Tag: Bible

What’s your exception?

On By BrianIn Revival

“And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah had done.  Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places.” – II Kings 15:3-4

Such is the summary of King Azariah’s reign.  It is similar to the verdict on many of Judah’s kings.  In general, he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.  But there was one exception – he did not remove the high places.  This was not a one time sin, but a continuous sin that marked his reign. It had been going on for so long, maybe Azariah hadn’t even thought of it.

When I see Christ, I long to hear, “Well done good and faithful servant.  You did what was right in my sight.”  But I wonder if he will continue, “Nevertheless, you….”  Is there a habitual sin that I commit?  Maybe that I have never even thought of?  Will there be an exception to his general verdict?  What is my exception?  How do I need to change?

Search me, O God, and see if there is any wicked way in me!  Let me see it, that I might repent, and find mercy.  Give me your grace to change!

And what about you – what is your exception?

Convicting Truths About God

On By BrianIn God & His Glory, Revival

Psalm 139 gives us three convicting truths about God.

Verses 1-6 remind us that God knows us completely.  He knows our thoughts, our words, and our actions.  He knows what we will do tomorrow, next week, next month.  Which means he knows about all of our sins.  He knows every sinful thought, every sinful word, every sinful action.  We can’t hide our sin.  God knows!

Verse 7-12 remind us that God is with us everywhere we go.  We simply cannot escape his presence.  Which mean he is always there witnessing our sins.  The kitchen may look empty, but God sees you reach into the cookie jar.  You might not to that sin in front of your mom or your spouse or your kids.  But every sin you commit you do before God.  He is always there.

Verses 13-16 remind us that God made us.  As his creatures, we belong to him (see Psalm 24:1-2), and so should live according his commands for his glory.  But of course we fail to live for our Creator way too often.

No wonder after reflecting on these three convicting truths about God, the Psalmist cries out for God to search his heart.  He wants God to examine his life.  The goal?  I think it is that God would reveal his sins (Job 13:23, Hebrews 4:12) that he might forsake them and follow God’s way – that God would lead him in the way everlasting.

We need to ponder these three convicting truths about God as they relate to our lives, asking God to show us where we have failed, that we might seek his mercy for our failures, and seek his grace to overcome those sins and follow him.

Needy 4

On By BrianIn Habit of Prayer, Revival

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” – Hebrews 4:16

We are a needy people.  Jesus meets our need.  So what should we do?  We need to pray!  Come confidently to the throne of grace.  Cry out to God for mercy for all the times we fail him, for our backsliding, for our lukewarm distracted divided hearts.  Cry out for grace to overcome sin, grow in the Lord, revive our hearts with a passion for God and his kingdom.

Today is the National Day of Prayer.  What a great day to cry out to God for mercy and grace.  And then let’s continue to pray tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day – that God would pour out his mercy and grace upon us for his glory!

Needy 3

On By BrianIn Revival

“Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” – Hebrews 4:14-16

We are a needy people.  Jesus meets our need:

He is our high priest (v14) who offered up a sacrifice (himself!) to pay for our sins so we could draw near to God.

He sympathizes with us (v15).  He knows what it is like to be tempted.  He struggled with temptation.  He knows human fraility.

He is perfect (v15).  Only someone who overcame sin himself can help us overcome sin.

He provides mercy (v16).  Through his death and resurrection, we can receive God’s mercy, forgiveness, cleansing.

He provides grace (v16).  By his grace, he can empower us through his Spirit to overcome sin in our lives.  By his grace and through his Spirit, he can change us to exhibit the Fruit of the Spirit.  By his grace and through his Spirit he can make us more like him, revive our hearts, and transform our lives.

We are a needy people.  Jesus meets our need.  Praise the Lord!

Needy 1

On By BrianIn Revival

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”  Hebrews 4:16

Why do we approach the throne of grace?  Because we are needy people.  We need God’s mercy for all the times we sin.  We need his grace to help us overcome our sin.

We need to recognize that we are needy people – all of the time. It is not that I am fine today, but may need God’s mercy and grace tomorrow.  No, I always need God’s mercy to forgive my sins and I always need God’s grace to overcome the temptations around me.  I am always a needy person.

Consider the following passages, and think about how much you need his mercy for all the times you haven’t lived up to God’s expectations, and how much you need his grace to help you live up to these standards:

“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.” – II Timothy 3:1-5

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” – Galatians 5:22-23

Resurrection Reflections Weekend

On By BrianIn Holidays1 Comment

Friday: Returning – With the Lord

Read I Thessalonians 4:13-18

Prayer: Father, thank you for the assurance that those who die in the Lord will one day be raised even as Jesus died and was raised. Thank you for the hope that one day we will be with our Lord forever. Amen.

Reflect/Discuss: How does the assurance that you will one day be with your Lord encourage you?

Praise: Sing “When We See Christ”

Saturday: Reborn – Hope in your Inheritance

Read I Peter 1:3-4

Prayer: Father, thank you for your great mercy to me that you have caused me to be reborn to living hope through Christ’s resurrection. Thank you for the certain and unending inheritance that awaits me. Amen.

Reflect/Discuss: How might remembering your unending inheritance in heaven diminish your pursuit of temporary earthly treasures?

Praise: Sing “What A Day That Will Be”

Sunday: Ransomed – Praise to the Lamb

Read Revelation 5:1-14

Prayer: Father, thank you for the Risen Lamb who has ransomed me by his spilt blood. Help me to praise him today with a heart full of gratitude. To you and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever. Amen.

Reflect/Discuss: How has reflecting this week on the many benefits of Christ’s resurrection helped you to join the heavenly beings in worshipping the Lamb?

Praise: Sing “Crown Him With Many Crowns”

Resurrection Reflection Thursday

On By BrianIn Holidays1 Comment

Resurrected – Victory over Death

Read I Corinthians 15:20-23, 50-58

Prayer: Father, as Christ has been raised, so one day we will be raised. We will be changed. Our perishable mortal bodies shall be made imperishable, immortal. Death will be no more. Thank you for this promised victory over death through Jesus Christ our Lord. Until that day, help me to live and labor for you. Amen.

Reflect/Discuss: How does the assurance of victory over death affect your thoughts and emotions at the prospect of facing death one day?

Praise: Sing “Because He Lives”

Resurrection Reflection Wednesday

On By BrianIn Holidays1 Comment

Reigns – Submit to your King

Read Ephesians 1:19-23

Prayer: Father, by your great power that now works in me you raised Jesus from the dead, and have made him King over all and Head of your church. Help me to submit to my life to my Risen King. Amen.

Reflect/Discuss: What rule and authority and power and dominion do you see on this earth today? How does Jesus’ higher and greater reign encourage you?

Praise: Sing “All Hail The Power Of Jesus’ Name”

Resurrection Reflection Tuesday

On By BrianIn Holidays1 Comment

Raised – Live your New Life

Read Romans 6:1-4

Prayer: Father, as Christ died, so in Christ I too have died to sin. Help me to not live that way any longer. As Christ was raised, so you have raised me to a new life in Christ. Let me live this new life you have purchased for me through Jesus. Amen.

Reflect/Discuss: How has Jesus changed your life?

Praise: Sing “O To Be Like Thee”