Category: Blog

Must is a strange verb with no past or future tenses, always in the present. I musted or I shall must don’t exist. The word is always in the present tense.

The above is a strange way to introduce a devotional, but Jesus used the word numerous times. The first was in response to Joseph and Mary as a 12-year-old. The Lord stayed behind as the caravan started home. They were returning after observing the feast of the Passover in Jerusalem. Each parent thought Jesus was with the other until evening. Their realization that Jesus wasn’t in the caravan caused them to return to Jerusalem the next day, only to find Jesus in the temple questioning the elders.

Mary asked, “Son, why have You done this to us? (Luke 2:48). Jesus replied, “I must be about My Father’s business” (v-49). The word “must” struck an imperative meaning to me, encouraging me to search some of the “must things” that Jesus came here to do?

Luke records, “I must preach the kingdom of God” (4:43 NKJV). Those words describe the Lord’s earthly mission. That’s what He did for groups and individuals.

In John 3, Nicodemus heard the message, “You must be born again” (v. 7). Later, as Jesus and the disciples were going to Jerusalem, Jesus said, He “must needs go through Samaria” (John 4:4 KJV). There was a woman at the well and people in Sychar who must hear the gospel. 

But if Jesus was to end the sacrificial system of worship as the Old Testament records, He must accomplish one more thing. “The Son of Man must be lifted up” (John 12:34), signifying His death on the cross of Calvary. The hill outside Jerusalem is where our Lord took our sins upon Himself; Golgotha was its name in Hebrew. There, Jesus paid our sin debt forever!

The last “must” in this episode that I’ll mention is found in John 20:9: “He must rise again from the dead” (KJV). Without the resurrection, our Savior would still be in the grave. Jesus is alive forevermore, sitting beside His heavenly Father, making intercession for all believers (Hebrews 7:25).

Have you ever mined for gold? Looking for the bright yellow substance that people value so much. I haven’t. But I do look for nuggets found tucked in the scriptures. There are lots of them. They’re present by God’s leadership for you to find and enrich your life. 

One of these nuggets is in the First Chronicles. It’s lodged in the list of 500-plus names in its first nine chapters. You will find Jabez in chapter 4, verses 9 and 10. He was a pain to his mom at birth. Later, he was bold in his prayers. He asked God for four things. They’re audacious, to say the least.  

Jabez’s first request was a blessing. He desired God to bless him with inward peace and wisdom. He would ask for a liberal investment of insight and foresight to live bravely for God. His desire revolved around doing, going, and saying whatever God intended for him to do. 

By putting God first in his thought life, Jabez wanted to expand his spiritual influence. This wasn’t just a personal desire but a recognition of the need for a greater impact in his community for God. He could see his neighbors in need of a deeper spiritual walk. Jabez wanted to be an example that others could follow and duplicate. His request was overwhelming by human standards, but with God’s help, very achievable.

This mindset led to his third request—guidance.

How do you do what you have never attempted to do? Jabez knew he would need the Lord’s guidance. So, Jabez asked for God’s hand to rest upon him: a courageous prayer, a plea for God’s continued presence in his life. 

The fourth desire was for protection. Whenever God uses someone in a special way, we tend to let up spiritually. We could pat ourselves on the back and say something prideful. Then, we could coast in our spirituality for a while. Even worse, we could start relying upon ourselves rather than God. These three thoughts and practices are dangerous.  

A warning. Watch out for pride. It destroys spirituality.  

With these four requests, Jabez sends us a challenge. Do the right thing and live boldly for God. 

There’s nothing else recorded about Jabez in scripture, but GOD GRANTED HIS REQUESTS! 

There are comforts and challenges in scripture. One of the many Bible assurances is in 2 Corinthians 5:17. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new (NKJV). 

This verse highlights an intriguing aspect of the believer’s life. We are a new creation but in the same body. Now, Heaven is our future destination. Our old, sinful ways, which used to satisfy us, no longer hold the same appeal. Instead, a new desire for righteousness and godliness begins to emerge. To make room for the new you, some old things, such as sinful habits and attitudes, have to go. God gives us a choice: remove the old and gain the new, or keep the old and never experience the improved. The choice is always ours. Those choices are staring at us. 

Prayer is our powerful communication helpline. It’s not about formality but about sincerity. Sometimes, it’s about waiting. But remember, our actions before God’s leadership can be devastating. When we wait for God’s timing, doors open, illustrating the power of prayer.  

Old ways can pass away—God removes your longing desire for them. The process may be gradual, but it is progress. This progress is a sign of your spiritual growth, a journey that strengthens when you apply God’s word to your life. The application of scripture requires your resolve to do good and wait for God to act, which always has eternal rewards. So be patient.  

The newness of being in God’s family is refreshing, enlightening, and pleasing to your spiritual walk. Whenever you feel down, take a moment to reflect on your past spiritual experiences. Take a long look at how God has intervened in your life—not just in material things, but more importantly, in your spiritual awareness.  

The realization of God’s presence, protection, and provision can be an eye-opener. Your remembrance can change your outlook for the day. Events aren’t as gloomy as before. Healing becomes the emphasis simply because God is working in you every day. 

So, accept your status in life, develop your Christian walk, and share the Lord with others. Who knows, maybe your church will be blessed because you did. 

There will come a day when the Son shines. No more nights of gloom. No more pain or disappointments. Our tears will become a thing of the past. Everything will be bright and filled with boundless joy. This future, just over the horizon of our earthly life, is not a distant dream but a reality we can bring closer with our actions of spreading joy and hope. 

However, Jesus has given us moments here that reflect the promised land. We experience times of joy and moments without pain, tears, or disappointments. Our joy radiates in our smiles that beam from ear to ear. In these ticks of time, we catch a glimpse of the eternal joy that awaits us. Yet, in our enjoyment of these temporary times, we sometimes forget our spiritual purpose here. We can share our inner source of strength and joy. The earthly well of jubilance never runs dry. It’s always ready to replenish our cup of refreshment. If we neglect to lower the bucket for replenishment, our spiritual joy will disappear. 

While you observe your surroundings, do you see family, neighbors, friends, or coworkers who could use a cup of encouragement and hope? You hold the ingredients that can show them joy and hope. Your smile, your prayer, and your caring gesture can do more for you than it does for the recipient. You have the power to be God’s hand at work.  

We all need encouragement at times. But sometimes helping others does more for you than it does for them. That’s one of the many wonders of Jesus in you that gives you a glimpse of glory where everything is all smiles and the incredible joy of being in the presence of God. 

Imagine a future without pain, only joy. A future without disappointment, only glory. What a day that will be—Jesus, our hope and eternity! 

Occasionally, we enter a meditative state. We think about everything, but then, we focus on just one thing. Circumstances often push a time of reflection and evaluation.  

Below are some of mine:  

• Sometimes, we can’t undo our messed-up situations. We may try, but usually to no avail.  
• All healing takes time, and some leave scars. The scars are lessons and reminders that teach us valuable lessons.  
• Forgive me, Lord, for taking your provisions and blessings for granted. We often forget to say thank you or take these gifts for granted.  
• Never give up. Never stop praying, “Thy will be done.” And when the Lord answers—will you accept His answers?  
• Being truthful and obedient is a good day’s accomplishment. Sometimes truthfulness hurts, but it’s reality. Obedience is often beyond reasoning; however, it’s always best in the light of eternity.  
• The young have energy, and the old have wisdom. Why can’t we work together for what is best for everyone?  
• Stubbornness is an expression of your unwillingness to change. Determination is beneficial, but only to a certain extent. Knowing when to change and embracing it is a sign of wisdom and growth.  
• We are selfish. God is generous. The question is, who wins? We know the better answer!  
• Selfishness and sinfulness are like glue making a terrible pair.  
• A stream is a river in the making. Always slowing downhill.  

These random thoughts may help you out tomorrow. I sure hope so. 

What does it take to pursue a path of faithfulness to God? Is it a plan? Does it start with determination, or does it just happen?

The following are examples of individuals from a bygone era who persevered, endured, and were faithful at various stages of their lives.

As a teenager, Daniel was captured and sent to the capital of his captors. He distinguished himself first with his dietary habits. Then came his advice to the ruler, resulting in serving under three different heads of state. Prayer was his strengthening asset, and it should be ours.

David was a shepherd, renegade, and king. Although often misunderstood, he remained faithful to his Lord most of the time. He was skilled in music and songwriting, particularly in Psalms, and was “A man after my own (God’s) heart” (Acts 13:22 NKJV). The Bible records no such statement for any other individual. 

A burning bush demanded the attention of an 80-year-old. He led a rebellious nation through its spiritual reversals. Moses is the only human to spend 40 days with God on a mountaintop. He saw the Lord’s back and survived. Moses, when he descended from the mountain, glowed with holiness from being in the presence of God. After years of leading the Israelites, our wonderful Lord allowed Moses to see the Promised Land without setting foot in it. The Lord buried him with no one else around.

How would you feel if your God told you to lead an army? Gideon wanted confirmation, so the fleece incident is in the Bible. Gideon, a judge in Israel, asks for leadership before leading Israel into battle against the Midianites. Gideon places a fleece outside and asks God to make it wet while keeping the surrounding grass dry. Then Gideon, wanting assurance, asked God to reverse the procedure. God is patient with His children and answers our prayers. Miracles do happen for the obedient. Israel defeated the Midianites.

Clothing doesn’t define an individual. Imagine your outer garment made of camel skin with a belt around your waist. His message to Israel was to repent. John the Baptist didn’t preach in the city but in the wilderness. People came to hear him, and the Lord changed their lives. Interestingly, John broke a 400-year spiritual silence in Israel. He was the one to prepare the way for the Lord’s ministry. Jesus said, “No one born of woman was greater than John the Baptist.” When the Son of God makes a statement, we should take it to heart and believe it.

The list of great Saints is long, but God didn’t quit working two thousand years ago. Our God is still using saints today. Mostly unknown but faithful. Not perfect, but faithful. Age, gender, or location don’t hinder an individual in God’s eyes. The qualifying characteristic for diligence is heart, not perfection, which should give us hope and inspire us to surrender our lives to the Lord’s leadership.

Part Three of Three

We now approach the completion of a three-week series on our GREAT GOD. To review, we first saw God’s actions as principles based upon His priorities. And then we stated it was good for His children to praise Him.

We mentioned His purpose for each of His children in the second narration. We agreed with His purpose through our Bible reading and prayers. The prayers of believers not only allow us to prevail in our service to the King of Kings and play a crucial role in His divine plan. Our productive service will always agree with His plan for our lives as we serve Him.

Now, we are moving to the New Testament. Titus has the unenviable task of helping a church. As a young pastor, he understood that God cannot lie (Titus 1:2). His first assignment was to procure help for the church. Find qualified servants with godly character and individuals who will keep their eyes on our Great God (2:13), knowing that one day they and we will answer for everything we say and do on this earth. Therefore, we encourage each other to stay faithful to God.

The book of Hebrews reminds every believer that we have a Great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14), Jesus, our advocate, with the heavenly Father. Jesus alone is our mediator. With that thought comes a warning to stay true to your faith. Don’t let anyone or anything make you doubt your salvation. Knowing it is Christ who redeemed you. No one can take your salvation away from you. Because you belong to Jesus, you can and should come boldly to the throne of grace with your prayer requests. At His throne, we find mercy and help in our time of need.

The last verse that we will look at is in Revelation 19. The beginning of this chapter talks about the position in glory. We will enjoy the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (v-9) there. Here, we can worship God for all eternity (v-10).

While in heaven, we will witness the ultimate defeat of the beast, where all the birds (v-17) will come and devour the dead enemies of God.

Our wonderful Great God rules supreme, and we are with Him forever. Amen.

Part Two of Three

Last week, we referenced three of our Great God characteristics. The heavenly Father has principles and priorities. But He also loves to hear our praises. Reminding ourselves of these foundational elements is rewarding for our spiritual development. Let’s examine three more illustrations of our Great God as we go on.

Every leader faces life’s challenges. Their valleys can be deep and lonely, while their mountaintops are spiritually uplifting. Our Great God, mighty in power, has a purpose for all His precious children, guaranteeing divine leadership. He understands you, your thoughts, motives, weaknesses, and strengths. Our Lord uses your faith and strengths to empower you to do mighty things for Him, providing guidance and security.

On the other hand, Daniel, a teenager, demonstrated his unwavering faith in his Great God. His spiritual traits showed that he was not a quitter. He served under three political leaders without compromising his faith, even when it got him in trouble. He openly prayed (Daniel 6:10) when the king forbade prayers to anyone but himself (Daniel 6:7). This act led to him being thrown into a den of lions. Yet, his faith triumphed over fears and difficulties. God answered his prayers. Dependence on our Great God always leads to spiritual victory. 

Jeremiah, the Prophet of suffering, prevailed while relying on his heavenly Father for guidance. Although the Prophet’s warnings were unacceptable to the political figures of his day, Jeremiah remained faithful to his GREAT GOD (32:18). Even in his imprisonment, he stayed loyal to God. How would you adjust to being stuck in mud for days in a dark, cold dungeon? Would you think God didn’t care about you? Or would you tell yourself it doesn’t pay to serve God? Jeremiah prayed for deliverance, and a foreigner, an Ethiopian, a total stranger, rescued the Prophet (38:10-13).

These three examples all have one thing in common. The individuals served our Great God. If you want to hear the Lord say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23), be faithful here. Whatever your station in life may be, whether you’re famous or not, rich or poor, you can be dependable and serve our Great God.

Part One of a Series 

The Bible gives a two-word connection that caught my attention. Just two words encouraged me to define the number of times that these two words appeared together in the Bible. Reading the list for the word “great” in a concordance opened my eyes. The word appears over 950 times. This blog is part of a short series.  

First and foremost, our great God is the God of unchanging principles. His spoken Word and written words are true! What He says, He means. Deuteronomy 10:17 explains there is no partiality in His decisions. You cannot bribe the Almighty. Justice is justice regardless of your station in life. The Lord rewards right actions, and wrong ones are always wrong. God expects His people to serve, walk in His ways, and love Him with all their hearts and souls (v-12). “I am the Lord, I do not change” (Malachi 3:6 NKJV). Our wonderful God has personal integrity—no wrongdoings!  

Our decisions reflect our integrity and our commitment to placing God first in our lives. We face a choice: to change and align ourselves with God’s desires or to act selfishly. This decision is a reflection of our integrity. 

When we choose to live our best life, we will cultivate an attitude of praise. This involves thanking God for everything. Perhaps more importantly, thanking Him for what we do not have. Recognizing that the Lord knows what is best for our lives.

We all have different talents, understandings, and values. It is our responsibility to develop our potential gifts. How we use our talents is up to us, but we should ask God to enable us. Many of us let life happen without trying to realize our potential. The key is to maintain an attitude of praise and thanksgiving. Thank God for everything you have and don’t have because He knows what is best for you.  

Take the time quietly and personally to praise the Lord for giving us the desire to please Him. When was the last time you set aside some time to praise the Lord? “The Lord is the great God” (Psalm 95:3). 

Your parents told you to sit still when you were young. Later in life, someone indicated you should sit still to enjoy the music or someone speaking. As you age, there comes a time when you stand still and appreciate the events before you. 

On the spiritual side of life, we go through developing times to hear God’s voice. In our early days of knowing God, the Lord takes us by the hand and gently leads us, instilling a deep sense of trust within us. As we gain confidence, our wonderful God releases our hand and walks beside us, amiably nudging us along the way to keep us going in the right direction. Then, He allows us to venture on our own spiritual walk, permitting us to make our own decisions. We might have obstacles along the way, but that’s good. Those difficulties show us we need to walk with Him and not get ahead of our Lord. 

Another stage of spiritual growth may feel like God has disappeared, nowhere to be seen. It’s a test of who we trust more, ourselves or God, even when He seems silent. But remember, His silence is not absence.

What do we do? Our two popular choices are: don’t try to be spiritual or go to the Bible. If we choose the Bible, the search may be trying at times. Discovering James 1:5 is a tremendous help. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God.” So, you ask, then discover “who gives generously to all without reproach, and it is given him” (James 1:5 ESV).

As you progress on your spiritual journey, you begin to see with ‘spiritual eyes,’ meaning you start to perceive people, events, and things from a perspective aligned with God’s will and values. Your actions then naturally reflect His mindset.

You have progressed on your spiritual journey; you arrive at a different location. Here, you begin to desire His will over your own. You start to see “mountains” move for His glory, not your desire, which is a significant step and a sign of your spiritual growth and progress. You’re on the right path.

The journey isn’t complete, but you’re in a greater place for God to use you and make you more productive. Isn’t that what you always wanted? For God to use you. So, take a moment or two and sit still to allow God to speak to your heart.