“Moses inspected the work and saw that they had done it just as the LORD had commanded. So Moses blessed them.” Exodus 39:43
Excellent work requires regular inspection. We all do better when others are watching, especially when it’s the Lord and those we respect. Work is an expression of the worker, so it’s imperative the work is intentional and with integrity. If we resist someone looking over our shoulder to verify our efforts then we miss out on our much needed accountability.
Do you have clarity in what’s expected of you in your role at work? If not, seek out your supervisor and confirm his or her expectations and make sure they align with your understanding. Like a team sport, you want to make sure you are both playing the same game and executing the same plays. Excellent execution requires alignment of expectations. Be grateful you have a boss who cares to look closely at what you do.
“Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds” (Proverbs 27:23).
Do you serve in a position of authority at work or home? Perhaps you supervise a small team at work, maybe you are a sole proprietor with only an assistant or you are responsible at home to oversee the domestic duties. If you are a supervisor—do you lovingly supervise? A responsible manager takes time to instruct the team members in expected outcomes, define the process and then oversees the systematic implementation.
Organizations undisciplined in follow-up and follow through find themselves missing deadlines with inferior results. Wise are the men and women who up front understand and embrace the plan and who regularly give a status report in their area of expertise. These are the conscientious ones who steward well their responsibilities at work.
Is your home in disarray or is there a well-defined structure around who is responsible for what chores? Maybe you start with the husband proactively caring for the outside needs and for all of the house maintenance, while the wife manages the inside tasks. Engage the children to keep their room clean and organized, while helping dad and mom. Review regularly who is responsible for what and reward good results done with a good attitude.
Above all ask, “What are the Lord’s expectations?” It’s an attractive attitude at work and home that flows from a faith that first seeks to follow Christ’s instructions. Make sure you lay your work before the Lord at His altar of excellence. Is He pleased with your productivity? Are you supervising His resources and relationships as His wise steward?
“The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns” (Luke 12:42-43).
Related Readings: Genesis 43:16; Luke 16: 1-14; Hebrews 2:1; 1 Peter 4:10
Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
2.23.2011
2.21.2011
Love Always Protects
“It always protects... “ 1 Corinthians 13:7
Love always protects. It protects because it loves, and it loves because it protects. Love protects physically; if you love someone, you do not want him or her to suffer bodily harm. You provide for them an environment that protects them from the elements. You shield them from harmful substances that might damage their bodies. You keep them safe by obeying the speed limit and not driving recklessly. You protect them by not endangering their lives with unnecessary risks. If you love someone, you protect them.
Wives love to be protected; it makes them feel valued and cherished. They yearn for physical, financial, and emotional protection. Husbands, when you keep your wife safe and sound, you speak their love language. Your provision of a dependable automobile and a secure home screams love. Because you love your family, you protect them from unwise financial exposure.
For example, you don’t “bet the farm” and place your house at risk. Your temperament might be able to handle high risk, and even thrive on it, but, because you love your family, you do not personally expose them to on-the-edge endeavors. You do not want them to fear being unprotected within an unstable home environment.
Love protects emotionally because it understands the sensitive nature of others. Emotional protection allows children to grow up well-adjusted and loved. Adolescents are vulnerable and tender; they still need the loving protection of their parents. Love prays for the protection of the ones it loves. Pray for their hearts to be protected from the evil one (2 Thessalonians 3:3) and from unwise influences.
Pray for the testimony of those you love to remain unsoiled and fresh in their walk with Christ. Pray for the Holy Spirit to protect well-meaning loved ones from straying away from God’s best in relationships. Furthermore, pray for protection from yourself. If not careful, you can talk yourself into almost anything. Sometimes, you can become your own worst enemy, so pray for protection for yourself, and be accountable.
Lastly, think of ways to protect your friends and work associates. Your wisdom and counsel provides loving protection (Proverbs 4:6). A small, encouraging word may protect peers from over-commitment. Your colleagues may need your permission to say no, just so they can let go. Do not underestimate your actions, for what you do provides protection.
Your model of appropriate behavior with the opposite sex protects you and provides an example of discretion for those you influence (Proverbs 2:11). You love others by creating an environment of protection. Therefore, pray for God’s protection and provide protection. Love always, always protects.
Taken from the February 18th reading in the 365 day devotional book, Seeking Daily the Heart of God
Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
Love always protects. It protects because it loves, and it loves because it protects. Love protects physically; if you love someone, you do not want him or her to suffer bodily harm. You provide for them an environment that protects them from the elements. You shield them from harmful substances that might damage their bodies. You keep them safe by obeying the speed limit and not driving recklessly. You protect them by not endangering their lives with unnecessary risks. If you love someone, you protect them.
Wives love to be protected; it makes them feel valued and cherished. They yearn for physical, financial, and emotional protection. Husbands, when you keep your wife safe and sound, you speak their love language. Your provision of a dependable automobile and a secure home screams love. Because you love your family, you protect them from unwise financial exposure.
For example, you don’t “bet the farm” and place your house at risk. Your temperament might be able to handle high risk, and even thrive on it, but, because you love your family, you do not personally expose them to on-the-edge endeavors. You do not want them to fear being unprotected within an unstable home environment.
Love protects emotionally because it understands the sensitive nature of others. Emotional protection allows children to grow up well-adjusted and loved. Adolescents are vulnerable and tender; they still need the loving protection of their parents. Love prays for the protection of the ones it loves. Pray for their hearts to be protected from the evil one (2 Thessalonians 3:3) and from unwise influences.
Pray for the testimony of those you love to remain unsoiled and fresh in their walk with Christ. Pray for the Holy Spirit to protect well-meaning loved ones from straying away from God’s best in relationships. Furthermore, pray for protection from yourself. If not careful, you can talk yourself into almost anything. Sometimes, you can become your own worst enemy, so pray for protection for yourself, and be accountable.
Lastly, think of ways to protect your friends and work associates. Your wisdom and counsel provides loving protection (Proverbs 4:6). A small, encouraging word may protect peers from over-commitment. Your colleagues may need your permission to say no, just so they can let go. Do not underestimate your actions, for what you do provides protection.
Your model of appropriate behavior with the opposite sex protects you and provides an example of discretion for those you influence (Proverbs 2:11). You love others by creating an environment of protection. Therefore, pray for God’s protection and provide protection. Love always, always protects.
Taken from the February 18th reading in the 365 day devotional book, Seeking Daily the Heart of God
Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
"Do You Want to Get Well?"
The shriveled figure lay in the sun like a pile of rags dumped there by accident. It hardly appeared to be human. But those who used the gate to go in and out of Jerusalem recognized him. He was disabled, dropped off there every morning by someone in his family, and picked up again at the end of the day. A rumor was going around that sometimes (no one really knew when) an angel would stir the waters, and the first one in would be healed. Sort of a lottery, if you will. And as with every lottery, the desperate gathered round, hoping for a miracle.
It had been so long since anyone had actually spoken to him, he thought the question was meant for someone else. Squinting upward into the sun, he didn't recognize the figure standing above him. The misshapen man asked the fellow to repeat himself; perhaps he had misheard. Although the voice was kind, the question felt harsh, even cruel.
"Do you want to get well?"
He sat speechless, blinking into the sun. Slowly, the words seeped into his consciousness, like a voice calling him out of a dream. Do I want to get well? Slowly, like a wheel long rusted, his mind began to turn over. What kind of question is that? Why else would I be lying here? Why else would I have spent every day for the past thirty-eight seasons lying here? He is mocking me. But now that his vision had adjusted to the glare, he could see the inquisitor's face, his eyes. The face was as kind as the voice he heard. Apparently, the man meant what he said, and he was waiting for an answer. "Do you want to get well? What is it that you want?"
It was Jesus who posed the question, so there must be something we're missing here. He is love incarnate. Why did he ask the paraplegic such an embarrassing question?
(Desire , 33-34)
Source: Ransomed Heart Ministries by John Eldredge
It had been so long since anyone had actually spoken to him, he thought the question was meant for someone else. Squinting upward into the sun, he didn't recognize the figure standing above him. The misshapen man asked the fellow to repeat himself; perhaps he had misheard. Although the voice was kind, the question felt harsh, even cruel.
"Do you want to get well?"
He sat speechless, blinking into the sun. Slowly, the words seeped into his consciousness, like a voice calling him out of a dream. Do I want to get well? Slowly, like a wheel long rusted, his mind began to turn over. What kind of question is that? Why else would I be lying here? Why else would I have spent every day for the past thirty-eight seasons lying here? He is mocking me. But now that his vision had adjusted to the glare, he could see the inquisitor's face, his eyes. The face was as kind as the voice he heard. Apparently, the man meant what he said, and he was waiting for an answer. "Do you want to get well? What is it that you want?"
It was Jesus who posed the question, so there must be something we're missing here. He is love incarnate. Why did he ask the paraplegic such an embarrassing question?
(Desire , 33-34)
Source: Ransomed Heart Ministries by John Eldredge
Famous Father
“Lord I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy.” Habakkuk 3:2
Most are not famous—but God is the most famous—as His fame is from everlasting to everlasting. He is famous now—He was famous in the past—and He will be famous in the future. No one person or no event is more famous than God. He is the famous One. God’s name is inscribed on the heavenly walk of His stars.
His fame stretches from universe to universe. Its expanse is from galaxy to galaxy. No amount of light years can capture the fame of God. His fame is beyond time. The fame of the Lord God Almighty covers the earth. It races from sea to shining sea. God is famous. He is on center stage as Creator, Savior and Lord. God is our heavenly hero.
He is famous and His fame is not to be hijacked by competing heroes. No one, no gods, and no religions can compete with the fame of God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is famous for a reason. He is famous so His followers can proclaim His fame to the nations. The fame of God is our entrée to love people. As ambassadors of Christ His reputation precedes us. We have the amazing opportunity to represent our famous Father!
Missionaries take His fame to the darkest recesses of the world. Bible teachers proclaim His fame to eager students. Normal Christians reflect the fame of God in their everyday lives. His fame is shown in classrooms, homes, businesses, hospitals, resorts and churches all over His globe. We serve, represent and lovingly share the most famous Someone ever.
Christ is a celebrity of righteousness and holiness. Indeed, the attention of believers and unbelievers cannot ultimately ignore His fame. Are you an excellent steward of this level of notoriety? You cannot shirk this responsibility. You are the son or daughter of a celestial celebrity. It is something to be proud of—God is your heavenly Father.
The channels of intimacy are always open to the creator of the free world and to those still in bondage. What an awesome privilege. What a sobering responsibility. Use your famous relationship with Jesus to leverage the gospel. Take advantage of God’s notoriety to help people. Doors have and will swing wide open because you are a Christ follower. Time is short. His fame is infinite and glorious. We worship and proclaim the famous one, God. You are a son or daughter of the most famous One: the Lord Jesus Christ!
“I will set a sign among them, and I will send some of those who survive to the nations—to Tarshish, to the Libyans and Lydians (famous as archers), to Tubal and Greece, and to the distant islands that have not heard of my fame or seen my glory. They will proclaim my glory among the nations” (Isaiah 66:19).
In what ways can I honor my heavenly Father by sharing His fame with friends and foes?
Related Readings: Joshua 9:9; 1 Kings 10:1; Ruth 4:14
Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
Most are not famous—but God is the most famous—as His fame is from everlasting to everlasting. He is famous now—He was famous in the past—and He will be famous in the future. No one person or no event is more famous than God. He is the famous One. God’s name is inscribed on the heavenly walk of His stars.
His fame stretches from universe to universe. Its expanse is from galaxy to galaxy. No amount of light years can capture the fame of God. His fame is beyond time. The fame of the Lord God Almighty covers the earth. It races from sea to shining sea. God is famous. He is on center stage as Creator, Savior and Lord. God is our heavenly hero.
He is famous and His fame is not to be hijacked by competing heroes. No one, no gods, and no religions can compete with the fame of God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is famous for a reason. He is famous so His followers can proclaim His fame to the nations. The fame of God is our entrée to love people. As ambassadors of Christ His reputation precedes us. We have the amazing opportunity to represent our famous Father!
Missionaries take His fame to the darkest recesses of the world. Bible teachers proclaim His fame to eager students. Normal Christians reflect the fame of God in their everyday lives. His fame is shown in classrooms, homes, businesses, hospitals, resorts and churches all over His globe. We serve, represent and lovingly share the most famous Someone ever.
Christ is a celebrity of righteousness and holiness. Indeed, the attention of believers and unbelievers cannot ultimately ignore His fame. Are you an excellent steward of this level of notoriety? You cannot shirk this responsibility. You are the son or daughter of a celestial celebrity. It is something to be proud of—God is your heavenly Father.
The channels of intimacy are always open to the creator of the free world and to those still in bondage. What an awesome privilege. What a sobering responsibility. Use your famous relationship with Jesus to leverage the gospel. Take advantage of God’s notoriety to help people. Doors have and will swing wide open because you are a Christ follower. Time is short. His fame is infinite and glorious. We worship and proclaim the famous one, God. You are a son or daughter of the most famous One: the Lord Jesus Christ!
“I will set a sign among them, and I will send some of those who survive to the nations—to Tarshish, to the Libyans and Lydians (famous as archers), to Tubal and Greece, and to the distant islands that have not heard of my fame or seen my glory. They will proclaim my glory among the nations” (Isaiah 66:19).
In what ways can I honor my heavenly Father by sharing His fame with friends and foes?
Related Readings: Joshua 9:9; 1 Kings 10:1; Ruth 4:14
Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
The Message of the Arrows
At some point we all face the same decision-what will we do with the Arrows we've known? Maybe a better way to say it is, what have they tempted us to do? However they come to us, whether through a loss we experience as abandonment or some deep violation we feel as abuse, their message is always the same: Kill your heart. Divorce it, neglect it, run from it, or indulge it with some anesthetic (our various addictions). Think of how you've handled the affliction that has pierced your own heart. How did the Arrows come to you? Where did they land? Are they still there? What have you done as a result?
To say we all face a decision when we're pierced by an Arrow is misleading. It makes the process sound so rational, as though we have the option of coolly assessing the situation and choosing a logical response. Life isn't like that-the heart cannot be managed in a detached sort of way (certainly not when we are young, when some of the most defining Arrows strike). It feels more like an ambush, and our response is at a gut level. We may never put words to it. Our deepest convictions are formed without conscious effort, but the effect is a shift deep in our soul. Commitments form never to be in that position again, never to know that sort of pain again. The result is an approach to life that we often call our personality. If you'll listen carefully to your life, you may begin to see how it has been shaped by the unique Arrows you've known and the particular convictions you've embraced as a result. The Arrows also taint and partially direct even our spiritual life.
(The Sacred Romance , 27-28)
Source: Ransomed Heart Ministries by John Eldredge
To say we all face a decision when we're pierced by an Arrow is misleading. It makes the process sound so rational, as though we have the option of coolly assessing the situation and choosing a logical response. Life isn't like that-the heart cannot be managed in a detached sort of way (certainly not when we are young, when some of the most defining Arrows strike). It feels more like an ambush, and our response is at a gut level. We may never put words to it. Our deepest convictions are formed without conscious effort, but the effect is a shift deep in our soul. Commitments form never to be in that position again, never to know that sort of pain again. The result is an approach to life that we often call our personality. If you'll listen carefully to your life, you may begin to see how it has been shaped by the unique Arrows you've known and the particular convictions you've embraced as a result. The Arrows also taint and partially direct even our spiritual life.
(The Sacred Romance , 27-28)
Source: Ransomed Heart Ministries by John Eldredge
2.10.2011
Faith Living.
"For we live by faith, not by sight." 2 Corinthians 5:7
Faith living is focused on God living. It is the road less traveled. Even for believers in Jesus Christ, faith living is not always predominant. Why settle for anything less? If we limit ourselves to our efforts, our logic, and what we can see, then we only tip God with our faith. He is calling us beyond the honeymoon stage of our faith to mature faith. A faith that only thinks of the past is anemic and stunted. Faith alive is focused on God's vision for the future. It is caught up in the possibilities of today with no fear of tomorrow.
"By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going." (Hebrews 11:8)
Faith living enjoys God's ability to create. For example, He can create resourceful relational opportunities, as He is the connector par excellent. By faith He can be trusted to lead you to just the right people. People whom you can serve and people who can join you to accomplish God's will. Determine ways to bring value to the other person. It is not about what you can get from them. It is all about how you can serve them.
Moreover, faith living is not irresponsible living. This is not some blind excursion that ignores the needs of your spouse and children. It is wrought with prayer and godly advice. This implies that faith living is not lived in a vacuum. It is living in concert with those around you. Abraham went by faith to a new country and cared for his family.
"By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise" (Hebrews 11:9).
Yes, it requires sacrifice and service, but not in the guise of unwise decision-making. Faith living trusts God's timing. It does not rush into battle without weapons or a plan. You trust God to prepare you and provide for you the needed resources to carry out his will. You are no match for Satan without the weapons of spiritual warfare.
Furthermore, trust the Lord with how He has gifted you. Your part is to become more self aware of your strengths and weaknesses. Allow God and others to leverage your strengths and shore up your weaknesses. Be who God created you to be and come alive in Christ. Pursue Him, live by faith and execute His will. Live by faith and not by sight. Faith living is the only way to live for God. You are not really alive until you live by faith in Jesus!
How can I better position my life to live by faith and not by sight?
Related Readings: Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17; Galatians 2:20; 3:11; Hebrews
10:38
Faith living is focused on God living. It is the road less traveled. Even for believers in Jesus Christ, faith living is not always predominant. Why settle for anything less? If we limit ourselves to our efforts, our logic, and what we can see, then we only tip God with our faith. He is calling us beyond the honeymoon stage of our faith to mature faith. A faith that only thinks of the past is anemic and stunted. Faith alive is focused on God's vision for the future. It is caught up in the possibilities of today with no fear of tomorrow.
"By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going." (Hebrews 11:8)
Faith living enjoys God's ability to create. For example, He can create resourceful relational opportunities, as He is the connector par excellent. By faith He can be trusted to lead you to just the right people. People whom you can serve and people who can join you to accomplish God's will. Determine ways to bring value to the other person. It is not about what you can get from them. It is all about how you can serve them.
Moreover, faith living is not irresponsible living. This is not some blind excursion that ignores the needs of your spouse and children. It is wrought with prayer and godly advice. This implies that faith living is not lived in a vacuum. It is living in concert with those around you. Abraham went by faith to a new country and cared for his family.
"By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise" (Hebrews 11:9).
Yes, it requires sacrifice and service, but not in the guise of unwise decision-making. Faith living trusts God's timing. It does not rush into battle without weapons or a plan. You trust God to prepare you and provide for you the needed resources to carry out his will. You are no match for Satan without the weapons of spiritual warfare.
Furthermore, trust the Lord with how He has gifted you. Your part is to become more self aware of your strengths and weaknesses. Allow God and others to leverage your strengths and shore up your weaknesses. Be who God created you to be and come alive in Christ. Pursue Him, live by faith and execute His will. Live by faith and not by sight. Faith living is the only way to live for God. You are not really alive until you live by faith in Jesus!
How can I better position my life to live by faith and not by sight?
Related Readings: Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17; Galatians 2:20; 3:11; Hebrews
10:38
2.07.2011
Raising Daughters
“Love is patient, love is kind.” 1 Corinthians 13:4a
Raising daughters requires God’s grace, loving patience and wisdom. Indeed, wise are parent’s of daughters who regularly partner in prayer for their special gift from the Lord. They pray for a future husband who is their daughter’s best friend, who makes her heart flutter and who loves the Lord more than he loves her. Daughters need caring prayers.
Daughters who love Jesus desire a mom who sets the example of being adorned with inner beauty, and is not obsessed by her outward beauty, which eventually fades away. Daughters need a mom they can proudly emulate. Indeed, a discerning mom is a listening friend to her little girl—and a loving, but firm disciplinarian when necessary. This demonstrates she cares.
Raising daughters is not a passive role for the father—on the contrary—dad needs to be available to provide, protect and care for his sensitive girl. Some daughters won’t demand attention, but inside they still crave compassion and conversation with dad. Wise is the father who takes the time to regularly date his daughter, giving her his acceptance and understanding.
Furthermore, help your daughter find her identity in Christ and not in the culture. Society tells her she has to look and act a certain way to be accepted, but teach her that acceptance comes from being a daughter of King Jesus. He loves her unconditionally just as He made her. True identity comes from trusting Christ and His plan for her life.
“The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord” (Psalms 45:11).
Gentleness, not harshness, is the approach God blesses in your communication with your girl. Though her behavior may cause you to become angry, do not lash out at her in anger or matters will only get worse. Yes, confront bad attitudes and disrespect—in a spirit of respect and kindness. Your daughter knows you love her when you take the time to correct her.
There will be times she takes advantage of her mom—this is when dad steps in and does not allow disrespectful behavior. God gives the father the responsibility to lead the home, which at times requires intervention when your daughter has a bad attitude or speaks with discourtesy. Wise parents model respect and expect respect. They seek Christ’s standards.
“For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory” (1 Thessalonians 2:11).
How can I help my daughter find her acceptance and identity in Christ?
Related Readings: Ruth 2:22-23; Esther 2:15-18; Luke 8:41-42; Ephesians 6:1-4
Raising daughters requires God’s grace, loving patience and wisdom. Indeed, wise are parent’s of daughters who regularly partner in prayer for their special gift from the Lord. They pray for a future husband who is their daughter’s best friend, who makes her heart flutter and who loves the Lord more than he loves her. Daughters need caring prayers.
Daughters who love Jesus desire a mom who sets the example of being adorned with inner beauty, and is not obsessed by her outward beauty, which eventually fades away. Daughters need a mom they can proudly emulate. Indeed, a discerning mom is a listening friend to her little girl—and a loving, but firm disciplinarian when necessary. This demonstrates she cares.
Raising daughters is not a passive role for the father—on the contrary—dad needs to be available to provide, protect and care for his sensitive girl. Some daughters won’t demand attention, but inside they still crave compassion and conversation with dad. Wise is the father who takes the time to regularly date his daughter, giving her his acceptance and understanding.
Furthermore, help your daughter find her identity in Christ and not in the culture. Society tells her she has to look and act a certain way to be accepted, but teach her that acceptance comes from being a daughter of King Jesus. He loves her unconditionally just as He made her. True identity comes from trusting Christ and His plan for her life.
“The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord” (Psalms 45:11).
Gentleness, not harshness, is the approach God blesses in your communication with your girl. Though her behavior may cause you to become angry, do not lash out at her in anger or matters will only get worse. Yes, confront bad attitudes and disrespect—in a spirit of respect and kindness. Your daughter knows you love her when you take the time to correct her.
There will be times she takes advantage of her mom—this is when dad steps in and does not allow disrespectful behavior. God gives the father the responsibility to lead the home, which at times requires intervention when your daughter has a bad attitude or speaks with discourtesy. Wise parents model respect and expect respect. They seek Christ’s standards.
“For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory” (1 Thessalonians 2:11).
How can I help my daughter find her acceptance and identity in Christ?
Related Readings: Ruth 2:22-23; Esther 2:15-18; Luke 8:41-42; Ephesians 6:1-4
Confessions Cleansing
“Have mercy on me O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.” Psalm 51:1-2
Confession is cleansing. It is coming clean with God. Our hearts become soiled over time and need purifying. A dirty heart is not unlike the engine of a well-driven car. The shiny washed and waxed hood can cover an engine that is baked with road film, grime and grease. The responsible and conscientious car owner will have his car detailed but also overall maintained .
This precise process cleans every nook and cranny of the car. Our hearts need the same. We need an ongoing detail job. We need God to bring back the newness of our faith and the freshness of our sensitivity to sin. The opposite of a cleansed heart is a hardened heart. We become hardened to humility. We become hardened to honesty.
We become hardened to change. We become hardened to learning. We become hardened to people. And, worst of all, we become hardened to God. This is a hard way to live. On the other hand, we can take responsibility for our sin and agree with Him about its hideous presence in our lives.
Confession is agreeing with God on what is right and what is wrong. It is admitting to the violation of one of His commands and then coming clean with Him. Confession is coming to grips with what God already knows. Confession is not new information to God, but it does remove the walls of pride that we build up.
Pride is a reason for un-confessed sin. We do not want to admit we are wrong. Confession punctures our “pride balloon”. However, this is exactly what needs to happen. Pride needs to be deflated and replaced with humility. There are many benefits to confession, and this is just one of them. Confession lifts guilt and gives you a jolt of joy.
Oh the freedom of a clear conscience! You do not have to rack your brain in remembrance of past offenses that you continue to cover up. Your energy is freed to sow righteousness rather than try to keep a lid on sin. Unconfessed sin does not go away. It will come out one way or another. It may manifest itself in your health and or your attitude, but it will not remain hidden.
The greatest benefit of confession is our reengagement with God. What a lonely place it is to be estranged from your heavenly Father. He is daily waiting for you to turn to Him and set the relationship straight. A fractured friendship with your best friend can be deeply painful. Confession begins the relational healing process.
Confession to God may lead to confession with people. Sometimes this is harder because certain people may not forgive you. However, your confession to another may free them to do the same. Confession is disarming. It gives others the freedom to open up and not fear condemnation. Confession gives you the moral authority to mentor, lead, parent and teach others.
Your posture becomes one of weakness and dependence on God and people, instead of prideful power and the cover up of sin. Confession is healing. The wounds, sometimes deep wounds, that you have unknowingly inflicted or received begin to heal with the ointment of confession. Come clean today with God and others. Then, watch the power of confession draw you closer to God and closer to people!
Taken from Dose 39 in the 90-day devotional book Infusion.
Confession is cleansing. It is coming clean with God. Our hearts become soiled over time and need purifying. A dirty heart is not unlike the engine of a well-driven car. The shiny washed and waxed hood can cover an engine that is baked with road film, grime and grease. The responsible and conscientious car owner will have his car detailed but also overall maintained .
This precise process cleans every nook and cranny of the car. Our hearts need the same. We need an ongoing detail job. We need God to bring back the newness of our faith and the freshness of our sensitivity to sin. The opposite of a cleansed heart is a hardened heart. We become hardened to humility. We become hardened to honesty.
We become hardened to change. We become hardened to learning. We become hardened to people. And, worst of all, we become hardened to God. This is a hard way to live. On the other hand, we can take responsibility for our sin and agree with Him about its hideous presence in our lives.
Confession is agreeing with God on what is right and what is wrong. It is admitting to the violation of one of His commands and then coming clean with Him. Confession is coming to grips with what God already knows. Confession is not new information to God, but it does remove the walls of pride that we build up.
Pride is a reason for un-confessed sin. We do not want to admit we are wrong. Confession punctures our “pride balloon”. However, this is exactly what needs to happen. Pride needs to be deflated and replaced with humility. There are many benefits to confession, and this is just one of them. Confession lifts guilt and gives you a jolt of joy.
Oh the freedom of a clear conscience! You do not have to rack your brain in remembrance of past offenses that you continue to cover up. Your energy is freed to sow righteousness rather than try to keep a lid on sin. Unconfessed sin does not go away. It will come out one way or another. It may manifest itself in your health and or your attitude, but it will not remain hidden.
The greatest benefit of confession is our reengagement with God. What a lonely place it is to be estranged from your heavenly Father. He is daily waiting for you to turn to Him and set the relationship straight. A fractured friendship with your best friend can be deeply painful. Confession begins the relational healing process.
Confession to God may lead to confession with people. Sometimes this is harder because certain people may not forgive you. However, your confession to another may free them to do the same. Confession is disarming. It gives others the freedom to open up and not fear condemnation. Confession gives you the moral authority to mentor, lead, parent and teach others.
Your posture becomes one of weakness and dependence on God and people, instead of prideful power and the cover up of sin. Confession is healing. The wounds, sometimes deep wounds, that you have unknowingly inflicted or received begin to heal with the ointment of confession. Come clean today with God and others. Then, watch the power of confession draw you closer to God and closer to people!
Taken from Dose 39 in the 90-day devotional book Infusion.
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