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Wholesome and Clean

December 1, 2011
Filed In Daily Devotionals, Devotional Links, Devotions For Teens, Family Devotions, Inspirational Bible Verses

Ezekiel 37:23b – I will wash away their sin and make them clean, and I will protect them from everything that makes them unclean. They will be my people, and I will be their God. (CEV)

There is a major house renovation going on close to where we live. Actually, it has been in progress for weeks and weeks – new roof, insulation, siding, windows, doors, sunroom and storage addition – a complete overhaul! I don’t know, because I have not seen inside, but I have to assume that there is a great deal of updating, repair and cleaning being addressed inside the home too: and I assume this due to the time it is taking to complete the work.

I recall when my husband and I, were looking for a home in this park, that we viewed one particular unit that was in a beautiful location, the price was amazing (it would have left a great deal of ‘spare’ cash for renovations) but the condition inside was nothing short of ‘disgusting’: how anyone could have lived in the home in the condition it was in, was beyond our comprehension.

We had agreed that we were willing to move into a house of our choice and do work while living there, but the filth and the updates needed in that particular house, were way too bad for us to even consider moving in and living there in – there was far too much to do to make it habitable.

When some people are challenged to give their lives to God and invite Jesus into their hearts, they recognize the truth that they have sinned before God. As a result, they want to clean up their lives before they issue an invitation to Jesus. They don’t yet understand that God comes into our lives to clean us up, precisely because we can’t do it for ourselves.

Isaiah 64:6a – But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags. (NKJV)

The good news is that God loves us just as we are. So when we become willing to accept God into our lives, thankfully, He does not shun our dirty lives like we rejected that dirty home. He welcomes us and cleanses us. He does not leave us as we are, with our disparaging thoughts, our criticism of others, our idolatry of all things material, and all our major and minor sinful ways. This process is called “sanctification”.

 Isaiah 1:16 – Wash yourselves clean! I am disgusted with your filthy deeds. Stop doing wrong. (CEV)

Just as the house we viewed had much to clean up before being habitable, so God needs to clean up our lives, thoughts, and actions, so that we become a true reflection of His Son, Jesus, in our hearts, minds, and spirits.

James 4:8 – Come near to God, and he will come near to you. Clean up your lives, you sinners. Purify your hearts, you people who can’t make up your mind. (CEV)

Prayer: Abba, make us aware of all that is in our lives, our thoughts, and our deeds, that is unworthy of Your presence within us. Wash us clean, and renew our spirits and hearts so that we are wholesome, presentable, and welcoming to all who look at us and the ways that we live. We want to be acceptable to You and winsome to them. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

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Don’t Keep It To Yourself

July 30, 2011
Filed In Daily Devotionals

Some things are better left unsaid. Recently I overheard someone say, “I don’t mean to be critical, but…”. Then they proceeded to deliver an unbridled critique of another lady’s parenting decision. Sprinkled throughout the conversation were other phrases that foretold impending insult:

“I’m not trying to tell you what to do, but…”

“I don’t mean to sound judgmental, but…”

“I hope you don’t think I’m rude, but…”

“If I’ve offended you, I’m sorry, but…”

There is a reason we are to “destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:15

There is a reason to present ourselves as a living sacrifice, and to be renewed in the spirit our minds. There is a reason we are to keep a short leash on our sensitivity and emotions. There is a reason we are to walk carefully with the Lord’s Word as the lamp unto our feet. The world is full of darkness. Vigilance is vital. We need to be different from the rest of the world. Even though there are wolves among us, and tares growing within the fields we tend, we need to heed Paul’s charge to the Philippians:

“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,” Philippians 2:1-5

Paul exhorts us to have “this mind” which is ours in Christ. It’s already ours; we just need to let it shine for His glory. We may think we know best for another (in fact we may even be right), but it doesn’t mean we ought to share our thoughts and hurt another brother or sister in Christ. Paul instructs us to keep our motives pure–to be humble and value others above ourselves–to be considerate of the interests of others, rather than our own.

If we have any “encouragement” from our in union with Jesus, “any comfort”…”any common sharing”…”any tenderness and compassion,” it is our blessing to share with others. It’s our joy. I want to encourage you today, if you have this mind in Christ, don’t keep it to yourself.

PRAYER: Lord, fill us with Your mind, Your compassion, Your love, Your purity, and understanding. Let us look beyond ourselves, and pour out Your goodness to those who need Your love and saving grace. Let us join our hearts in prayer for those who do not know You, for those who do not even realize the void in their lives is their need for Your filling.

© Hariette Petersen, SelahV Today, 2011

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The Battle of Conceit

April 11, 2011
Filed In Daily Devotionals

Many try to conceal it.  Some only deceive themselves.  We all seem to battle it.  Conceit.

None of us want to believe we ever think ourselves as better than anyone else.  Until…

until someone plunges ahead of us in the checkout line,

until the vehicle on our right doesn’t yield to us at the 4-way stop,

until someone else’s meal is delivered before we get ours,

until someone with body odor sits down next to us in the doctor’s office,

until someone cuts us off in traffic,

until we are offended by any number of things that give us the false impression that we are better than someone else….that our rights should take precedence, that we deserve better treatment we are receiving, that we would never treat another the way we are being treated, that our space is being invaded, our opinions are ignored, our ideas unappreciated.  Then…

…then, if we are very still and open up ourselves to the inspection and illumination of our own self-centeredness, we find seeds of conceit.  Tiny little every-day germs of thought whisper to our ego: we are better than that or them or him or her.  We are due more consideration.  Our time is a bit more valuable.  Our dreams are a bit more important.  Our schedules, appointments, or needs are a smidge more necessary.  We worked hard all day, when hubby comes home, we deserve a break from the kids–even though he’s worked hard all day to provide for us and our children.  We emptied the trash twice this week.   It’s her turn.  We worked hard all day.  Why should we help her peel potatoes?   We go to church, follow Christ, tithe, sacrifice our time for the needs of others, and give to missions.  Why is that godless person being blessed so much?  I worked just as hard as he did, why did he get the promotion?  Conceit.

It’s that nagging tease in the back of our minds that constantly tries to place itself in the forefront of our emotions and reason.  It dresses up in pretty colors and thinks itself a tad brighter than the next person.  It silently wonders why others don’t walk, talk, act and dress like they do.  Yet, the Bible says:

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” Philippians 2:3 (NIV)

PRAYER:  Oh, Lord.  Give us eyes to see the truth in our hearts.  Give us a clear view into our very soul, sanctify us.  Draw us closer to Your purity and holiness that we many not sin against You.

 © Hariette Petersen, SelahV Today, 2011

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Cleansing The Temple

March 1, 2011
Filed In Daily Devotionals

I was purging my closet a few weeks ago and I threw out everything that was too big for me.  I decided against tossing out most of the things that were too small.  I discarded the dated, trendy stuff and kept the classic-styles even though I had to squeeze into them.  You might surmise that I’m trying to lose weight; if so, you’re right.  It’s not so much that I’m saving those clothes so I can fit into them “someday”.  I’ve learned that the more comfortable I am in my clothing–those baggy sweats, the stretchy slacks–the less I think about my weight problem.  The more snuggly-fitting jeans and jackets remind me that I need to forego that cookie, that bowl of chips, or that second slice of pizza.

There was a time when Jesus visited the temple in Jerusalem and they were selling animals and doves to the people for sacrifices.  Jesus was quite perturbed at what the money-changers were doing.  So He made a whip to chase the animals out, then He admonished the leaders for making His Father’s house into a den of thieves.  They questioned His authority and He let them know Whose authority He had been given, and even said He’d level the place then raise it up in three days.  They were not impressed and mocked him.  They rebuked Him, questioning His ability to rebuild what took them forty-six years to construct.  They didn’t understand.  “But He was speaking about the temple of His body. When therefore He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.”  John 2:21-22

Paul spoke of another temple: “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?  You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”  1 Corinthians 6:19-20.

Christians are the temple.  Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit.  We are bought with a price–the blood of Jesus Christ.  When we recognize and receive our Lord and Savior, we need to remember that what we do in our body affects the entire body of Christ.  Our actions and words do make a difference to others.  Our neglect and abuse of our body hinders how effectively we can serve the Lord.  I know, for me, I neglected my health and am paying a price for it today.  Some of my health issues may have been unavoidable, but others were not.

When we become Christians, we often give up a lot of unhealthy habits.  But still there are things which cling to the walls of our hearts and interfere with the work of the Spirit in our spirits.  Sometimes we think we know what everyone else needs to sacrifice–to be made right with God.  Our lofty ideas and attitudes war with our thoughts and focus on Christ.  Our emotions and loyalties war with our first love for Christ.  Our self-reliance upon our own intellect and knowledge overload our minds and leave no room for the wisdom of God.  These things should make us spiritually uncomfortable.  We should be so uncomfortable that the cloak of humility would squeeze the pride right out of our minds and hearts.

PRAYER:  Lord, help us daily check the state of our temple.  Help us clean out the habits of our lives with which we have grown comfortable, and help us make more room for You.  Squeeze our hearts until we submit to the pressure of Your chastening, and lose those things which keep us from being all we can be for You.

© Hariette Petersen, SelahV Today, 2011

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Strength in Weakness

January 25, 2010
Filed In Daily Devotionals

Do you remember the “opposite game”?  When I was a kid, I used to play it often with friends.  “Yes” meant “no”; “cold” meant “hot”; and “I’m tired and need a nap” meant “I’m full of energy and am dying to go outside and play.”  As a kid, that game was always fun for me.  I’m not exactly sure why… maybe its just my quirky personality; maybe I just found humor in the irony of the game itself.

The Christian life can sometimes feel like the opposite game since we often find ourselves pursuing the opposite of what the world pursues and shunning what the world values.  Our human nature tells us that self-sufficiency is the greatest goal we could achieve, but Christ says, “be weak, and find your strength in Me.”  The world says, “trust your own ability and talents.”  God says, “do not lean on your own understanding, but trust Me to direct your paths.”  Our culture tells us to value property and possessions, but Jesus reminds us that this world is not our home.

What the world sees as weakness, God sees as strength… what the world sees as freedom is really slavery to sin whereas true obedience to Christ (which to the world would look like slavery) is really true freedom. To the world, the gospel seems foolish, but to the Christian, it is the most precious truth ever revealed.

I often find myself struggling with this dichotomy.  The approval to be “great” in the worlds eyes is so pervasive… it invades my job, my friendships, my purchases and so many other areas of my life.  But God’s view of greatness is humility and dependence on Him.  When we are at our weakest, we find the greatest strength in the power He provides.

The Apostle Paul mentioned this in his second letter to the Corinthian church.  Paul pleaded with God for healing and strength and God said to him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” [then Paul said:] “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”  —2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Let us strive to be content with our weakness and look to God for our strength.  What are some areas where God is calling you to play the “opposite game” and live for what He values instead of what the world values?

[copyright, 2010, Emily Schankweiler; A Sacrifice of Praise]

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Justice, Mercy, and Humility

December 15, 2009
Filed In Daily Devotionals

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?
Micah 6:8

Micah 6:8 presents a job description for the Christian life. We are to be people who do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.

We are tempted to think that we have done well as Christians when we pray, read our Bibles, go to church, and avoid sinful activity. These things are good but if this is all we do we would be little better than the Pharisees who knew their Bibles, always went to church, and never committed the “big sins” (or they were at least careful not to get caught).

God has told you what is good. Do justice! Be a man or woman who seeks to treat all people according to God’s standard of justice. Do not cheat people in business. Fight oppression. Defend the defenseless. Also love mercy! Take food to those who are hungry, clothing to those who are naked. Visit prisoners. Sponsor children living in poverty around the world. Pay for wells to bring fresh water to remote African villages. Also walk humbly with God! Do not be boastful in your life and work. You will not deserve credit for any of the good things you do. All your good is the result of God working within you. Be humble in all things as you walk with God. That last part implies that you do, in fact, walk with him. Your life is not your own and you are to follow your Savior wherever he leads.

It is not hard to find opportunities to fight sin. Sin comes looking for us and we deal with it every moment of every day. But to find opportunities to do good you must step out your door with your eyes open. Needs are all around us but we have become skilled at turning a blind eye. Open your eyes and see all around you the places where the Lord would have you do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with him.

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To Become Like Jesus, I Must Humble Myself

November 14, 2009
Filed In Daily Devotionals

Ever have a job you just don’t want to do? With every job I ever had, no matter how much I liked my position, came some particular responsibilities I did not enjoy doing. My stepmother used to say, “It goes with the territory.” I’ve been a receptionist, a secretary to the president, and held jobs as a manager. In each of those jobs, I was still the care-taker of the bathroom facilities. That was never my favorite part about my positions. Looking back on it now, I see the dynamic it played in my position of overseer to other employees. I see how God used that humbling act to keep my pride in check lest my title go to my head and make me think I was better than someone else–which I am not.

In Philippians 2, Paul reminds us to be ever-mindful of letting pride consume us.

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even to death of the cross.” Vs.5-8

There are many times in our lives as Christians, we think a job is demeaning. Some seek jobs with the highest visibility. They want to be the leaders. Others only want to do things that they enjoy, or that will give them recognition. Yet Jesus, by His very actions, showed us we are to be servants. Jesus was God incarnate. He left His throne in Heaven and never acted as though He was to be worshipped or honored. He simply went about doing good for others. He gave all glory for all He did to the Father in heaven. He touched the lepers, talked with women of ill-repute, and laid hands on the blind and crippled. He even washed His disciples feet.

All too often we find ourselves balking at the mundane tasks God lays out before us. We may not want to go here or there, to do this or that. We may not want to talk to this one or that one, to sit next to this person, or that person. They aren’t dressed like us; they don’t live like we do. They don’t think like us. So we do not reach out. We let the rest of the world do it. We let government take care of them. We harden our hearts. Perhaps every now and then we should ask ourselves, “What if Jesus thought that way of me?”

© Hariette Petersen, SelahV Today, 2009

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Following Jeus, the Humble Servant

October 25, 2009
Filed In Daily Devotionals

Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. (Philippians 2:3)

It is no surprise to find in the world men whose lives are focused on self-exaltation. In our flesh we feel that man’s chief end is to glorify self and enjoy ourselves forever. But Jesus has shown us a better way.

It is a tragedy that so few in the church pursue the way of the Master who came as a humble servant. How many are they who will do nothing from rivalry or conceit but will count others more significant? This attitude of humility is one that recognizes we are the creature and God is the creator. None of us is more significant than any other person, our worth comes only from God. Consider that it is the apostle Paul telling us to count others more significant. Paul’s impact on the church is second only to Jesus. Nonetheless, he counts others more significant than himself. It is because he knows that his reach, his impact, his significance is not his – it is God’s. And what God has done through Paul’s life he could do through any person on this planet. Paul is not the significant person in his ministry – God is.

Our value does not come from our looks or intelligence or performance. It comes from God. We approach others knowing here is another of God’s creations, another whose worth is not found in his own actions or appearance but from the love of the Father. This erases rivalry. Fellow Christians are not rivals but brothers. The lost are not rivals but the target of our evangelistic endeavor.

Christian, msay we no longer treat everything as a competition. May God instead set Christian to work with Christian for the glory of God. And may we love the lost enough to put aside jealous squabbling, giving up our rights and serving the world with love.

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