Category: Uncategorized

Who is the man that fears the Lord? —Psalm 25:12 Are we obsessed by God? If not, why not? If we are not obsessed by God we probably have a limited view of Him. Jesus realized this was a problem as He came close to the end of His ministry.  His disciples did not have a complete view of Him. So He took His closest disciples to the top of a mountain and there was transfigured before them. They caught just a glimpse of His glory. It was a glimpse that would get them through many tough times ahead, including, for most, martyrdom.  If we are obsessed by God, nothing else can get into our lives— not concerns, nor tribulation, nor worries. And now we understand why our Lord so emphasized the sin of worrying. How can we dare to be so absolutely unbelieving when God totally surrounds us? To be obsessed by God is to have an effective barricade against all the assaults of the enemy. Fear of the Lord, wipes out all other fear and worry and concern. It is the one great fear. Heavenly Father, grant us enough of a view of your Glory that we […]

He said to me, ’Son of man, can these bones live?’ —Ezekiel 37:3 It’s truly amazing what the intervention of God can accomplish in a human life. The most twisted life can  become straight; the driest bones can come to life. Never forge ahead with your religious common sense and say, “Oh, yes, with just a little more Bible reading, devotional time, and prayer, I see how it can be done.” It is much easier to do something than to trust in God; we see the activity and mistake panic for inspiration. That is why we see so few fellow workers with God, yet so many people working for God. We would much rather work for God than believe in Him. Do I really believe that God will do in me what I cannot do? The degree of hopelessness I have for others comes from never realizing that God has done anything for me.  Is your life dry? Just a little? Twisted? Just a little? You can’t fix it; but He can.  Can these bones live? With God’s help, you bet they can. Nick

Jesus did not commit Himself to them . . .for He knew what was in man —John 2:24-25 Successful people have ordered lives; ordered but not necessarily orderly. They have priorities. They use, but are not ruled by, to do lists and calendars.  Jesus taught a successful life style: Seek First the Kingdom of God. Our priorities are not best determined by what we believe or say or plan. They are best read in what we do. Try keeping track of your time for a week. If you do that, your priorities will emerge. You will clearly see what is really important to you by what you do, by how you spend your time. How should our worlds be ordered?  As usual, OC has the right idea. Put Trust in God First. Our Lord never put His trust in any person. Yet He was never suspicious, never bitter, and never lost hope for anyone, because He put His trust in God first. He trusted absolutely in what God’s grace could do for others. If I put my trust in human beings first, the end result will be my despair and hopelessness toward everyone. I will become bitter because I […]

Lord, I will follow You, but . . . —Luke 9:61 We say we are willing to follow the Lord; but we assume He wouldn’t ask us to do anything  “unreasonable.” If He asks us to do something that goes against “common sense” then we assume it must not be God, but Satan trying to lead us astray. But we must get to the point that we are so sure of God’s voice that we don’t have to put it to a “reasonableness” test before we act. If we study, the guidance of God in scripture, we find that He often asks His children to take the “path less traveled” to do something that goes against “common sense.” If we insist on filtering His guidance to us we will lose our way, while acting “within reason.”  Jesus Christ demands the same unrestrained, adventurous spirit in those who have placed their trust in Him that the natural man exhibits. If a person is ever going to do anything worthwhile, there will be times when he must risk everything by his leap in the dark. In the spiritual realm, Jesus Christ demands that you risk everything you hold on to or […]

In that day you will ask in My name . . . for the Father Himself loves you . . . —John 16:26-27 Last night Kaydence spent the night with us. It amazes me how I love her. How her every move and word delights me, sometimes to laughter, sometimes to tears. I just want to squeeze her into me. I would do anything for her. I would die for her. It amazes me even more to think that my creator feels the same about me. I’m not naive enough to think I’m  as cute and lovable as a two year old. But I know He wants me to be one with Him in that same passionate way. It’s all about moving toward that eventual oneness with the Creator, the state which we are ultimately created for. We will ask in His name because we will be so intimate with Him that we will be one with Him. And “that day” is not a day in the heavens but a day meant for here and now. Our Lord does not mean that our lives will be free from external difficulties and uncertainties, but that just as He knew the […]

In that day you will ask Me nothing —John 16:23 Will I ever stop questioning God? Will there be a point that my confidence in Him is such that I question no longer? I will never know everything; but I believe that it is possible that I will come to the point in faith that I will be one with the Father just as Jesus is, and He said, “In that day you will ask Me nothing.”  The source of my current questioning my lack of total reliance on Him.At some point I will understand and accept that I don’t need to question further, because I will be confident that God will reveal things in accordance with His will. I will know what I have a need to know. The faith and peace of John 14:1 will have  become the real attitude of my heart, and there are no more questions to be asked.With the vanishing of questioning will come complete blessing and perfect peace. It will be great. Nick

. . . tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high —Luke 24:49 Why do we tarry? Come on. Admit it. We are tarrying. We know there are things we should be doing. We have marching orders and are not moving. Why do we tarry? The disciples had to tarry, staying in Jerusalem until the day of Pentecost, not only for their own preparation but because they had to wait until the Lord was actually glorified. And as soon as He was glorified, what happened? “Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear” ( Acts 2:33 ). The statement in John 7:39 — “. . . for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified”— does not pertain to us. The Holy Spirit has been given; the Lord is glorified— our waiting is not dependent on the providence of God, but on our own spiritual fitness. So our tarrying is without excuse. Christ has commanded and equipped us. We need to make a move. Once we begin to […]

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? —Romans 8:35 Have you noticed how the deepest Christians shine the most in adversity. It’s as if Satan’s attempt to disrupt only emphasizes the truth that the Christian is inseparable from his Lord. It may be that Christians see more trouble because they are Christians. I feel sorry for the Christian who doesn’t have something in the circumstances of his life that he wishes were not there. “Shall tribulation . . . ?” Tribulation is never a grand, highly welcomed event; but whatever it may be— whether exhausting, irritating, or simply causing some weakness— it is not able to “separate us from the love of Christ.” Never allow tribulations or the “cares of this world” to separate you from remembering that God loves you ( Matthew 13:22 ). Trouble allows His love for us to shine. Our weaknesses allow His strength to show.  We are who we are so others can see who He is. In the wreck of our lives, we arise and are blessed. Nick