Your Daily Crossroad
13
Aug '18
Knowing Christ
13
Aug '18
But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight. (John 9:18)
To open the eyes of the blind was a clear sign that Jesus was the Messiah. The religious leaders knew that no one could open the eyes of the blind. However, they did not believe that the man had really received his sight until his parents confirmed the fact that he had been born blind. The Jews choose to not believe that Jesus healed his sight.
Today, Jesus is still performing miracles as He gently touches us and others. He is still answering prayers on a daily basis. Nevertheless, like the Pharisees, we do not always appreciate the work of God because of the hardness of our own hearts. We personally want to tell God what He can and cannot do. We want to challenge the miracles and call them “coincidences” or deny that a miracle happened at all. We talk Christianity and try to exclude the “Christ.”
I had a man say to me once that he tried “that Christianity stuff and it did not work”. He went on to tell me that he read the Bible, prayed and did good works within the church but it was only a phase. I then asked him the following questions: “Have you ever gotten down on your knees, begging God to cleanse you from your sins? Have you ever told the Lord that you only desired to live for Him, to serve Him and to follow Him wherever He wanted? Have you ever had such a hunger and thirst to read His words that He placed within His book just to get to know Him better? Did you ever want Jesus more than you wanted anything else and desired to please Him in everything you did?” He clearly and quickly answered, “NO.” And I said, “Then I don’t think that you ever came to know Jesus, and without Jesus, there is no Christianity.” Christianity without Christ is just a lot of wasted time and effort, doing some good things that do not really matter. Jesus does not need us to do anything. He wants us to come to Him, listen to Him and enjoy His fellowship.
There are many reasons why we may want to be religious. God does not want our actions; He wants our hearts. When our hearts align with His, our actions will follow to please Him. No one has to pretend or try to act like a Christian. As you believe in Him, He will change you. Pray that your heart will stay soft to recognize the works of God in your life. Pray that the miracles of Jesus make a difference in your day and affect the lives of others. Pray that you see Him moving in you, touching you and healing you from the depths of your heart today. Jesus wants to gently and quietly love on you. God does not need you to play Christianity. God wants you to know Christ.
When I read this I felt it was so powerful and something we all need to read and be reminded of. Today, stop and ask yourself those questions and answer them honestly then seek His face through prayer, fasting and reading your word. How well do you know Him?
Have a beautiful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Psalms 27:1
10
Aug '18
Declaring Dependence
10
Aug '18
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. (John 15:5)
Laura’s mom was battling cancer. One morning Laura prayed for her with a friend. Her friend, who had been disabled for years by cerebral palsy, prayed: “Lord, you do everything for me. Please do everything for Laura’s mother.”
Laura was deeply moved by her friend’s “declaration of dependence” on God. Reflecting on the moment, she said, “How often do I acknowledge my need for God in everything? It’s something I should do every day!”
During His days on earth Jesus demonstrated continual dependence on His heavenly Father. One might think that because Jesus is God in a human body, He would have the best of all reasons to be self-sufficient. But when the religious authorities asked Him to give a reason for “working” on a legally ordained day of rest because He healed someone on the Sabbath, He responded, “Verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise” (John 5:19). Jesus declared His dependence as well!
Jesus’s reliance on the Father sets the ultimate example of what it means to live in relationship with God. Every moment we draw breath is a gift from God, and He wants our lives to be filled with His strength. When we live to love and serve Him through our moment-by-moment prayer and reliance on His Word, we are declaring our dependence on Him.
I need You for everything, Lord! Help me to live to serve You. I praise You for being my Savior and my strength!
So often in the world we live in we are constantly seeking independence. We don’t want to be dependent on anyone but when I read this devotion it was a great reminder that we must be dependent on God for everything. Only when there’s complete dependence on Christ, will you walk the path of freedom. I don’t want independence from God. Prayerlessness is our declaration of independence from God. My Savior, walk in front of me and beside me every day, today I declare my dependence on You. He is my refuge and strength, a very present help, always.
Have a beautiful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Psalm 46:1
09
Aug '18
When the Bottom Drops Out
09
Aug '18
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)
During the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, more people were looking for work than there were jobs available. I was one of those job seekers. After nine anxious months, I landed employment as a copywriter. But the company soon fell on bad times and I was jobless again.
Ever been there? It seems like the worst is over when suddenly the bottom drops out on you. The widow at Zarephath could relate (1 Kings 17:12). Due to a famine, she was preparing the last meal for herself and her son when the prophet Elijah requested a bite to eat. She reluctantly agreed and God provided a continuous supply of flour and oil (vv. 10–16). But then her son fell ill. His health declined until he stopped breathing. The widow cried out, “What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son?” (v. 18).
At times, we may want to respond like the widow—wondering if God is punishing us. We forget that bad things can happen in this fallen world. Elijah took the concern to God, praying earnestly and honestly for the boy, and God raised him up! (vv. 20–22).
When the bottom drops out on us, may we—like Elijah—realize that the faithful One will not desert us! We can rest in God’s purposes as we pray for understanding.
When I read this devotion I was reminded of Deuteronomy 31:6, Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. I pray this blesses you and reminds you that “when the bottom drops out” at the beginning and end of all things is God and He will never fail you or forsake you. God is good in both the good times and the bad.
Have a beautiful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Luke 12:6-7
08
Aug '18
Wisdom with Self Control
08
Aug '18
Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren. (Genesis 45:1)
Personally, I can’t believe Joseph could keep his secret this long. Joseph had God-given self-control. Can you imagine how difficult it must have been to not reveal yourself to your brothers? Joseph handled this situation with such wisdom.
Wisdom and self-control are not natural traits. They have to be developed by and in a person. Wisdom is given by God and self-control is the last attribute listed in the fruits of the Spirit. It is through life experiences that we gain wisdom and it is through intense trials that we learn self-control, However, experience and trials do not necessarily mean that people become wise and self-controlled.
God desires to develop both of these traits in His children. When God can trust you, He entrusts you with greater gifts and callings. Obviously, God tests our hearts through a variety of trials in life. How we react and respond to those trials shows us where we place our trust. How often do we want to look to man or impulsively react to what we think is best? Patience, endurance, waiting and resting are not eagerly sought characteristics today. Thank the Lord that, in Christianity, we are under the covenant of grace which means that we can take the test over and over until we pass.
A person with wisdom and self-control blesses God and others, as well as himself. Joseph is a great role model for each of us. God was so gracious to give us an example of a man who endured years of trials and abuse but overcame the circumstances to be entrusted with governing Egypt. Ask the Lord to show you what’s missing in your walk with Him. Then, ask for wisdom and pray for self-control.
I pray this blesses and inspires you to take time today to seek God and pray for wisdom and self control. I believe it’s needed more and more in our lives as we see the world waxing worse and worse. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. (James 1:19-25). Seek His word for guidance in what is missing in your walk with Him.
Have a beautiful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Psalms 16:11