City of Refuge

Read Joshua 20

The God of mercy instructs His people to set aside certain cities to become places of refuge.  This way anyone who accidentally kills someone could go and live without fear that the dead person’s family would try to kill him.  They would live in that city until the high priest died.  After that they could go back to where ever they lived previously.

Did you notice this was for accidental death not for pre-meditated murder?  God has a heart for the innocent.  God wants justice to prevail.  His ways protect the innocent.

Why is it we tend to think the worst in others so readily?  We jump to conclusions and judge others without knowing all the facts.  I’m thankful God is the Just Judge.  He knows all things and can judge fairly.  His judgment is right.

When God says “all have sinned” He means everyone.  There is no one who is innocent and hasn’t sinned.  When God says “the wages of sin is death” He means death is only way to deal with sin.   Thankfully God is more than Just, for had He been just, we all would perish because of our sin.  God is merciful. He paid our sin debt through Jesus’ death on the cross.  His death cleared the charges against us.  So in His eyes we are innocent.

Now we live in a city of refuge.  Not an earthly city where we live only as long as the high priest.  But a heavenly city where the High Priest – Jesus Christ – lives forever and so do we!

God cancels our debt.  He covers us with His righteousness.  He ushers us into His kingdom to live forever with Him.  He did this not because we were innocent by our own efforts, but because of His mercy cancels our sin and makes us innocent by His actions.

Challenge Point:

God has shown you much mercy.  Who can you show mercy to rather than judgment today?

How can you demonstrate mercy towards this person?

Father of mercies, thank you for your righteous judgment.  Thank you for paying our sin debt for us.  Enable us now to walk in the new life in Christ and demonstrate your mercy towards our fellow neighbors. In Jesus’ name we pray Amen.

©Elizabeth Marks has led small group Bible studies for almost a decade.  Author of ThinkOnItBibleDevotions.com and BeingWomenOfInfluence.com websites she has a heart for encouraging others with God’s Word.

Father God and Jesus the Son are One

Read John 5:12-23

The Jews were accusing Jesus of making Himself equal with God.  Jesus answers them saying all the ways He and Father God are one.  In essence, Jesus is telling the Jews they were right He was equal with God. He then goes on to outline six ways that He is equal with God.  Jesus was agreeing with their accusation and providing supporting evidence to prove the point.

“Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. ²⁰”

• He and Father are one, so integrated so they can not be separated.  Both with same mind, will, and desires.

“For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. ²¹”

• This love includes.  It reveals.  It shares its true heart.

“For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. ²²”

• All authority and power is given to Jesus.  Anything God the Father can do, Jesus can do.  Proving they are one.

“For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, ²³”

• Jesus is the supreme judge. Father God has given Him deciding vote.  We know how He votes: Not Guilty because He chose to die for us!

“that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father.”

• Jesus deserves same honor as God the Father because He is the Son.

“He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.”

• There’s only one way to the Father’s heart, through His Son.  If we reject the Son, we reject the Father.

The timeless principle is Jesus and Father God are one. In what ways do we treat Jesus different from the Father? How do you think Father God feels when Jesus is treated different from Him? What specific way can we honor God the Father?

Lord God Almighty, you and Jesus are one.  If there is any way in us that doesn’t acknowledge Jesus as your son drive it out of us this day.  We pray in Jesus’ name Amen.

©Elizabeth Marks has led small group Bible studies for almost a decade.  Author of ThinkOnItBibleDevotions.com and BeingWomenOfInfluence.com websites she has a heart for encouraging others with God’s Word.

A More Complete Picture

Can we understand God by reading one Bible verse? Can we know Him through one devotional reading? Can we grasp His glory through one prayer? Is it possible to know Him through encounters with others?

The answer to the individual question is no, but collectively perhaps. Let me explain with an analogy.

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Can we taste the sweet goodness of an angel food cake by eating the ingredients one at a time? A raw egg is not so tempting. The sweet sugar might be, but the flour is plenty blain by itself. Yet when these ingredients are mixed together in the proper proportion, what a delight they become.

So it is with our relationship Jesus Christ. No one thing can reveal all there is to know about Him. No one thing can demonstrate the depth of His love for us, save for the cross. But to create a more complete understanding of God, He wants us to balance our activities. Just like having the right portions of ingredients for a cake.

In this way, we are made aware something grand. Something only God can reveal – His true nature. The Lord says in Psalm 34:8 NKJV “Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!”

We are designed to be together with others. We are collectively the body of Christ. He is the vine and we are the branches. Jesus tells us in John 15 we can nothing apart from Him. We can not grow on our own. Growth comes by the Holy Spirit through our connections with God and others.

Self check: Rate your self on how many times or how much effort you put into each of the following activities each month. Using a scale from 1 to 5, where 1 is not much and 5 is a lot.

Bible reading/studying 1 2 3 4 5

Prayer 1 2 3 4 5

Worship 1 2 3 4 5

Serving 1 2 3 4 5

Fellowship 1 2 3 4 5

Sharing Christ with others 1 2 3 4 5

Rate your self every month. Keep a record of your results. Hopefully you will notice your numbers increasing over time as you continue diligently applying God’s Word in your life.

Lord, thank you for being there for us, showing us what you expect, giving us your Spirit and your word as well as other believers to help us grow. Give us a deeper desire for you. Draw us closer to you. Help us be diligent in our spiritual development. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

©Elizabeth Marks has led small group Bible studies for almost a decade. She is creator of ThinkOnItBibleDevotions.com , YourBibleWitnessAtWork.com, and BeingWomenOfInfluence.com websites and has a heart for encouraging others with God’s Word.

Sons of God

Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. John 5:19 NKJV

Have you heard the saying “monkey see, monkey do”? That’s when someone is imitating someone else. Most of the time folks who use that saying are referring to a small child following an older sibling’s every move. Well, in one sense this is what Jesus is saying. He only does what He sees His Father doing.

 

Consider the following verses:

• For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:26 NKJV)
• And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” (Galatians 4:6 NKJV)
• Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. (Ephesians 5:1 NKJV)

 

The other day I met a woman at the park. We talked about how her adopted girls had developed similar traits and personalities as her and her husband’s. It fits quite nicely with this devotion doesn’t it? Just as these adopted girls imitated their adoptive parents, we will start to imitate our adoptive Father the more we hang around Him.

 

The Bible tells us we are adopted into God’s family through faith in Jesus Christ’s finished work on the cross. We are sons and daughters of God. When we came to believe, God sealed us into His family by giving us His Holy Spirit as a guarantee (2 Corinthians 5:5). It is His Spirit in us changing the way we act and behave. Our old nature is gone and a new nature has come (2 Corinthians 5:17).

 

Look what Paul had to say in Galatians 2:20 NKJV: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” He knew the meaning of the old is gone and new has come. Moment by moment he chose to imitate God, knowing when he did it was really God working it out through him.

 

How about you? Have you learned what it means to be a son or daughter of God? Do your attitudes and behaviors reflect the fact you are a child of God?

 

Lord, thank you for adopting us into your family and calling us sons and daughters. Enable us to grasp the full extend of our family connection. May your Spirit in us work out your resemblance in our lives. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

© Elizabeth Marks, author of ThinkOnIt Devotions and has a heart for encouraging others with God’s Word. For more devotions, bible studies and a recommended book store, visit http://www.ThinkOnItDevotions.com today.

What can we give the Lord?

 

God made the heavens, the earth and everything in them.  What can mere humans give back to Him? 

 

We can give Him our attention by reading His word. (Acts 17:11)

 

We can lay down our burdens before Him.  Our worries, cares and stresses do not overwhelm for they are in the His hands. (Matthew 11:28)

 

We can give Him our weaknesses so His strength shines through us. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

 

We can turn over to Him our desire to figure things out on our own, knowing His plan and purpose for us is to give us a future and a hope.  (Jeremiah 29:11)

 

We can give Him our mind to be renewed by His word so we will understand how perfect and pleasing His will is. (Romans 12:1-2)

 

We can give Him our life because He has saved us from destruction and giving us life eternal in Jesus Christ.  (Romans 6:23)

 

We can give Him our relationships so they will glorify God. (Colossians 1:10)

 

We can give Him our failings and past regrets so He will keep us humble. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

 

We can give Him control of our life’s direction for He knows what’s best for us. (Psalm 139:6-8)

 

Lord thank you for wanting obedience rather than sacrifice.  Thank you for loving us in our sinful condition.  Thank you for making eternal life possible for those who believe in Jesus and confess Him as Lord.  In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

 

© Elizabeth Marks, author of ThinkOnIt Devotions and has a heart for encouraging others with God’s Word.  For more devotions, bible studies and a recommended book store, visit http://www.ThinkOnItDevotions.com today.

Righteousness, Self-Control and Judgment to Come

“Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid.” Acts 24:25 NKJV

As Paul reasoned with Felix, notice what he reasoned about: righteousness, self-control and judgment.

Righteousness

Examining scriptures reveals righteousness doesn’t come from us. Look at Psalm 119:137 NKJV “Righteousness are You, O Lord, and upright are Your judgments” and Psalm 119:172 NKJV “…For all Your commandments are righteousness.” We see God is righteous and so are His commandments.

Measuring our self against God’s commands, we discover we have a warped perspective because of our self-centered sinful nature. We see only how things affect us. We judge others based on how well they conform to our standards. Since God made each individual unique, how can one person’s standards work for someone else? It can’t, no more than my standards would work for you. God did not make a single one of us to be the standard for all mankind to be judged by. Only God is the standard. Only He has the right to judge because so righteously.

Self-Control

God gave each of us free will. This means we can choose to follow God’s commands or not. We can choose to satisfy our fleshly desires or to deny self and follow Him. We can choose to follow our own way which leads to separation from God and ultimately death. Or we can choose to follow our Righteous God and His righteous commands, which lead to forgiveness of sins and everlasting life.

No one can make it to heaven by living to satisfy self, by following a set of rules, or by doing good works as if you are earning brownie points. Entrance to heaven is a free gift given to those who believe in Jesus’ sacrifice and confess He is Lord. We have a choice to know and love God or not. We can choose to read the Bible to receive God’s righteous commandments for life or not.

Judgment

God’s Word tells us one day every one will come before God to be judged. Those who believe in Christ will be judged differently because of what Christ did for them. Their names are written in the Book of Life. As a result, the judgment for them is all about rewards for their carrying out God’s purposes while on earth.

The unbeliever will stand before God’s throne to be judged based on their deeds alone. When their name is not found in the Book of Life, they are thrown into the Lake of Fire and will be separated from God for all eternity (Revelation 20:15). We are wise to remember there will be judgment one day. Better to choose God’s way now, than find out later you will be banished in the Lake of Fire.

So Paul’s witness to Felix is a good example for us. Think about our conversations with others. Do we point others to God and His righteous commands? Do we help others realize their own sinfulness by sharing our own struggles? Do we talk about the judgment to come? Keeping these things firmly in our minds will help us stay the course and trust in God to save us.

Lord Jesus, thank you for making it possible to have life now and forever. Help us to remember where righteousness comes from. Help us recognize our own weakness. Help us turn to you for forgiveness of sins. May we remember one the end will come and may that memory enable us to walk uprightly until then. In your name we pray. Amen. © Elizabeth Marks, author of ThinkOnIt Devotions and has a heart for encouraging others with God’s Word. For more devotions, bible studies and a recommended book store, visit http://www.ThinkOnItDevotions.com today.

Rules versus Righteousness

  

“They came to the chief priests and elders, and said, “We have bound ourselves under a great oath that we will eat nothing until we have killed Paul.”” Acts 23:14 NKJV

As I pondered over this verse I thought of rules versus righteousness. There were about forty Jews who took this oath to kill Paul. These men were angry enough to take a pledge to kill someone.  But to let anger drive you to make hasty decisions you will regret later is not only foolishness but it is sin.  The Bible teaches “in your anger do not sin” (Psalm 4:4 NIV). 

According to these Jews the rules had to be followed.  Anyone who rejected the rules would be punished.  Isn’t that just like man? We make a rule and expect others to follow it.  When they don’t, we say they deserve punishment.  If God wanted us to follow rules, He wouldn’t have sent His Son, Jesus.  For God said, “This is my Son, whom I love and I am well pleased.  Listen to Him.” (Matthew 17:5 NIV)

These Jews were so bent on following a rule of taking an oath they were blind to how wrong their planned action was.   Paul did nothing worthy of death, yet these men were willing to deny them self food and water until they killed him. Killing someone without cause is wrong.  Jesus took this a step further saying even being angry at your brethren without cause puts us in danger of judgment (Matthew 5:22 NKJV).  

The thing is we usually think we have a just cause, don’t we?  That’s where righteousness comes in. Righteousness defined by Merriam Webster is acting in accord with divine or moral law: free from guilt or sin and morally right or justifiable.  The Bible teaches us in Psalm 14:3 NKJV “They have all turned aside, they have together become corrupt; There is none who does good, no, not one”.  No one is good, except God.  Our righteousness is worthless in His sight.  The only righteousness that is worth its weight in gold comes from God Himself.  These Jews were not practicing righteousness that comes from God, but what comes from man.  If they were following God, I’m sure they would have remembered Exodus 21:14 NKJV “But if a man schemes and kills another man deliberately, take him away from my altar and put him to death.”

Next time anger tries to over take you, stop and ask your self “Why am I angry?”, “Am I trying to get someone to follow my rule?”, “Am I acting in accord with God’s Word?” Submit to the Lord, resist the devil and he will flee from you (James 4:7).   God’s righteousness is what we need, not rules. 

 Lord thank you for your precious word and your Holy Spirit who reveals your truth to us.  Thank you for your righteousness that sets us free from rules and brings us into relationship with you.  Help us in every way grow into your likeness.  In Jesus’ name we pray Amen.  © Elizabeth Marks, author of ThinkOnIt Devotions and has a heart for encouraging others with God’s Word.  For more devotions, bible studies and a recommended book store, visit http://www.ThinkOnItDevotions.com today.

Accepting His Will

 

So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, “The will of the Lord be done.” Acts 21:14 NKJV

 

Why is it so hard to accept the will of the Lord?  One reason is we can’t understand why pain and suffering are part of the Lord’s will.  When we study God’s word, it is pretty clear we will have tribulations.

 

James 1:2-3 NKJV “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.”

 

John 16:33 NKJV “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

 

Romans 8:17 NKJV “and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”

 

Trials, testing, and tribulation are part of life.  But all of it God uses for good to those who love God and are called according to His purposes (Romans 8:28).

 

Another reason for not accepting the Lord’s will is stubbornness or self-centeredness.  Again, studying God’s word reveals we are not the only stubborn ones.  Even God’s chosen ones, the Israelites, were stubborn.

 

Exodus 32:9 NKJV “And the LORD said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and indeed it is a stiff-necked people!”

 

2 Chronicles 30:8 NKJV “Now do not be stiff-necked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to the LORD; and enter His sanctuary, which He has sanctified forever, and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of His wrath may turn away from you.”

 

Acts 7:51 NKJV “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.”

 

Let’s face it we want our way most of the time.  I have found when I am least willing to accept God’s will it is due to my own immaturity.   If thoughts like “I deserve it”, “It’s not fair”, “I have a right to…” are present, you can be sure you are out of God’s will.  Self-serving thoughts are not part of God’s will.

 

What did Jesus teach?  He told us to deny self, pick up our cross and follow Him (Mark 8:34).  He said if someone strikes you on the cheek, turn and give them the other cheek also (Matthew 5:39).  Jesus is our role model.  He laid down His life for us.  We in turn lay down our claim/desire to have things our way.

 

Ignorance is another reason for not accepting God’s will.  It is pretty hard to accept something you have never heard of before.  This is an easy one to correct.  Start reading God’s word.  Join a small group so you can talk with others about questions you may have about what you have read.  Pray God will open your eyes.

 

When Judgment Day comes, ignorance will not be an excuse that saves your hide. 

Romans 1:20-21 NKJV “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” Creation points to God.  The stars of above, the ocean depth, the uncountable grains of sand on the beaches, and even the tree branches that reach heavenward all point to a creator.  The world we live in shows obvious signs of a “designer”.  It didn’t just happen by chance.  I saw a bumper sticker the other day saying “THE BIG BANG THEORY: GOD SPOKE AND BANG IT HAPPENED”. The evidence of God is all around us.  It’s even within us.  If you studied human anatomy for any length of time you would find evidence of God in how the body works.  We were made to know God, because He has put eternity in our hearts. (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

We have looked at a few reasons for not accepting God’s will.  What’s holding you back?  If trials have stopped you in your tracks, trust God to use it for good.  If self-centeredness or stubbornness is the issue, pray for God to give you a desire to follow him.  If ignorance holds you back, read God’s word.

 

Jesus gives us peace beyond what the world offers.  You just need to trust and obey, there’s no better way.

 Lord thank you for your life-giving word. Give us a desire to follow hard after you.  Help us be God-center rather than self-absorbed. Give us endurance to get through the tough spots in life.  Help us see life from your perspective.  In Jesus’ name Amen.   © Elizabeth Marks, author of ThinkOnIt Devotions and has a heart for encouraging others with God’s Word.  For more devotions, bible studies and a recommended book store, visit http://www.ThinkOnItDevotions.com today.

Where’s the fruit?

But the fruit of the spirit is love,  joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.  Galatians 5:22-23 HSCB 

This is a wonderful first be used as a mere in my life.  For example, when I review this verse I looked to see how many of these traits I can see in my life.  If I notice I’m lacking joy or peace, I might consider where my thoughts have been focused.  Perhaps I’ve stopped focusing on God and started focusing on how a particular thing in my life isn’t going according to my plan.  Then it’s time to confess and come back to God.  He graciously fills me back up again with his spirit.   

The more we yield ourselves to the leading of the Holy Spirit the more these traits will be evident in our lives.  If we aren’t seeing them in our life, we might consider our thoughts and examine our motives.  It might be an indicator we are walking according to our flesh rather than according to the spirit.  Romans 8:5 says “for those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the spirit, the things of the spirit.”  Jesus says in John 6:63 “… the flesh profits nothing.  The words that I speak are spirit, and they are life.” So model yourself after the word of God for we know that it leads to life.  Where have you set your mind today?

Lord, thank you for your word and your Holy Spirit to lead us in your truth.  Enable us to yield to you that the fruit of the Spirit may be evident in our lives today.  In Jesus’ name Amen.  

© Elizabeth Marks, author of ThinkOnIt Devotions and has a heart for encouraging others with God’s Word.  For more devotions, bible studies and a recommended book store, visit http://www.ThinkOnItDevotions.com today.

God Gave

 

Are you following the truth?  God gave us many things to help us discover the truth.  Let’s take a look at some of them. 

 

God gave us a brain.  He expects us to use it.  Isaiah 1:18 NKJV says “Come now, and let us reason together,” says the LORD “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool”.  Psalm 34:8 NKJV tells us to taste and see the Lord is good.

 

God gave us His word.  Psalm 68:11 says “The Lord gave the word”.  He expects us to study it and discover His truth like the Bereans did in Acts 17:11 NKJV “These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.”  In addition, 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV tells us “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

 

God gave His Son to die for us.  Psalm 53:3 NKJV says “Every one of them has turned aside; They have together become corrupt; There is none who does good, No, not one.”  Romans 6:23 NKJV says “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Through one man, Adam, sin entered mankind.  Another man, the Son of God, paid the price for our sin so we wouldn’t have to (Romans 5:12-17). John 14:6 NKJV says “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

 

God gave His Holy Spirit to those who believe in Jesus Christ’s sacrifice for their sins.  First Corinthians 2:14 tell us the natural man thinks the things of God are foolishness and he can not know them for they are spiritually discerned. John 16:13 NKJV says “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth.” The Spirit is given so we might know the things that have been given to us freely by God (1 Corinthians 2:12). 

 

So are you ready?  Are you ready to use your brain, receive His Word, accept His sacrifice for your sins and receive His Holy Spirit? 

 

Step into God’s glorious truth today.  Today is the day of Salvation.  If you haven’t received Jesus as your Savior, pray something like this:

 Jesus, I believe the Word of God.  I now understand I am not saved by my own goodness.  Please come into my life and make my sins as white as wool. Give me your Holy Spirit to lead me in all truth.  In your name I pray. Amen.  © Elizabeth Marks, author of ThinkOnIt Devotions and has a heart for encouraging others with God’s Word.  For more devotions, bible studies and a recommended book store, visit http://www.ThinkOnItDevotions.com today.