A Never Changing God

The year of 2020 was marked by many things but the one thing that stands out was the ever changing nature of circumstances in all aspects of our lives.  Where we may or may not go.  What we may and may not do.  At what time we have to be home.  At times we may or may not even do something as basic as go to the beach or take a walk around the block we live in.  Major confusion and effort to try to keep up with all the rules and changes that we were and are still facing.   In this ever changing, strange and extraordinary world and circumstances we are facing there is one constant that we can hold on to.  An Anchor of note.  God Himself.  God says in His word that He never changes. He never makes mistakes. He is not surprised by anything because He is already in the future.  He never changes His mind, rules or values.  He never changes the principles His Kingdom function on.  He remains the one constant we can hold on to, knowing it will never give way nor change direction.  In Scripture we read the following:

Hebrews 13:8 ⁸ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. ⁹ Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. NKJV

Revelation 1:8 ⁸ “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” NKJV

Genesis 22:8 “While the earth remains,  Seed time and harvest,  Cold and heat,  Winter and summer,  And day and night  Shall not cease.”  NKJV

Jeremiah 33:19-21 ¹⁹ And the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying, ²⁰ “Thus says the Lord: ‘If you can break My covenant with the day and My covenant with the night, so that there will not be day and night in their season, ²¹ then My covenant may also be broken..."  NKJV

In don't think we can break God's covenant with day and night - thus His covenant cannot be broken... In our ever changing world there is a God that is The Rock of all ages.

Isaiah 26:4 says:  “Trust [confidently] in the Lord forever [He is your fortress, your shield, your banner],  For the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages]. AMP

Let us sing with David in Psalm 18:1-3

I will love You, O Lord, my strength.
² The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
³ I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised;
So shall I be saved from my enemies.   AMP

And in Psalm 62:1-2

For God alone my soul waits in silence; From Him comes my salvation. ²He alone is my rock and my salvation, My defense and my strong tower; I will not be shaken or disheartened. AMPC

 

 Come worship the Rock of Ages with this age-old hymn

Who do you say I am?

In the past week I saw several comments in the media about who various people think God is and who not. Some declared that He is a mythical creature, some think He is a cruel God, while actually we just suffer the consequences of our own choices and sin. Some think He is outdated and was only relevant in ancient times when people did not have scientific explanations for complex problems, some think He has given up on creation and walked away from man and all that is on earth. Some think God does not exist.  Interesting though how God almost always is accused that He causes bad things to happen to us.  I wonder how we get there?  We question His existence, certainly do not pay attention to His moral laws, create our own laws and decide what we think is right, wrong and moral.  However, when things go wrong, it's all God's mistake.  Hardly ever do we take responsibility for the mess we create ourselves. 

 

This is not a new phenomenon.  When the Pharisees asked Jesus who He was in John 8, He told them He was the Messiah - they did not believe Him, and so we can quote numerous passages from the Bible where people were challenged with who God is - and who His Son is, only to see how He is denied, His Name slandered and His nature defiled by our own perceptions of who He is.  All this while He has given us ample opportunity to get to know Him in the finest detail with never ending treasures in His character to discover.   

In Mathew 16:13-20 we read how Jesus himself asked His disciples this very question:

13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” 14 So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

 

 From this scripture we see that people then also had their own ideas of who Jesus was in their particular context.  But then came Peter's answer.  "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God"  And Jesus' answer:  "...flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven"  The Father testifies and reveals His Son to the World.  He revealed Him as the Word, the Light, Emmanuel God with us.  He revealed Him as His only begotten Son in whom He is well pleased.  He revealed Him as the Messiah, the saviour of the world and so I can continue, but ultimately the question Jesus asks each one of us is, "Who do YOU say I am?"  The revelation of who He is, is here, its available, it has been given from the beginning of time.  The answer is not hidden, the revelation has already been given.  The question is - do we believe what was revealed?

 

I want to challenge you and myself this week to answer this question in unadulterated truth.  Who do YOU really believe God is?  Who do you believe Jesus is?  Take that question one step further and answer the question, What do you believe about the nature of God?  Measure your answer against God's revelation of Himself and His character in the Bible.

 

Let's discover a deeper revelation of who He is and let us worship Him for who He is and not for whom we think He should be or should have been in our opinions.  The result of who He is makes all the difference to who we are.  It changes who we are, it changes our characters, it changes our position, our perspectives, our hopes, it moves us from the kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of Light.  Listen to this song from Hillsong on who we are, knowing that we can only be who He says we are because of Who He Is. 

 

 Who do you say I am?  Hillsong

 

 

A time of dedication

There is a feast that the Jewish nation celebrates in December, called the "Feast of Dedication" or the "Festival of Lights" or in Hebrew "Hanukkah". This feast dates from 165BC when Antiochus Epiphanies oppressed Israel to such an extent that they were not allowed to read the Torah, or worship at their temple, etc. It was a dark period in Israel's history where their religious and political freedoms were taken away from them. Eventually Antiochus raised himself up in the temple and required the people to worship him as god while offering unholy and abominable sacrifices in the temple.   The Maccabees revolted against this oppression and in a great miracle of God overthrew the oppressive government.  They rededicated and consecrated the temple for service and worship again.  In John 10:22-27 we read that Jesus attended this festival and delivered a sermon during this time in response to the Pharisee's question regarding whether He is the Messiah or not.

John 10:22-27 After this the Feast of Dedication [of the reconsecration of the temple] was taking place at Jerusalem. It was winter,  23 And Jesus was walking in Solomon’s Porch in the temple area. 24 So the Jews surrounded Him and began asking Him, How long are You going to keep us in doubt and suspense? If You are really the Christ (the Messiah), tell us so plainly and openly. 25 Jesus answered them, I have told you so, yet you do not believe Me [you do not trust Me and rely on Me]. The very works that I do by the power of My Father and in My Father’s name bear witness concerning Me [they are My credentials and evidence in support of Me].  26 But you do not believe and trust and rely on Me because you do not belong to My fold [you are no sheep of Mine].  27 The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me. (AMPC)

It is clear that even though Jesus answered their question truthfully, they still did not believe, because they were looking at Jesus through the lenses of history and judged Him with the same measure with which they judged Antiochus Epiphanies (who also claimed to be god and therefore the Messiah). They failed to weigh up all the evidence for the case of Jesus being the real Messiah and therefore eventually missed the time when the Son of God visited them.  They did not recognize the Shepherd's voice. But there were others that did recognize His voice and the time of His visitation, as in vs. 41-42 we read:

41  And many came to Him, and they kept saying, John did not perform a [single] sign or miracle, but everything John said about this Man was true.  42 And many [people] there became believers in Him. [They adhered to and trusted in and relied on Him.]

There are a few things we can learn from this scripture and apply to our lives today.  Firstly, traditionally we are also in a festive season where we celebrate the coming of Jesus as the Messiah and the Light of the world.  The question remains, "Who do you say Jesus is?"  The Son of God?  The Saviour?  The Messiah?  It's a good time to ask Him once again to open our spiritual eyes and ears to hear these truths  and answer this question for ourselves in faith - to declare once again that we are sheep of His fold believing in Jesus as our Messiah.

Secondly, there is no temple in Jerusalem anymore - we now are the temple of the Holy Spirit.  In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 we read "19 Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received [as a Gift] from God? You are not your own,  20 You were bought with a price [purchased with a preciousness and paid for, made His own]. So then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body."  Let's make a decision to dedicate ourselves, spirit soul and body (as Romans 12:1-2 encourages us to do), once again to our Lord Jesus Christ, giving the Holy Spirit a temple redeemed and made holy by the blood of the Lamb to live in.  Let us ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to us any idolatry, or unholy practices that defile the temple in which He resides.  Let us be willing to cleanse our temples through repentance and use this time to rededicate our sanctuary to the Holy Spirit.

This song from Marty Goetz really brings home this concept with words beautifully crafted to encapsulate the essence of this time of the year. 

Hanukkah Song - Marty Goetz 

The Word is life and light

Words have power. Words are powerful to build up but also to break down. In Gen 1 we read God spoke creation into being, Isaiah teaches us that God's Word never returns void to Him but in John 1:1 this all comes together in a huge introduction to the person who IS THE WORD.

John 1:1-4 and 10-14 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." NKJV

Jesus Himself is the Word, He was with God, He is God.  When He speaks things are created.  Nothing He says goes astray nor does any Word He speaks return void or empty.  He speaks blessing no less than 3 times in the creation story.  He speaks and there is life and this life is our light in a dark world.  It is a light and a life that the darkness does not understand. So imagine a dark world where there is no light - ever... and then comes God's Word and it brings life and light - imagine the utter wonder and incomprehensibility and surprise. 

 

And then God came and gave us His Spirit in our hearts and His Word in our mouths.  Words to speak blessing, Words to speak healing and life and light into the dark world of another human being.  Words of healing and joy, grace and mercy.  Sometimes words of warning and admonishing in love.  Words of forgiveness and freedom. 

 

What kind of words do we speak?  Let us focus on speaking Kingdom Words that bring the life and light and blessing of the Jesus who is The Word into a dark world that does not comprehend it.

 

Let's worship Him who is:

 

 THE WORD

 

Making Good Choices

As we move towards the end of this year, I am keenly aware of the fact that this year was a year where there were many choices that was made for us.  Instead of being able to make choices and bearing the consequences or rewards thereof we were forced into things like lock-downs and still it seems to be a ongoing treat hanging over our heads.  We may be heading for another lock-down of some sort. In the midst of this, and while some choices are made for us, we still have the responsibility and the privilege of making good choices.  I think the danger is that we will start to feel powerless and start thinking that we cannot make choices to respond in a godly manner to the situations we are in.  In the light of the last 2 weeks discussions regarding what is in our hand - let us also look at where and how is God giving us opportunities to focus on making good and righteous choices.  Even if it is just choosing our attitudes.  

This week I share with you yet another one of Ellel Ministries blog posts about this very topic.  Let us focus on the areas where we are empowered to make choices and let us make good ones, ones that will have lasting benefits for us, those around us and for His Kingdom!

Find the post here:

  Making Good Choices 

One such a good choice would be to intentionally give our  praise and worship to our Lord Jesus Christ.  Come lets worship with this song:

 

 

What is in your hand? Part 2

When I posted last week's devotion on "What is in your hand?" a friend  send me this video clip, and I decided to share it with you this week.  The core of the message that lingered with me was the fact that we often struggle to move forward because we focus on what we do not have instead of looking at what we already have and then ask God how He wants us to use it to build His Kingdom.  May we journey with the Holy Spirit asking Him what we already have that He intends us to put to good use for the Glory of the one who gave it to us!

 

What is in your hands?  Part 2 

 

 

What do you have in your hand?

God met Moses in the wilderness, at a burning bush, to call Him to the task of going back to Egypt to bring his people out of slavery and into the promised land. To Moses this task looked just too big. Surely God had the wrong person, for Moses could not talk, had committed murder and therefore was a fugitive in a foreign land. But, God does not make mistakes. He knew exactly what He was doing when He met Moses and called him for this task, and God had resources that Moses did not know about. God's resources are mostly right in our hand and it is mostly unconventional. Very often it is everyday things that we do not regard as a godly resource because it is so ordinary, so everyday, so conventional and after all we expect the spectacular. While God is also the God of the spectacular, He surely also is the God who does spectacular with the ordinary. Moses had many excuses for not embracing God's calling for him, and thought the people would not believe him anyway.  In this discussion with God, he asks God for a sign that it was really Him.  God asks him:

2“What is that in your hand?” And he said, “A staff.”

A Staff... a pretty ordinary item for a shepherd in the wilderness. With this staff he protected the sheep and gathered them together when they went astray. With this staff he walked over the rugged terrain and most probably killed many a snake. Yet in this instance God sees much more than a shepherd's staff. He sees a staff of miracles. With this ordinary item, God would do the spectacular. God would turn it into a snake that ate the faro's magician's snakes. With it God would turn the waters of the Nile into blood, part the seas, bring water out of the rock, win a war against the Amelekites and it would become one of the 3 items that would be stored in the Holy of Holies of the tabernacle, always blooming, even without being connected to a tree. God himself would give this staff life and life in abundance.

So the question to each of us this week is: "What is in your hand?" What did God place in your hand to perform His Kingdom purposes with? Perhaps it is time to walk through our lives to contemplate and write down what do we have in our hand?  It is highly likely that God placed a handful of treasures in our hand to be used in a time such as this, for His Kingdom purposes. Are we willing to make ourselves available to Him?  Will we recognize the moment when He wants to use what He already put into our hands? 

 

He is the God that does the spectacular with the ordinary

 

It must be you - Bart Millard

 

 

 

The King, the Kingdom and Purpose

I think all of us at some point in life struggle with questions like "when, how where and what is my calling?" or maybe even "do I have a calling and how do I live it out if I have one?" Every person's calling is unique and we need to hear from God what it is - but that we are all called to something and that we all thus have a purpose is a fact. In Jeremiah 1 the word of God says the following:

Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew [and] approved of you [as My chosen instrument], and before you were born I separated and set you apart, consecrating you..."

We are called before we are formed in the womb! God is a King and He has a Kingdom that is perfect and without sin. Before the foundation of the earth He had a calling, a purpose, in His Kingdom, He looked at that purpose and then He created me and you for that specific purpose. He does not wake up in the morning with His to-do list for the day and then wonder who on earth is going to be ready and available to fulfill that purpose for that day. When the day arrives He already know exactly who He designed and equipped to fulfill that purpose at that given time in history. The only question left to be answered is will you and I say "Yes Lord we are willing to go!" or do we believe the lie of the enemy that we do not have a calling or purpose in God's Kingdom? Or that we are not good enough or ill-equipped?

The truth is - God is a King. He has a Kingdom. His Kingdom has purpose and you and I were created for a purpose in a time such as this!

God I look to you - Jenn Johnson

An unconventional warrior

Monday devotions @work 2 November 2020
People of Hope: Part 25: David

Read 1 Samuel 17

When we think about David I think the first story that comes to mind is probably the story of His victory over Goliath. What I think we do not always realize is that David did not start off as a warrior, He started as a shepherd. God had to grow David into a warrior that would have the exact skills needed to overcome Goliath. For years David was protecting his sheep, fighting off jackal and lions and bears. He practiced with his sling-stone over and over and over to hit a target with precise accuracy while guarding his sheep. He developed that skill without anyone watching and without much notice from the outside world. In this season of David’s life, he was fighting his battles alone where nobody could see. Then came that one day where everything changed. The Philistine was mocking his God. Nobody was prepared to take him on because nobody had the right skills. The unconventional warrior skills necessary to overcome a giant in an unconventional way, came in an unconventional package. David’s whole known world was looking, holding their breath and two armies with highly skilled warriors and armour where at stand-off with each other. A shepherd boy who could not even wear the armour even though the king offered it to him, stepped up to the task. He was armed with a sling-stone, faith, years of guarding sheep and empowered by God for this precise moment. He gathered 5 stones – because Goliath had 4 more brothers. He was ready for them too.

 

Goliath did not see this one coming. He did not see that fateful stone come that would end his life and his mockery of God, but he also did not see a shepherd boy without armour as a threat big enough to be cautious, and definitely He did not see David’s God backing Him with authority and growing him into an unconventional warrior for a moment such as this.

There are many battles in our lives that may seemingly look mundane and we may not pay attention to it as something that has purpose or will one day have purpose. Most of these battles we must fight on our own, much like David had to fight the lion and the bear on his own, and without anyone seeing the victories. Nothing is without purpose though. It is during these times that our faith grow and our hope is established enough so that we will be ready when the moment comes that we have to face our Goliath. May we not lose hope, get discouraged or disheartened during the times we need to go to battle alone. May we endure through these times well knowing that God is most certainly growing our faith, our experience and our battle skills so that we will be ready on that day when God need it for the ultimate purpose He created us for.

Let us sing with David Ps 27:11-14 (NKJV)

Teach me Your way, O Lord,
And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.
12 Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries;
For false witnesses have risen against me,
And such as breathe out violence.
13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed
That I would see the goodness of the Lord
In the land of the living.

14 Wait on the Lord;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the Lord!

 

Our worship song today is:  

Your Heart - Chris Tomlin

©2020 HG Venter

Knowing the Voice of the Shepherd

Mondaydevotions2work 26 October 2020
People of Hope: The Sheep

Many years ago I was experiencing a particularly difficult time in my life.  One day while listening to gospel music I saw a picture in my mind's eye of Jesus turning His back to me and walking away.  I misinterpreted this completely as I understood at that time that He is angry with me and is about to walk away.  Only years later I learned that in Israel the shepherd walks in front of His sheep and they follow Him because they know His voice.  I now understand that what Jesus wanted to say that day was simply "Follow me" but I did not know the Shepherd's Voice well enough then to understand the message.  It was a great relief when I found out that His intention was to say "Follow me" .  In John 10 the Word explains that the sheep knows the shepherd's voice.  

14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me- 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 

We live in times where we need to chart out new pathways on a daily basis.  Its easy to loose hope.  How will be find the right way?  We have to follow The Shepherd - He is The Way therefore, He knows The Way forward.  Sheep needs to learn to recognize and follow the Shepherd's voice.  I share with you a devotional from Seeds of the Kingdom and a video clip reminding us of exactly of this.  

My heavenly Baa Code  

Now look at this amazing illustration:

Do sheep only obey their master's voice?  

Lets worship:  Ps 23

Titles and Promotions

Monday devotions@work 19 October 2020
People of Hope: Part 24: Hushai the Archite

Today I share with you a "pearl to ponder" from my friend Priscilla Koegelenberg.  Enjoy!

Read it here:  Titles and Promotions

 

  Worship Video:  King (Friend of Mine) ICF Worship

 

 

 

 

 

The Ark is moving

Monday devotions @work 12 October 2020

People of Hope Part 23 The Ark is Moving

Joshua 3:3,7,15 and Joshua 4

3“When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it. 4 Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before.”

7And the Lord said to Joshua, “This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. 8 You shall command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, saying, ‘When you have come to the edge of the water of the Jordan, you shall stand in the Jordan.’ ”
15 and as those who bore the ark came to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests who bore the ark dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks during the whole time of harvest), 16 that the waters which came down from upstream stood still, and rose in a heap very far away. (AMP)

Israel aimlessly crisscrossed the wilderness for the past 40 years now they were facing a new beginning – they had to travel new ground, a way they have not passed on before. Moses died and Joshua was anointed to take over and he must lead the people into a new journey. On paths never travelled before and it starts with crossing a river that is in full seasonal flood!

Talk about being thrown into deep water! That is what Joshua quite literally had to begin with. God knew that he would need some encouragement, and that Joshua’s leadership must be established with the people. God tells Joshua that this is the day that He will make sure that the people know that He has Joshua’s back. That he is led of God, and that they can trust His leadership – not because Joshua is such an amazing leader but because God Himself will go before Him and they just must follow Him.

The Ark of the Covenant was not only Israel’s most precious possession, but it was the very symbol of God’s presence with them. The cloud by day and the fire by night rested on the mercy seat. It was the holiest of holy vessels in the tabernacle and later in the temple.  It carried the very presence of God. God tells Joshua to command the priests to carry the Ark of the Covenant first into the river. I am sure Joshua had moments of thinking – did I hear right? Or moments of doubt – What if I make a mistake with this one? He, the priests, and the people had to believe that this is God speaking, the Ark is moving, and it is moving into the river and we must follow.

Try to imagine that moment as if you are standing there on the overflown banks of the Jordan. Can you feel the anticipation? The anxiety? But also, the determination and faith rising up inside you? The priests took the Ark and carried it out before the people and as the feet of the priests stepped into the water, the river dammed up and allowed the dry ground to be exposed so that the people could move through the river on dry ground. God honoured His Word and His Promise. The priests remained standing in the middle of the river until all the people passed through. Then twelve leaders of the twelve tribes took twelve stones from the place where the priests' feet stood, carried it to their camping place and they built a memorial for the generations to come. When their children asked, ‘what is this...?’ then they were to tell the next generation of God’s miracle of bringing the people through the flooded Jordan river into the promised land.

We too are faced with much uncertainty and surely there are ways ahead that we have not traveled on before, but when we keep our eyes focused on God who is moving before us, we will not get lost. He will guide and lead us into new territory with new strategies – we need to listen, hear, and obey in hope and faith.

Are we willing to get our feet wet in the hope and faith that the flood waters will subside?  

We have not passed this way before
It is exciting and terrifying all at once
God’s presence is going before us – will we follow in faith?

The Ark is Moving…

Come, cross the Jordan with Joshua.

Way Maker - Michael W Smith.

Hope in the fiery furnace

Monday devotions @work 5 October 2020
People of Hope Part 22: Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego

In Daniel 3 we read the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego. King Nebuchadnezzar had built a huge golden statue and decreed that as soon as his musicians started with the blowing of the trumpets and playing music, then all of the people – all the nations, races and languages - must bow down and worship the statue. So when the king’s men realized that there were some of the Hebrews that did not adhere to this command, they went to the king and told him that some of them did not bow down and worship the statue. The king was furious and called Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego to be questioned. He asked them if it was true that they do not bow down and worship the statue – but what I find interesting is that he added the following sentence to his question:

“Do you think there is any god who can save you...?”

Everybody knew the penalty. The death sentence by being thrown into a fiery furnace – and the king was convinced that there was no god who could save them.

However, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego had a very profound answer for the king. They answered:
"Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”

They had faith and hope in their God. They unequivocally knew that He was able to save them from the fiery furnace – but even should He choose not to save them, they wanted it to be known that they will not worship the idol-god of the king!

We know the rest of the story – they were thrown into the fiery oven after it was made seven times hotter than usual. Those who threw them into the oven were killed because of the excessive heat. The king and everyone with him stood completely astonished because they suddenly realized that there were four men in the fire, and that Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego were very much alive in the fiery furnace. He called them out just to find that not only were they alive, but their clothes did not even smell like smoke!

Then the king changed the decree and commanded that nobody can speak against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego.

Sometimes we find ourselves in situations where we have to face dire consequences because of our faith. Which idols are there that the world wants us to bow before? Are we compromising, or are we standing on principle and in faith? These three friends did not know whether God was going to save them. They knew He could – but would He? The crux of the matter was not whether God was going to save them or not, the crux of the matter was that come what may, they were not going to compromise and bow before the golden statue.

Sometimes we face difficult situations. Maybe not as extreme as this one, but if we cannot choose to not compromise in small things, how will we stand in the day we are faced with the fiery furnace? Let us pray for faith like this. Knowing that God can save us – but even if He does not – we will not bow before the worldly king. 

Come worship with Jeremy Riddle:  "Be Enthroned"  

 

 

 

©2020 Copyright – All rights reserved HG Venter

"Delilah"

Monday devotions @work 28 September 2020
People of Hope Part 21: The woman caught in adultery (John 8) 

Today I post a poem written about the woman caught in adultery who was brought to Jesus by the pharisees while teaching in the temple.  We don't know her real name but in this poem she is named Delilah.  What stood out for me from her story this week is the part where Jesus wrote in the sand.  I can only try to imagine what He wrote - I think it may have been a list of the pharisees' sins.  Discovering that Jesus knew all about them as much as He knew all about this woman must have been a terrifying moment knowing that should they stone her - they may be next since their sins were now public knowledge.  Its wonderful and terrifying at the same time knowing that Jesus knows all about us - and still love us. 

"Delilah"

With great noise and bravado they brought me to Him
“Rabbi” what do You say are we to do with this woman?
Caught red-handed in adultery – this very night!

I stood with head bowed
broken, guilty, too ashamed, to scared to look up
All I expected to see in His eyes was
hatred, judgment, rejection,
For He would have no reason
to show love, compassion, grace or mercy!
He has never sinned
He has never fallen so low as I have!
He would not understand the brokenness of my heart
that brought me to this day!
He has the right to condemn me to death – forever!

I waited for the first stone to fall
Silence.....
The silence made me look up slightly
I saw Him writing in the sand
then our eyes met for a few seconds
I felt the warmth of His love and compassion
wash over me
It washed over my broken sinful heart
It healed the hurt, cleansed the sin
washed my guilt away
In that moment
I knew he understood my brokenness
and He made me whole!

“You who have no sin – throw the first stone” I heard Him say
After some more silence I realised that I was alone with Him,
“Has no one condemned you, my child?” He asked
“No my Lord – no one” - I answered
“Neither do I - go and sin no more...” – He said

I walked away
- forgiven
- loved
- without guilt or shame
Free!
Alive!
and I sinned no more.....

Let us worship with Mac Powell as he sings about How Jesus sees us when He looks at us:

When Love sees you

© Copyrighted by Salomé Lloyd 19/04/2009 (re-posted with permission 27 September 2020)

Giants still... the battle belongs to God

Interesting how the same theme sometimes pops up at the same time.  Once again this was the case with a post from Ellel Ministries this week.  After our post last week about Giants and grasshoppers it was such confirmation when I received this post from them in the week.  I decided to share it with you today:

Read it Here:  Giants

 Let us worship with Phil Wickham:  The Battle belongs...

 

Grasshoppers vs Giants

People of Hope Part 20: Joshua and Caleb
Monday devotions @Work 14 September 2020

Israel was on the brink of moving into the promised land. After decades of living in slavery, they finally arrived at this moment. They sent out spies to scout out the land, but ten of the twelve spies came back with a bad report. They said: “There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.” (Numbers 13:33)

The remaining two spies, Joshua and Caleb, however gave a different report. They said:  "Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them.” (Numbers 14:9)

How can people belonging to the same group, all of whom had just spent forty days scouting out the same promised land, seeing the same things, having the same experiences, have such vastly different opinions?

I believe the answer lies in what they believed. The ten spies saw themselves as grasshoppers and they believed the giants saw them like that too.  However, the real question would be – “What did they believe about their God?” Per implication they believed their God is a grasshopper as well. After all the miracles in Egypt, through the Red Sea and in the wilderness, their God was not big enough to fight the giants? This belief cost them forty years in the wilderness and a generation that died without seeing the promised land.

The truth is, we need to look at ourselves not in terms of our own strength, but in terms of the size of our God. Even though Israel were as grasshoppers measured against the size of the giants, the giants’ gods were as grasshoppers in the eyes of the God of Israel. In fact, He is so big that He thought nothing of fighting a giant through a grasshopper and He knew that He would be victorious. He just needed people to believe Him. He wanted them to see Him for Who He is and not look at their own strength and measure that against the size of a giant.

What is the giant in your and my life today? What do we believe about our God? Do we have a different spirit like Caleb, seeing into the spirit by faith to realize that God has already removed the protection of the giants? Do we measure Him against our own size, or do we see Him for Who He is – infinitely big enough to overcome a giant using a grasshopper?

Let us worship with Rend Collective - Every Giant will fall!
                              

©2020 Copyright HG Venter

The Man on the Cross Next Door

 

 

©2017 L.Venter

 

People of hope part 19: The Man on the Cross Next Door
Monday devotions @ Work 7 September 2020

In Luke 23:39-43 we read the account of Jesus’s crucifixion and the 2 men that was crucified with him and the brief, but most remarkable conversation Jesus had with them.

39 Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” 40 But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” 43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

We know virtually nothing about these two men apart from the fact that they committed crimes apparently deserving of the death penalty under the criminal justice system of the day. What we do know about them though is their respective reactions to the verdicts and the consequences thereof.

On the one hand one of the men said to Christ “If you are the Christ, save yourself and us!” This man showed no acknowledgement of his wrongdoing – his only objective was to be relieved of his pain and to be released from the cross and back into the life he knew on earth. His focus seems to be on the here and now with very little if any vision of a future or insight in matters of justice or righteousness let alone spiritual holiness.

On the other hand, his fellow counterpart on the other cross displayed a vastly different attitude. There are several things we can derive from his reaction.

· He seems to fear God – he knows he is dying and is thinking about and reviewing his future! This is in stark contrast to the other thief who seems to only have this life in mind. He even rebukes this man by saying “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation?

· This man acknowledges his guilt when he states “And indeed, justly for we receive the due reward of our deeds…” He knows in his spirit there can be no forgiveness without an acknowledgement of wrongdoing and in this critical hour he is not arrogantly holding on to his innocence or blaming someone else including the cruel justice system of the day. He could have done that in bitterness and offense – he did not.

· He recognizes Jesus’s innocence. “…but this Man has done nothing wrong” In stark contrast with acknowledging his own guilt and acceptance of his punishment on grounds thereof he openly declares to the other man that Jesus is innocent. He probably knew that Jesus’s trial and sentence was illegal even in the justice system of the day – but also that He had committed no crime at all. Thus, somewhere in this man’s spirit – despite being a criminal himself – he has a sense of justice and is not compromising on that.

· He asks for grace. “… remember me…” Against all odds this man decides that he has one more chance – one more opportunity to change the outcome of his future – and that depends on grace alone. He has nothing to offer God. He has no nicely successful life, no accolades, or achievements to depend on. In this hour – He grabs onto the only last strand of hope left – The grace and mercy of God. Grace means to get what you do not deserve. He had no chance to make restitution. He could not go back and fix what he did wrong to whom he did wrong in this life. All he could ask for was God’s grace – and he did – he asked.

· He addresses Jesus as “Lord” recognizing His authority as a King when he declares that Jesus has a Kingdom, “… when you come into your Kingdom” even though Jesus did not appear to be in a position of authority at all! In Jesus’s worst hour on earth when He had willingly laid down His Kingship and became sin for us – this man addresses Jesus as “Lord”.

· At this point Jesus answers him “Assuredly I say to you today you will be with Me in Paradise” Jesus extends the grace he asks for to him. Jesus knows He is the King and He has a Kingdom and He has the authority to grant this man entry into His Kingdom. In this moment this man on the cross next to Jesus becomes completely innocent. His cross void of sin – because all His sin is on the cross of The Man next door – the cross of Jesus. There has been an exchange in the spirit. The man’s sin left him and clung to Jesus. Jesus was dying in the place of this man.

· We do not read of a verbal response to Jesus’s answer as this man receives the grace he asks for but sometimes silences are loaded with more meaning than all the words in the world we could string together in whatever sequence. I think this was one of those moments where silence spoke louder than what a thousand words could ever be able to speak. The first sinner in the New Covenant transformed and transported in split seconds from eternal death to eternal life. A moment where words are inadequate. The moment when this man receives from the hand of Jesus what he does not deserve – Paradise.

I wonder what this moment meant to Jesus. The world, the church his disciples all have forsaken, rejected, and despised him and a few moments ago He said: “Father why have you left me, leaving me helpless and abandoned?” In this very moment there is the first sinner right next to him – acknowledging, seeing recognizing what Jesus is doing for him. Asking, receiving the grace of the King. One man seeing, recognizing, accepting, receiving what Jesus is doing for all the world. One person to take with Him to Paradise that very day! 

 

Today I do not post a worship song with this as it is most appropriate to observe a moment of silence in which we need to say:

 

"Lord... remember me..."

©2020 Copyright:  All rights reserved HG Venter free2celebrate@gmail.com