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Daily Devotions - Entries from January 2009

SunSundayJanJanuary25th2009 Job 41-42 - Matthew 16

Posted Sunday, January 25 2009 @ 12 AM byPhil Nelson Tagged No tags 0 comments Add comment

Morning: Job 41:9-10 (NIV)
9 Any hope of subduing him is false; the mere sight of him is overpowering.
10 No one is fierce enough to rouse him. Who then is able to stand against me?

“I will not do what God requires!” “I will do my own thing!” “I will not believe no matter what!” The list of open statements of rebellion against God goes on and on. Men somehow think they can do what they want without consequence, they can run their own lives and not be affected by this God who demands that they repent and believe the gospel. Somehow they imagine they are big enough or strong enough, if enough men stand with them in opposition to win.

Before you fall prey to this way of thinking let us hear again from God as he confronts Job in his demand to have all the questions answered. “If you cannot stand against the giant leviathan what makes you think you can prevail against me?”

How futile man’s effort will be seen in the end as they attempt to oppose God and his plans. They do not know that even in their rebellion they are being used of God to accomplish the plans of the Sovereign of the ages. NO one is able to prevent or thwart God’s purposes. Men will be used by God no matter what they think to accomplish the plans of our great Sovereign. When we read of men openly declaring their unbelief we can rest assured that even their open declaration will be used by God to accomplish his specific purposes.

God’s Word to Job was, “If men cower at the sight of Leviathan and cannot oppose him then do you see the folly of thinking they can stand in opposition to me and win?”
It is always a good thing to set our hearts to be on the side of righteousness and not evil, for righteousness will win out in the end.

Evening: Matthew 16:24-25 (NIV)
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.

The mathematics of heaven does not add up on earth for most. You want to gain more, give more away. You want to be first seek to be the last, you want to be the greatest seek to be the servant of all, you want to have real riches sell what you have and give to the poor and your will have the riches of heaven.

How contradictory to our way of life. Is it any wonder so many have so much difficulty accepting the claims of Christ? These claims command us to live life in direct opposition to the things we have been taught by well meaning educators for most of our life.

Do you desire to discover real life with unending joy then you have to be willing to live life entirely different from now on. Give your life to the King and you will lose what life you had but you find the life you really want. The Apostle Paul helped us when he penned these words, “You are not your own you have been bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and spirit which are God’s.”

SatSaturdayJanJanuary24th2009 Job 38-40 - Matthew 15:21-39

Posted Saturday, January 24 2009 @ 12 AM byPhil Nelson Tagged No tags 0 comments Add comment

Morning: Job 38:16 (NIV)
16 "Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea or walked in the recesses of the deep?"

We have seen many men make their trek up the highest mountain above ground and stand on the top of the summit of Mt. Everest and experience the thrill of seeing on top of the world. These men are seen as heroes of a sort. But there is another sort of hero that we will perhaps never see, the hero who plunges to the depths of the ocean.

For most in the field of science they have said the trip to the bottom of the sea is considered by all means impossible because of the sheer water pressure that exists at such depths. An average size man walking on the face of the earth would be squashed to less than a soccer ball if he attempted to walk on the bottom of the ocean.

The pressure at the bottom of the ocean would crush a truck. So now we hear God asking Job, “Have you been to the bottom of the ocean?” The list of questions goes on for two chapters most of which leave Job speechless. These questions all designed by God to leave Job without any reply but silence.

So it is with us as well. We all have questions that we would like to have answered and we all have some complaints to launch against God but when we consider how little we know about anything we are pressed into silence. Let us therefore remain silent before God and seek to listen to His Word and obey His direction. He who made the universe and everything in it knows how to navigate around these troubled times.

Evening: Matthew 15:32-33 (NIV)
32 Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way."
33 His disciples answered, "Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?"

“Little is much if God is in it.” It is time to start assessing our resources with the eyes of faith and not sight. These times are difficult for all those who live by sight but they quite invigorating for those who chose rather to view all things through the eyes of faith.
Take a journey back to Galilee to the disciple’s predicament. Jesus had asked them to feed over 4,000 men not counting women and children with seven loaves of bread and three small fish. When presented with Jesus’ request they responded, “Where can we get such resources to feed such a crowd?”

They had quickly forgotten about the feeding of the 5,000 with even more resources than they now had. They doubted because they chose to look with human eyes on human sights. If they had only looked with heaven’s eyes on eternal sights they would have seen the Infinite Bread of life standing before them. His bread is infinite in supply and this bread of heaven lives to meet every need presented to him.

Had they not just witnessed his ability to heal everyone who came to him? They had watched his inexhaustible energy flow out to thousands who came to him who were sick unto death but he healed every one of them that came, not a one was turned away due to lack of food.

Perhaps you find yourself in hard circumstances this evening. Why not look away to the bread of heaven and seek him to meet your needs. Give him what you have and watch him multiply it for the masses. I think it is time to start baking bread for the hungry.

FriFridayJanJanuary23rd2009 Job 36-37 - Matthew 15:1-20

Posted Friday, January 23 2009 @ 3 PM byPhil Nelson Tagged No tags 0 comments Add comment

Morning: Job 36:10-12 (NIV)
10 He makes them listen to correction and commands them to repent of their evil.
11 If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment. 12 But if they do not listen, they will perish by the sword and die without knowledge.

Often men and women think such thoughts as, “I just cannot bring myself to repent,” or “It is too hard for me to confess my sins and turn from my wicked way.” If they could only believe the Word of God to be true they would have less trouble in their turning from sin and confessing.

Far too many think that God desires to ruin their lives so they keep a safe distance from him and his commands all the while thinking they are on the track to find life and peace and prosperity. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Scriptures remind us often that there is a way that seems right but the ends thereof are the ways of death.

Can you believe that God desires to bless you and not to harm you? Then turn from your sin and obey His Word of correction. God is actively pursuing you to lead you to repentance so that it might go well with you the rest of your life. There are far too many in the church who think the life of holiness is a life of drudgery and boredom.
Decide this morning to live to the fullest and confess your need for God and you will find a road that will lead you to greater joy than the wide road which leads to destruction.

Evening: Matthew 15:8-9 (NIV)
8 "'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.
9 They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.'"

How deep is your love for God at present? Is it only lip service, or does your faith spring out of the deep well of assurance you have found in the meditation on the Word of God? Far too many in our day speak the faith but never get close to living the faith and as a result many who watch those who profess faith in Christ reach the conclusion that faith does not make a difference in life, it is merely more verbiage and sound than it is real life change.

How often has your worship been empty ritual? You go and sit to hear and sing and rise to leave unchanged. You open the hymnal and the Bible but seldom open your heart to receive God’s truth.

Let us not be among those who it was said that their worship was in vain. Let us consider how we might give ourselves to real life changing worship as we pursue this God who has given us his word.

ThuThursdayJanJanuary22nd2009 Job 34-35 - Matthew 14:22-36

Posted Thursday, January 22 2009 @ 1 PM byPhil Nelson Tagged No tags 0 comments Add comment

Morning: Job 35:1-3 (NIV)
1 Then Elihu said:
2 "Do you think this is just? You say, 'I will be cleared by God.'
3 Yet you ask him, 'What profit is it to me, and what do I gain by not sinning?'

What hard words to be accused of speaking! To say to all in our hearing that it is vain to serve the Lord, that to live a life of holiness is not worth it paints a picture that brings God into dishonor before men. Such talk brings with it its own judgment. Speak no evil of the Creator for you do not now as you should. How can you tell what dangers have been averted by obeying the commands of God, though things may not be as you would like them they could have been far worse and who are you to accuse God of not taking care of you in you seeking to live for him.

O how quick we are to judge God as being unfair or unloving when we make our judgments based only on what our eyes can see. For us to accuse God of injustice we must profess to have all knowledge thereby making us rivals with God himself. What arrogant brashness!

Are things going well with you at present then praise your God who has blessed you beyond measure. Are you facing a hard and difficult time at present? Then praise your God who has delivered you from the wages of sin and left you only with the shadow of the consequence of sin. You are not suffering in the pains of eternal judgment, you only have to endure this temporal globe for a little while longer and then you will be carried off to enjoy the pleasures of God for eternity. Is this not enough evidence of God’s grace to you to keep you rejoicing no matter what happens every day?

Evening: Matthew 14:30-31 (NIV)
30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"

We are called to live by faith not by sight but this may have been too much too early in Peter’s walk with Christ to be tested in this way. Here is the picture, the boat is almost ready to capsize due to the gale force winds coming against her and now Peter in his great courage is out of the boat and walking toward Jesus. He sees the wind and the waves and starts to sink and cries out, “Lord save me!”

Jesus immediately reaches out his hand and catches peter but not before he rebukes him with these words, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” I can imagine Peter thinking something like the following, “Doubt, what do you mean doubt. First you kick us out in our boat and send us into the storm and you go the other way so you can pray. Now you come to me when I am almost drowning and ask me why I doubted? Look around Jesus there is plenty of evidence to show that you are not in charge here like you claim to be!”

Before the thoughts had even coursed through Peter’s mind Jesus lifts Peter up and speaks to the storm and it is stilled instantly, not even a ripple on the lake after his voice speaks. Now I can hear Jesus telling Peter, “If you will only learn to trust me, there is no storm that is greater than my power to bring peace to your life. Peter I think you have some more homework to do on this topic.”

Are you currently sinking beneath waves of doubt and despair? Look away and up to your Savior, he is coming to you at this moment to speak peace to your storm. Why not take Peter’s example and cry out to him right now, “Lord save me!” Go ahead see if He will answer, take the risk.

WedWednesdayJanJanuary21st2009 Job 32-33 - Matthew 14:1-2

Posted Wednesday, January 21 2009 @ 12 AM byPhil Nelson Tagged No tags 0 comments Add comment

Job 32-33 - Matthew 14:1-21
Morning: Job 32:5 (NIV)
5 But when he saw that the three men had nothing more to say, his anger was aroused.

What a representative of grace this Elihu was. The three older friends of Job had all condemned Job because they accused him of some act of wickedness, though they could not say what. They had tried all their theologizing and nothing hit the mark. They had spoken many words but it only multiplied their sin. Now their words like Job’s had come to an end.

When all the words and speeches of man are brought to an end and man is left with nothing else to say, this is the time for God to speak. So as God’s representative Elihu comes to the plate with great words of truth for all to hear.

The first thing we see in Elihu’s response is his anger toward Job’s friends. They had launched broadside attacks on Job’s character without clearly revealing the specific sins for which they indicted him. It is one thing to be corrected for sins committed and pointed to the cross, it is quite another to be broadsided with accusations for sins not committed.

Something else we can glean from these words is that God will always have the last word. You may argue for your innocence and others may seek to provide you guidance from their own words but when it is all said and done there is only one place to go to find real answers, God himself.

Make it your goal to be silent and wait for God to speak for you have no words that can equal His, so sit there in silence and wait for Him to speak.

Evening: Matthew 14:1-2 (NIV)
1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, 2 and he said to his attendants, "This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him."

Jesus had been in the public already working his miracles but notice how many still did not believe who he was. The reports made it back to Herod but the reports only mentioned the miracles they did not carry the message that God has now come to earth. Herod only concluded from the reports that John the Baptist had risen from the dead. How true to form the human nature is. When man is presented with the evidence of the miracles they cannot believe in what the miracles point to without divine assistance. The best man can do without the Spirit’s enabling is to reach wrong conclusions.

This is why Jesus tells us that unless the Spirit draws a person they cannot come to him. Man is so fallen that even given all the evidence he is powerless to reach the right conclusion and find his way to Christ. Are you having a hard time believing in Christ for whatever reason? Take a moment and cry out to God for his Spirit’s aid in believing. Do not depend on your own intellect or willpower they are unable to breathe life into you, only God can do this work.

The desire to see miracles in order to believe will only make your faith weak and ineffectual. This is why Jesus says a wicked and perverse generation seeks after a sign, they only want to be entertained they do not want to be transformed.

TueTuesdayJanJanuary20th2009 Job 30-31; Matt 13:31-58

Posted Tuesday, January 20 2009 @ 1 PM byPhil Nelson Tagged No tags 0 comments Add comment

Morning: Job 31:40 (NIV)
The words of Job are ended.

In such a succinct way we see the end of every man born of woman. Though Job was a righteous man in many ways there was an end to his argument. He complained that all had gone wrong with him, even though he had lived a morally upright life. Perhaps he had in many ways and then things that came his way were not due directly to his specific sin, but he nonetheless lived in a fallen world and to live in a fallen world meant that suffering would find its way to his doorstep.

Job responds to the trials in faith that had many questions that remained unanswered. He poured out his complaint to God and his friends overheard his complaints and tried to provide an answer for them but there was no answer, only silence. So Job gave his last list of complaints to God, he poured out his last list of questions and then he was silent.

Much can be seen in these last words, “The words of Job are ended.” Every person who has ever lived has had to face hard times and difficult circumstances that led them to complain to God about something. Many think they have a right to a good life, whatever that is. When the good life that remains forever undefined does not come or is taken away from them the complaints rise to God, like smoke from a hot chimney.

We can learn something very important in the way that God responds to Job. For the first thirty one chapters of Job God does not say a word. Job’s friends try to speak to make sense of it all but it is interesting that God does not enter into the discussion, he merely stands back and watches and listens to his creatures attempting to make sense of their fallen world. NO word, no intervention just an active observer, God watches over the affairs of men. Learn a lesson in this, if God is not speaking it is always a good idea to be quiet lest we speak about that which we do not know.

Evening: Matthew 13:44-46 (NIV)
44 "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

I heard a saint of old complain that theirs was a difficult life and hard. When I considered their life, I noticed that there was an absence of what should have been most prominent. There was no joy, no perfect contentment, and no reservoir of pleasure to be had in their walk with God. This certainly is not what our God intended for us.

When you consider this text this evening what do we see? Though the kingdom cost this merchant all he had, though he lost everything to obtain the treasure he did not consider his cost anything at all. How could he get this position in life? He held nothing back in his obtaining the treasure.

How often it is when persons investigate the life of faith they test the waters by merely wading out only so far. And even as they are wading out they are still tethered to the shore just in case they get in over their heads. This is precisely the reason so many never venture out into the deep water of God’s activity, they are still afraid that they might lose something of value, like perhaps their life, so they cling to things of this world thinking somehow they can still enjoy the pleasure of God.

This merchant understood that to purchase this priceless treasure it would cost him everything. If he did not at once sell all he had and make this purchase he would lose out on great joy. He knew what he had before, he had made many purchases but this one surpassed them all so he made the leap. He untied his tether to the shore of this world and he jumped in and got caught up in the sheer joy of being carried away by the waves of God’s immeasurable grace.

So if you are still tied the things of this life cut the strings, cast off into the deep of God’s immeasurable joys and you will not regret it.

SunSundayJanJanuary11th2009 Job 5-7; Matthew 8:18-34

Posted Sunday, January 11 2009 @ 12 AM byPhil Nelson Tagged No tags 0 comments Add comment

Morning: Job 5:8-9 (NIV)
8 "But if it were I, I would appeal to God; I would lay my cause before him.
9 He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.

One of Job’s friends is giving great advice but not taking his own. Is it possible for God to use a person who knows the Word but is not living as he should to give you good counsel? Yes it is. We have this with Job and his friends. This is great counsel. Make your appeal before God and lay your request before him. He still performs wonders that cannot be fathomed and miracles that cannot be counted.”

Do not disdain counsel from where ever it comes. The best Word from God may come from a very disobedient follower of Christ. God will not waste anything as far as it pertains to leading you to trust in Him. Job demonstrated his trust in God even while his friends gave him counsel. He listened and wrestled and listened and wrestled. He used all that God allowed in his life to strengthen his walk with God.

May you be as Job today as you listen to the preaching of God’s Word and the teaching that comes from the mouths of those who teach. Do not look at their imperfections but rather marvel that God can use such vessels for His glory and your good.

Evening: Matthew 8:18-22 (NIV)
18 When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake.
19 Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go."
20 Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."
21 Another disciple said to him, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."
22 But Jesus told him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead."

Jesus has a knack for making those who express a desire to follow Him to suddenly lose interest. Why does he do this so often with those who desire to follow Him? To get them to examine their motives. Are you sure you really want to follow?

If you do then here is what you can expect, hardship, difficulty, trials and afflictions. This is not going to be easy, in fact it will call you to abandon most of the things and relationships you have. It will call you to value Christ and his relationship over every other relationship in the world.

When Christ calls a man to follow it is not something they can decide later, the call comes and those who desire to know Christ must leave everything else behind and follow. What is in your life at present that needs to be abandoned for the sake of Christ and His call on your life? Go ahead and let it go so you can know more of Christ and His glory and pleasure.

SatSaturdayJanJanuary10th2009 Job 3-4; Matthew 8:1-17

Posted Saturday, January 10 2009 @ 12 AM byPhil Nelson Tagged No tags 0 comments Add comment

Morning: Job 3:23-26 (NIV)
23 Why is life given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in?
24 For sighing comes to me instead of food; my groans pour out like water.
25 What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me.
26 I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil."

Some would say Job sinned by these words. Perhaps, but we still see that God blesses Job at the end as he persevered through the hard times. There is something refreshing about this righteous man named Job. He tells it like it is in his life. Though he has questions that he cannot find an answer to he does not turn away from God, rather he turns to God and pours out his complaint and God hears it. How do we know that God heard his complaint? Because it is recorded in Holy Scripture.

Notice what happens as a result of Job’s complaint. God does not answer, instead he allows three of Job’s closest friends to pay him a visit and they would only add fuel to his parched soul. They did not bring words of comfort or relief they only added to his misery.

I was talking with someone the other day and they mentioned that they had asked God to ease their pain and they went on to state that the more they prayed for relief the more difficult things became. In fact this person commented that they were going to stop praying because all that ever happened was their life only got worse instead of better.

Now comes a question we must face in its stark reality. How do we follow God when things only get worse and it seems He is not listening? Notice that God does not answer any of Job’s questions or statements for quite some time. He turns up the heat in his trials instead of answering his questions. What is the possible reason for this?

What is God deepest desire for us and what is our greatest need? For us to know and love Christ with an undying love. How will he bring this about? By removing all the things that we thought brought us life and peace and rest. Can the things of this world ever bring us lasting contentment? Certainly not. So then we can begin to understand that God is being loving in his dealings with Job for through this long and painful ordeal Job will come to know God in a much deeper and more profound way than he ever had before.

So what? Are you facing some trial at present that is causing your faith to be shaken? Do not worry God is using this ordeal to draw you close so that you might savor the beauty and majesty of Christ which is your soul’s greatest pleasure.

Evening: Matthew 8:1-3 (NIV)
1 When he came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him.
2 A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean."
3 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately he was cured of his leprosy.

Being a leper in Jesus’ day was considered a hopeless case. Your were condemned to be estranged from all of humanity for the rest of your life. You could not have any physical contact with any other human. You were considered the worst of all possible outcasts.

Into this picture comes our Lord Jesus. When notice of his approach is given a leper hears of him drawing near and runs to Jesus falling at his feet and crying out, “Lord if you are willing you can heal me?” He does not doubt Jesus ability to heal, he only needs to know if he is willing. Once his willingness is established then there is hope.

Read these words with faith, “I am willing be clean!” Are you currently plagued by some disease or deadly habit and you cannot find a way of rescue? Go ahead and run to Jesus and fall at His feet. You do not need to know if He is willing, this is already established in His coming to earth to ransom us from our sin and self.

Throw yourself on His mercy this evening and watch Him perform a miracle of healing in your soul this very moment. Cry out to Him as your only source of hope and He will be just that.

FriFridayJanJanuary9th2009 Job 1-2

Posted Friday, January 09 2009 @ 12 AM byPhil Nelson Tagged No tags 0 comments Add comment

Morning: Job 1:20-22 (NIV)
20 At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship
21 and said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised."
22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

Whenever we read Job we are faced with many perplexing questions. How can God allow a good man to suffer? How is it that Satan is permitted by God to do what he did to Job? How is it that Job could respond to these tests in such a positive manner?

For this morning I want to take just one question for us to consider. “How is it that Satan is permitted by God to do what he did to Job?” Let’s begin with a few basic presuppositions. The first is that God is in supreme command of every thing in the universe. Nothing can happen without His express purpose and direction even evil is under His command.

With this being said we understand that God will use even the devil himself to perfect God’s work in us. Think of how comforting this is to know. There is nothing you are going to face today; despair, depression, panic attacks, sickness, financial distress, relationship difficulties, etc that will not be used by your great God to perfect that which concerns you.

The next presupposition we have from the text is that God desired Job’s best. God is not some ogre who loves to bully His children to watch them cower before Him. All He does in our lives is designed to bring us the maximum amount of lasting pleasure. He is for our best.

Knowing this about God gave Job the ability to rest contented in whatever came his way. He even understood that wrestling with God and crying out to him in the dark times of his life were moments designed by God to benefit him.

Do you see it now? Can you believe it yet? God has such a passion for you to see Him and know His pleasures He will do everything possible to lead you to enjoy Him forever. He is not content with your having fun in this life He is designing you for far greater pleasures than this life can possibly provide. Let us therefore run to Him that we might submit to His care so we will know His infinite pleasures. O what a river of delight awaits us as we rest in Him through all the storms of this life.

ThuThursdayJanJanuary8th2009 Genesis 20-22

Posted Thursday, January 08 2009 @ 12 AM byPhil Nelson Tagged No tags 0 comments Add comment

Morning: Genesis 21:1-2 (NIV)
1 Now the LORD was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what he had promised.
2 Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him.

Think of all the promises God has made on your behalf. There are literally thousands of promises contained in the Word for you that God has made for your good. Every one of his promises will be fulfilled at the time God has appointed, not one of them will fall to the ground.

When was the greatest blessing of God found in Abraham’s life? It was when he was an old man. How often it is we give up on following after God in our later years? In our later years it is just the time that God desires to take us deeper and grow us larger. Are you growing older this year? Let this year in front of you be the time when you will give more of yourself to God and his kingdom, not less.

If you were to ask Abraham if he regretted following God in his old age he would have laughed you out of his house. His greatest blessing and joy was in Isaac, the son of his old age.

Do not let your age be a reason to stop your pursuit of Christ.

Evening: Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)
19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Where is your treasure house? What have you put there? How many have had their fortunes disappear this past year in the decline of the stock market? How many have put their investments in insurance and big corporations? Should we have heeded the Word of God and followed his commands to invest in Kingdom purposes instead? The rewards cannot be lost and as we invest in God’s purposes we will find our heart growing more and more in love with the King.

If you heart is not in the Kingdom of God perhaps it is because your pocketbook is not yet in it. Take the challenge to invest more in the Kingdom this year than in year’s past and see what happens to your heart.

WedWednesdayJanJanuary7th2009 Genesis 18-19

Posted Wednesday, January 07 2009 @ 9 AM byPhil Nelson Tagged No tags 0 comments Add comment

Morning: Genesis 18:19 (NIV)
19 For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him."

Parenting is hard work. In the words of Doctor James Dobson, “Parenting is not for Cowards.” I could not agree more. Having the joy and the responsibility of raising six children of our own, my wife and I have often been pushed to the edge of despair thinking “How in the world will I ever teach my children to walk with God?”

The answer comes in this passage for us. We direct our children by our example. How they see us walking with God, standing strong for God’s principles in the world, loving each other, living sacrificially for others, and demonstrating a repentant life will set the stage for us to teach them how to walk with God.

Our lives are to be the scaffolding on which we paint the masterpiece of God’s glory for all to see. Paint well, your children are watching.

Evening: Matthew 6:3-4 (NIV)
3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Secret acts of righteousness bring great rewards. It is our nature as fallen creatures to do what we do for our own personal reward. We want to be congratulated for the jobs we perform. We long for recognition by others that makes us feel significant and important. In our passage this evening we discover a principle that runs against our desire for personal reward in this life.

God commands us to keep our best work hidden. To work in such a way no one sees our efforts but when we do perform acts of service for the glory of God, God is glorified. There is the story of a conversation between a great artist who painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and someone far below on the Chapel floor. It went something like this;

“Michelangelo, why is it taking you so long to paint the ceiling? The detail you are going to in your painting no one can ever see from the floor?”

To which he replied, “I am not painting it for anyone down there!” Let us be like the great painter and perform our ministries for God alone.

SunSundayJanJanuary4th2009 Romans 1-2

Posted Sunday, January 04 2009 @ 12 AM byPhil Nelson Tagged No tags 0 comments Add comment

January 4: Romans 1-2
Morning: Romans 1:1 (NIV)
1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God

Are you among those who have been called by Christ? Do you desire to live in obedience to His Word and follow his truth? Perhaps you have asked yourself what purpose you have been set free to serve Christ. You may be a college student reading these words, or a senior adult reading these words and find yourself with the question, “What am I supposed to be about with my life?” The answer is clear: you are set apart for the gospel of God. You are to give your live and all your talents to serve the King in declaring his gospel to as many as possible.

As this new year gets under way, take a few moments and ask God to equip you so you can be effective in sharing Christ with those you come in contact with.

Evening: Romans 2:28-29 (NIV)
28 A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical.
29 No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God.

How to get ready for worship? I think there needs to be a book on this subject. If a book was to be written that would describe how most get ready for worship it would probably read something like this; Make sure you have the right clothes with all the accessories set out the night before. Get your best dress or your best suit and make sure there are no wrinkles on it.

When you wake up in the morning, spend at least one hour putting on your clothes and performing your personal hygiene ritual. You do not want to smell bad when you go to church. What would people think of you if you did not smell clean and looked presentable?

If your children are slow to get ready, make sure you raise your voice at them a few times so they will know that going to church is really important. If they come out dressed in clothes that do not match or are not properly accessorized, tell them they cannot go to church like that because people might think something wrong about them. If the children do not respond quickly to your correction make sure you tell them if they do not dress correctly they will be punished when they return home for not dressing the part.
When you get into the car to go to Church and someone complains about something, raise your voice again and warn them that they are going to church and they must be on their best behavior because you do not want the leaders of the church or others to think that your family is not up to par.

When you get to church and you begin to sing the songs of the Church look across the sanctuary and see what others are wearing and how they look and then look back on your own family and say to yourself we really do look good. Then when the invitation song is sung, “Just as I am” remind yourself that you and your family look really good and this must be what real worship is about. You have played the part for yet another Sunday and your family looks the model of spiritual perfection and no one knows any different.

Wait a minute, perhaps there is someone who knows the difference. One is not a Jew outwardly, but a real Jew is one who is a Jew inwardly. God has seen the inside where no one else can see. I wonder what his estimation of your worship has been today. Why to talk with God about whom he sees your worship before you go to bed tonight. You may even want to make this a topic of discussion in your family around your diner table.

SatSaturdayJanJanuary3rd2009 Matthew 1-2

Posted Saturday, January 03 2009 @ 12 AM byPhil Nelson Tagged No tags 0 comments Add comment

Morning: Matthew 1:1 (NIV)
1 A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham:
There are many who say that this Christian life is a fairy tale at best and cast doubt on the historicity of it all. How are we to respond to the critics who accuse us of compiling a story that is not true?

Matthew gives us a starting point. He begins his gospel with these words, “The record of . . .” This is not a manuscript that was written to deceive, on the contrary it was a record that was written to convince with the evidence at hand. Great pains were taken to record every detail that would help shed the doubt of those who would study its manuscripts. Attention to historical evidence was considered paramount in the writings of these documents. There was nothing that was written that could not be substantiated by other witnesses.

If there was a question as to the authenticity of what was written, verification could be made by consulting all the living witnesses to each event. So the Gospel of the New Testament begins with these words, “The record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ.” So we would be certain of the truth we profess. No other faith has such historical support as the Christian faith. If you want to doubt its claims all you must do is study history to check it out. God has not left us without witnesses even to this day. This faith is established more certain than any event in ancient history that we might have all we need to trust in Christ our Savior.

Evening: Matthew 2:7-8 (NIV)
7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.
8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."

How can you tell the real intentions of a person? One of the surest ways is to see if they do anything secretly. Do they go about in a secretive way with their life? If there is much secrecy in their life, then you can be certain of one thing, they are not to be trusted. If people do not live their lives openly before men, we have much reason to distrust them. If you find someone desiring to be a leader among you and they do not open their life up to the searching light of accountability and examination, walk away and follow someone else.

On the surface it appeared that Herod desired to worship Christ as well, but of those who understand human nature we see in this text that Herod had no such intentions. Though he said he desired to worship Christ we see through his hypocrisy when he desires to everything secretly with the wise men.

If he really desired to worship Christ he would have been open about it and done it behind closed doors. We will follow those who openly profess allegiance to Christ; we will neither follow nor fellowship with those who try to keep their commitment to Christ private.

FriFridayJanJanuary2nd2009 Psalms 1-2

Posted Friday, January 02 2009 @ 12 AM byPhil Nelson Tagged No tags 0 comments Add comment

Morning: Psalm 1:1-3 (NIV)
1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

What brings you greatest delight? Take a moment and think of the things or events that you would wish to be true? Have you got them fixed in your mind? Now think of having all the time in the world to study the Bible, to mediate on its precepts and to learn its wisdom. Which comes out of on top?

There is something about meditating on this book that brings with it great delight, more than all the celebrations of the world. Have you found your joy in this book yet? If not, why don’t you take the time to ask God for his joy as you seek to understand him through this book?

Notice the results of those who make this book their source of meditation. They will have a constant supply of life giving water. During the times of drought in their lives they will never ruin out of real thirst quenching water. They will bear fruit n every season of life. Their life will not end in a withering state but a prosperous one.

Far too many in the church watch their strength and joy for God wane in the later years all because this book has not become the source of their meditation. This book has the power to bring life to all who will think on its words. It will keep you in the path of godliness when your strength would fail otherwise.

Make it your goal this year to sink your roots deep in the soil of God Word and see what eh will do as a result.

Evening: Psalm 2:11-12 (NIV)
11 Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Three years ago I was in Cuba for an extended time working with college students in Havana. I was away from my wife and family for three weeks. I had not been away from them for that long for my whole marriage. I remember when I was returning to the states, I was delayed one day by a snow storm in Chicago. I could not sleep much the night before I caught the plane back to my home. When the plane landed in Champaign and the jet way was opened I remember feeling all shaky inside. My body was trembling with the longing to see my wife and children again.

I did not want anything to get in the way of me being with my family. I got off the jet way and turned the corner and saw my four year old Lydia waiting for me with my wife. She got loose from my wife and headed toward me in a dead run with arms open wide and the look of sheer joy on her face and we embraced for what seemed to be a very long time.

After a prolonged embrace from my daughter, my wife was next and then the trembling stopped. I was home with my family and everything was alright. Perhaps this is something of what it means to rejoice with trembling. We long to be with God and delight in his presence and we are anxiously waiting the time when we will see him face to face. The longer we know God, the more we desire to be with him. The longer we live in this fallen world, the less we desire to live here any longer but our desire is to depart and be with Christ. So, as the day of our arrival in heaven draws nearer, we find our hearts almost bursting with the thoughts of being with Christ. The joys that we have found in Christ have made the pleasures of this world fade in comparison.

Let us labor in this coming year to grow in our desire to be with Christ and be so in love with Christ that others will want to follow us as we follow Christ.

ThuThursdayJanJanuary1st2009 Genesis 1-3

Posted Thursday, January 01 2009 @ 12 AM byPhil Nelson Tagged No tags 0 comments Add comment

Morning: Genesis 1:1 (NIV)
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

You are a work of God! You are the product of His design. The world would have you believe that you are an accident that has no more worth than another cellular accident so you have no real purpose and you will have no real end to which you are heading. Everything is just one accident after another and whatever happens is also an accident for no particular purpose.

This is considered the wisdom of the world. Their message to you is that you are of no real particular value to anyone, but don’t worry, just be happy. Somehow this just does not ring true in their practice. There lifestyle disagrees with their philosophy. When things go wrong and they are treated in a way they consider unjust, they cry out for justice. But our response if we believe this worldview must be to reply, “From where does your cry for justice come? Cellular accidents cannot have any real understanding of justice. If everything is only a meaningless accident where does the need for justice come?”

There is no person in the world who accepts the philosophy so prominently taught in our schools of academia. There is no academician who could live in any other way than a Biblical worldview. They may say they do not believe the Bible and its message, but they live in a way that supports the Biblical worldview anyway.

When we hear the scholars preach evolution and accidental creation, we must stand up along with the Biblical Faith and call them to account for their living hypocrisy. At the very beginning of the bible it presupposes a personal Creator who is behind everything working his own plans for his own glory. This is the only presupposition that makes sense to anyone with a mind that has not been accidentally evolved from the primates.

Evening: Genesis 2:24-25 (NIV)
24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
25 The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.

How often do the thoughts of your past sins haunt you? The tapes of your sinful life play on, endlessly seeking to condemn you when you attempt to live for Christ. The enemy gets foothold in your soul whenever you attempt to live for God by just reminding you of all the times you have failed. Shame comes for a visit and then it knocks you off the path of following Christ.

Shame and guilt over our past failures carry with them a heavy burden and often it weighs Christians down and keeps them from experiencing the joy that God desires to give. The Word of God this morning reminds us of a time when there was no shame, no guilt and there was absolute freedom to do whatever God commanded. That must have been a great time for Adam and Eve, but there was something that was not completely right in the garden.

There was a fallen enemy of God present in this garden. He was already there shortly after Adam and Eve were created and he was set to destroy God’s original intention. It did not take long and the fall was complete. The enemy of God thought he had foiled God’s plan, but nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, God had planned for the fall from the beginning. It did not catch him by surprise. The enemy of God had walked right into God’s purposes and was an agent who accomplished God’s plan of redemption.

Had there been no fall there would be no redemption. What the enemy of God did not understand was that Christ was set apart before the foundation of the world to be a redeemer. With no fall there would be no need of a redeemer and therefore Christ’s purpose would be unfulfilled. But now with the fall the purpose and role of Christ would be fulfilled.

He will come as rescue us from all sin and guilt and shame. One day we will be set free from the sin and shame forever. It is his purpose now to work in us our ability to trust Him in the days of our fallen nature so when we are rescued from this fallen world we will be fully able to rejoice in what he has done for us.

Adam and Eve experienced for a fleeting moment living with no shame but they never fully experienced living with complete redemption so we have a better future for us because of Christ who has redeemed us from sin and guilt and shame.

Daily Devotions

by Devotions for your daily Bible readings written by Pastor Phil Nelson. If you would like a copy of an older devotional, please contact the church office.