Devotions for Teens

[Soldier4Christ]

  Hands of God

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. John 3: 17

I looked outside into my screened in porch this morning and noticed a bird had gotten trapped inside. The poor thing had been flying into the screens time and time again, desperate to get out. I’m not sure if it had given itself a major headache, or if it was just dizzy but it didn’t seem to be doing too well and needed some help to find the way out.

I grabbed a towel and slowly made my way toward it. It hung on the screen with its feet as I slowly lowered the towel over its wings. As it felt the towel and my hands gently around it, it started to struggle and tried to get free. I’m sure it didn’t realize my good intentions or that I actually could get it out of its predicament. I held on tight and carried it to the door, where I opened the towel and the bird gratefully flew away.

I’ve been trapped in a screen room before…not literally, but it felt like it. A place where you can see out and want to get there, but there just doesn’t seem to be a way to break through. Ever been there? And often times we struggle against the hands of God trying to lead us safely out. He knows the way, after all. And He knows what it took to get you there in the first place!

For all the struggling the bird did this morning, it took about 15 seconds to set it free. What are you struggling with today? Let the Hands of love set you free. Trust Him to show you the way.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Which Way Did They Go?

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.  Proverbs 3:5-6

I’m usually pretty good at directions.  But in a foreign country with few road signs and none of them in English, I was in trouble.  A friend and I had just taken a bus across the West Bank from Israel into Jordan.   We caught another bus into the city of Amman and needed a taxi to get us to the missionary housing where we would be staying.  Because people mostly speak Arabic, it is very hard to communicate with cab drivers.  Before leaving, a friend had given us a note with the words in Arabic of where we needed to go.  All we had to do was hand the note to the cab driver and we were set.  Unfortunately, there was a problem.

As we approached Amman on the bus, I began to look for the note.  Nope, not in that pocket.  Maybe it’s in my backpack.  Okay, maybe my friend has it.  Oops!  We didn’t have it!  We were able to get a cab and we began to try in the very little Arabic we knew to tell this poor man where we needed to go. It was ugly!  It was like a couple of three year olds trying to explain trigonometry – we just weren’t up to it.  After a while, we realized the driver wanted us to point which way to go, either right, left or straight ahead.  Okay, but we didn’t know the way.  We searched the surrounding buildings for something that looked familiar, but no luck.  After about an hour of driving around, suddenly we saw it.  In front of us was a school we recognized.  We gave hand directions the rest of the way and finally ended up at our destination.  How much easier if our friend from Amman had been with on the ride?  He would have known how to talk to the driver in Arabic.  He could have told him the way or shown him the way.

Every trip is best with an expert guide, someone who fully and completely knows the way.  Life is no different!  We need an expert guide and God is waiting for us to ask.  He knows the way, He created the way, HE IS THE WAY!  How often do we wander through life like tourists who don’t speak the language?  God is waiting to show us the way.  All we need to do is trust Him, lean on Him and acknowledge Him.   All of these things can be summed up by this -- walk with Him.  Walk with God and you’ll always know the way!  And besides, He always speaks the language.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Soak It Up

Who is like you, O Lord? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glory working wonders. Exodus 15:11

I love the summer time. Everything is beautiful. The beach is my favorite place on earth, I go there as often as I can. Whenever I’m there I really see God’s beauty in His creation. Just watching the waves come in and out, with the sun over the horizon. I really draw closer to the Lord when I’m on the beach.

We take so much for granted. The beauty around us on a daily basis. We are always complaining that we never have time to relax and take it all in. The real problem is we don’t take the time. We get so caught up in every day things, that we don’t take the time to look around us and thank God for His amazing creation. Even when we are in the car driving we have a cell phone to our ear, and the radio turned up as loud as possible. God made this beautiful world for us to live on and to enjoy. He shines the most through His creation. Everything He has made works together perfectly. The ocean with all its beauty is world of its own. And every creature under the water has a purpose. Every person has a purpose on this earth and that is to glorify the Lord of all creation. Days go by too fast, we need to take time to enjoy the wonders the Lord has created. One day this week set aside time to watch the sunset. A sunset lasts about 15 minutes. Take that time to glorify the Maker of all.

Soak it people! Take time to take it all in!

[Soldier4Christ]

  Serpents or Gentleness

I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore, be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Matthew 10:16

Have you ever been in a situation where you were taken advantage of and were left with that sick, 'why did I do that' feeling inside?  Or, maybe you were disappointed with yourself for being so gullible and perhaps even felt some anger inside.  Well, the Bible has a surefire solution to this all too common situation we sometimes find ourselves in.  It is called wisdom, and it is given to us in good measure.

The verse tells us that we are to be 'wise as serpents'.  Does this mean we are literally supposed to be like a snake and go around biting people who might want to take advantage of  or cause harm to us?  The answer is no, at least not in a literal sense.  A snake knows when to proceed or not based on the 'vibrations' it feels by activity around it.  It knows when to move ahead, stay put, or back away to a safer location.  It usually does this without causing harm to anything.

So also, as the snake, Christians should be aware of what is going on around them in the world.  We have been provided with wisdom, the equivalency of the snakes "vibration radar', to 'feel out' a given situation wisely and act accordingly.  As the second part of the verse instructs us, we should do this with a gentle spirit.  As Proverbs 15:1 tells us "A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger." 

In any given situation, especially when sharing the Gospel with unbelievers, we always want to leave the door open to return at a time when the individual might be more willing to hearing what we have to say.  So, just as Jesus did, use your gifts, talents and opportunities wisely, while at the same time, be aware of using gentleness to either defuse or proceed in a given situation.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Make a Stand

Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12

Did you know that you are not of this world? What?! Are you an alien? Well, sort of. When you are fully walking with Jesus, you will not blend into this world. You are suppose to stand out from among the world and be different.

I challenged a group of youth once in this area. I asked them if they were on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict them? Or would they fall into the category that they love the Lord in their heart, but they don't want to "offend" anyone by talking about Him? I could tell I was getting through to some because their eyes were rivoted to me, as if the light bulb was finally going on in their heads. But the others, well, let's just say "the deer in the head lights" look was more what was happening!

I heard a few days later what a couple of guys decided to do to make a difference, to cause a wave and to let the evidence of Christ be clear. They went to the high school for a whole school day with signs on the front of their shirts saying, "I'm a Christian" and on the back, "Ask me if you want to know more". WOW! That was some boldness! They knew they were opening themselves up for ridicule from other students and possibly some embarrassment, but they took a stand anyway!

Let's face it - youth listen to youth. What are you saying lately that people listen to? What stand are you making? Are their people around you who are hurting and angry and need to find their way into the arms of Jesus? Don't look around for someone else to take the stand and make a difference! Pray and ask God to give you the words to speak to people. He knows exactly what will work for each and every one of us.

[Soldier4Christ]

  The Power of a Word

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.  The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. Psalm 19:7

Growing up there was one phrase that I hated to hear from my mom and dad.  It was worse than NO, EAT YOUR VEGETABLES or even STOP HITTING YOUR SISTER! The phrase was, “Because I said so!”  There was something about that phrase that caused every fiber of my kid-being to want to revolt.  The reason?  Authority!  What I was really rebelling against was not my parent’s right to speak or even their desire to end the discussion.  I was rebelling against the authority that came with “because I said so.”

Authority is a funny thing.  We want to have it, we don’t even mind to give it. But we sure hate to be under it.  Truth is we can’t avoid it!  Every citizen of the US is under the authority of the government.  If we’re in school, we’re under the authority of teachers or professors.  And the kid of every parent is under the authority of their parents, even when they’re “all grown up.” 

The authority of God is found in His Word.  The Bible is not words about God, they are the words OF God.  And therefore, they carry his authority.   There is power in the Word of God.  It does things.  The passage above tells us that the Word revives our soul – that’s pretty cool!  It also makes wise the simple – I need a lot of that, I’m pretty simple.  Truth is the Word of God transforms.  Do you need a little transforming in your life?  Seek the truth of God’s Word, thirst for it, love it, soak it in.  It will transform your life!  And if that isn’t enough, do it because I said so!  Just kidding!

[Soldier4Christ]

  Life is a Rollercoaster

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose. Romans 8:28

This past week, my youth group went to Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio.  Personally, I love roller coasters and was very excited to ride all of them that we had time for.  The newest ride, Maverick, was a highlight for the entire group.  It had a really long wait, and looked relatively tame, but because it was new, we decided to ride it. 

Getting on the ride, I noticed there was a lot of extra protection; in fact, I don’t think I have ever been buckled in so tight on a coaster before.  I still had low expectations for the ride though.  When the roller coaster started, I can honestly say I was completely surprised.  Never in my life have I been on a ride that had so many unexpected twists and turns.  It felt very random, and only afterwards did I realize the comparisons between the Maverick and life.

Life throws so many twists and turns at you that you often don’t see coming.  Like on the Maverick, most don’t see the events coming and are unable to prepare themselves for what is to come.  No one can see the future; no one except God that is.  God will always make sure that no burden is too much for you to carry.  If things are looking down and it feels like you have just been through a corkscrew in life, you can always know that He is with you every moment of the day.  Life will always be a roller coaster, but with God, you can come out saying how you loved every moment of it, as I will say about the Maverick.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Don't Just Be a Dreamer, Be a Doer

For a dream comes through much activity, and a fool’s voice is known by his many words. Ecclesiastes 5:3

That scripture reminds me of a time when I was in High School, I loved Christian rock music, especially the sound of the electric guitar.  I told all of my friends and family about my dream to learn to play the guitar and rock the world. I even told them how I was going to accomplish this dream.  I was going to start a pet sitting service and take care of people’s pets for them and they would pay me.  I was going to save the money and pay for my own  lessons. 

But somehow things kept taking up all of my time like, hanging out with my friends to play video games,  going to the theater, watching my favorite t.v. shows, talking on the phone and school.  I hadn’t even gotten around to  advertising for a pet sitting service when about 6 months later I saw one of my cousins at the mall. He asked me how was the pet sitting service going and was I taking the guitar lessons yet. 

I was embarrassed to have to say I had not done either yet because I had been so busy but I was planning to real soon.

Not long after that I heard this scripture.  “For a dream comes through much activity, and a fool’s voice is known by his many words.” Ecclesiastes 5:3

It was then that I understood that just talking about my dream would not make it happen, and if I wanted it bad enough I would have to take action to make it happen. Because the Bible also says in Proverbs 14:23 “In all labor there is profit, but idle chatter leads only to poverty.”

Did I learn to play?  Yes.  I got a job with a local farm helping with their animals.  I did save a lot of my money...and yes, I did pay for my guitar lessons.  And I learned to play my favorite songs.

I hope you dare to dream big dreams..... but don’t just talk about them hoping to impress others... instead  practice the discipline of pursuing them.   

[Soldier4Christ]

  Clean Your Ears

My Sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27

The part I want to focus on in John 10:27 is “My Sheep hear my voice”. The question I want to ask is are you hearing the voice of God? Sometimes we can miss the voice of God simply because our ears are clogged. What is on your Ipod? What do you talk about on the phone with your friend or even your boyfriend or girlfriend? Are the things we are listening to preventing us from hearing from God? Some of us go in the wrong direction simply because we don’t hear God’s directions.

There is too much noise or voices that we are listening to that cause us not to hear from our heavenly father. We are caught up in a he say or she say conversation. We are caught up with the latest R&B artist or Rap artist. What are you spending most of your time doing? What is the thing that you listen to the most through your daily life? How is your relationship with God? Are you in constant communication with God? When God calls your name, will you be able to answer and know that it is God?

Some of us even now are trying to decide what college to go to. You have several acceptance letters, but you don’t know what school to go to. God wants to direct you but he is saying you can’t hear Me. You have no time for Me. He desires to show you the way but it is hard to get in contact with you. You are always on the phone. You are always hanging out. You are always doing what you want to do. God wants to speak with you today. He misses you. Some of you will have to spend less time on the phone. Some of you have to spend less time on the computer. Some of you have to spend less time with your friends or your boyfriend or girlfriend. God wants your time.

Here’s another verse I want to share with you and this is my favorite verse in the bible. Isaiah 55:8 says “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord”. God is getting ready to change the course of some people’s lives. Some of you have in mind what you want to be. God will change your course because your thoughts are not his and your way is not his. Some of you God will call you to the mission field. God is calling you to preach the word of God. God wants to speak to you today. He wants to share and commune with you.

I challenge you today to spend more time with God. Get away from the negative things or conversations. Get to a place where you can hear God clearly. You must daily clean your ears for you don’t want to go in the wrong direction. God bless you my brothers and my sisters.

[Soldier4Christ]

  A Woman From India

“If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.”     Isaiah 7:9

In our neighborhood, there is an Indian woman (like from India) that I see walking all the time.  As I’m writing this she just passed by the window.  Given her current rate of walking and her normal round-the-block frequency, I would estimate to see her again sometime around September.  As my uncle would say, “She could lose a foot race to a 1-legged centipede.”  I know he’s kind of weird.  Anyway, back to my story.

I first noticed this woman about 3 months ago as she went for her evening walk.  I was mowing the yard and had just started when she went by.  About 45 minutes later, there she was again.   And we don’t have that big of a block.  But what she gives up in speed she definitely makes up for in consistency.  Every night, several times around the block.  Good thing it’s summer or she would need a flashlight around lap two!

Our Christian walk is to be like that – slow and steady!  Not a burst of speed right out of the blocks and then falling behind.  This verse points to the consistency of standing firm.  Little by little, step by step, keep moving forward.  I’m not really wired for that.  I want big explosions of growth. Somehow, that doesn’t happen.  Wherever you may be, keep moving forward.  Stand firm and ease forward.  Wow, I must be a really slow typist, here comes the Indian woman again!

[Soldier4Christ]

  Eyes Open Wide

I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessings and cursing; therefore CHOOSE LIFE, that both you and your descendants may live…. Deuteronomy 30:19

There’s a song by Switchfoot that grabs my heart and squeezes it every single time I hear it. The beginning goes;

“Yesterday is a wrinkle on your forehead
Yesterday is a promise that you’ve broken
Don’t close your eyes, don’t close your eyes
This is your life, and today is all you’ve got now.
And today is all you’ll ever have. Don’t close your eyes.
This is your life, are you who you want to be?”

When I hear that song, I am so aware of my short comings! I have closed my eyes for a portion of my life, and I can NEVER get those days back! Am I living the life I’ve always dreamed of or am I still hiding some where with my eyes closed, afraid to take a stand or make a difference? Then I realize that God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind! (2 Timothy 1:7) Why am I cowering? What am I waiting for? God is looking for a people who will take a stand and spread the Good News! And eventually when I get to heaven, I’m going to have to account for what I did and didn’t do.

Are you who you want to be? Do you know in your heart that God made you for so much more than what you are doing? Stop waiting! Don’t close your eyes, draw near to God and ask Him, “Who do you want me to be?” Live a life of no regrets, with your eyes open wide!

[Soldier4Christ]

TEMPTATION

TEMPTATION
“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us
from evil:” MAT 6:13

Upon our first reading of this petition, "And
lead us not into temptation..." immediately there
seems to be a contradiction with JAM 1:13-14. So
let's see where the perfect harmony is. JAM
1:13-14 says "Let no man say when he is tempted,
I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted
with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every
man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own
lust, and enticed." Stop and think about this.
Upon the first glance does this not raise the
question, why did Jesus teach us to pray, "lead
us not into temptation"?

We may not take from the words of our text that
God does tempt us or lead us into temptation,
"for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither
tempteth he any man." This is not a contradiction
to our text.

Jesus often used a negative approach to teach a
principle; a negative approach is used in our
text. Let's look at a few of the many Scriptures
to see how Jesus used a negative approach rather
than a positive approach in His teachings. For
instance, JOH 6:37 says, "All that the Father
giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh
to me I will in no wise cast out." This is a
negative approach. He could have said this in a
positive sense by saying, "and him that cometh to
me I will bring into My Kingdom."

Another example of the use of such negative
expression is found in MAR 9:1, "And he said unto
them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some
of them that stand here, which shall not taste of
death, till they have seen the kingdom of God
come with power." In a positive sense, Jesus
actually said "There are some that stand here,
who shall remain alive until they have seen the
kingdom of God come with power."

Notice, this is what the Lord Jesus is doing in
the Lord's Prayer in "lead us not into
temptation." The teachings of Jesus often teach a
truth through the use of negative expressions.

It is very important that we understand the
meaning of the word temptation as found in our
text; it is taken from the Greek word peirasmos
which has two very distinct meanings. 1. "A
putting to proof by experiment of good." 2. "An
experience of evil solicitation." The English
word also has these two meanings. The first
meaning is testing or trying our faith by an
experiment for good.

We must understand what the Lord is saying. It is
exactly what we read in JAM 1:2, "My brethren,
count it all joy when ye fall into divers
temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of
your faith worketh patience." The word temptation
as used in our text must be understood to mean "A
putting to proof by experiment of good." These
trials are not an enticement to evil! Jesus is
teaching us to ask the Lord not to put us through
trials that are stronger than our faith, but to
give us faith which is stronger than the trial.

See what this is doing. The second expression
qualifies this meaning. "But deliver us from
evil" is asking the Lord to spare us and keep us
from any evil inclinations of our own heart.

Scripture uses the word temptation also to mean
"An experience of evil solicitation." That is
what we read in JAM 1:13-14, "Let no man say when
he is tempted [when he has been solicited into
evil], I am tempted of God: for God cannot be
tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away
of his own lust, and enticed." The temptations to
evil are only from being enticed by our own
lusts. This is covered in the second portion of
our text, "but deliver us from evil."

Another Scriptural reference which uses the word
tempted as "A putting to proof by experiment of
good," is the case of Abraham. GEN 22:1 says,
"And it came to pass after these things, that God
did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham:
and he said, Behold, here I am." God put Abraham
to a trial of his faith for his own good; that is
not the same as enticing him with evil. This
experiment of good was to prove Abraham's
obedience, or righteousness.

What was the fruit of Abraham's trial of faith?
GEN 22:12 tells us of the conclusion of the
matter, "And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the
lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now
I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast
not withheld thy son, thine only son from me."
The trial of Abraham's faith was to see if he
would obey and to know he truly had a holy
reverence for the will of God. That is the
meaning of "God did tempt Abraham." It teaches us
that God tried his faith, drew him into this
trial of faith for his own good, "for now I know
that thou fearest God."

Our text says "Lead us not into temptation," but
it goes on to say, "but deliver us from evil." On
the positive side it means "deliver us from the
temptations of Satan and sin." God would not lead
us into temptation, but this Scripture is
teaching us to ask and beg that we be delivered
from the power of Satan and our own evil heart.

GAL 5:17 says "For the flesh lusteth against the
Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and
these are contrary the one to the other: so that
ye cannot [`God forbid,' as it is in the
original], do the things that ye would." The Holy
Spirit, by His restraining grace forbids us from
doing the things that we would, but our text
teaches us that we must ask for this restraining
grace.

God allowed Job to be tempted by Satan. This was
"An experience of evil solicitation," as it is
recorded in JOB 2:6, "And the LORD said unto
Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his
life." The Lord placed Job in the hand of Satan,
and Job's faith was tried when his friends,
brothers and sisters turned against him. His own
wife came and tempted him to curse God! "Then
said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain
thine integrity? curse God, and die," JOB 2:9.

However, Satan was not able to overthrow Job; he
was not able to lead him into temptation. Job
answered, "Thou speakest as one of the foolish
women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at
the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?
In all this did not Job sin with his lips," JOB
2:10. Job was tempted, but Satan was not able to
lead him into yielding to it. The real substance
of our text is that God will deliver us from the
temptations of Satan and sin.  Amen.

I hoped that in some favoured hour
At once He’s answer my request;
And, by His love’s constraining pow’r
Subdue my sins, and give me rest.

Instead of this, He made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart,
And let the angry pow’rs of hell
Assault my soul in ev’ry part.

“Lord, why is this?”  I trembling cried,
“These inward trials I employ,
From self and pride to set thee free,
And break thy schemes of earthly joy,
That thou may’st seek thy all in Me.”
John Newton, 1725-1807 alt.

[Soldier4Christ]

SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

"But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of
righteousness
arise with healing in his wings," MAL 4:2.

The sun is used in Scripture as a type of Christ.
ISA 30:26 compares the Old Testament ceremonies
to "The light of the moon" and the coming of
Christ to "...the light of the sun [which] shall
be sevenfold, as the light of seven days." To
understand Christ as the "Sun of righteousness",
we must consider the three main qualities of the
sun. They are light, warmth and gravitation.

REV 21:23 teaches us that the "glory of God,"
which is the righteousness of Christ, shall
lighten the heavens for all eternity. The
righteousness of the saints, which is "Christ in
you," COL 1:27, shall lighten the world.

Jesus said in MAT 5:14- 16, "Ye are the light of
the world...Let your light so shine before men,
that they may see your good works, and glorify
your Father which is in heaven."

God's servants who proclaim the gospel are His
instruments of light. Jesus told Paul, "I have
set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou
shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the
earth," ACT 13:47.

The apostle Paul taught that the righteousness of
the saints was the light of the world in PHI
2:15. "That ye may be blameless and harmless, the
sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a
crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine
as lights in the world."

The warmth of the "Sun of righteousness" was the
healing of the nations. Our text says, "But unto
you that fear my name shall the Sun of
righteousness arise with healing in his wings."
The warmth of the sun heals the barrenness of
winter.

SON 2:10-13 says, "My beloved spake, and said
unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come
away. For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is
over and gone; [As the Spirit of Christ, i.e.,
'The Sun of righteousness' arises, the little
plants of the fruits of the Spirit begin to
spring up everywhere.] The flowers appear on the
earth; the time of the singing of birds is come,
and the voice of the turtle is heard in our
land...Arise, my love, my fair one, and come
away."

Spiritual growth requires us to Rise up "and come
away" from all coldness, spiritual deadness,
harshness and hardness of heart.

It has been established scientifically that the
sun's gravitation holds the planets in their
paths. This is the force that holds the universe
together. If gravitation could be turned off, the
universe would come apart. The righteousness of
Christ is the gravitation that draws the
spiritual universe together.

Jesus said in JOH 12:32, "And I, if I be lifted
up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
This he said, signifying what death he should
die." This self-sacrificial death that Christ
died is the gravitation whereby "God was in
Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not
imputing their trespasses unto them," 2CO 5:19.

This self-sacrificial love of Christ in our human
nature is gravitation which drew the Father into
oneness with His church by fulfilling the purpose
of His creation, PHI 2:8-11.

Jesus said in MAT 5:45-48 that the Father,
"...maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the
good." His gospel, "...shall be preached in all
the world for a witness unto all nations," MAT
24:14.

The Spiritual universe bathes in the light and
warmth of the Lord Jesus Christ, and it is bound
into oneness with the Father by the gravitation
of this "Sun of righteousness". Amen.

Jehovah is my Sun;
He shines into my heart;
Though clouds do often interpose,
My Sun shall not depart.

This Sun has warmed my soul,
When chilled by sin and death;
Its beams have shone with strength and heat,
And made me strong in faith.

Whatever be my frame,
My Sun no change can know;
Though I am dark, he still remains
My light and glory too.

Nor death, nor sin, nor hell,
Shall make him cease to shine;
And, though I cannot always feel
His beams, he’s ever mine.

’Tis no precarious light
That shines on Zion’s hill;
’Tis God, essential light itself,
And therefore cannot fail.

[Soldier4Christ]

EVEN NOW"

But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt
ask of God, God will give it thee. JOH 11:22

 The ways of the Lord are often against all human
reasoning. We read in JOH 11:3-4 that Lazarus's
sisters sent unto Jesus saying, "Lord, behold, he
whom thou lovest is sick. 4) When Jesus heard
that, he said, This sickness is not unto death,
but for the glory of God, that the Son of God
might be glorified thereby."

It was after Lazarus was dead that Martha's faith
was brought to where she could say, "But I know,
that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God,
God will give it thee."

Scripture gives us many examples of how faith was
tried in the face of human impossibilities. In
MAT 15:22-28 we have the history of the woman of
Canaan who came crying to Jesus in behalf of her
daughter that was grieviously vexed.

Her first experience was that, "He answered her
not a word. And his disciples came and besought
him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after
us." When Jesus did answer her, He said, "I am
not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of
Israel."

This seemed to be against all human reasoning for
her to continue seeking Jesus, because she was
not of the house of Israel. She did not give up,
because her case was so urgent. "Even now," in
the face of all this discouragement we read,
"Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord,
help me." She was in distress and could not give
up; but see what Jesus answered Her, "It is not
meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it
to dogs."

Oh, beloved, "even now," she could not be put
off! See what a humble plea she brought before
her Saviour, "Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of
the crumbs which fall from their masters' table."
"Even now," after she had been told by the
disciples to go away and Jesus had so discouraged
her these three times, see how that true living
faith prevailed.

"Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman,
great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou
wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that
very hour."

There is such a distinction between true living
faith and human reasoning. The prophet Elijah was
strong in faith when He stood all alone to face
the King and the armies of Isreal upon mount
Carmel and prayed, "Hear me, O LORD, hear me,
that this people may know that thou art the LORD
God, and that thou hast turned their heart back
again. Then the fire of the LORD fell, and
consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and
the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water
that was in the trench," 1 Ki 18:37-38.

It was just the next day that Elijah's faith was
not so strong, and he was using human reasoning.
We read in 1KI 19:4 "But he himself went a day's
journey into the wilderness, and came and sat
down under a juniper tree: and he requested for
himself that he might die; and said, It is
enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am
not better than my fathers."

The day before Elijah had faith to face the King
and all the armies of Israel, and now he was
fleeing from the voice of a woman. Amen.

Oh, beloved it is such a blessing when we can
sing:

Recalling days when faith was bright,
When songs of gladness filled my night,
I pondered o'er my grievous woes
And searching questioning arose:
Will God cast off, and nevermore
His favor to my soul restore?
 
To God will I direct my prayer,
And He will make my needs His care;
I trust Him still, though in my grief
No answer yet has brought relief;
With hands stretched out through all the night,
Uncomforted I sought for light.

[Soldier4Christ]

AND

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us
from evil:” MAT 6:13

The word temptation deserves a very close look
and more understanding than we often give it.
Notice how James addresses the issue of
temptation in JAM 1:1-3, "James, a servant of God
and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve
tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. [Now
notice the Apostle's very first item of address.]
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into
divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying
of your faith worketh patience." So temptations
are for the trying of faith to work patience in
our heart, but the prayer the Lord Jesus teaches
us says, "lead us not into temptation..."

We must understand the petition Jesus is teaching
us. You see, we can be tempted without yielding
to temptation. Yielding is sin. Christ was
tempted; it is not sin to be tempted, but
yielding is sin.

Our text says, "And lead us not into
temptation..." We want the Lord to keep us from
yielding or entering into temptation. There is a
difference between being tempted and yielding to
temptations. In other words, on the pathway of
our lives, we find the Lord gives us many trials
of faith because "Knowing this, that the trying
of your faith worketh patience." The Lord Jesus
was tempted, but He never yielded or entered into
temptation. The message is: "And lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from evil."

The sixth petition in the Lord's Prayer also
begins with the word AND. "And lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from evil." The Lord
does not have any frivolous words in this prayer
or any of His messages to us. All of His words
have meaning, so what is meant by this word and?
The little connecting word and teaches us another
very valuable lesson that we may not overlook. We
cannot separate justification from
sanctification. Justification is to be delivered
from the penalty of sin which is paid for by
Christ. Sanctification is to be delivered from
the pollution of sin.

The preceding petition, "And forgive us our
debts, as we forgive our debtors," MAT 6:12,
speaks of our justification. Then the very next
verse says, "And lead us not into temptation, but
deliver us from evil," which deals with the work
of sanctification within our hearts. That
connecting word teaches us that we cannot plead
the blood of Christ, claiming we have been saved
with our sins pardoned, and then continues to
walk in sin.

We must understand that throughout the gospel the
teaching is that repentance comes before pardon.
In the last chapter of Luke, as Christ was
sending forth His disciples into their ministry,
Jesus gave them their commission. The Lord Jesus
said in LUK 24:46-47, "Thus it is written, and
thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise
from the dead the third day: And that repentance
and remission of sins should be preached in his
name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem."

Take notice that the preaching of repentance
comes before the preaching of the remission of
sins. MAR 1:4 teaches, "...repentance for the
remission of sins." We may not get those two
priorities mixed. We cannot separate the two; we
cannot have pardon without sanctification. That
connecting word and teaches us there is no
separation between justification and
sanctification.

The fifth petition asks for forgiveness of sin;
that's our justification. The sixth petition
speaks about the daily living of the Christian
life, or our sanctification. Jesus is teaching us
that when we ask for the pardon of our sin, in
the same breath, we are asking for
sanctification. We are asking for the Lord to
keep us from yielding to temptation and to keep
us from all evil.

Any right understanding of what Jesus Christ paid
as the penalty for sin is always connected with a
true hatred for sin. If we are coming to the Lord
Jesus to ask for pardon, if we understand what
that pardon cost, then we would hate the sin that
brought about the penalty which He paid. This is
why we cannot separate the two; justification and
sanctification are always connected with that
little word and. They cannot be separated. Amen.

Guide me, O Saviour, with Thy hand,
And so control my thoughts and deeds,
That I may tread the path which leads
Right onward to the blessed land

Guard me, O Lord, that I may ne’er
Forsake the right, or do the wrong;
Against temptation make me strong,
And round me spread Thy shelt’ring care.

Bless me in every task, of Lord,
Begun, continued, done for Thee;
Fulfil Thy perfect work in me;
And Thine abounding grace afford.
William T. Matson, 1866