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  • An Eternal Perspective On Suffering

    Romans 8:18 “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

    As we consider our sufferings in this world it is worth remembering that Jesus said in some of His last words that are recorded in John 16:33 “You (we) will have suffering in this world.” The saints of God have suffered, do suffer, and will suffer in this world.  The great Apostle Paul writes to the Philippians “For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.” (Philippians 1:29)

    How, then, are you going to respond when you face suffering?

    Any discussion on suffering must include Romans 8:18 because in this verse the Apostle Paul brings an eternal perspective about suffering. The Apostle Paul reminds us that something better is coming.  There will be a time when God reveals how HE used our suffering for His Glory and our good and at that moment we will know it was worth it all. 

    Because God uses our suffering for His glory and our good we must look at the temporal tough moments through the lens of eternity. May you be sustained in your sufferings today by the eternal perspective presented by the Apostles Paul.  Our sufferings are but for a moment, but the glory is eternal.  Our suffering will soon pass away but the glory that will be revealed will never diminish.  

    A practical thought on suffering: Remember that suffering should be sharpening your story as well as softening your story to share your Savior’s story!  Don’t waste your suffering, rather look to be a witness for your Savior!

    So what is your consideration on suffering?

    Continue strong with an eternal perspective on suffering,
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • From Great Distress To Very Great Gladness

    Nehemiah 8:17 “So the whole assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths & sat under the booths; for since the days of Joshua the son of Nun until that day the children of Israel had not done so. And there was very great gladness.”

    And there was very great gladness. Let that statement sink in. It sure sounds like everyone is having a great time.  And they were.  There was very great gladness!  That is the description of God’s people in Nehemiah 8:17. Now for us to truly get the significance of that statement is to recall that the book of Nehemiah did not start with God’s people experiencing great gladness but rather with Nehemiah being told “The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress.”  They were in great distress.

    The legacy of Nehemiah is with a dream, diligence, and determination he took people from great distress to great gladness.  

    Friends, look around and see the distress of your neighborhood, your city, your state, your country, your world.  Maybe you even need to look at the distress of your home, your church, your school, etc.  See the distress and decide to get involved to make a difference.  Start dreaming and then do something! 

    Dare to be a Nehemiah and make a difference!  

    Do something today to move someone from great distress to great, very great gladness.

    Continue Strong as a Difference Maker 
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • The Work Was Well-Ordered!

    2 Chronicles 8:16 “Now all the work of Solomon was well-ordered from the day of the foundation of the house of the LORD until it was finished. So, the house of the LORD was completed.”

    The analysis of Solomon’s work in carrying out the assignment of building the temple is that it was well-ordered.  What a magnificent description of the diligence and dedication to doing God’s work. It reminds me of a few quotes such as “failure to plan is planning to fail,” “preparation precedes performance,” and “autograph your work with excellence.”  

    How would you define well-ordered?  What does it look like in your home?  In your work?  In your church?  What does it look like in your life?

    As we consider 2 Chronicles 8:16 let us ask a few introspective questions;
    Do you go about your day taking actions that are well-ordered? 
    Are you beginning with the end in mind?
    Are you purposefully planning?  
    Have you counted the cost?
    Are you scheduling time to schedule your time?

    As a reminder of being well-ordered in your actions please recall Colossians 3:17 as it says, “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
    As a reminder recall 1 Corinthians 14:40  Let all things be done decently and in order.
    As a reminder recall Proverbs 22:29  “Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men.”

    Well-ordered!!!  A great description that I trust is being used of you and your life, your work, and your ministry!   

    Continue Strong with well-ordered actions,
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • From Aliens Against God To Adopted By God

    Romans 8:15 “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

    Our conversion to Christianity changes everything.  While we immediately think of the change of our eternal destination there is so much more.  For instance, there is what I call a status change as we are changed from being aliens (Eph. 2:12) who are against God to adopted children who are with God.

    Adopted. Adopted by God!  Ponder for a brief moment the incredible significance of being Adopted.  And not just anyone being adopted by just anyone.  Think about being a person who was so against God that now is adopted into the family of God. It sounds almost too good to be true, doesn’t it? The sinner is now a son and is able to call the God of the universe Abba, Father.

    Friends, if you have been saved, shall we say, converted, you have been born again, you belong to God as His child.  1 John 3:1 says, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!”  

    As you reflect on your relationship with God as a believer, I trust you are humbled and honored to be adopted by the King of Kings and get to call Him Father!

    What a Savior and what a salvation!!!  Worthy is Lamb!!  

    Continue Strong knowing you are His child,
    And Remember to DATE the Word

  • Being Urgent With The Urgent Message

    Esther 8:14 “The couriers who rode on royal horses went out, hastened and pressed on by the king’s command. And the decree was issued in Shushan the citadel.”

    The Book of Esther tells of how an evil plot was designed by a man named Haman to annihilate the Jews. Esther, who has become queen earlier in the book, will reveal the plot to the king and then plead for a revoking of the evil plan.  Because the law had been signed and sealed by the king it could not be revoked, but the jews could protect themselves if a new decree was issued.  In Esther 8:8-10 a new decree is written that will allow the Jews to defend themselves against any and all who would do them harm.  This new decree now must go to all 127 provinces, from India to Ethiopia.  It is a decree that demands urgency for it could mean death for many Jews if they don’t get the message!

    Our verse tells of how the couriers immediately take the message to those provinces with this description that they rode on royal horses for they were swift horses (v. 10), and they hastened or raced as fast as they could, being pressed on by the king’s command.”  They understood the urgency of the message and the moment! They were urgent with the urgent message.

    You and I are Ambassadors for Christ (2 Cor. 5:20) and have the eternal life-saving message for the world called the gospel.  Do you understand the urgency of the message that we are to be sharing with the lost world?  Like the couriers, we are to be racing as fast as we can to get this message to the world.  Are we doing so as quickly as we can?  Are we using the very best methods to get the gospel to the world on behalf of the King of Kings?  Do we feel compelled to carry out the great commission given by Jesus to be as quick, as urgent as possible to share the gospel?

    An urgent message must be delivered with all urgency.   Let us be found being urgent with the urgent message of the gospel! It could mean heaven or hell for someone! 

    Continue Strong,
    And Remember to DATE the Word

  • Our Reverence For God Causes Us To Reject The Things That He Rejects

    Proverbs 8:13 “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate.”

    A relationship with God that is grounded first and foremost with the fear of the Lord will see a person having reverence for God and respect for God. In fearing God, one is not afraid of God as much as one is in awe of God. With reverence and respect for God one will see a change in how one thinks and acts. Growing in reverence of God brings about a knowledge of what God loves as well as what God hates.  When one has the fear of the Lord one will determine decisively to love the things He loves and hate the things He hates.

    Let us make no mistake that there are things that God does hate. The verse indicates that pride, and arrogance, and evil actions, and a filthy corrupt crooked mouth are hated by God and should then be hated by us. God hates evil.  Proverbs 6:16-19 reveals more things as it reveals “These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.”

    As we grow in becoming more like Christ we are going to be growing in resisting the thing that God hates.  A reverence for the Lord will lead us to resist, yes reject the things that He rejects. 

    How is your reverence and respect for God changing you?  

    How important is it to fear the Lord?  Another 8/13 verse is Ecclesiastes 8:13 as it says, “But it will not be well with the wicked; nor will he prolong his days, which are as a shadow, because he does not fear before God.”

    What are your “I hate” statements having read Proverbs 8:13?

    Continue Strong growing in love with what God loves and developing a hatred for what He hates,
    And Remember to DATE the Word

  • God Delights In Being Merciful!

    Hebrews 8:12 “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”

    In describing God one of the words that must be used is merciful. Around 20 times from Genesis to James you will find God described as merciful. David will ask God to be merciful to him and Jesus said blessed are the merciful. Micah writes in Micah 7:18 “Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy.”  In Nehemiah 9:19 we learn about His manifold mercies, and it was that manifold mercy that caused Him not to forsake Israel in the wilderness.  Lamentation 3:22 reminds us that through the Lord’s mercies, we are not consumed.”  Thankfully He is (as Eph. 2:4 says) rich in mercy.  

    Usually, we find grace and mercy together. It has been explained that grace is God giving us what we don’t deserve, and mercy is God not giving us what we do deserve. 

    Both actions should bring about a spirit of humility and thankfulness, but I guess I find it more so with mercy. To think the God of the universe who is holy and righteous would be merciful to me – not give me what I deserve even though I have sinned against – transgressed – broken His commandments – did what He did not want me to do and did not do what He wanted me to do (it is overwhelming to ponder, is it not). 

    Ponder that God is merciful.  Ponder He forgives your wickedness.  Ponder that He cleanses your filthiness. Ponder that He does not remember your lawlessness.  What a Savior! Worthy is the Lamb!!!

    Continue Strong grateful for our merciful Savior!
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • It Takes Discipline To Do Discipline

    Ecclesiastes 8:11 “Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.”

    This is one of those verses that you might want to read from a few other versions.
    NIV Ecclesiastes 8:11 “When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, the hearts of the people are filled with schemes to do wrong.”
    NLT – Ecclesiastes 8:11 “When a crime is not punished quickly, people feel it is safe to do wrong.”
    Message Ecclesiastes 8:11  “Because the sentence against evil deeds is so long in coming, people in general think they can get by with murder.”

    Ecclesiastes 8:11 reminds us that dealing with disobedience takes discipline on the discipliner’s part and if we let things go too long and if we continually delay the discipline, a person’s heart is prone to become harder as well as others will begin to feel emboldened to commit crimes.  I like to use the phrase, “It takes discipline to do discipline.”  Hardly ever did a discipline situation come up at an opportune time and determining the amount/type of discipline is always a challenge. It takes discipline to do discipline. The bottom line is we who are responsible for imposing discipline be it a parent – a principal – a prosecuting attorney – a teacher – a coach – a judge – a jury, etc. must remember the lessons and impact of Ecclesiastes 8:11.  

    Another verse to go along with Ecclesiastes 8:11 that conveys the importance of promptness with discipline is Proverbs 13:24. It says, “Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him promptly.”  This conveys the lesson with Eccl. 8:11 that failure to diligently discipline disobedience opens the door for more disobedience.

    How does Ecclesiastes 8:11 apply to you and your present responsibilities?

    It takes discipline to discipline!

    Failure to diligently discipline disobedience opens the door for more disobedience.

    Continue Strong dealing diligently with disobedience,
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • The Joy of the Lord

    Nehemiah 8:10 “Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our LORD. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.””

    C. S. Lewis said, “Joy is the serious business of heaven.” Nehemiah, along with Ezra, have been rebuilding a place and reviving a people! The book Nehemiah begins with a people in great distress yet as Nehemiah leads to rebuild and as Ezra preaches to revive, we see a change from great distress (Neh. 1:3) to great gladness (Neh. 8:24).  

    Nehemiah 8 tells of a special holy day where God’s Word has been proclaimed and brought the people to weep (v9) as they were broken and humbled.  They were filled with godly sorrow for their sin. Upon seeing this response, Ezra now encouraged them to go forth and enjoy – enjoy the blessings of God – eating the fat, drinking the sweet (tea). They were also challenged to think of others who may not have food for the celebration and to make sure they did have some.

    Blessings are to be shared!!!

    Verse 10 gives the great challenge not to be sorrowful but to live cheerfully as the joy of the Lord provides us strength for the journey. Recall from Proverbs 15:15 that “he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast.” And Proverbs 17:22 says, “A merry heart does good, like medicine.”  Living joyfully makes all the difference.

    Today I encourage you to enjoy the present that God has given you.  One of the first verses to consider each new day is Psalm 118:24 which says, “This is the day the Lord has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it.”  

    Enjoy your day enjoying the Lord and His rich blessings,

    Continue Strong with joy,
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • How Majestic Is Our God

    Psalm 8:9  “O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth!” 

    Our verse is the conclusion to Psalm 8 and is a repeat of the beginning verse of Psalm 8. Psalm 8 was written to show how majestic God is and why our majestic God is to be adored, exalted, praised, and worshiped!  As one looks at the created world one should be in awe. Psalm 19:1 says the “heavens declare His glory.”  To see the works of His fingers in creation (Ps. 8:3) and then consider that God has taken thought of the plight of man has to be so humbling for us. (Psalm 8:4)  To know that though He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor, that we through His poverty might become rich (2 Cor. 8:9) should bring about a crescendo of praise.

    Our God is the God of creation and is also the God of redemption!!  

    I don’t know about you, but it takes my breath away just thinking that God thinks about me and He thinks so much of me that He would personally send His beloved Son to die in my place so that I might be redeemed.  The work God has done for us demands a response of worship!! We should join the Psalmist in “O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth!”  

    Application: As I pray, I am more prone to be about the purpose of the petition than the Person I am presenting the petition to. Maybe you are the same. We learn from the great prayer warriors found in the Bible to offer first adoration and praise of God before presenting petitions.  Think, for instance, of Nehemiah and Hezekiah in how they approached God with enormous petitions yet before making their requests known to God, they offered adoration to God!  See Neh. 1 and 2 Kings 19.

    Praise preceded petitions!  Adoration precedes asking.

    God loves to hear His name praised. 

    Continue Strong praising God for who He is,
    And remember to DATE the Word