Thursday, September 24, 2009

:::Wisdom:::

I just had a passing thought tonight as I was speaking with Jesus...and here it is...

When we pray for wisdom, what is it that we are expecting God to do?
No seriously, think about it...

James 1:5 says that if anyone lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

Now, this is where I get caught up in my mind...I ask God for wisdom and He gives it to me generously without finding fault in me. HE gives it...without finding fault in ME!

So, I began to ask God specifically to give me clarity in this verse...and this is what He taught me...if I am asking God for wisdom then I need to be ready for something supernatural to happen.

Why is this true:
1.) because I, left to my own devises, am an idiot
2.) if God is active in it, it is automatically supernatural
3.) if He is looking at me as though I have no fault then He is seeing me through the redemptive power of His Son's blood which has rescued me from being the wretched man who has no hope outside of the cross of Christ. There is nothing more supernatural than the Gospel.

All of that to say, if you are truly seeking Godly wisdom, then ask Him for it...but you must be ready for Him to do something supernatural...which, let's just be honest, makes us all a little uncomfortable...

Asking Christ to make me uncomfortable as He stirs my affections for what is close to His heart tonight.

That's all I got...
ZS

Monday, September 14, 2009

Increase Our Faith ::: Luke 17:1-10

There were a couple of different times in the Gospel where the Apostles asked Christ to increase their faith. I was reading in Luke yesterday morning before our celebration service started. In Luke 17:5, the Apostles asked Jesus to increase their faith...why would the Apostles ask for more faith? Well you need the whole context. Right before they ask for more faith Jesus drops this on them:

"If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. 4If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him."

You get it now?

Seriously, how difficult is it to forgive? And not only to forgive but to continue to forgive over and over and over and over again?

Please Jesus, I'm going to need more faith!

Christ response, faith the size of a tiny mustard see will allow you to say to the mulberry tree, get up and get in the sea.

I love the conclusion of this section in Luke 17:10, "...we are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done."

It's time we all understand that we do not need or deserve praise for doing what we are commanded to do...just simply do it.
We praise our King because He is gracious and worthy - why would He even allow us to serve him?

Precious Christ, increase our faith...
~Amen

ZS

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

:::Meditation on Psalm 85:::

I read this Psalm yesterday and it became a point of meditation for me.

Psalm 85
Prayer for God's Mercy upon the Nation.
For the choir director. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.
1O LORD, You showed favor to Your land;
You restored the captivity of Jacob.
2You forgave the iniquity of Your people;
You covered all their sin. Selah.
3You withdrew all Your fury;
You turned away from Your burning anger.
4Restore us, O God of our salvation,
And cause Your indignation toward us to cease.
5Will You be angry with us forever?
Will You prolong Your anger to all generations?
6Will You not Yourself revive us again,
That Your people may rejoice in You?
7Show us Your lovingkindness, O LORD,
And grant us Your salvation.
8I will hear what God the LORD will say;
For He will speak peace to His people, to His godly ones;
But let them not turn back to folly.
9Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him,
That glory may dwell in our land.
10Lovingkindness and truth have met together;
Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
11Truth springs from the earth,
And righteousness looks down from heaven.
12Indeed, the LORD will give what is good,
And our land will yield its produce.
13Righteousness will go before Him
And will make His footsteps into a way.

A couple of things that really jump out at me in this text:
1.) The declaration of what God has done. "you showed favor...you restored...you forgave...you covered all sin...you withdrew you fury...you turned away from your burning anger"
2.) I love verse 9, salvation is near to those who fear Him and it is through those who fear Him that shows His glory throughout the land.
3.) I'm not sure I have ever read more beautiful poetry than that which is found in verse 10. Only by the grace of God.
4.) I am praying for my family, our community of faith and for myself personally that we would see the footsteps of our Gracious God as our WAY.

For The Praise of Your Glory!
ZS