Category Archives: Character of God

Church / Body of Christ, Encouragement, Holy Spirit / Ruach HaKodesh

Linked By The Spirit As Followers of Yeshua

It is truly wonderful. Those of us who know Yahweh through Yeshua need not all be taught in one school to find the same truth. The Spirit leads and guides us, helping us to properly understand and live out and teach the gospel. There will be those who do not understand and who disagree on points of doctrine. We can listen and debate, but we should not yield simply to peer pressure but rather change only when we truly recognize an error in our understanding. In that way, we grow wiser.

Just as Paul could visit James, Cephas, and John after 14 years and still come together in fellowship and support, so we can come together with other believers who have not been taught from a common human teacher, but from the Spirit Himself though we may have studied and lived far apart geographically.

Paul was sent to the Gentiles as others were called to the Jews. They were not in competition but in collaboration. Let us work in this way with our brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. Let us be aligned in our submission to the Spirit and in our purpose to share the gospel with all the world.

Galatians 2:1-10

The Council at Jerusalem

     1Then after an interval of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also. 2It was because of a revelation that I went up; and I submitted to them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain. 3But not even Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. 4But it was because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage. 5But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you. 6But from those who were of high reputation (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—well, those who were of reputation contributed nothing to me. 7But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised 8(for He who effectually worked for Peter in his apostleship to the circumcised effectually worked for me also to the Gentiles), 9and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10They only asked us to remember the poor—the very thing I also was eager to do.

There are always mockers, who will attack those who stand firmly and clearly for Yeshua. However, there are many fellow brothers and sisters in Christ with whom we may find almost instant fellowship through our bond as servants of the same Lord and students of the same Teacher. Though we may be called to different ministry, we can support and collaborate with one another. We are on the same team, though we may not even meet often.

Let us pray for one another and support one another as followers of Yeshua. For each of us the ministry field may be somewhat different, but we all pursue the same objective for the same Lord.

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Discipline / Guidance From God, Justice / Judgment, Loving / Kind, Rebuke Wrong Behavior, Repenting from Sin

Do Not Blame God When He Disciplines His People

God will at times discipline His people severely for turning from Him and following false gods and man’s ways. Many often struggle then with God because he provides discipline. Surely He has given plenty of opportunity for grace and mercy, but still, His people disobey. Even as they call upon His name, the continue in their disobedience in that they have not repented of what they are doing wrong.

Take care not to blame God for being harsh when He disciplines His people. Do we not discipline our children when they disobey continually? We do it because we love and care for them. I do not discipline someone else’s children, but my own.  Do not blame the parents for discipline, but the children for disobedience.

Do we not hold criminals accountable with what may seem like harsh punishments? Do not blame those arresting and convicting the criminals, but rather blame the criminals who break the law.

Jeremiah 14

Drought and a Prayer for Mercy

      1That which came as the word of the LORD to Jeremiah in regard to the drought:

      2“Judah mourns
And her gates languish;
They sit on the ground in mourning,
And the cry of Jerusalem has ascended.

      3“Their nobles have sent their servants for water;
They have come to the cisterns and found no water.
They have returned with their vessels empty;
They have been put to shame and humiliated,
And they cover their heads.

      4“Because the ground is cracked,
For there has been no rain on the land;
The farmers have been put to shame,
They have covered their heads.

      5“For even the doe in the field has given birth only to abandon her young,
Because there is no grass.

      6“The wild donkeys stand on the bare heights;
They pant for air like jackals,
Their eyes fail
For there is no vegetation.

      7“Although our iniquities testify against us,
O LORD, act for Your name’s sake!
Truly our apostasies have been many,
We have sinned against You.

      8“O Hope of Israel,
Its Savior in time of distress,
Why are You like a stranger in the land
Or like a traveler who has pitched his tent for the night?

      9“Why are You like a man dismayed,
Like a mighty man who cannot save?
Yet You are in our midst, O LORD,
And we are called by Your name;
Do not forsake us!”

      10Thus says the LORD to this people, “Even so they have loved to wander; they have not kept their feet in check. Therefore the LORD does not accept them; now He will remember their iniquity and call their sins to account.” 11So the LORD said to me, “Do not pray for the welfare of this people. 12“When they fast, I am not going to listen to their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I am not going to accept them. Rather I am going to make an end of them by the sword, famine and pestilence.”

False Prophets

      13But, “Ah, Lord GOD!” I said, “Look, the prophets are telling them, ‘You will not see the sword nor will you have famine, but I will give you lasting peace in this place.’” 14Then the LORD said to me, “The prophets are prophesying falsehood in My name. I have neither sent them nor commanded them nor spoken to them; they are prophesying to you a false vision, divination, futility and the deception of their own minds. 15“Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who are prophesying in My name, although it was not I who sent them—yet they keep saying, ‘There will be no sword or famine in this land’—by sword and famine those prophets shall meet their end! 16“The people also to whom they are prophesying will be thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword; and there will be no one to bury them—neither them, nor their wives, nor their sons, nor their daughters—for I will pour out their own wickedness on them.

      17“You will say this word to them,
‘Let my eyes flow down with tears night and day,
And let them not cease;
For the virgin daughter of my people has been crushed with a mighty blow,
With a sorely infected wound.

      18‘If I go out to the country,
Behold, those slain with the sword!
Or if I enter the city,
Behold, diseases of famine!
For both prophet and priest
Have gone roving about in the land that they do not know.’”

      19Have You completely rejected Judah?
Or have You loathed Zion?
Why have You stricken us so that we are beyond healing?
We waited for peace, but nothing good came;
And for a time of healing, but behold, terror!

      20We know our wickedness, O LORD,
The iniquity of our fathers, for we have sinned against You.

      21Do not despise us, for Your own name’s sake;
Do not disgrace the throne of Your glory;
Remember and do not annul Your covenant with us.

      22Are there any among the idols of the nations who give rain?
Or can the heavens grant showers?
Is it not You, O LORD our God?
Therefore we hope in You,
For You are the one who has done all these things.

We also get a fresh reminder that not everyone who claims to bring a message in God’s name is speaking for Him. This may be prophets, pastors, or any others.

In all this, however, the right answer is still to repent and seek God, asking for mercy… but admitting your wrongdoing.

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross

Discipline / Guidance From God, Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, Justice / Judgment, Unteachable / Foolish, Worldliness, Worthy of Fear / Reverence

Don’t Be Like a Ruined Waistband to God

God calls His people to be in a relationship with Him and not with false gods, to live as He calls us to rather than pursuing false beliefs and customs. If we reject Him and go our own way, it is very displeasing to the LORD. There are usually consequences to us as well. Do not grow complacent in your walk with the LORD. Remain vigilant and seek Him diligently. Turn away form worldly ways.

Jeremiah 13

The Ruined Waistband

      1Thus the LORD said to me, “Go and buy yourself a linen waistband and put it around your waist, but do not put it in water.” 2So I bought the waistband in accordance with the word of the LORD and put it around my waist. 3Then the word of the LORD came to me a second time, saying, 4“Take the waistband that you have bought, which is around your waist, and arise, go to the Euphrates and hide it there in a crevice of the rock.” 5So I went and hid it by the Euphrates, as the LORD had commanded me. 6After many days the LORD said to me, “Arise, go to the Euphrates and take from there the waistband which I commanded you to hide there.” 7Then I went to the Euphrates and dug, and I took the waistband from the place where I had hidden it; and lo, the waistband was ruined, it was totally worthless.

      8Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 9“Thus says the LORD, ‘Just so will I destroy the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem. 10‘This wicked people, who refuse to listen to My words, who walk in the stubbornness of their hearts and have gone after other gods to serve them and to bow down to them, let them be just like this waistband which is totally worthless. 11‘For as the waistband clings to the waist of a man, so I made the whole household of Israel and the whole household of Judah cling to Me,’ declares the LORD, ‘that they might be for Me a people, for renown, for praise and for glory; but they did not listen.’

Captivity Threatened

      12“Therefore you are to speak this word to them, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, “Every jug is to be filled with wine.”’ And when they say to you, ‘Do we not very well know that every jug is to be filled with wine?’ 13then say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Behold I am about to fill all the inhabitants of this land—the kings that sit for David on his throne, the priests, the prophets and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem—with drunkenness! 14“I will dash them against each other, both the fathers and the sons together,” declares the LORD. “I will not show pity nor be sorry nor have compassion so as not to destroy them.”’”

      15Listen and give heed, do not be haughty,
For the LORD has spoken.

      16Give glory to the LORD your God,
Before He brings darkness
And before your feet stumble
On the dusky mountains,
And while you are hoping for light
He makes it into deep darkness,
And turns it into gloom.

      17But if you will not listen to it,
My soul will sob in secret for such pride;
And my eyes will bitterly weep
And flow down with tears,
Because the flock of the LORD has been taken captive.

      18Say to the king and the queen mother,
“Take a lowly seat,
For your beautiful crown
Has come down from your head.”

      19The cities of the Negev have been locked up,
And there is no one to open them;
All Judah has been carried into exile,
Wholly carried into exile.

      20“Lift up your eyes and see
Those coming from the north.
Where is the flock that was given you,
Your beautiful sheep?

      21“What will you say when He appoints over you—
And you yourself had taught them—
Former companions to be head over you?
Will not pangs take hold of you
Like a woman in childbirth?

      22“If you say in your heart,
‘Why have these things happened to me?’
Because of the magnitude of your iniquity
Your skirts have been removed
And your heels have been exposed.

      23“Can the Ethiopian change his skin
Or the leopard his spots?
Then you also can do good
Who are accustomed to doing evil.

      24“Therefore I will scatter them like drifting straw
To the desert wind.

      25“This is your lot, the portion measured to you
From Me,” declares the LORD,
“Because you have forgotten Me
And trusted in falsehood.

      26“So I Myself have also stripped your skirts off over your face,
That your shame may be seen.

      27“As for your adulteries and your lustful neighings,
The lewdness of your prostitution
On the hills in the field,
I have seen your abominations.
Woe to you, O Jerusalem!
How long will you remain unclean?”

Spend time in prayer. Thank God for the message He  is bringing to your heart through this scripture. Ask Him to show you any areas where you need to repent and change your ways to turn back to Him.

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Holy Spirit (hearing from God), Holy Spirit / Ruach HaKodesh, Obeying God, Purposeful / Intentional, Share the Good News, Teachable

Let the Spirit Be Our Teacher Rather than Men

Seminary and church teaching can be useful if the theology is taught properly. However, in many cases, it is not the Spirit of God that leads the men who run seminaries. They are led by the spirit of men trying to run a business or a broad church organization or perhaps well intended but not fully understanding the depth of scripture themselves. We must always go back to the gospel itself and the Spirit of God to teach us. We can use other study tools to help, of course. Consider that none of the core disciples (later apostles) of Yeshua had formal seminary teaching from religious leaders. They were common men taught by Christ and later led by the Spirit.

Paul, who did have formal teaching from a respected teacher, was prosecuting Christians and clinging to the doctrine of men. That is until Paul had a personal and dramatic encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus. It changed him forever.

Galatians 1:11-24

Paul Defends His Ministry

     11For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

      13For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it; 14and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions. 15But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased 16to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, 17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus.

      18Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas, and stayed with him fifteen days. 19But I did not see any other of the apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. 20(Now in what I am writing to you, I assure you before God that I am not lying.) 21Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea which were in Christ; 23but only, they kept hearing, “He who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy.” 24And they were glorifying God because of me.

It may be well to study at seminary if you pick the right one, but never take as gospel the doctrine of men. Test it always against the word of Yahweh in the Bible. Take note also, that the Spirit will not contradict the word of God. When we think we have heard from the Spirit, we can often test what we think we heard against God’s written word for confirmation. Pray for the Lord to guide you. Be willing to challenge common and “accepted” teaching based on what scripture says. Seek to please the Lord rather than other church members or leadership or friends or family. Look for pastors that do the same.

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Grace / Forgiveness, Loving / Kind, Peace / Rest

Our Authority Comes from God, Not Man

Paul was always clear from whom his authority originated as an apostle. It was never from men. It was from God. Having a firm grasp on this is so important for pastors and others in authority within the church. Knowing whom we serve and from whom our authority comes makes it much clearer whom we should seek to please. We should not worry over how many people fill the seats of our church or “like” us on social media. It is not that you can’t use that as a reference for reaching an audience, but be careful not to judge your success that way, lest you be drawn to serve men instead of God by telling them what they want to hear instead of what God wants you to share.

I also appreciate that as Paul opens his letter to Galatians, he puts emphasis on the grace and peace characteristic of a healthy relationship with God. We are drawn immediately to focus on the purpose of the death and resurrection of Christ and to whom the glory is due.

What a wonderful way to launch a letter engaging brothers and sisters in Christ.

Galatians 1:1-5

Introduction

     1Paul, an apostle (not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead), 2and all the brethren who are with me,
To the churches of Galatia:

      3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5to whom be the glory forevermore. Amen.

Let us challenge ourselves to remember that authority comes from the Father. He is the one whom we should please. He is the one who brings grace and peace.

—-

Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? Are you living today filled with the peace and joy of truly knowing and following Jesus Christ? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Love, Loving / Kind, Rebuke Wrong Behavior, Repenting from Sin

We Only Discipline and Rebuke Those We Love

It may not always be intuitive, but it makes perfect sense if you think about it. Whether we are talking about Yahweh or brothers and sisters in Christ, we only discipline and rebuke the ones we love. Think about your own situation. How often do you reprove or discipline a stranger? It is much more often we will reprove friends or family… brothers and sisters in Christ, or our own spouse or children. It is the same with Yahweh.

Hebrews 12

    6FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES,
AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES.”

Revelation 3:19

19‘Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.

There is little point reproving a mocker or a fool. They will not learn.

Proverbs 9:8

     8Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you,
Reprove a wise man and he will love you.

With this in mind we can certainly appreciate the spirit in which Paul wrote 2 Corinthians. His desire was to help those he loved, brothers and sisters in Christ, who were struggling to hold tightly to correct teaching and application of that teaching in their lives. Paul wished to help them now, by the letter, so he could rejoice with them when he visited… rather than spending his visit rebuking them firmly.

2 Corinthians 13

Examine Yourselves

     1This is the third time I am coming to you. EVERY FACT IS TO BE CONFIRMED BY THE TESTIMONY OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES. 2I have previously said when present the second time, and though now absent I say in advance to those who have sinned in the past and to all the rest as well, that if I come again I will not spare anyone, 3since you are seeking for proof of the Christ who speaks in me, and who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you. 4For indeed He was crucified because of weakness, yet He lives because of the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, yet we will live with Him because of the power of God directed toward you.

      5Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test? 6But I trust that you will realize that we ourselves do not fail the test. 7Now we pray to God that you do no wrong; not that we ourselves may appear approved, but that you may do what is right, even though we may appear unapproved. 8For we can do nothing against the truth, but only for the truth. 9For we rejoice when we ourselves are weak but you are strong; this we also pray for, that you be made complete. 10For this reason I am writing these things while absent, so that when present I need not use severity, in accordance with the authority which the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down.

      11Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. 12Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13All the saints greet you.

      14The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.

I appreciate that even when Paul was being firm and direct, he did so in a way that demonstrated love. He never changed God’s instructions, but he could identify with the people he was leading and teaching. Even as he reproved them, he encouraged them and reminded them lovingly of the truth of the gospel. I suppose I also appreciate that Paul points to all three members of the trinity in his closing, each playing a crucial role in the life of a believer.

We would do well to pray for the Spirit’s help to reprove others as effectively as Paul did… both firm and loving and never compromising.

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Powerful / King of All, Guide, Worthy of Fear / Reverence

There Is None Like Our God; Trust in Him Alone

Do not let anything take the place of God in your life. We are to place our trust in Him and seek direction for our steps. Even with good things like family, jobs, and money, we should take care so as not to place our trust in them instead of God.

Jeremiah 10

A Satire on Idolatry

      1Hear the word which the LORD speaks to you, O house of Israel.

2Thus says the LORD,
“Do not learn the way of the nations,
And do not be terrified by the signs of the heavens
Although the nations are terrified by them;

      3For the customs of the peoples are delusion;
Because it is wood cut from the forest,
The work of the hands of a craftsman with a cutting tool.

      4“They decorate it with silver and with gold;
They fasten it with nails and with hammers
So that it will not totter.

      5“Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field are they,
And they cannot speak;
They must be carried,
Because they cannot walk!
Do not fear them,
For they can do no harm,
Nor can they do any good.”

      6There is none like You, O LORD;
You are great, and great is Your name in might.

      7Who would not fear You, O King of the nations?
Indeed it is Your due!
For among all the wise men of the nations
And in all their kingdoms,
There is none like You.

      8But they are altogether stupid and foolish
In their discipline of delusion—their idol is wood!

      9Beaten silver is brought from Tarshish,
And gold from Uphaz,
The work of a craftsman and of the hands of a goldsmith;
Violet and purple are their clothing;
They are all the work of skilled men.

      10But the LORD is the true God;
He is the living God and the everlasting King.
At His wrath the earth quakes,
And the nations cannot endure His indignation.

      11Thus you shall say to them, “The gods that did not make the heavens and the earth will perish from the earth and from under the heavens.”

      12It is He who made the earth by His power,
Who established the world by His wisdom;
And by His understanding He has stretched out the heavens.

      13When He utters His voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens,
And He causes the clouds to ascend from the end of the earth;
He makes lightning for the rain,
And brings out the wind from His storehouses.

      14Every man is stupid, devoid of knowledge;
Every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols;
For his molten images are deceitful,
And there is no breath in them.

      15They are worthless, a work of mockery;
In the time of their punishment they will perish.

      16The portion of Jacob is not like these;
For the Maker of all is He,
And Israel is the tribe of His inheritance;
The LORD of hosts is His name.

      17Pick up your bundle from the ground,
You who dwell under siege!

18For thus says the LORD,
“Behold, I am slinging out the inhabitants of the land
At this time,
And will cause them distress,
That they may be found.”

      19Woe is me, because of my injury!
My wound is incurable.
But I said, “Truly this is a sickness,
And I must bear it.”

      20My tent is destroyed,
And all my ropes are broken;
My sons have gone from me and are no more.
There is no one to stretch out my tent again
Or to set up my curtains.

      21For the shepherds have become stupid
And have not sought the LORD;
Therefore they have not prospered,
And all their flock is scattered.

      22The sound of a report! Behold, it comes—
A great commotion out of the land of the north—
To make the cities of Judah
A desolation, a haunt of jackals.

      23I know, O LORD, that a man’s way is not in himself,
Nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps.

      24Correct me, O LORD, but with justice;
Not with Your anger, or You will bring me to nothing.

      25Pour out Your wrath on the nations that do not know You
And on the families that do not call Your name;
For they have devoured Jacob;
They have devoured him and consumed him
And have laid waste his habitation.

Carefully consider in what you are placing your trust. Seek correction where you need it. Ask for him to correct without anger as in verse 24.

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Powerful / King of All, Arrogance, Humility, Strong in Our Weakness

God’s Grace and Power Are Sufficient

We all experience success and challenges in life. We all have strengths and weaknesses. Are we to rely on our own strength? Not at all. In fact, Paul calls us to boast in our weakness and to be content with weaknesses, insults, and distresses… with persecutions and difficulties… all for the sake of Jesus Christ. When we are weak, then we are strong.  Truly God’s ways are not our ways.

We may always come before our Father and ask for our weakness to be removed, as Paul did. However, sometimes the answer will be “no”. We are to remember that God works through our weakness in His strength. In fact, our weakness makes His strength all the more “real” when He works through us. We know it is not ourselves that have done something good, but Him working through us.

2 Corinthians 12:7-21

A Thorn in the Flesh

     7Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! 8Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. 9And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

      11I have become foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, for in no respect was I inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody. 12The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles. 13For in what respect were you treated as inferior to the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not become a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!

      14Here for this third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I do not seek what is yours, but you; for children are not responsible to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. 15I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less? 16But be that as it may, I did not burden you myself; nevertheless, crafty fellow that I am, I took you in by deceit. 17Certainly I have not taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you, have I? 18I urged Titus to go, and I sent the brother with him. Titus did not take any advantage of you, did he? Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit and walk in the same steps?

      19All this time you have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. Actually, it is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ; and all for your upbuilding, beloved. 20For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there will be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances; 21I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, immorality and sensuality which they have practiced.

Are you content in your weakness? There is a difference between being content and complacent. You can try to overcome your weaknesses through prayer and study of the word and trying to change your life to be more in accord with the scriptures. However, the point is that ultimately we will all have weaknesses and often it is that which makes God’s work through us all the more powerful to others and to ourselves.

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Powerful / King of All, His Ways Are Not Our Ways, Humility, Protector / Deliverer, Strong in Our Weakness, Visions

Boast Not in Our Own Strength But in Our Weakness

What a confusing concept… do not boast of your own strength, but rather boast of your weakness. This is clearly God’s way and not mans’ way. Paul has reason to boast in himself if he would find it profitable, but he does not. When we boast in our strength, we put the focus on us and our accomplishments rather than God. Better we should boast in our weakness, thus focusing the spotlight on the power and glory of our Father in heaven who may accomplish mighty things through us. His strength is demonstrated best in our weakness.

2 Corinthians 12:1-6

Paul’s Vision

     1Boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a man was caught up to the third heaven. 3And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows— 4was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. 5On behalf of such a man I will boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses. 6For if I do wish to boast I will not be foolish, for I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me.

Be humble. Always point to the Spirit, Christ, and the Father rather than yourself. Boast in their power and glory. Praise them rather than yourself… no matter what our Creator has done through you or revealed to you.

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Discipline / Guidance From God, Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, Father / Yahweh, Justice / Judgment, Wickedness / Evil, Worldliness

Behold, I Will Refine My People (for Disobedience)

God finds it sad and frustrating to see His people living apart from Him. They may identify with Him in name, but do not live according to His ways or in relationship to Him. As we would with our children whom we love, so He also will consider discipline and correction to draw us back and to hold us accountable.

This is true in our lives still today. It is not just something to read about in “ancient Israel”. God is still moved to grief by our lack of obedience.

Jeremiah 9

A Lament over Zion

1Oh that my head were waters
And my eyes a fountain of tears,
That I might weep day and night
For the slain of the daughter of my people!

      2Oh that I had in the desert
A wayfarers’ lodging place;
That I might leave my people
And go from them!
For all of them are adulterers,
An assembly of treacherous men.

      3“They bend their tongue like their bow;
Lies and not truth prevail in the land;
For they proceed from evil to evil,
And they do not know Me,” declares the LORD.

      4“Let everyone be on guard against his neighbor,
And do not trust any brother;
Because every brother deals craftily,
And every neighbor goes about as a slanderer.

      5“Everyone deceives his neighbor
And does not speak the truth,
They have taught their tongue to speak lies;
They weary themselves committing iniquity.

      6“Your dwelling is in the midst of deceit;
Through deceit they refuse to know Me,” declares the LORD.

      7Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts,
“Behold, I will refine them and assay them;
For what else can I do, because of the daughter of My people?

      8“Their tongue is a deadly arrow;
It speaks deceit;
With his mouth one speaks peace to his neighbor,
But inwardly he sets an ambush for him.

      9“Shall I not punish them for these things?” declares the LORD.
“On a nation such as this
Shall I not avenge Myself?

      10“For the mountains I will take up a weeping and wailing,
And for the pastures of the wilderness a dirge,
Because they are laid waste so that no one passes through,
And the lowing of the cattle is not heard;
Both the birds of the sky and the beasts have fled; they are gone.

      11“I will make Jerusalem a heap of ruins,
A haunt of jackals;
And I will make the cities of Judah a desolation, without inhabitant.”

      12Who is the wise man that may understand this? And who is he to whom the mouth of the LORD has spoken, that he may declare it? Why is the land ruined, laid waste like a desert, so that no one passes through? 13The LORD said, “Because they have forsaken My law which I set before them, and have not obeyed My voice nor walked according to it, 14but have walked after the stubbornness of their heart and after the Baals, as their fathers taught them,” 15therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, “behold, I will feed them, this people, with wormwood and give them poisoned water to drink. 16“I will scatter them among the nations, whom neither they nor their fathers have known; and I will send the sword after them until I have annihilated them.”

      17Thus says the LORD of hosts,
“Consider and call for the mourning women, that they may come;
And send for the wailing women, that they may come!

      18“Let them make haste and take up a wailing for us,
That our eyes may shed tears
And our eyelids flow with water.

      19“For a voice of wailing is heard from Zion,
‘How are we ruined!
We are put to great shame,
For we have left the land,
Because they have cast down our dwellings.’”

      20Now hear the word of the LORD, O you women,
And let your ear receive the word of His mouth;
Teach your daughters wailing,
And everyone her neighbor a dirge.

      21For death has come up through our windows;
It has entered our palaces
To cut off the children from the streets,
The young men from the town squares.

      22Speak, “Thus says the LORD,
‘The corpses of men will fall like dung on the open field,
And like the sheaf after the reaper,
But no one will gather them.’”

      23Thus says the LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; 24but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.

      25“Behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD, “that I will punish all who are circumcised and yet uncircumcised— 26Egypt and Judah, and Edom and the sons of Ammon, and Moab and all those inhabiting the desert who clip the hair on their temples; for all the nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised of heart.”

Ask God to show you any areas where you need to make a change and for Him to help you embrace that change rather than resist it.

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.