January 7, 2018

Possess the Land

"So Joshua said to the Israelites, 'How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, has given you?"  Josh. 18:3

The Israelites stood in the promised land.  They had crossed the Jordan, entered Canaan, and fought some battles.  Yet we find Joshua reprimanding the people for failure to take possession of the land they had been given.  Some of the tribes of Israel had already taken possession of the land; other tribes however, had not.  What can we learn from this?

Jesus has given us a spiritual promised land.  He had provided for us peace, joy, hope, self control, kindness, gentleness, and goodness, to name just a few.  We are required to take possession of these.  Much like the Israelites who were standing in the land but did not yet possess it, many followers of Jesus are standing in the midst of every spiritual blessing, but have not yet laid claim to them and taken possession of them.  Today - peace can be ours, if we take possession of it.  Hope and joy can be ours, because Jesus has already made it available to His followers.  We simply have to engage in the act of claiming that which is ours!

If Jesus is asking us how long we will wait before we begin possessing what we has given us, may our answer be that we wait no more, but begin to take hold of the provisions this very day. 

January 6, 2018

The Appeal

"I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains.  Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.  I am sending him-who is my very heart-back to you."  Philemon 10-12

Unlike Paul, I have not been imprisoned.  Through prison ministry I have seen many "in chains" around the country whose lives are being transformed by the love of a Shepherd-King, Jesus.  Over the past seven years, my travels have taken me to many of the same prisons, where I see women repeatedly.  Over the course of time, I have seen positive change become part of them.  Sometimes it is big change; other times it may be a little thing.  Many of the women I see have grown to be spiritual daughters in my life, maybe in some small way like Onesimus had become a son to Paul.

It is interesting the meaning of the name Onesimus - it means "useful."  This man had been a slave to Philemon and had stolen from him and then run away.  This rendered Onesimus useless to Philemon.  While locked up Onesimus met Paul and became like a son to Paul.  He entered prison "useless."  he left it living up to the meaning of his name - "useful."

Paul appeals to his friend Philemon to receive Onesimus, not as a slave, but now as a brother. Keep in mind the slave master has seen none of this alleged change.  He is called to believe Paul's report by faith.  The basis of Paul's appeal to Philemon is simple: it is Jesus.  A useless man came to prison, met Paul, received Christ as Lord and Savior, and his life was transformed.  Jesus is the Great Transformer.  Paul pushes the limits by asking Philemon to receive the slave as a brother.  The appeal for this is simple: it is Jesus.  Onesimus had his life radically altered by Jesus, who indeed uses all things for good and transformed a life.  It is also Jesus who is our Great Reconciler and the one who has given us the ministry of reconciliation.  Paul taps into that ministry when he asks Philemon to receive the man who is now useful. 

A bit like Paul, I find myself sending women - who are my very heart - back to communities and families with the prayer that they will be received as a sister. 

January 5, 2018

The King of Glory

"Who is this King of glory?  The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle."  Ps. 24:8

Here we find David celebrating the Lord's entrance into Zion.  David answers the rhetorical question he asked -- the King of glory is the Lord; the Lord strong and mighty in battle.  Our Lord Jesus is strong, He is mighty, and He battles for us. 

It takes the pressure off to realize we don't have to be strong and mighty.  In fact, it is fine to acknowledge our weakness.  Where we are weak, the Lord is strong.  When we are weak, Jesus is strong.  If we think we have it covered, the Lord is gracious and gives us the space we need to figure out we don't have it covered at all.

We call upon the King of glory to be strong and mighty in the battles of our lives.  He fights for us, as He fought for Israel.  They key is knowing He is the One with the plan, the strategy, and the victory.  Let us come into agreement and alignment with Him - our Victorious Warrior and Mighty King of Glory!

January 4, 2018

Fullness in Christ

"For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over power and authority."  Col. 2:9

Think on this truth:  you have fullness in Christ.  Full.  Complete.  In Greek it is pleroma and can refer to a ship with full cargo and crew as well as a town with occupied homes.  You have this kind of fullness and completion in Christ.  Our own kind of fullness will always come up short.  The fullness of Christ is not lacking.

God sent His one Son to dwell on earth and Jesus came with fullness.  He dwelt, or tabernacled, among men, women and children.  In some ways you can think of this as Jesus pitching a tent in your heart.     He came with fullness and He has given His followers that fullness. 

Let this truth radically change the way you think, speak, and act.  You have fullness in Christ.  You think out of His fullness.  You speak out of His fullness.  You act out of His fullness.  If your struggle has been operating out of lack, may the word of God transform you today.  For the truth is, you operate out of Christ's fullness.

January 3, 2018

Repairer and Restorer

"Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; You will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings."  Is. 58:12

This is a powerful portrayal of Jesus and His followers.  King Jesus is our Repairer of Broken Walls and Restorer of Streets with Dwellings!  We can see this literally on the images that flash before our eyes of hurricanes and other natural disasters, where walls of homes are destroyed and the streets are flooded or torn up.  King Jesus comes to our rescue then - and He invites His followers to join Him in the rebuilding process.

We sense it as well in people around us.  Life has dealt a cruel blow and walls that were meant for safe-keeping and protection have crumbled.  There is no sense of community or family.  There is no safe place to live.  King Jesus is the answer, as He gently, humbly, and lovingly restores and repairs.  The process can take time to complete.  Our King has the time.

We have walls around our heart - three layers of walls, in fact.  Each one has a specific purpose.  Hurts from long ago can damage and break those walls, exposing our heart.  The Lord is close to the broken-hearted.  King Jesus came that we might be repaired and restored from every heartache, every broken piece of our lives, and restored to become the person God designed us to be.  Come King Jesus!

January 2, 2018

What Have We Borrowed?

"The borrower is servant to the lender."  Pvbs. 22:7

When we read this proverb the tendency is to think first about finances.  While that is an appropriate consideration, today let's be encouraged to think about what we have borrowed other than money.  In prison ministry, we talk often about:

Borrowed time;

Borrowed trust; and,

Borrowed identity.

Are there things we have foolishly borrowed?  Have we borrowed time, only to throw it away and wonder "where the time went?"  Have we borrowed trust by believing the wrong group of people in times of making decisions?  Have we borrowed our identities to the point where we have no idea who we really are anymore?

The things that we have borrowed that are not from God are the things we need to return.  It may be the enemy who has loaned us time, trust and a false ID.  Let's turn those in for the truth!

Saul tried to lend David his armor in preparation to fight Goliath.  David put it on and the armor did not fit him.  David didn't need Saul's armor, he needed his own.  David realized he wasn't comfortable in Saul's armor and he would not be successful in battling against Goliath by what he borrowed.  David found his own armor - and it was very different than Saul's.  He picked up five smooth stones and used them with a slingshot to defeat Goliath.

May we return what we have borrowed and no longer serve the lender.

January 1, 2018

We Are God's Workmanship

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared for us in advance to do."  Eph. 2:10

You are special to God.  You are significant, important, valuable, and dearly loved.  You are God's workmanship - His very special "work of art."  You are unique, made by God and created in Christ Jesus.

Listen for the voice of your Father today as He whispers to you - "You are mine.  I thought about you before I fashioned you in your mother's womb.  I made you as an reflection of Myself and as an expression of My love to a broken and hurting world.  You were intentionally made; I thought about every detail that would go into your personality, skills, gifts, and talents.  I created you in My Son, and in doing so, you have been given good works to do for My Kingdom to be advanced.  Stay close to Me, listen for My voice, and follow Me.  I will show you the works that you have been given to do; created to do.  You have been prepared for this.  Everything you have been through has been part of that preparation.  I delight in You."

Beloved, you wear the best designer label I know.  It is a spiritual label.  The label does not indicate you are made in the USA or some fancy designer label from Europe.  Your label states: "Made By God."