragrance in and through our lives. The fruit of the Spirit changes us so we can impact the lives of those around us! So sisters and brothers, let us get into more action evangelism, and share that sweet fragrance that we are Receiving. Love you Father God in Jesus Holy Name,- And family near and far )
TOZER DEVOTIONAL
TOZER DEVOTIONAL
Wed, May 17, 2017
Our Ultimate Care-Giver
Unnecessary burdens are crushing the life out of people every day. Mental institutions are overflowing and psychiatrists are doing a rushing business because the burden of living is getting to be more than we can bear. Civilization has not made our lot easier except in things pertaining to the body; the burdens of the heart are growing more numerous, and science has found no remedy. The silky voice of the practitioner may soothe the mind for a time, but the disease is too deep to yield itself to such inadequate measures.
Surely we could live longer and better and be far happier and more useful if we could learn to cast our burdens upon the Lord. Then it would not matter how heavy they were, for He would carry them for us.
Verse
Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.
First Peter 5:7
Thought
Because He cares for us we can unload upon God all our anxieties--heavy or light. He does care for us!
Prayer
Your Word assures me that You care for me. Your care, Father, is expressed is so many ways not least of which is bearing my anxieties.
Wed, May 17, 2017
Our Ultimate Care-Giver
Unnecessary burdens are crushing the life out of people every day. Mental institutions are overflowing and psychiatrists are doing a rushing business because the burden of living is getting to be more than we can bear. Civilization has not made our lot easier except in things pertaining to the body; the burdens of the heart are growing more numerous, and science has found no remedy. The silky voice of the practitioner may soothe the mind for a time, but the disease is too deep to yield itself to such inadequate measures.
Surely we could live longer and better and be far happier and more useful if we could learn to cast our burdens upon the Lord. Then it would not matter how heavy they were, for He would carry them for us.
Verse
Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.
First Peter 5:7
Thought
Because He cares for us we can unload upon God all our anxieties--heavy or light. He does care for us!
Prayer
Your Word assures me that You care for me. Your care, Father, is expressed is so many ways not least of which is bearing my anxieties.
Tuesday, May 16, 2017
You have told me when I am weighed Down with sin. You did give. The strength for me to carry the weight of my sin; You came to carry it for me. Forgive me for not releasing all to you. Forgive me for hiding under the cold comfort of my guilt, when you want me to thrive in Your mercy and the light of your Love ,Forgive me for thinking that your sacrifice is good enough to get me into Heaven but powerless to make me a better person on this earth, please change many of my wrongs into Love , my content into compassion and my unreasonable expectations into unselfish acts of mercy . And please Forgive me, Lord , for thinking that to do your Will I need anything more than you have given - my own hands to extend love and kindness, my own feet to take where You want to Go and my own story of redemption to explain Your Will for the World. Forgive me for better circumstances, more talent, more time or a bigger budget. I want my life to be evidence of Your transforming Power! May I live every day in the awareness that I have everything I need to accomplish whatever You want me to do. Read Psalms 49:1-8,15 !"
John 16:26-27 "In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; "for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God.
The cross of Christ represents reconciling cleansing – it is our access to God – it removes my sins to allow me the unmerited privilege of entering the wondrous holy presence of God. None can approach the Father apart from the miraculous cleansing of our Lord and Savior. Intimacy and fellowship is impossible without Christ’s cleansing blood – our sin remains a barrier until we accept His redeeming sacrifice. God’s presence is not made complete through Christ – it is made available. We are not given the fullness of God through the cross – we are provided the right to humbly pursue it. Christ’s devotion and dependence upon the Father is our example – Christ’s sacrifice is our opportunity – if we come to God with full acknowledgement of the price paid by His Son – He hears us. My prayers should draw me into the presence of God – prayer should contain more gratitude than need. Prayer should acknowledge the wonder, majesty, holiness and sovereignty of God. If we would focus more upon the love and purpose of God our personal need would diminish.
Read through the Bible in one year – May 16/ John 5:1-24; 2 Kings 24,25
TOZER DEVOTIONAL
TOZER DEVOTIONAL
Tue, May 16, 2017
What to Do with Burdens
"If a burden is laid on my back and another immediately takes it off and carries it himself," said Meister Eckhart, "it can make no difference to me whether it is one or a hundred pounds."
In the Scriptures, there would seem to be three kinds of burdens recognized. First, the burden of loving help which we are admonished to give to others: "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2). Secondly, the burden of moral responsibility which no one can shift to another: "For each one should carry his own load" (Galatians 6:5). Thirdly, the burden resulting from our fallen state, consisting of sin, fear, worry, disappointments, sorrows, remorse, bitter memories and self-accusations.
The first burden never harmed a soul. The second may even be a source of quiet comfort if our hearts are right. It is the third sort that ages and shrivels and kills. And there is no valid reason for our carrying it (or them, for there are many of this kind). "Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you" (Psalm 55:22). That was what the good Eckhart had in mind when he suggested that no burden would be heavier than any other if the Lord carried it for us.
Verse
Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.
Psalm 55:22
Thought
Casting our cares upon the Lord means casting and leaving them there. Our common practice is to pick them up again after our prayer's "amen."
Prayer
Forgive me, Lord, for carrying burdens I should be unloading on You. You have invited me to leave them with You.
Tue, May 16, 2017
What to Do with Burdens
"If a burden is laid on my back and another immediately takes it off and carries it himself," said Meister Eckhart, "it can make no difference to me whether it is one or a hundred pounds."
In the Scriptures, there would seem to be three kinds of burdens recognized. First, the burden of loving help which we are admonished to give to others: "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2). Secondly, the burden of moral responsibility which no one can shift to another: "For each one should carry his own load" (Galatians 6:5). Thirdly, the burden resulting from our fallen state, consisting of sin, fear, worry, disappointments, sorrows, remorse, bitter memories and self-accusations.
The first burden never harmed a soul. The second may even be a source of quiet comfort if our hearts are right. It is the third sort that ages and shrivels and kills. And there is no valid reason for our carrying it (or them, for there are many of this kind). "Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you" (Psalm 55:22). That was what the good Eckhart had in mind when he suggested that no burden would be heavier than any other if the Lord carried it for us.
Verse
Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.
Psalm 55:22
Thought
Casting our cares upon the Lord means casting and leaving them there. Our common practice is to pick them up again after our prayer's "amen."
Prayer
Forgive me, Lord, for carrying burdens I should be unloading on You. You have invited me to leave them with You.
Monday, May 15, 2017
J.C. Ryle
May 13 at 3:26pm ·
Beware! The Narrow Way is Dangerous
Do you want to understand what the times require of you in reference to your own soul? Listen, and I will tell you. You live in times of peculiar spiritual danger. Never perhaps were there more traps and pitfalls in the way to heaven; never certainly were those traps so skillfully baited, and those pitfalls so ingeniously made.
Mind what you are about. Look well to your goings. Ponder the paths of your feet. Take heed lest you come to eternal grief, and ruin your own soul. Beware of practical infidelity under the specious name of free thought. Beware of a helpless state of indecision about doctrinal truth under the plausible idea of not being party–spirited, and under the baneful influence of so–called liberality and charity. Beware of frittering away life in wishing and meaning and hoping for the day of decision, until the door is shut, and you are given over to a dead conscience, and die without hope. Awake to a sense of your danger.
Arise and give diligence to make your calling and election sure, whatever else you leave uncertain. The kingdom of God is very near. Christ the almighty Savior, Christ the sinner’s Friend, Christ and eternal life, are ready for you if you will only come to Christ. Arise and cast away excuses; this very day Christ calls you. Wait not for company if you cannot have it; wait for nobody. The times, I repeat, are desperately dangerous. If only few are in the narrow way of life, resolve that by God’s help you at any rate will be among the few. ~ J.C. Ryle
May 13 at 3:26pm ·
Beware! The Narrow Way is Dangerous
Do you want to understand what the times require of you in reference to your own soul? Listen, and I will tell you. You live in times of peculiar spiritual danger. Never perhaps were there more traps and pitfalls in the way to heaven; never certainly were those traps so skillfully baited, and those pitfalls so ingeniously made.
Mind what you are about. Look well to your goings. Ponder the paths of your feet. Take heed lest you come to eternal grief, and ruin your own soul. Beware of practical infidelity under the specious name of free thought. Beware of a helpless state of indecision about doctrinal truth under the plausible idea of not being party–spirited, and under the baneful influence of so–called liberality and charity. Beware of frittering away life in wishing and meaning and hoping for the day of decision, until the door is shut, and you are given over to a dead conscience, and die without hope. Awake to a sense of your danger.
Arise and give diligence to make your calling and election sure, whatever else you leave uncertain. The kingdom of God is very near. Christ the almighty Savior, Christ the sinner’s Friend, Christ and eternal life, are ready for you if you will only come to Christ. Arise and cast away excuses; this very day Christ calls you. Wait not for company if you cannot have it; wait for nobody. The times, I repeat, are desperately dangerous. If only few are in the narrow way of life, resolve that by God’s help you at any rate will be among the few. ~ J.C. Ryle
Forsake Sin and Look to Christ!
That carelessness about sin, that trifling with temptation, that earnestness about the things of time, that forgetfulness about eternity, that readiness to swim with the tide about religion, that unwillingness to become more serious than your neighbors, that fear of being thought righteous overmuch, that love of the world’s good opinion—is this what you call coming out of great tribulation?
Is this living in the Spirit? Is this striving and laboring after eternal life? Oh, look to your foundations, set your house in order. No empty ‘trust in God’s mercy’ will ever save you. You were not baptized unto idleness and indifference. Without a real hatred of sin, and a real forsaking of sin, Christ can profit you nothing. You never can be made white with the blood of the Lamb—unless you desire to have this earth’s defilements really washed away! ~ J.C. Ryle
That carelessness about sin, that trifling with temptation, that earnestness about the things of time, that forgetfulness about eternity, that readiness to swim with the tide about religion, that unwillingness to become more serious than your neighbors, that fear of being thought righteous overmuch, that love of the world’s good opinion—is this what you call coming out of great tribulation?
Is this living in the Spirit? Is this striving and laboring after eternal life? Oh, look to your foundations, set your house in order. No empty ‘trust in God’s mercy’ will ever save you. You were not baptized unto idleness and indifference. Without a real hatred of sin, and a real forsaking of sin, Christ can profit you nothing. You never can be made white with the blood of the Lamb—unless you desire to have this earth’s defilements really washed away! ~ J.C. Ryle
Dreams can sometimes come true, life is like that for the followers of Christ. We live in an insecure dangerous world, filled with unpredictable challenges and unseen perils. Yet we have Joy because we know the one, who is strong enough to carry us through the churning waves of life that threaten to overwhelm us. The Psalmist wrote - " Let all those who rejoice who put their trust in You Lord! Let them ever shout for Joy, because You defend them; let those also who love Your Name be Joyful in You "( Psalm 5:11).
In the face of life's great dangers and challenges, we can know a joy borne out of our Trust in God. His strength is more than enough! Let us be so glad we have learned to trust thee precious JESUS, Saviour, and FRIEND, and know now that thou are always with us and will be to the end, for our Faith is stretched by exchanging our weaknesses for GOD'S STRENGTH -- Thank you Father, I pray for strength for All in JESUS HOLY NAME --AMEN
In the face of life's great dangers and challenges, we can know a joy borne out of our Trust in God. His strength is more than enough! Let us be so glad we have learned to trust thee precious JESUS, Saviour, and FRIEND, and know now that thou are always with us and will be to the end, for our Faith is stretched by exchanging our weaknesses for GOD'S STRENGTH -- Thank you Father, I pray for strength for All in JESUS HOLY NAME --AMEN
Psalms 47:4 He will choose our inheritance for us, The excellence of Jacob whom He loves. Selah
All that exists is subject to the sovereign God for He alone has determined eternity for His creation. Israel continually struggled with obedience and unconditional trust in their promise. God’s Promised Land came with specific guidelines concerning how Israel was to honor and glorify their provider. We cannot separate our eternal inheritance from our obligation to humbly walk in faith and obedience to God’s Word. The details of our inheritance may not be clear, but we have the assurance that our Lord Jesus Christ has unconditionally secured it for all who trust in Him. We have been given enough information concerning our promise to birth within a hunger and passion to experience it. Our lives must embrace the sovereign majesty of our God; because that is what He wants of us. The uncertainty we may entertain comes from our unwillingness to trust and our penchant to place human expectations above our eternal hope. Hope will be our most vital offering to our Lord until He returns to transform our expectation into glorious eternal experience.
Read through the Bible in one year – May 15/ John 4:31-54; 2 Kings 22,23
TOZER DEVOTIONAL
TOZER DEVOTIONAL
Mon, May 15, 2017
Spiritual Pride
It might be a shock to some of us if we could know why we are disliked and why our testimony is rejected so violently. Could it be that we are guilty of a deep sinfulness of disposition that we just cannot keep hidden? Arrogance, lack of charity, contempt, self-righteousness, religious snobbery, fault-finding--and all this kept under careful restraint and disguised by a pious smile and synthetic good humor. This sort of thing is felt rather than understood by those who touch us in everyday life. They do not know why they cannot stand us, but we are sure that the reason is our exalted state of spirituality! Perilous comfort. Deep heart searching and prolonged repentance would be better.
Yet let us not assume that if we are persecuted it is because of our faults. The opposite may be the fact. They may hate us because they first hated Christ, and if that is so, then blessed are we indeed. The point is, let us take nothing for granted. We may be better than we think we are, but the likelihood is not overwhelming. Humility is best.
Verse
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
First Corinthians 13:4
Thought
Andrew Murray noted that: "There is nothing so natural to man, nothing so insidious and hidden from our sight, nothing so diffcult and dangerous, as pride." Especially is this true of spiritual pride.
Prayer
Lord, am I hurting others by unconsciously communicating spiritual pride? Forgive me. Teach me humility and love, painful though the lessons may be.
Mon, May 15, 2017
Spiritual Pride
It might be a shock to some of us if we could know why we are disliked and why our testimony is rejected so violently. Could it be that we are guilty of a deep sinfulness of disposition that we just cannot keep hidden? Arrogance, lack of charity, contempt, self-righteousness, religious snobbery, fault-finding--and all this kept under careful restraint and disguised by a pious smile and synthetic good humor. This sort of thing is felt rather than understood by those who touch us in everyday life. They do not know why they cannot stand us, but we are sure that the reason is our exalted state of spirituality! Perilous comfort. Deep heart searching and prolonged repentance would be better.
Yet let us not assume that if we are persecuted it is because of our faults. The opposite may be the fact. They may hate us because they first hated Christ, and if that is so, then blessed are we indeed. The point is, let us take nothing for granted. We may be better than we think we are, but the likelihood is not overwhelming. Humility is best.
Verse
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
First Corinthians 13:4
Thought
Andrew Murray noted that: "There is nothing so natural to man, nothing so insidious and hidden from our sight, nothing so diffcult and dangerous, as pride." Especially is this true of spiritual pride.
Prayer
Lord, am I hurting others by unconsciously communicating spiritual pride? Forgive me. Teach me humility and love, painful though the lessons may be.
Sunday, May 14, 2017
You know when the enemy is attacking, nagging and mocking, he generates fear and confusion. he generates an overall sense of guilt as if everything is wrong .Creates feeling of hopelessness and weakness. He attacks one's self-confidence, tells you that you're weak and worthless, replays your sins and shame and reminds you of your poor choices. Produces the feeling that God has rejected you as unworthy and unholy. Portrays God as Judge and you as a miserable sinner. Gives suggestions that cause you to withdraw from others. Tells you that the horrible way you feel is the way it is. He did all this to me, and has done it to many .). The conviction of the Holy Spirit is just the opposite!
He is gentle, loving, imploring and urges your return to Him. Tells you to take a specific action in response to sin; freedom follows. Say you can rely on His power, not your strength. Releases you from the past: tells you your sins are forgiven, never to be held against you. Generates an expectation of kindness, love and a new beginning with His help. Sends others to minister to you in love, as well as sends you to .others. Speaks of His unchanging nature and steadfast love. States the true facts about you and God! I'm certain you all can relate to All these words " Thank you, Father, in Jesus Holy name AMEN!
He is gentle, loving, imploring and urges your return to Him. Tells you to take a specific action in response to sin; freedom follows. Say you can rely on His power, not your strength. Releases you from the past: tells you your sins are forgiven, never to be held against you. Generates an expectation of kindness, love and a new beginning with His help. Sends others to minister to you in love, as well as sends you to .others. Speaks of His unchanging nature and steadfast love. States the true facts about you and God! I'm certain you all can relate to All these words " Thank you, Father, in Jesus Holy name AMEN!
Only God can transform a sinful soul into a masterpiece of grace -
Mathew 5:43-48) 48 - be perfect therefore as your Heavenly Father is perfect!"
Why should we love our enemies? Because our merciful Father causes the sun to rise on the evil and the Good. Why store up treasure in Heaven? Because the Father lives there and will lavishly reward us. Why live without fear and Worry? Because the same God who clothes the lilies and the grass of the field has promised to take care of us. Why pray? If an earthly Father gives his son bread or fish, how much more will the Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask?
Jesus gave the sermon on the mount (MATHEW 5:7) not only to explain GOD's ideal towards which we should never stop striving but also to show in this life none of us will ever reach that ideal!
Before God, we will stand on level ground: murderers and tantrum-throwers, adulterers and those who lust, thieves and coveters. We are all desperate, and that is the only state appropriate to a human being who wants to know God. Having fallen from the absolute ideal, we have nowhere to land except but in the safety net of Absolute Grace!
Thank you, Father, in Jesus name, I pray for All AMEN "!
Mathew 5:43-48) 48 - be perfect therefore as your Heavenly Father is perfect!"
Why should we love our enemies? Because our merciful Father causes the sun to rise on the evil and the Good. Why store up treasure in Heaven? Because the Father lives there and will lavishly reward us. Why live without fear and Worry? Because the same God who clothes the lilies and the grass of the field has promised to take care of us. Why pray? If an earthly Father gives his son bread or fish, how much more will the Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask?
Jesus gave the sermon on the mount (MATHEW 5:7) not only to explain GOD's ideal towards which we should never stop striving but also to show in this life none of us will ever reach that ideal!
Before God, we will stand on level ground: murderers and tantrum-throwers, adulterers and those who lust, thieves and coveters. We are all desperate, and that is the only state appropriate to a human being who wants to know God. Having fallen from the absolute ideal, we have nowhere to land except but in the safety net of Absolute Grace!
Thank you, Father, in Jesus name, I pray for All AMEN "!
2 Corinthians 7:10 For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death. (NLT)
Stop for a moment and consider the admonition at the beginning of this verse – God wants us to experience sorrow. Sorrow is not something we tend to embrace or enjoy. There is much sorrow in this world that has no influence upon man’s relationship with God. If we focus upon the unfairness and pain we may miss the very thing God is trying to bring into our lives. There is a vast difference between godly sorrow and feeling sorry for ourselves. Often God uses circumstances to reveal our inherent weakness and need to bring us to a place of humble devotion and faith. Sorrow is not a sin if it leads us toward humility, brokenness and contrition toward God. Sin is defined by our unwillingness to accept the absolute sovereignty of God in every circumstance of our lives. God will use every trial, every failure, every obstruction and every crisis to bring us closer to His infinite love and eternal purpose if we allow His Holy Spirit to transform our thinking from temporal to eternal. We must never abandon our need for repentance and brokenness before our infinitely holy Creator. Spiritual growth will require a constant acknowledgement of our weakness and sinful nature to embrace our spiritual heritage. A heart after God every acknowledges its unworthiness to receive what we have been provided.
Read through the Bible in one year – May 14/ John 4:1-30; 2 Kings 19,20,21
TOZER DEVOTIONAL
TOZER DEVOTIONAL
Sun, May 14, 2017
Unlovely Religious People
Any act gains in power as it moves inward toward the heart. For this reason, the sins of the spirit are more iniquitous than those of the body. This was illustrated boldly by the attitude of our Lord toward these two kinds of sins and the corresponding two classes of sinners. He was the friend of publicans and harlots and the enemy of the Pharisees.
All sin is sinful and will be fatal to the soul if it is not forgiven and cleansed away. But for intensity of iniquity, the sins of the spirit are in a class by themselves. Yet they are the very sins which are most likely to be committed by religious people.
The careless sinner expresses himself overtly and so "releases" the moral tension; the religious sinner is not likely so to do. He scorns outward acts of wickedness and drives his sin inward to the sanctuary of his soul where it remains in a state of high compression. The notorious unloveliness of many religious people can be explained in this way.
Verse
The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'
Luke 18:11-12
Thought
As Evangelical Christians we can be highly pharisaical in condeming the overt sins of others while refusing to acknowledge our own sins of the spirit. Does God see us as those with telephone poles in our own eyes yet denouncing tiny specks in the eyes of others?
Prayer
Father, help me to understand that sin is sin. I may not be committing sin strongly condemned by society. But so-called "inner sins" are just as sinful. Christ had to die to pay the price for "little" sins as well as big ones.
Sun, May 14, 2017
Unlovely Religious People
Any act gains in power as it moves inward toward the heart. For this reason, the sins of the spirit are more iniquitous than those of the body. This was illustrated boldly by the attitude of our Lord toward these two kinds of sins and the corresponding two classes of sinners. He was the friend of publicans and harlots and the enemy of the Pharisees.
All sin is sinful and will be fatal to the soul if it is not forgiven and cleansed away. But for intensity of iniquity, the sins of the spirit are in a class by themselves. Yet they are the very sins which are most likely to be committed by religious people.
The careless sinner expresses himself overtly and so "releases" the moral tension; the religious sinner is not likely so to do. He scorns outward acts of wickedness and drives his sin inward to the sanctuary of his soul where it remains in a state of high compression. The notorious unloveliness of many religious people can be explained in this way.
Verse
The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'
Luke 18:11-12
Thought
As Evangelical Christians we can be highly pharisaical in condeming the overt sins of others while refusing to acknowledge our own sins of the spirit. Does God see us as those with telephone poles in our own eyes yet denouncing tiny specks in the eyes of others?
Prayer
Father, help me to understand that sin is sin. I may not be committing sin strongly condemned by society. But so-called "inner sins" are just as sinful. Christ had to die to pay the price for "little" sins as well as big ones.
Saturday, May 13, 2017
Genesis 6:8 ¶ But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
The grace of God is most clearly seen as man comes to recognize his own unworthiness in light of God’s desire to have intimate relationship with His creation. We must ever remind ourselves that our total existence depends upon the unmerited grace and mercy of God. To think that there is something that God wants or needs of us other than our humble gratitude for His grace and mercy, reflected in our devotion and love, is founded in pride, ego and self-righteousness. Our Lord never offered to man access to His approval apart from His undeserved grace and mercy. God’s mercy is reflected in thousands of years allowing man to exist in rebellion and denial of their life source. His grace is presented in giving us the opportunity to humbly embrace His blessings and forgiveness. The pinnacle of God’s unmerited grace came when He sent His Son to die for our deserved justice. The true believer is continually humbly amazed at God’s grace and mercy.
Read through the Bible in one year – May 13/ John 3:19-38; 2 Kings 17,18
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