Still So Much

"He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters. And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

Matthew 12:30-32

It seems like every time I come across this scripture, I need to re-examine and meditate on it more.  From reading on this, I understand that a believer cannot commit this sin.  I know that we should all be concerned with sin, most especially one that there's no forgiveness for.  But exactly what is it and what can we do to prevent this from happening?  The way I understood it was blasphemy against man was just that we don't believe and are either deceived or confused about God.  Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit means that you accept & know there's a God in heaven that loves us but chooses to love and follow Satan.  The blasphemer believes the devil is the source of all things and takes credit for everything.  

My understanding of this scripture isn't quite solid and I still need better understanding of what God is telling us here.  But the application to my life right now says that there's no condemnation for those who calls Jesus King and Savior.  We know that there's nothing that can separate God's love for us but what we do is reject His love.  We can reject the wonderful blood of Christ by saying no thanks, I don't need You.  So in someways, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is a constant rejection of God's power and love.  I will always seek Christ even though I have ups and downs.

Heavenly Father, thank You for showing me so much; but this passage shows me how much I still yet need to unravel and apply.  I pray LORD, that You'll grant me the wisdom and understanding according to Your perfect timing.  Help me recognize and absorb Your wonderful teachings.  In the matchless name of Christ Jesus I pray, Amen!

Spirits & Distractions

But the woman said to him, "Surely you know what Saul has done. He has cut off the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why have you set a trap for my life to bring about my death?"  Saul swore to her by the LORD, "As surely as the LORD lives, you will not be punished for this."  Then the woman asked, "Whom shall I bring up for you?"  "Bring up Samuel," he said.

1 Samuel 28:9-11

The first question I have is, How can Samuel be brought back from heaven to respond to the medium & Saul?   I know it's possible because, Jesus transfigured, spoke with Moses and Elijah.  But how can an ordinary person summon Samuel, a man of God, from physical death?  I don't know how this was done but what it does tell me is that mediums and spiritist do exist and have the ability to do such things we can't understand.  But we are also cautioned to rid ourselves of these types, they are not from God.  There will be many different people claiming their god or religion or philosophy is correct based off of some source of power; but we are reminded that there's only one true God, the LORD Almighty.  Other things will come up in our lives that will try to deceive us and get our sights off Jesus but we must remember that the LORD of lords and King of kings have authority over all those evil spirits and distractions.

I've been hearing of all these "ghost stories" at my new job this week.  Weird things happening and personal experiences were mentioned, just like when I was working at Roberts in Dole Cannery.  At first, I'm interested in the details but after a while I get a little concerned.  But just like my experience at Dole, I say a prayer each day for covering and protection.  I know there's a ton of things going on each day in the spiritual realm but my confidence and assurance comes from the victory on the cross.  Our mighty Savior has defeated Satan and his devils; it's finished.  What's left is us using the gifts and authority He's granted through the mighty Holy Spirit!

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your mighty victory on the cross!  So many things to be thankful for.  Your Holy Spirit is a lamp to my feet guiding, protecting and driving out evil all around me.  Lord, I pray for others who don't yet know how to ask for protection; grant them their daily bread and hold them close to Your heart.  Use Your servant to accomplish Your will today.  In Jesus' masterful name, amen!!

Peace & Separation

As you enter the home, give it your greeting.  If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you.  If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you l4ave that home or town.

Matthew 10:12-14

This passage is about Jesus giving instructions to the disciples as He sends them off to reach the nations.  When He speaks of home or town, I believe that He's speaking about people who haven't heard the gospel & the deserving are those who accept it into their hearts.  The peace that's mentioned will only come through the Holy Spirit and it makes sense where it resides.  But an important phrase here is when it says, "let your peace return to you."  This means that we, as messengers of the gospel, aren't given the task or ability to transform hearts; that's the work of God through the Holy Spirit.  We are commanded only to deliver the message to them.  Shaking the dust off their feet showed that there was a separation between them; that the choice they're making is incorrect and they're moving on to continue with their mission and now dwell on it.

I struggle with moving on.  I want to see people saved so much that I lose sight of God and only focus on the task.  Don't I believe that God loves the unsaved way more than I?  I do but I don't act like it.  I take it upon myself to convince others but it's clearly stated to move on.  This doesn't mean to sever ties and forget about this person; no, never.  What it means is to remember our task is to deliver the gospel, it just may not come all at once.  It may come in a sermon, conversation, prayer or nowadays even online.  It may not even come from one person or place.  So I what I need to remember is to be faithful and tuned in to what God's asking of me and to separate my task from the Holy Spirit's task.

Wonderful Father, so blessed are those who hear & believe!  A lot of times we over complicate our mission and fill it with our flesh.  I pray LORD, that You simplify my mind and heart so that we know at which point we shake the dust off our feet.  This way our own peace will never leave us but dwell in us always.  Thank You for all Your mighty gifts, none greater than Your Son, our King, Christ Jesus!  In His precious name I pray, Amen!

Catalyst of Peace

When Aibgail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed down before David with her face to the ground.  She fell at his feet and said: "My lord, let the blame be on me alone.  Please let your servant speak to you; hear what you servant has to say... Please forgive your servant's offense, for the LORD will certainly make a lasting dynasty for my master, because he fights the LORD's battles.  Let no wrongdoing be found in you as long as you live.

1 Samuel 25:23-24,28

Sometimes, God calls us to step out in faith to lay our lives out for another.  Here, Abigail did no wrong but she brought out offerings of peace to David and asked for forgiveness anyway.  She asked David to put the blame on her and reminded David of his calling.  The scriptures later shows what a just God we have because He took vengence and allowed David to be free of unnecessary bloodshed.  We too need to stand firm in place of those sinning, not of the sinner but for those sinned against and others involved.  God will deal with the sinner in His ways but we cannot drink of the poison the sinner made.

When I meditate on this, it feels like just keeping the peace.  At first, I think it's more than just that but the more I think about God's peace, it makes sense.  Just yesterday, I felt offended and my heart was burdened by someone.  My mind ran through a whole range of emotions but it took a voice of one Godly person to settle my heart and allowed God's peace to reside in me.  I think of what would happen and how my choices wouldn've affected so many people.  I'm not saying it was a sin or that person was evil, no absolutely not.  It wasn't malicious or intentional in any way but it was enough to trigger anger within my heart.  The important lesson I learned was to be a catalyst of peace.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the Holy Spirit, who brings peace into our hearts.  It's such a necessary ingredient piece in our walk but somehow I think that peace will just be given to us.  I know that peace is a product of faith & unselfishly offering my life to You, by sacrificing it for another.  Help train my mind and heart to hunger daily for this.  In the awesome name of Jesus, Amen!

The Bigger Picture

He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave. The men said, "This is the day the LORD spoke of when he said to you, 'I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.' "Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul's robe... He said to his men, 'The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD's anointed, or lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the LORD."

1 Samuel 24:3-4,6

Just because all the pieces fall together in our favor, doesn't mean that God has blessed it. Oftentimes, we look at a situation and all the "signs" point to choosing a certain path but is that really God's plan for us? What if it contradicts a command from God? In this passage, everything seemed to be in favor of David finally overtaking Saul. God already promised David the throne, his life was threatened by Saul constantly & now it seems Saul was delivered on a silver platter to David. All of this fits so nicely... except that God already anointed Saul as king. To kill Saul would be to sin against God. We need to remind ourselves to take a step back and widen our vision to see God's works. We can't only look at promises made to us individually but look at a broader scope. We must focus on God's promises and not only promises made to us.

I do try to look at the bigger picture most of the time, I don't know how clear I see it, but I try to understand this truth. Even though it's impossible to see how God sees things, we are to discipline our own minds to be less self-centered and more God-centered. In my life, I need to frame my choices around God's master plan, not specifically concerned how it affects me individually but how it affects the community.

Thank You Father God for reminding me that attractiveness does not equate to blessings. Help my senses filter out deception and cunning of the evil one so that I can be like Your servant David. Teach me to think before I act, but also train my thoughts to be well oiled and quickly responsive to Your calling. I pray LORD, that all Your servants draws a little closer to You today. I love you LORD! Amen!

Man's Fruit is Always Bad

By their fruit you will rcognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

Matthew 7:16-20

I strugle with this because I see good people do bad things and bad people do good things. Is this scripture telling us that only Christ Jesus can produce good fruit and that man produces only bad fruit? So when man does something good, its not really good? Or maybe when man does good, it's from the Holy Spirit of those who accepted His company? I believe this is true when we receive our new bodies but until then, only Christ can do good and wee are not capable of it. So good can only come out through the Holy Spirit within us.

This passage speaks truth into me today since I'm starting my new job and I'll have many opportunities to "wear Jesus well." Will people know me as a christian brother or will I blend in with the rest of the world> How do I reveal Christ within me without forcing Jesus onto people? I don't want to come across as shy or timid but not arrogant and prideful. I cannot worry about such things, as the bible speaks. God will arrange every meeting and every opportunity to speak so what I need to do is be faithful and obedient to what He's commanding me today, right now; and that is to love each person I come into contact with. How do I do this? Let God handle it.

Good and Faithful One, thank You for Your immeasurable reach and glory! You reminded me today that not one of us deserve any credit; no matter if we do our devotions everyday, practice Your wisdom constantly or heal those who are sick. None of this is ours to claim but only to the One who works through us! You are amazing LORD, and every ounce of glory is Yours and Yours alone! When we are left to ourselves we produce bad fruit... thank You for saving us! Amen!

God Provides

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well..  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:33-34

A lot of times, we as believers, get thrown off course a little bit thinking that God wants us to be irresponsible with our choices.  We are being taught to put God first, no matter what.  But one could argue that God also told us to love our families and whatever other promises God made.  Finances and jobs are also examples; how can we tithe if we don't have enough for rent, mortgage, food & other bills?  How can we fully serve God if we are without these necessities of life?  That's where the confusion is!  God will be the one to provide these things as we put our faith in Him instead of us taking them on our own. 

This is a valuable lesson that makes sense but hard to execute.  I trust God to provide food & shelter but can I do that when I have none?  If I had a sandwich and someone comes up to me in dire need of food, do I keep the sandwich to myself?  Don't I trust God when He said I will be taken care of?  Putting God first would mean to obey His commands to love our neighbors; enough to feed them when they're hungry.  I've withheld so many blessings because it was mine... was it really?  No, it's all God's!  So it goes beyond tithing; it's our time & talents as well.

Father God, teach me LORD to follow all Your ways.  Help me to purge my life of all sinfulness and evil every single day.  I want to please You by glorifying Your name with faithfulness and obedience.  Transform my attitudes and convict me every time I'm withholding some blessing and a chance to show Your love.  Teach me to be less greedy... I love You LORD!  Amen!