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  • 8 x 8 Humility and 8 x 8 Faith

    Matthew 8:8 “The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.”

    As Matthew unveils the power of the Messiah he shares stories of Jesus being able to heal what many would consider impossible.  In Matthew 8:1-4 he healed a leper of his leprosy. Starting in verse 5 Matthew tells us how Jesus came into the city of Capernaum and is met by a Roman centurion who comes up to Jesus to plead with Him to heal his servant who is at home (miles away) paralyzed and in terrible pain.  To the request, Jesus kindly responded that He would come and heal him. 

    Responding to the response things get interesting as this powerful centurion responds to Jesus with a response that will cause Jesus Himself to marvel, to be amazed.  Notice again our verse.  “The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy (8 x 8 humility) that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant (paralyzed and miles away) will be healed.” (8 x 8 faith)

    This unnamed centurion is truly amazing.  Here is a man with tremendous authority and those in authority tend to be pushy and yes arrogant.  Yet what we read of this man is a very humble and caring man.  He has not come to Jesus for himself but for his servant.  Even with his great title of centurion, he does not feel worthy to have Jesus in his home.  Humility is on display. 

    Not only is humility on display, but faith is also on display.  This centurion has already asked for the impossible in asking for the healing of one who is paralyzed.  He now believes (by faith) that Jesus can do the impossible with the impossible!  He believes Jesus can do the impossible with the impossible by speaking a word.  Faith is on display. His faith is so strong and large that Jesus himself is taken back, and Matthew records that Jesus marveled at such great faith!  This idea of marvel could be translated as amazed or astonished, amazed with admiration.  In other words, Jesus was greatly impressed.

    I want to be like this centurion.   I want to be concerned for others.  I want humility to be front and center in my interactions. I want to have great faith, believing that Jesus can do the impossible with the impossible and He can do it in the most impossible way.   

    I trust you will take a fresh look at the characteristics of an unnamed centurion and look to cultivate into your life the same characteristics. 

    Jesus did do the impossible!  Matthew 8:13  Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.

    Continue Strong with 8 x 8 humility and 8 x 8 faith,
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • Excelling In The Grace Of Giving

    2 Corinthians 8:7 “But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you —see that you also excel in this grace of giving.”

    How is your giving? Would you consider yourself as one who excels at giving? How is your feeling toward giving? Does the question rub you the wrong way? Are you a little sensitive to any talk or questions about your money?  

    The apostle Paul needed to raise money for needy believers in Jerusalem, and the appeal had gone out to Corinth, and a commitment had been made. The apostle now is reminding them to be ready to give when he comes to pick up the gift!  In our verse to date, he commends them for things they are doing well to the point of saying they are excelling in those things, but he also challenges them to excel in this act of the grace of giving, of being generous.

    Are you excelling in the act of giving?  I hope you see the importance of giving and that it is a spiritual discipline!   
    For encouragement to excel at giving consider a couple of examples and one extraordinary example:
    The Shunammite family for providing a room for Elisha.

    2 Kings 4:8 “Now it happened one day that Elisha went to Shunem, where there [was] a notable woman, and she persuaded him to eat some food. So it was, as often as he passed by, he would turn in there to eat some food. 9  And she said to her husband, “Look now”, I know that this is a holy man of God, who passes by us regularly. 10  “Please, let us make a small upper room on the wall; and let us put a bed for him there, and a table and a chair and a lampstand; so it will be, whenever he comes to us, he can turn in there.” 11  And it happened one day that he came there, and he turned into the upper room and lay down there.”

    Giving to repair the House of the Lord – placing the financial gifts in the Chest of Joash

    2 Chronicles 24:8  Then at the king’s command they made a chest, and set it outside at the gate of the house of the LORD.  9  And they made a proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem to bring to the LORD the collection that Moses the servant of God had imposed on Israel in the wilderness.  10  Then all the leaders and all the people rejoiced, brought their contributions, and put them into the chest until all had given. 11  So it was, at that time, when the chest was brought to the king’s official by the hand of the Levites, and when they saw that there was much money, that the king’s scribe and the high priest’s officer came and emptied the chest, and took it and returned it to its place. Thus they did day by day, and gathered money in abundance.

    The best example ever is none other than Jesus Christ!!
    2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.”

    Continue Strong excelling at generosity,
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • Moved to Worship 

    Nehemiah 8:6 “And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. Then all the people answered, “Amen, Amen!” while lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.”

    As you read Nehemiah 8:6 I trust you are able to picture this scene.  God’s people have gathered at the square next to the Water Gate and Ezra has been called on to read the Word of God.  I love how verse one says, “And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book.”  Ezra then “read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.” (Neh. 8:3)  Ezra then offers praise to the Lord that allows God’s people to respond and boy did they respond.  They responded with their voice in saying Amen and Amen.  In saying amen they were saying they were in agreement with what they have been hearing.  Then their body got involved with their hands being lifted up and with the bowing of their head.  The verse says they worshiped.  To worship is to count worthy.  Hearing the Word of God caused them to count God worthy and they worshiped. The last phrase says “With their faces to the ground.”  This could mean they were so moved they moved from standing to lying prostrate on the ground.  It could mean with their heads bowed their faces were looking to the ground.  Either way, they were expressing a heart of humility before God.  

    What a sight this must have been! From acclamation to affirmation to adoration what a sight of worship.  AMEN!!!!

    Do you just go “through the motions” when God’s Word is read and proclaimed, or do you find the proclamation of God’s Word moving you?  Are you listening attentively and then giving affirmation?  Does hearing who God is cause you to give adoration to Him?  

    May the proclamation of God’s Word move us to worship our great God.

    Continue Strong in worship, 
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • JESUS FIRST!   

    2 Corinthians 8:5 “And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.”

    The background of 2 Corinthians 8:5 has the Apostle Paul holding up Macedonian believers as examples of generosity to the Corinthians.  2 Corinthians 8 begins, “Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: 2 that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. 3 For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, 4  imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.”  

    Having shared about the willingness to give above and beyond what they could really afford to give the Apostle Paul now makes one of the most powerful statements one can make about a person or a group of people as he tells how they made Jesus first, stating that “They first gave themselves to the Lord.”  Yes, they gave money but first and foremost, they gave themselves to the Lord.

    Their first priority was for Jesus to be their first priority! 

    Have you considered all that Jesus did to give you life?  He died and then arose that He might give you abundant life now and eternal life later!  Have you in turn given Him your life? Romans 12:1 speaks of presenting ourselves to the Lord. Have you made a present of yourself and presented yourself to Jesus? Has there been a time in your life when you said, “HERE I AM, LORD?”

    Continue Strong with Jesus First,
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • God Has You On His Mind

    Psalm 8:4 “What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?”

    The Psalmist in Psalm 8 is pondering how the great and awesome Creator of the vast universe could for a second be thinking about man and about having a relationship with man. Psalms 8:3 reads, “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained,” what is man that You could even think of him and seek to have a relationship with him? For the psalmist is beyond comprehension that God would have any person on His mind.  Yet He does.  And He takes action to love us though we do not deserve any love. 

    As you ponder Psalm 8:4 is it not the most humbling feeling to know that God so loved us that He would not just think about us but take steps to reconcile us back to Himself?  There can be no doubt that when He does think about us, He thinks about us as sinners, filthy, vile sinners.  We are rebellious, and prone to resist what He wants us to do.  As He thinks about our situation as sinners, He knows we are in need of a Savior! I don’t know about you, but I find it to be so humbling. And it should also bring about the deepest feelings of gratitude and worship!!! 

    Read again and truly ponder how incredible it is that God is mindful of you and sent His only Son to die for you. 

    Years ago I heard a song that said, “When Jesus was on the cross, I was on His mind.”   I can only respond with WORTHY IS LAMB!

    Continue Strong, humbled by the fact that God loves you,
    And remember to DATE The Word

  • Growing in Dependence On God Is Growing in Spiritual Maturity

    Deuteronomy 8:3 “So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone but man lives by every word that proceeds from mouth of the Lord.”

    The journey from Egypt to the Promised Land was one of God demonstrating His ability to provide for the Israelites. In securing their release He had shown His power. Now He was showing them His ability to provide everything they needed.  To grow them in dependence on Him He would allow them to be hungry and then provide daily manna from heaven,  As He provided for them physically He surely would provide for them spiritually. 

    Growing in dependence on God is difficult. We struggle with it and even resist it.  As humans, we are for the most part driven to be independent. Shortly after learning to speak, we begin to say “I can do it myself.”  That mindset continues throughout teen years right into adulthood. Men, especially, don’t like asking for help. Being dependent rubs us the wrong way. Yet we are more than physical beings as we are also spiritual beings and our God wants us to be dependent on Him. Spiritual maturity is seen in the person who continually relies on God – trust God – holds on to God – confesses that they need Him more and more!  

    Opposite of the physical where maturity is seen in one becoming independent a spiritually mature person grows in dependence.  Sometimes to help us grow God will humble us through various trials.  The wilderness journey was a tool for God to teach His people that He is what they need. Daily they were to rely on Him for their physical bread to teach them to rely on Him for spiritual nourishment.  

    Daily we are to rely on Him for the nourishment of our soul.   

    Are you growing in dependence – depending more on God? Does your prayer time include a “Lord, I can’t” statement? Does it include many “Lord, I need you” statements? I hope so because they are the marks of spiritual maturity!! 

    One of the great lessons of life to learn is that we are not just a physical person for we are also a spiritual person – and the spiritual person must be fed. God’s Word is soul food!! Feed your soul today!

    Continue Strong by being more dependent on God,
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • Remember The Reason For The Trial

    Deuteronomy 8:2 “And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and to test you, to know what was in your heart, to know whether you would keep His commandments or not.”

    One of the lessons preached over and over in Deuteronomy was for God’s people to remember to remember. For some reason, we are very forgetful from one day to the next of how God has worked and blessed us. 

    In Deuteronomy 8:2 God’s people were to remember that God led them with a purpose. His purpose was for revealing what was on the inside of His people. Notice the “to” word is used over and over; to humble you; to test you: to know what was in your heart; to know whether you would keep His commandments. 

    We should remember that trials are one of God’s great tools for testing His people to see what is in a person’s heart and where their faith is. James writes that trials force your faith out into the open. Notice James 1:3 from the Message as it says, “You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors.”

    As you walk through this day beware that God may have a test – a pop quiz – in order to humble you (a test can surely do that) and to see if you are going to obey – to see what is in your heart.

    With every trial, God has a purpose.

    Continue Strong trusting and obeying God,
    And remember to DATE The Word

  • Wisdom Is Calling

    Proverbs 8:1 “Does not wisdom cry out, and understanding lift up her voice?”

    From the start of the Book of Proverbs to the very end, one will repeatedly find wisdom appealing to anyone and everyone, anywhere and everywhere to acquire and attain her. Wisdom wants you to know she is available!  

    Wisdom is so convinced we need her that she states without any reservation that we should prioritize getting (attaining) wisdom.  Proverbs 4:7 says, “wisdom is the principal thing; therefore, get wisdom and in all your getting, get understanding.”  Wisdom is calling!

    Why is getting wisdom so essential? What does it provide?  As wisdom makes its numerous appeals it also tells of the advantages one will have in living a life.  Wisdom can be defined as having a skill.  The wisdom that is found in proverbs is described as heaven’s insights for earthly living. When heaven’s instructions are applied one has the various skills and abilities needed to live life the way god intended life to be lived.  Talk about having an advantage in life!

    Twice in proverbs, we have very scary verses as both proverbs 14:12 and 16:25 say, “there is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”  we learn with wisdom the right way that leads to life rather than death.  Proverbs 8:35 says, “for whoever finds me (wisdom) finds life, and obtains favor from the lord; 36  but he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; all those who hate me love death.”

    Are you hearing the call from wisdom?  Are you hearing the cry of wisdom?  Wisdom, heavenly instructions for earthly living, is available to you!  

    Practical Application: A way to answer the call of wisdom is by reading and studying the book of Proverbs. A way to do this is by reading one chapter a day.  I suggest reading the chapter that matches the day of the month.  With today being August 1 read Proverbs 1.  Then on August 2 read Proverbs 2.  Do this for each day of August! Early in my walk with the Lord I received this great advice and I wholeheartedly believe it to be some of the greatest advice I could ever give you. I hope it will become a spiritual habit in your life!

    The wisest decision you will make is to get wisdom!  

    Wisdom is calling to you.  Will you answer her call?

    Continue strong by Acquiring And Applying Wisdom,
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • Pausing To Turn Aside And See And Hear What God Is Up To

    Acts 7:31 “When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight. As he went to take a closer look, the voice of the LORD called out to him,”

    Acts 7 is the recounting of the history of Israel by Stephen, and one cannot talk about the history of Israel without talking about Moses.  A reading of the life and times of Moses easily reveals that he had many unusual moments with God.  Acts 7:31 tells of his encounter with God at the burning bush.   As a refresher of the story let’s look back at it in Exodus.  

    Starting with Exodus 2 and verse 1 we find “Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2  And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. 3 Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.”

    Stephen says that when Moses saw the burning bush he went to take a closer look.  Exodus 3:3 read Moses said he would turn aside and see this great sight.  

    While you and I do not have literal burning bushes I do believe believers will have what is called “burning bush moments.”  These will be times when God will be stirring your heart about doing some work for Him.  The question is what will we do when that stirring begins?  The challenge for us who are part of “the rushed generation” is whether we can pause to turn aside and see and hear what God is doing.  I fear that I have already set my agenda of “tending the flock” so firmly that I may pass by the burning bush moment and thus miss what God has next. Maybe you can relate.  

    As you think on Acts 7:31 and ponder on “he went to take a closer look” I trust you will be challenged to not rush by the burning bush moment.  Pause.  Turn aside.  See.  Listen. 
    On our spiritual journey, there will be for us what I call “God moments.”  Don’t rush by the “bush.”

    Continue Strong turning aside and drawing near to hear God,
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • They “Rejected the Will of God” 

    Luke 7:30 “But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.”

    I think that those who are reading this devotional would never want the words “rejected the will of God” spoken about you. I would certainly hope not. I know I do not.  What a terrible description to have said about you.  

    As believers, our desire should be to know and obey the will of God.   We are taught by the Apostle Peter in 1 Peter 4:2 “that we no longer should live the rest of our time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.”  The Apostle Paul writes to the Ephesians in Ephesians 5:17 to “not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”  To the Colossians, Paul wrote that he was praying for them “that they may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.”

    As I began my Christian journey my discipler, Bill Crawford, told me the best place in life was to be right smack in the middle of God’s will.  He said I was to find God’s will for my life and do God’s will.

    Where does knowing and doing the will of God presently fit into your life? 

    Is there first and foremost a desire to know His will? 
    Is there secondly a desire to do His will? 
    Thirdly, are you presently doing His will? 

    In wrapping up this devotional please pause to consider a different description of one’s life and actions. As opposed to Luke 7:30 where the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God consider Acts 13:36 where we read about King David.  Acts 13:36 says, “For after David had done the will of God in his own generation, he died and was buried with his ancestors….” 

    The Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God.  King David did the will of God.  

    May Acts 13:36 be spoken at your funeral that you did the will of God during your time on this earth!  May it never be said of us that you rejected the will of God!

    Continue Strong Knowing And Doing God’s Will
    And remember to DATE the Word