by Pastor Cecil | Feb 11, 2014 | Job
Job 2:3
Then the LORD said to Satan, ‘Have you considered My servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited Me against him to ruin him without reason.’
It has always been somewhat of a mystery to me that there are conversations in heaven between God and Satan. These conversations concern those of us here on earth. We know that Satan is the enemy of our souls and the accuser of the believers.
As we read the account of Job we see that God boasts to Satan about the integrity of Job. What this tells me is that God watches our actions and more than that, the motivations behind our actions. In other words, God knows the thoughts and intents of our hearts. He not only sees what we do but knows why we do it.
In the New Testament we read that Jesus told Peter that Satan had desired to sift him and the other disciples as wheat. Even though Peter proclaimed his steadfast faithfulness and willingness to die for Jesus, we know he fell short.
What do we do when our integrity falls short of our best intentions? The answer is to confess our failures and get up to serve the Lord. Peter and the other disciples that failed the Lord at the moment of His arrest and trial eventually became martyrs for Him after the Resurrection. Integrity is confessing our failures and going on to live for Him!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 10, 2014 | Isaiah
Isaiah 40:29-31
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
A man was not feeling up to par, so he made an appointment and went to see his doctor. When the doctor entered the examining room, it was not his regular doctor, but an intern. The intern told him that his doctor had been called out of town on an emergency and that he was filling in. After a short examination he was told he was in very bad condition. It was like a slap in the face and he demanded a second opinion! Without flinching, the intern said: “You’re ugly too!” That is a terrible joke to begin the week, but I hope you will stay with me as we explore the importance of attitude in the life of the believer.
I never want to belittle the ordeals that people encounter. Perhaps the worst thing we can say to someone who is going through a valley of the shadow of death experience is to say: “I know what you are going through.” We don’t! It is impossible for us to know what is causing the pain within a person. But the Lord knows!
Some people experience sickness and incapacitation of one sort or another. In those times it is well to consider the way God’s people have suffered across the centuries of time. Some of the greatest songs or poems of praise were penned at times of suffering.
Each of us is given a choice in dealing with the pain and agony of this life. We can sigh and moan about how hard our situation is, or we can soar above the circumstances and praise the Lord from whom all blessings come! I, for one, choose to soar! Come and soar with me!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 7, 2014 | Titus
Titus 3:4-5
But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
One night, 1886, in group of Christians were singing in a down-and-out part of a large city. A distraught young woman questioned if it would be possible for a sinner like her to be saved. Listening to her heart-cry for salvation, she was taken back to the mission and left with the ladies in charge. The young, wayward woman was brought to Christ that night.
A situation was secured for her in a minister’s family. Sometime later she became ill and had to be taken to a hospital. She rapidly failed and it became evident that she would not be long on earth. One of the gentlemen whom she had met on that night on the street, was visiting her in the ward. After quoting a few suitable verses of Scripture, he repeated her favorite hymn that include the words, “All to Him [Christ] I owe.” Two hours afterward she passed away.
Of course the greatest payment in our behalf is the gift of eternal life. It cost the horrible death of our precious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He paid what we could not pay. He went to the cross voluntarily because He knew we would never be able to pay the cost.
Jesus Paid It All
I hear the Savior say,
“Thy strength indeed is small!
Child of weakness watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all.”
Refrain:
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow.
For nothing good have I,
whereby Thy grace to claim
I will wash my garments white,
In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb.
Refrain:
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow.
And when before the throne,
I stand in Him complete,
I’ll lay my trophies down,
All down at Jesus’ feet.
Refrain:
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow.
To access Jesus Paid It All, this week’s inspirational video fromGloryScapes.com, please go to:http://www.gloryscapes.com/jesuspaiditall/ in your browser or click on the image below.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 6, 2014 | Matthew
Matthew 25:21
His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
The concept of a “servant spirit” intrigues me. Not only that, but it compels me to strive to become a faithful servant. As I study the pages of Scripture, I find that my heroes of the faith–such as Joseph and Daniel–demonstrated servanthood. As I study the lives of those servants in God’s Word, I find many common characteristics. They were not focused on their own needs, but on the needs of the master they served.
Joseph was below the status of a servant–he was a slave. Even though his world had crashed in around him, he gave himself totally to serve his master. I can barely imagine the long hours it took for Joseph to learn the Egyptian language, but he knew he had to learn it to be the best servant he possibly could.
Another quality of a servant that I see in Bible heroes is their sense of responsibility. They do not do the bare minimum, but demonstrate a self-sacrificial attitude. They never seem to be deterred by mistreatment. Their service is motivated by a desire to please God by the way they treat their human master. I want to be God’s servant!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 5, 2014 | Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy 30:19-20
This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
As a young boy, it was common for the kids in our neighborhood to spend quite a bit of time playing outside. We had no sedate activities that involved handheld electronic devices or such. We played kick the can by actually kicking the can, and many other active games like hide and seek, and dodge ball.
As the sun began to set in the west, each kid intentionally attuned his ears to listen for the familiar call from his house: “Suppertime!” (I don’t know about you, but it was never dinner — we called it supper.) Each one knew the sound of his own mother’s voice as she called him home to eat supper.
As we make our way through this life, we need to listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit. If we listen for that still, small voice, we will be able to hear. Our spiritual ears will be much sharper if we take time to read God’s Word and commune with Him in personal prayer.
As you examine your walk with the Lord, are you inclining your ears to hear when He calls? When you appear before the Lord, will you be able to say that you gave Him the attention He so rightly deserves? Call Lord, your servant is listening.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
