Grey Areas

 ¹⁴For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do^(Y)instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves,
 ¹⁵in that they show ^(Z)the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them,
 ¹⁶on the day when,^(AA)according to my gospel,^(AB)God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.


Romans 2:14-16


What is this passage saying here?  Are they saying non-believing Gentiles (non-Jews) who have God's commands in their hearts are saved?  Or to put it another way, just doing the "good works" that the Bible teaches is good enough to go to heaven?  No, I don't believe so.  They have the Law on their hearts, they know what is good but the failure here is who is the source of that goodness.  Is it God or by their own deeds?  That's the defining point of sin actually, doing things apart from God.  The Pharisees did all the righteous things on the outside but their motivation (heart) was all wrong.  Only God can see the heart, that's why the last line in verse 16 reveals that "God will judge the secrets of men..."  Who they serve, God or self, will be revealed.


I think the grey line gets bigger and bigger when our faith relaxes.  When we allow distractions and temptations to throw us off course we lose sight of God's best and we compromise our faith.  It doesn't start off with utter reject, it starts with a little grey area that we allow to get bigger.  


Father God, thank You for daily devotions; quiet time to spend with You every day without distractions so we can see the errors of our heart in advance.  Help us stay true to Your promptings and allow these vessels to radiate Your love.  In the precious name of Jesus I pray, Amen!

Tough Love

²⁸And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, ^(AY)God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,
 ²⁹being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are ^(AZ)gossips,
 ³⁰slanderers, ^(BA)haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil,^(BB)disobedient to parents,
 ³¹without understanding, untrustworthy, ^(BC)unloving, unmerciful;
 ³²and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of^(BD)death, they not only do the same, but also ^(BE)give hearty approval to those who practice them.


Romans 1:28-32


God really wants us to live pure and holy lives but sometimes we need to make our own mistakes in hopes of turning back to Him.  In this passage, God saw the heart of these people, those who will not acknowledge God no matter how much God tries to call them into righteousness.  So He did what any loving father would do, use tough love.  


I'm not a father so I don't have first hand experience. And I don't know how much of my parents' teachings were "tough love" or not.  But I understand (with my head) the necessity if this in the right situations.  We have to allow the ones we love so much to make their mistakes, get their bumps and bruises.  This can be in relationships too.  We can try to shield someone from all threats but they will never learn how to deal with these situations when faced alone.  I need to let go and allow the Holy Spirit to stir in people's hearts.


Father God, thank You for a beautiful message about trusting You.  I cannot control everything even if I really wanted to.  Lord, I ask for Your Spirit to fill me up today (and every day) so that I can be faithful and obedient.  I continue to pray for my brother Alwyn.  Deposit Your miracles of healing and restoration in His life today.  I love You, in the matchless name of Jesus I pray, Amen!

In Touch With Christ

    ¹I will ^(A)sing of lovingkindness and justice,
         To You, O LORD, I will sing praises.
    ²I will ^(B)give heed to the^[a]blameless way
         When will You come to me?
         I will walk within my house in the ^(C)integrity of my heart.
    ³I will set no ^(D)worthless thing before my eyes;
         I hate the work of those who ^(E)fall away;
         It shall not fasten its grip on me. 


Psalm 101:1-3


We can talk about how much we love God and His ways along with hating what is evil but it doesn't help us much until we truly and deeply believe it.  In this whole psalm, David was saying how much he really, really hates the wicked.  You could feel his passion about doing what is good and Holy.  Do we have the same passion?  We are either all in or still on the sidelines.  We need to be consumed in God's character so that we desire, above all else, to be like Him.


So how do we do this?  How do we flush out all that isn't Godly and become like Jesus?  The first thing is we need to acknowledge who we are and what we're not.  The later is easy, we're not God.  We can't know the mysterious things that God has in store; period.  We fail when we try to figure out the things we won't understand and don't even attempt the things God places in clear sight.


For the question, "who are we?", it's so easy; we're children of the Mighty Creator.  We are created in His image and we need to see how God originally intended us to be.  We need to be in God's word to see all the wonder characteristics of our Father and apply them to our own lives.


But this is where it gets hard, application.  This is hard because most people stop with the "head knowledge" and don't even attempt to be transformed.  Knowing is good but the heart needs to change now.  And we give up so easily.  Did a child give up because he couldn't walk the first time?  What about speaking?  Wouldn't that be so frustrating when you couldn't communicate your thoughts?  We need to start small, just a little bit at a time, and plan for a lifelong journey of growing closer to Him.


Father God, thank You for this journey.  I pray, Father God, with all my heart that You restore relationships.  You know my heart and what's on my mind right now.  Please Lord, stir the promptings of this child's heart to reach out and repair relationships by Your touch and mercy.  Help overcome all strongholds and continue to speak truth.  Father God, thank You also for last night's SG.  Thank You for Your presence and that You have control over all things.  I rebuke any attacks by the devil to infiltrate and defeat our union in Christ Jesus.  There's no way that Satan can win against Your victory, thank You that we can proclaim Your name in victory and triumph.  You are so awesome, thank You for being my God.  In the precious name of Christ Jesus I pray, Amen!

Allow God to Bless

 ¹²behold, ^(Y)I have done according to your words Behold, ^(Z)I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you.
 ¹³"^(AA)I have also given you what you have not asked, both ^(AB)riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you all your days.
 ¹⁴"^(AC)If you walk in My ways, keeping My statutes and commandments, as your father David walked, then I will ^(AD)prolong your days."


1 Kings 3:12-14


This is a well known passage in which Solomon asks for wisdom.  God delighted in granting this wish (in a dream) but showered him with so much more because he had the same heart for God that David did.  We please our Creator by looking past the obvious and immediate; seeing how we're just a small little piece of a grander plan.  This displays trust and obedience to our King.


I do lots of things that don't please God.  And when I reflect on those things it brings me back to selfishness and greed.  Sin reveals itself when we do things apart from God and by praying for riches, status or even healing for our own benefit we take away from the glorious plans He has for us.  This doesn't mean God doesn't want to bless us with these things... in fact, He's right there with the gift in His hand waiting to share it with us.  What happens is that we reach out and grab it instead of allowing Him to offer it to us, just like a child stealing away a Christmas gift before it's handed over.  


Father God, thank You for being such a loving and giving God.  Right now, my thoughts are with brother Alywn.  So much pain and suffering is going on right now that will only increase.  Lord God, I pray for restoration both physically, emotionally, and even spiritually.  I cannot imagine the feeling he must be going through; but I know You do.  Please Lord, I plead my case.  I don't want to be selfish by asking for the very things I mentioned but I come humbly for the benefit of so many of Your children.  I ask, in the Mighty name of Jesus, for complete and miraculous healing over him.  Only You are able.  Love you Christ Jesus, my King and Counselor.  Amen!

Eternal Preparedness (1 Chronicles 29:17-19)

 ¹⁷"Since I know, O my God, that ^(P)You try the heart and ^(Q)delight in uprightness, I, in the integrity of my heart, have willingly offered all these things; so now with joy I have seen Your people, who are present here, make their offerings willingly to You.
 ¹⁸"O LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, our fathers, preserve this forever in the intentions of the heart of Your people, and direct their heart to You;
 ¹⁹and ^(R)give to my son Solomon a perfect heart to keep Your commandments, Your testimonies and Your statutes, and to do them all, and ^(S)to build the temple, for which I have made provision."


1 Chronicles 29:17-19


The things we do need to be about future generations.  Yes, we're trained to think beyond our own skin but we also need to remember how David prayed for his son Solomon.  The things he did were in preparation for the next generation and beyond.  He prayed that Solomon is tested and found to be with a perfect heart; a heart to love God the way David loved God.  He did this by being an example not just telling him what we should do.


When we had a miscarriage there were a lot of "why" questions.  One of the reasons may be that I'm not ready to be a father yet.  The issues that either Michelle or I face need to be brought into light so that we don't force our sin and burdens on our child.  King David was a great example of loving, repentance, and preparedness.  I need to do things with the bigger picture in mind, God's picture in this age and future ones.


Father God, thank You for blessing me and Michelle with so much.  None of these things are ever earned based off merit but entrusted to us by grace and love.  Help us see the error in our thinking so that we can truly be transformed by the Spirit.  Help guide our thoughts and actions this day.  Love you Jesus, Amen!