August 3, 2010
Altar of Incense
And thou shalt put it before the vail that is by the ark of the testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the testimony, where I will meet with thee.
Exodus 30:6
Upon the golden altar of heaven seen in Revelation 8, the incense speaks not only of the prayers of the Savior on our behalf, but also of our intercessory ministry on behalf of others. Incense was burned on an altar because prayer requires sacrifice. There is nothing harder to do in spiritual life than pray. Why? I believe it’s because Satan opposes it so vehemently. Why? He knows that’s where the power is. Just as the altar of incense was the piece of furniture closest to the mercy seat, we are never closer to the Father than when we’re in prayer.
“Son of David, have mercy on me,” cried the Syro-Phoenician woman. Yet Luke tells us Jesus walked by as though He heard her not. “Son of David, have mercy,” she cried again. But Jesus kept going. The phrase “Son of David” was a Jewish term used by Jewish people to address the Jewish Messiah. This woman, however, was a Gentile. She had heard stories about what had taken place in Israel, about Jewish people who were blind or leprous crying out to the Son of David to heal them. So she used their formula. But it didn’t apply to her. It was religion. It wasn’t real. It wasn’t until she said, “Lord, help me,” that Jesus stopped in His tracks and healed her daughter (Matthew 15:25).
Keep your prayer simple. Don’t think you have to copy how someone else prays or use the phrases someone else uses. The altar of incense was small. It’s not the length of your prayers, but their strength and their sincerity that matters (Ecclesiastes 5:2).
This Daily Devotional is an excerpt from the book "A Pillar By Day" by Pastor Jon.
July 26, 2010
It's All About Prayer
And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-nissi: For he said, Because the LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.
Exodus 17:13–16
When the battle was finally won, God instructed Moses to record what had transpired in a book—in order that future generations would know that the battle was won not with the sword in the valley of interaction, but through prayer on the mount of intercession.
Oftentimes, we think that if we were more skilled with the sword of Scripture, if we were better able to dialogue and counsel, if we could love more and do more, we’d see the salvation of our parents or grandchildren, our neighbors or friends. But this story tells us that is not where the battle is won. The battle is won through prayer.
Why is prayer so important? Because the old adage that prayer changes things is only partly true. I think it’s more accurate to say, “Faith changes things. Prayer changes me.”
Yes, God wanted the children of Israel to win the battle. But He also wanted to win the heart of Moses in a deeper way. And He wants to do the same with us. We may think that our situations need to change. God, however, knows that even if they did, we’d still be unhappy, sleepwalking through life unless our hearts were changed. Therefore He says, “Because I want to fill your heart, inflame your soul, and satisfy that ache within you which can be satisfied only by Me, you’re going to have to come to Me time after time because when you do, you’ll get to know Me in the process. And when you get to know Me, it is only then that you will be content and fulfilled, blessed and happy.”
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock,” Jesus said. “If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come into him, and sup with him, and he with me.” Addressed to the church, Revelation 3:20 tells us Jesus knocks at the door of the church, of the heart of believers. Therefore, when we pray, we are acting as doormen, opening the door and inviting Him in. He doesn’t beat the door down. He doesn’t bust His way in. He doesn’t force His presence or force the issue. But whoever hears the knocking and is wise enough to open the door in prayer will enjoy His presence and company.
By praying, I open the door. That doesn’t mean Jesus is obligated to do what I ask or desire. That’s up to Him. I have learned, however, that if He doesn’t do what I suggest, He’ll do something infinitely better. But if I don’t open the door, if I don’t pray, I’m left on my own with my kids, my marriage, and my ministry—not a good place to be. “You have not because you ask not,” James tells us (see 4:2). It’s all about prayer.
This Daily Devotional is an excerpt from the book "A Pillar By Day" by Pastor Jon.
July 18, 2010
Three Sections
And for the gate of the court shall be an hanging of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework.
Exodus 27:16
The door into the outer courtyard was made of the same fabric as the veil and as the door into the tabernacle itself. Whether one is talking about the door into the courtyard (the place of salvation), the door into the Holy Place (the place of service), or the door into the Holy of Holies (the place of worship), it’s all the same door. It’s all through Jesus.
You see, just as the tabernacle was comprised of three sections—the outer courtyard, the Holy Place, and the Holy of Holies—I believe there are three stages of our lives in Christ.
There are those who are inside the courtyard. They’re in Christ, part of the kingdom. They realize Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, was slain for their sins. They receive His salvation; they embrace His grace.
But there are others who say, “Because God has been so good to me, I want to serve Him.” So they go into the Holy Place and serve the showbread, which speaks of the Word of God. They teach Sunday school, lead family devotions, or share the Word with someone at work. They see the golden lampstand and desire to let their light shine through good works (Matthew 5:16), by helping in the nursery, visiting shut-ins, and serving those in need. They smell the incense burning and are reminded that it speaks of intercession. So they pray consistently for the lost and for their brothers and sisters, for their families and their countries.
Yet there are still others who, like the high priest himself, enter into the Holy of Holies in order to simply spend time in the Lord’s presence, to consider His character, ponder His nature, give Him praise, express their love, and bring Him pleasure. All too often, we don’t understand this. We think if we could lead worship, preach a sermon, or be a missionary, we’d be amazing. But those things don’t hold a candle to the highest level, to coming into the presence of the Lord and worshiping Him intimately. And here’s the irony: the highest form of ministry, the most satisfying aspect of ministry is available to every single person right now.
Jesus went to the home of His close friends in Bethany, the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Lazarus is not mentioned in the Luke 10 account. He was outside, in the outer courtyard, if you will. He was a friend of the Lord to be sure. But he was outside. Martha was in the kitchen, or the Holy Place, as it were, serving. She was baking bread, doing good works, and even praying, “Lord, tell my sister to get in here and help me!” Mary, however, was sitting at the feet of Jesus. She was in the Holy of Holies. And, of her, Jesus said, “Mary has chosen the better part” (see Luke 10:42).
Nothing compares to being in the Holy of Holies, to being in the Lord’s presence. It’s the highest calling, the most important aspect of ministry. And it’s available to every one of us.
This Daily Devotional is an excerpt from the book "A Pillar By Day" by Pastor Jon
June 28, 2010
Be a David
|
And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.
Exodus 15:21
As good as this song is, how much better it would have been had it been sung before the Red Sea parted, had it been sung by the children of Israel before they were rescued.
To you who are boxed in, with your back to the Red Sea, this is your moment; now is your opportunity for greatness. You see, once the Red Sea parts—once the financial crisis is over, the relationship is restored, the disease is healed—you will no longer have before you the opportunity for greatness. Then you can be grateful, but only now you can be great.
When the hour was dark, when nothing was externally right, there in the middle of a black, bleak night, what did Paul and Silas do? They sang songs of praise. And so intriguing was this to their fellow prisoners that when an earthquake caused the prison doors to open, they chose to stay in the dungeon with Paul and Silas rather than to flee, to remain imprisoned physically in order that their souls might be set free (Acts 16).
So too, you who are in a dungeon financially, relationally, or physiologically have a unique opportunity to show us greatness. And once this experience is over, you’ll never have the same opportunity again.
“I want to be like David,” we say. “I’d like to grab some stones and nail Goliath.” You can. There’s a huge giant before you, a giant headache, a giant heartache, a giant problem. Are you going to be like Saul and his men, murmuring and complaining, depressed and discouraged? Or are you going to praise the Lord in the face of the giant who seems to stomp up and down the valley of your life day after day? Ninety-nine percent of people will choose to be like Saul. This is your chance, however, to be a David.
The difficulties in the lives of any great man or woman in Scripture weren’t pleasant, weren’t easy. We know how their stories end—Joshua, Deborah, Gideon, Jeremiah, David, and Paul—but when they were living out their stories, their trials were every bit as brutal as your situation. Yet, they chose by God’s grace to be great, to be heroic. And we are the richer for it.
When there’s an ugly giant before you, or prison bars all around you, it’s your chance to be great. Don’t miss it, because, although opportunities for greatness come to everyone, they usually only come once or twice in a lifetime. Will your story be one of mediocrity, or one of greatness? It all depends on what you do this side of the Red Sea. |
|
June 21, 2010
Cry to the Lord
Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants?
Exodus 5:15
Although we sympathize with the
children of Israel, we must make note of their mistake in crying to Pharaoh instead of calling out to God. Are you having a hard time at work? Is your boss cracking the whip? Is your supervisor loading you down? Are your co-workers demanding more of you than you think reasonable? Don’t cry to your boss. Cry to the Lord first. Get direction from Him, for as the old hymn rightly declares, “O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.”2
This is so simple and we know it to be true. But I must be reminded of it over and over again. Maybe you do too. It’s so easy to cry to Pharaoh—to cry to a husband or wife, brother or sister, pastor or elder. It’s easy to seek out people, when in reality God would say, “Woe to the rebellious people who take counsel but not of Me” (see Isaiah 30:1). Is the whip cracking? Is your back aching? Cry to the Lord.
This Daily Devotional is an excerpt from the book "A Pillar By Day" by Pastor Jon.
June 14, 2010
Manna
And the children of Israel did eat manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited; they did eat manna, until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan. Now an omer is the tenth part of an ephah.
Exodus 16:35–36
It was in the wilderness that God gave manna to His people. And it is in our wilderness here on earth that He daily provides the Bread of His Word, the Bread of Himself. If I don’t feast on the Scriptures daily, I become disillusioned, disoriented, and confused. I get mixed up on days when I don’t get away with the Lord in a quiet spot at a quiet time and enjoy the truths and promises of His Word. I think about fleshpots and the bread of Egypt; I become restless and troubled. But when I take in the Word, I find what Jeremiah said to be oh, so true. I find it to be the very joy and rejoicing of my heart (Jeremiah 15:16).
So too, like manna, Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, came to this wilderness—to murmurers, sinners, and complainers—and dwelt among us (John 1:14). God didn’t wait for the children of Israel in the Promised Land. He joined them in the wilderness. And He does the same for us. You don’t have to climb a mountain or clean up your act to find Him. You don’t have to ascend into heaven or descend into the depths of hell and depression. He’s already as close as the word in your mouth, as close as your confession (Romans 10:8–10).
It was hunger that inevitably drove the Prodigal Son home (Luke 15:17). And it is hunger—a hole in your heart, a longing in your soul—that will drive you home as well. All you must do is humble yourself, bow your knee, and stoop to pick up the manna of the Word, the manna of the Son, which God has provided so lavishly and lovingly, so freely and faithfully.
This Daily Devotional is an excerpt from the book "A Pillar By Day" by Pastor Jon.
June 9, 2010
You are God's Poetry
And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night.
Exodus 13:21
When I heard this story in Sunday school, saw it on the flannelgraph board, or watched it in the movies, it seemed to me that the cloud was always in front of the congregation. That is, the Israelites would see the cloud off in the distance and simply follow wherever it lead. But I don’t think this was what really took place. In Psalm 105:39, we read that the cloud wasn’t ahead of the congregation, but above it, covering the congregation.
This means that when God wanted His people to move, He got them to move in a very simple, practical way. With daytime temperatures reaching 125 degrees in the desert, God put a cloud over the entire congregation to shade them. And when He wanted them to move, He would simply move the cloud, knowing His people would move as well simply to stay in the shade.
And that’s the way the Lord directs us. “My burden is easy, My load is light,” Jesus declared (see Matthew 11:30)—a New Testament principle pictured in the Old Testament priesthood . . .
And it shall come to pass, that when they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with linen garments; and no wool shall come upon them, whiles they minister in the gates of the inner court, and within. They shall have linen bonnets upon their heads, and shall have linen breeches upon their loins; they shall not gird themselves with any thing that causeth sweat. - Ezekiel 44:17–18
When you want to know what God’s will for you is, first ask yourself, Is it cool, or is it wool? Will it cause inspiration, or perspiration? “Delight thyself also in the LORD,” the psalmist declared, “and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart” (Psalm 37:4). In other words, if you delight in, love, and enjoy the Lord, He will give you that which your heart desires. How can that be? Because He has already written His will on the table of your heart (Jeremiah 31:33). The desire of the heart in fellowship with Him is His desire.
It has been rightly said that there are lots of cheap imitations of priceless masterpieces in the church today. “Look at him. Look at her. Look at them,” we say. “I’m going to be just like him or her or them.” But when we try to imitate or duplicate someone else’s calling or ministry, the best we can be is only a cheap imitation. You are a masterpiece because the Master has pieced you together to do exactly what He intended you to do since before the world began (Ephesians 1:4).
“You are His workmanship,” Paul wrote to the Ephesians (see 2:10). Poiema, the Greek word translated “workmanship,” is the word from which we get our word “poem.” You are God’s poetry. He has created you specifically and uniquely to do that which He knows will satisfy you most completely. Therefore, when you get to heaven, the Lord is not going to say, “Why weren’t you more like Moses? Why weren’t you more like Abraham? Why weren’t you more like Paul or Billy Graham?” No. He’s going to say, “Why weren’t you more like you? Why weren’t you simply the person I made you to be—My masterpiece, My poetry?”
Don’t strive, dear saint. Don’t sweat, fellow priest. Stay in the shade and be whom the Lord intended you to be—His unique masterpiece, His inimitable poetry.
This Daily Devotional is an excerpt from the book "A Pillar By Day" by Pastor Jon.
June 1, 2010
Our Children..Our Ministry
And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him.
Exodus 4:24
“Let My son go,” God said to Pharaoh, “or your son will die” (see Exodus 4:23). Two sons are being talked about, but there are three sons in the story, for Moses had a son as well. And Moses couldn’t pronounce judgment on Pharaoh’s house while his own house was in error (1 Peter 4:17). You see, in Genesis 17:11, God instituted circumcision as an outward sign of an inward belief, its counterpart seen in the New Testament ordinance of baptism (Colossians 2:11–12). Circumcision was given to the Jewish nation as a mark of differentiation between them and every other culture round about them. Yet, Moses never circumcised his son. As a descendant of Abraham, Moses certainly knew the significance of this act. Why, then, wouldn’t he have circumcised Gershom?
It could be that he was preoccupied with his occupation. It could be that he was so into watching sheep that he forgot about the spiritual needs of his son. And before we wonder how watching sheep in the desert could be that consuming, we would do well to ask ourselves why we expend so much time and energy simply to make another sale, to get another client, to climb another step, to make another dollar. When we get to heaven, on the other side of eternity, we will surely say, “What was I thinking? Why did I take my career so seriously? Why wasn’t I there for my son, helping him to grow in his walk with the Lord?”
Or perhaps the reason Moses didn’t circumcise his son was a little more subtle. Perhaps it was because he was caught up in ministry. Listen carefully, Mom and Dad: there is no ministry in which you will ever be engaged that is more important, more fulfilling, more satisfying, gratifying, or thrilling than discipling your own children. God tapping you on the shoulder and saying 3 million people will listen to you would be incomparable to seeing your son or daughter discipled and trained. And lest you think your family isn’t a big enough ministry for a man of your skills and abilities, consider this: Jesus, the perfect Man, the ultimate minister, chose only twelve disciples into whom to pour His life. Therefore, one, two, or three kids is more than enough for even the best of us. From day one you get to pray for them, love them, and model God to them. It’s an incredible opportunity.
This Daily Devotional is an excerpt from the book "A Pillar By Day" by Pastor Jon.
May 24, 2010
I AM
And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
Exodus 3:14
In Bible days, a person’s name was an indication of his nature. That’s why we’re told to pray in Jesus’ name. “If you ask anything in My name,” He said, “I will do it” (see John 14:14).
“In Jesus’ name” is not merely a phrase to tack on to the end of your prayers, like “over and out.” No, praying in Jesus’ name means praying according to His nature, praying in harmony with His heart, praying as He would pray if He were in our situation. So in asking God’s name, Moses in essence is saying, “What’s Your nature?” And God, for the first time, here in Exodus 3, identifies His name as literally, I AM THAT I AM.
“I AM . . . what?” Moses may have wondered.
“I AM whatever you have need of,” God must have intimated. “Moses, you’re on a journey. The task before you is huge and you want to know who I am. I AM whatever you need. Not I USED TO BE, not WILL BE, but I AM presently. Immutable. Unchangeable. The same yesterday, today, and forever. Rock solid. I AM. That’s My name; I AM whatever you need.”
Fifteen hundred years later, Jesus would shed further light on God’s name by declaring,
I AM the Bread.
I AM the Way.
I AM the Truth.
I AM the Life.
I AM the Light of the World.
I AM the Good Shepherd.
I AM the Door.
I AM the Vine.
Jesus took the name of God and filled in the blank.
“Show us the Father,” said Philip.
“He that has seen Me has seen the Father,” Jesus answered (see John 14:9). No wonder two hundred armed soldiers seeking to arrest Jesus fell down backwards upon hearing. His irrefutable declaration of deity, upon hearing Him say, “I am He,” or literally, “I AM.”
For many years, I didn’t fully understand this, and thought Jesus was not I AM but I GIVE, as in “I give bread, deliverance, strength, and healing.” Now I understand that He’s infinitely more than that. We think we need bread, healing, deliverance, and companionship. In actuality, however, we’re craving Jesus. It’s not something He gives us, but who He will be for us step by step, day by day.
This Daily Devotional is an excerpt from the book "A Pillar By Day" by Pastor Jon.
May 17, 2010
In God's Sight
And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive? And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them. Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty. And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses.
Exodus 1:18–21
Midwives were midwives because they were barren. But God blessed these midwives and gave them children of their own.
“Wait a minute,” you protest. “Hadn’t these women lied?”
Yes, but God blessed them anyway. It isn’t that God approves of lying. Rather than focusing on the fault of these women, however, He sees that they feared Him, that they disobeyed Pharaoh and risked their own lives to do what was right in His sight.
God the Father has a way, not only with Egyptian midwives, but with you and me, of finding what is good and celebrating that. Aren’t you glad that God doesn’t focus on our failings and shortcomings, but rather has a way of looking at us and approving the things which are excellent, just as Paul tells us we all should do (Philippians 1:10)? This doesn’t mean God doesn’t convict us of sin and call us to repent and change direction. But it does mean that our God is exceedingly kind. We might judge these women for lying. God, however, declares, “They did something good in My sight and I’m going to honor them.”
This Daily Devotional is an excerpt from the book "A Pillar By Day" by Pastor Jon
May 10, 2010
Fruit
even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall.
Genesis 49:22
Like Joseph whose roots went into the well, so too, if the Word abides in you, you’ll bring forth much fruit.
If I went out to my backyard, cut off a limb from the apple tree and said, “I have great news, kids: You no longer need to go outside to pick apples. Here’s a branch we’re going to keep right in the kitchen,” they would wonder about me!
“You can’t cut off a branch and have it bear fruit,” they’d say. “It has to be connected to the tree.”
So too, it’s as if Jesus says, “The sap of the Scriptures must flow from Me to you in order for there to be fruit in your life.”
As I have observed the apple tree in my backyard bring forth apples, never once have I seen the branches connected to the trunk struggling to bear fruit. The branches just hang there. They abide, and the fruit is produced naturally. So too, you might decide to be loving, to do good works, or to praise the Lord in your own energy. And you might be able to fake it for an hour or two, for a day or three, but ultimately you’ll come up empty. The only way to produce genuine fruit morning by morning and day by day is to hang in there, abide in Christ, and allow the Spirit to flow to you and through you. Fruit cannot be faked for very long. You’ve got to have the Word in your life.
This Daily Devotional is an excerpt from the book "A Pillar By Day" by Pastor Jon
April 27, 2010
God Has a Plan in All of This
And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.
Genesis 45:4–5
“Don’t be upset with yourselves,” he said to his brothers. “Your selling me into this foreign land as a slave was all part of God’s plan.”
I love these words of Joseph because they express the heart of Jesus. “Father, forgive them,” He prayed from the cross, “for they don’t know what they’re doing” (see Luke 23:34). Those who crucified Jesus were indeed forgiven. The price was paid. And Peter would go on to declare that it was all part of a divine design, a grand plan, that Jesus would die for the sins of every man (Acts 2:22–24). “I know you are aware of your flaws and failings,” Jesus would say to us, “but don’t be grieved. I’ve forgiven you.”
Christianity is unique in that it is not a matter of us cleaning ourselves up and getting our acts together. It is a matter of constantly rejoicing in the fact that the blood of Jesus cleanses us continually, that our sin is washed away constantly by what He did for us on the cross of Calvary. Thus, Christianity is celebration of what He’s done, not condemnation for what we have or haven’t done.
“Don’t be angry with yourselves,” Joseph said to his brothers. “God had a plan in all of this.”
And God has a plan in everything you’re involved in as well. That is, to make you appreciate what He’s done for you, not so you can boast in your own righteousness, your own purity, or your own holiness, but to say, “Lord, Your forgiveness and kindness, Your goodness and mercy are awesome.”
This Daily Devotional is an excerpt from the book "A Pillar By Day" by Pastor Jon.
April 14, 2010
In a Rocky Situation??
And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.
Genesis 28:16
“God is here, and I didn’t know it.” Why wouldn’t Jacob know this? Because of his circumstances. He knew he was nothing but a conniver, hiding out in a seemingly God-forsaken, rocky region.
That may be your story today. You may feel like you’re stuck in a rocky situation, a rocky marriage, rocky finances, or on a rocky road. But God would say to you today, “I’m with you in this place, even though you may not know it.”
What can separate us from the love of God? Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature (Romans 8:38–39). Why? Because there is no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). There is no separation because there is no condemnation. Why is there no condemnation? Because Jesus Christ—our hero, our Lord—took all of the sin that would separate us from the Father—the sins we committed last year, the sins we’re committing now, and the sins we’ll commit tomorrow—and paid for them all.
If you find yourself in a rocky situation, you have a choice: you can either say, “God is nowhere,” or like Jacob, you can look at your surroundings, add the space of grace, and with new eyes say, “God is now here.”
This Daily Devotional is an excerpt from the book "A Pillar By Day" by Pastor Jon
April 1, 2010
Walk Day By Day
And these are the days of the years of Abraham’s life which he lived, an hundred threescore and fifteen years.
Genesis 25:7
“The days of the years” is a Hebrew phrase which speaks of quality of life, which is made up of days—individual, specific days. In his 64,000 days, Abraham, the friend of God, walked with God. The Christian life is not called the Christian leap, the Christian jump, or the Christian bounce. It’s called the Christian walk because it takes place one step and one day at a time.
What am I going to do tomorrow? Will I choose to walk with God, or do I expect somehow to bounce, leap, skip, or hop and end up a spiritual man at age fifty? What I do today will affect how I arrive at the end of my life. One of the greatest misconceptions in spiritual life is that when we’re old, we’ll automatically be spiritual. I need to know God’s Word today. I need to know God’s ways today. If I don’t, the end of my life will find me nothing more than an old fool.
This Daily Devotional is an excerpt from the book "A Pillar By Day" by Pastor Jon.
March 16, 2010
So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children. For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham’s wife.
Genesis 20:17–18
Although Abraham would be used in other arenas and would go on to live a life of blessing before Abimelech, at this point Abraham couldn’t preach to Abimelech because in his eyes he was a liar and a coward. Yet even though Abraham couldn’t preach to or share with Abimelech, he could still pray for him.
So too, because you have fallen short in their eyes or hurt them badly, there are people to whom you may not be able to preach or with whom you may not be able to share. But this story tells me that although I may not be able to preach to them or share with them, I get to effectively bless them through prayer.
When I pray for my enemies, not only does it release blessing upon them, but it keeps me from getting involved in a cycle of bitterness which will only destroy me. You cannot pray a blessing on a person and remain angry with him. It’s impossible. That’s why Jesus said, “Pray for your enemies” (see Matthew 5:44).
I challenge you to pray for the people toward whom you feel bitterness or hostility, for the people you just don’t like. Pray that they’ll be healed, that they’ll prosper, that they’ll do well. God will answer your prayer, and you’ll be blessed in the process.
This Daily Devotional is an excerpt from the book "A Pillar By Day" by Pastor Jon
March 1, 2010
Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children.
Genesis 16:1
The promise had been given. God said to Abram, “You’re going to have a family as numerous as the stars in the heavens.” But time passes, and guess what? Abram starts wondering. Abram is now eighty-six, Sarai seventy-six, and they think, “This is not working.”
Always remember this, saint: When God gives a promise, there is often a gap of time between the giving of the promise and the fulfillment of the promise. In Abram’s case, there was a thirteen-year gap.
Maybe you’ve been waiting on God for the fulfillment of a certain promise. Is His delay due to procrastination on His part? No. Is it due to preoccupation? Is He just too busy? No. God’s delay is due to preparation; He is preparing you in the arena of faith. You see, the gaps between God’s promise and its fulfillment provide opportunities for our muscle of faith to be exercised. Like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon, if there is no struggle, faith never soars.
This Daily Devotional is an excerpt from the book "A Pillar By Day" by Pastor Jon.
February 8, 2010
Cover the Nakedness
And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him. And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.
Genesis 9:24–25
When Noah awoke from his drunken state, he knew what Ham had done and cursed Ham’s son. No doubt Ham thought, “I’ve got big shoulders. I can handle the repercussions of my sin.” Unbeknownst to him, however, was the fact that the repercussions didn’t fall on him. They fell upon his son. How bad were the repercussions? The Canaanites were the worst culture in the history of the world. Totally immoral and completely perverted, they were eventually annihilated.
Dad and Mom, if we sin, we must not think we alone will pay the price. Sin doesn’t work that way. The consequences will often come in ways that will break your heart as they relate to your family. The children of parents who expose the weaknesses of bosses and neighbors, of sisters and brothers; the children of parents who are dour and sour and critical grow up unmotivated to go to church, bitter about the things of God, and uninterested in the Bible.
So what are we to do?
We are to say, “I’ve been forgiven of so much that I will not talk about the weakness of my boss, my neighbor, my pastor, the person sitting next to me, my friends, or my enemies. I will not speak or listen to negativity.” Every one of us will fail at some point or another. But if you choose today to be like Shem and Japheth—to cover the nakedness of others—you will likewise be covered when you fail.
This Daily Devotional is an excerpt from the book "A Pillar By Day" by Pastor Jon
February 3, 2010
Reaching...
And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth. Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground; but the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark.
Genesis 8:7–9
Most of us need pictures and stories to understand theology. I know I do. The text before us provides just such a picture, for it pointedly and powerfully portrays what it means to be empowered by the Spirit . . .
The first animal to leave the ark was a raven—a black bird that goes “to and fro” eating the carcasses of dead animals.
When Satan came before the Lord one day in heaven, the Lord said, “Where have you been?”
“I’ve been going to and fro,” said Satan, cruising around just like the raven (see Job 1:6–7).
Peter tells us Satan is always on the lookout for those whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). But the good news is that, as the raven circled, Noah released a dove, which throughout Scripture, speaks of the Holy Spirit.
Why?
The dove is the purest of all birds, for not only is it white in color, but it secretes more dirt-repelling oil on its feathers than any other flying bird. The dove is also sensitive because it is one of the few animals that mates for life. Finally, the dove is a symbol of peace because, unlike vultures or buzzards, doves vacate places of frenzy or fighting.
As Noah saw the dove circling overhead, he could have said, “If the dove wants to land on me, he can. I’m open.” But that’s not what he did. Noah extended his hand, grabbed the dove, and brought it in.
So often, with regard to the power and presence of the Spirit, people say, “If the Holy Spirit wants to bless me and empower me, I’m open.” But that kind of passivity will never bring the potency of the Spirit in the greatest possible degree. If you want to be empowered by the Spirit, you cannot be passive about the work of the Spirit any more than you were passive about the work of salvation.
This is where so many people err. You see, God is looking for those who will partner with Him, and not just be passive about Him. Noah didn’t simply fold his arms and watch. He stretched forth his hand and reached.
This Daily Devotional is an excerpt from the book "A Pillar By Day" by Pastor Jon.
January 20, 2010
Grace..nothing more..nothing less..nothing else!
But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
Genesis 6:8
That Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord does not mean that God showed grace to Noah exclusively. Yes, a flood eventually wiped out everyone else, but not before God gave them one hundred years to repent of their wickedness and receive salvation. Yes, the planet was deluged, but every man had opportunity to hear His message as they observed Noah building the huge barge. But the world refused to grab hold of the good news of salvation, and they drowned in their sin. It wasn’t that God looked at Noah with grace and everyone else with condemnation. God looked at everyone with eyes of grace and mercy. It’s just that Noah found the grace.
The question I want to ask you today is this: What have you found in the eyes of the Lord?
The story is told of the time a London traffic jam prevented C. S. Lewis from arriving at a certain religious symposium on time. The panel, comprised of the world’s most highly esteemed religious thinkers, began without him, their first question being: What is unique about Christianity? Although the Buddhist, Muslim, Jew, and Taoist discussed the question, they could arrive at no conclusive answer. In the midst of their debate, C. S. Lewis burst into the room.
“Dr. Lewis,” said the moderator, “tell us what is unique to Christianity.”
“That’s easy,” Lewis is said to have replied. “It’s grace.”
C. S. Lewis was right. No other religion or philosophy provides unmerited, undeserved, unearned favor. Every other religion, every other philosophy says there are things we must do—devotional exercises, good deeds, or righteous acts—to earn blessings from Allah or to gain favor from Buddha. Only biblical Christianity says, “It’s all grace, nothing more, nothing less, nothing else.”
This Daily Devotional is an excerpt from the book "A Pillar By Day" by Pastor Jon
January 11, 2010
Flesh of my Flesh
And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh . . .
Genesis 2:23
“Bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh” is a Hebrew idiom meaning, “exact counterpart.” I believe it was a matching of body, soul, and spirit that caused Adam to realize Eve was truly bone of his bones.
“Marriage and misery go hand in hand,” wails the world. Not God. He says, “I want marriage to be a taste of heaven for you. If you’ll go My way, it can be just that.”
“It’s a little late for me to hear this,” you might be thinking. “I married the wrong person.”
That’s what Jacob could have said . . .
After seven years of working and waiting, he woke up to find he had wed Leah instead of Rachel—the older sister instead of the girl of his dreams. But at the end of his life, when deciding where he would be buried, Jacob again had to choose between the two women. And this time, with eyes wide open, he chose Leah. Why? Because Leah produced a son whose name was Judah, from whom would come Yeshua, Messiah, Jesus.
So too, I have known people who have difficult marriages. However, they have developed, out of necessity, a deep walk with the Lord which never would have been developed if they had had an easier, simpler marriage. I know people who have hung in there and now say, “If I could do it all over again, I would willingly choose my husband or wife because our marriage has brought me to a richness with Jesus I never would have known had it been easier.”
If you have gone through a divorce, if you have dropped the ball, if you have missed the mark, know this: We all have. Every one of us has totally blown it (Romans 3:23). But the good news is that the work of the cross completely takes care of my failure, my shortcoming, my sin. And it takes care of yours as well. All we have to do is say, “Lord, I’ve failed. I determine by Your grace and with Your help to walk rightly to the greatest possible degree. And if my hurts or mistakes can help others, use my wounds.” If we confess our sins rather than cover them up, excuse them, or justify them, our points of failure can be our points of greatest ministry.
This Daily Devotional is an excerpt from the book "A Pillar By Day" by Pastor Jon.
January 5, 2010
Be Fruitful
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it.
Genesis 1:27–28
Before things went haywire after the fall, God assigned Adam and Eve the job of subduing the earth. From whom were they to subdue it? Satan.
You see, from the very beginning, it was as if God said, “This little rock called earth is the place where there is to be a cosmic showdown between Me and Satan. So I’m going to use you, mankind, to partner with Me as part of the process to drive out the Enemy.”
How? By being fruitful and multiplying.
How are you to subdue your earth, your world, or your family which seems to be in the grasp and grip of the Enemy? By being fruitful.
Because the fruit of the Spirit is love (Galatians 5:22), and because love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8), you’ll be fruitful if you don’t criticize, gossip, or find fault with things, people, or situations. You’ll be fruitful if you speak words of love and peace, patience and gentleness, for such is the fruit of the Spirit.
James talks about the tongue being an instrument of fire (James 3:6). If you find fault with your neighbor, your job, your school, your church, or your family, you will hand your world over to the hellish flames of the Enemy. But if you speak words of affirmation and encouragement, of faith and joy, you will replace the fires of hell with the fruit of heaven.
How do we multiply?
Acts 6:7 tells us the Word of God increased and the number of disciples multiplied when the Word was shared.
If you talk to your kids, your classmates, or your co-workers about the Word, you will see multiplication of life and love. And eventually the world in which you live will be subdued—won back from the Enemy.
This Daily Devotional is an excerpt from the book "A Pillar By Day" by Pastor Jon
The Good Shepherd
December 28, 2009
And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.
Revelation 15:7-8
Knowing that sin bites, burns, brutalizes, and butchers His children (Romans 6:23), God sends His surgical team of angels with vials of the bitter medicine of judgment in their hands in order to deal with the sin that destroys humanity.
In a parallel passage, we see David dealing with the repercussions of his own sin following his adulterous relationship with Bathsheba, and the subsequent murder of her husband, Uriah ...
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Psalm 51:7-8
When a lamb repeatedly jeopardized his own safety by continually wandering away from the flock, the shepherd would break its leg. Then, throughout the healing process, the shepherd would carry the heretofore straying lamb on his shoulder, during which time something amazing transpired in the lamb.
You see, when after five or six weeks, his bone could again support his weight, the lamb remained close to the shepherd, never to wander again — not because he feared another broken bone, but because he had become attached to the shepherd. So it is as a shepherd that David cries, ‘Lord, I know that the bones which Thou hast broken shall rejoice again.’
Precious people, if we wander away and continue in sin, the Good Shepherd will do what He did with David, and what David did with his own sheep: He’ll break the bone of our self-sufficiency in order to force us to draw close to Him in ways we never would have otherwise.
But lest you think the vials of judgment about to be poured out in the Tribulation are still unfair, take another look at our Shepherd, and you’ll realize that the Good Shepherd is also the Lamb of God, Who suffered not a broken bone, but a broken body and a broken heart as He died for our sin.
This Daily Devotional is an excerpt from the book "A Days Journey" by Pastor Jon.
December 17, 2009
Eyes to See
… And anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayest see.
Revelation 3:18
The same Jesus Who says, ‘Anoint your eyes with eye salve’ is the One Who put mud in the blind man’s eyes in John 9. The way of the Great Physician is to allow irritation to produce illumination. ‘You’re seeing everything in a carnal way,’ He says, ‘and you need to humble yourself before Me and deal with the mud.’
‘Ouch,’ we say. ‘That mud hurts.’
But in reality, there must be an awareness of the problems in our hearts and the trouble in our souls before we can see.
‘Search me, O God,’ cried David, ‘and see if there be any wicked way in me,’ (Psalm 51). Listen, if you’re feeling Laodicean, if you feel lukewarm, you need to ask the Great Physician to search you, for that will be the eye salve which will allow you to see clearly.
How long has it been, dear saint, since you’ve been on your face before the Lord saying, ‘Search me concerning the words on my lips, the bitterness in my heart, the thoughts on my mind’? Truly, confession precedes vision as surely as irritation precedes illumination.
This Daily Devotional is an excerpt from the book "A Days Journey" by Pastor Jon.
December 7, 2009
The Love of God
Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Jude 21
The foundational theme of this wonderful epistle, as found in verse 21, is an exhortation to keep ourselves in the love of God. Underline this phrase because it is the hinge upon which the Book of Jude swings. Jude’s heart is, ‘Yes, there are heretics and deceivers, but you, beloved, keep yourselves in the love of God.’
Keeping yourself in the love of God does not mean earning God’s love by being a ‘good little boy or girl’. God’s love is unconditional — so much so that in Romans 5:8, Paul declares that God demonstrated His love towards us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. When did God demonstrate His love for you and me? Not when we were trying to be good Christians, but when we were pagans, heathens, and rebels. When you couldn’t have cared less about Him, God looked at you and said, ‘I love you deeply.’
Never buy into the thinking that you earn God’s love by being good. Many Christians look at God as being like Santa: He’s making a list, checking it twice, and He’s gonna find out who’s naughty and who’s nice. If you’ve been good, you’ll get gifts; if not, you’ll be lucky to get a lump of coal.
But nothing could be further from the nature of our Father. Making a list? Checking it twice? Paul says that the list of our failings was blotted out by blood of Christ (Colossians 2:14). The list of my sins was pinned to the Cross of Calvary and cleansed so thoroughly by the blood of the Lamb that the writing became completely illegible. God’s love for us is not based upon anything we do or don’t do - His love is unconditional.
What, then, does it mean to keep yourself in the love of God? It simply means to keep yourself in the place where you can receive His blessings. In other words, God is constantly showering us with blessings, love, and grace. He’s not saying, ‘Hmm, you’ve been bad today, so I’m turning off the spigot.’ No, God’s blessings are always coming down (Lamentations 3:23).
‘Then why am I not being blessed?’ you ask. The answer is easy: you’re not under the spout where the blessings come out. You have wandered away. God didn’t close the spigot — because even when we are faithless, He is faithful still (2 Timothy 2:13). God doesn’t monitor the flow of blessings depending on how we’re doing. No, the spigot is on full blast all the time. Therefore, the only thing we have to do is to make sure we’re in the place where we enjoy God’s blessings — that we’re standing under the spout where the blessings come out.
This Daily Devotional is an excerpt from the book "A Days Journey" by Pastor Jon.
November 30, 2009
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
1 Peter 5:7
‘Epirrhipto’, the Greek word translated ‘cast’, is interesting because it means to roll something which will most likely roll back upon you. Have you found that after casting your care on the Lord, you feel OK for a day or two, but then the burden rolls right back on you once again? If so, know that’s the way of the Lord. Why? Because He wants us to stay in close touch with Him, and if we cast our care upon Him never to feel the pressure, the anxiety, the tension, or the worry again, we would not be people who pray.
You see, the Father wants to do something bigger than merely taking our burdens from us so we can go on our merry way down the road of life without thinking about things of eternity. He wants to develop a relationship with us.
Thus, the burdens and struggles which repeatedly roll upon us cause us to become linked to Him in continual prayer. And that’s infinitely more important than the solution to the burden for which we were praying in the first place.
So cast your care upon Him — and keep doing it over and over and over again knowing how deeply He cares for you.
This Daily Devotional is an excerpt from the book "A Days Journey" by Pastor Jon.
