Affirmed

Affirmed

Jude 1: ¹² With their shameless carousing they are like dirty spots in your fellowship meals. They take care only of themselves. They are like clouds carried along by the wind, but bringing no rain. They are like trees that bear no fruit, even in autumn, trees that have been pulled up by the roots and are completely dead. ¹³ They are like wild waves of the sea, with their shameful deeds showing up like foam. They are like wandering stars, for whom God has reserved a place forever in the deepest darkness.

 

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“What about me?” I cried out to the LORD. I saw inexperienced people seem to excel, while I was sitting at my desk, waiting to be elevated. I asked mentors what I should do. “Promote yourself” they said. Something inside me took pause to the advice. A leader chose me and said “I am glad you are not like the others by doing self-promotion.”

 

• I was actually going to start self- promoting.
• I was tired of waiting to be noticed.
• I wanted a crowd to affirm “my” talents.

 

Jude continues his warning. He originally was going to write about salvation, but the HOLY SPIRIT led him to discuss “godless people” who slipped in, pretending to know JESUS as the Savior, but had hidden agendas to acquire fame. Jude compares these people to “dirty spots”, Clouds with no rain, trees that produce no fruit and waves showing shameful deeds.

 

My Observations:

• GOD sees when I cry out to HIM to make “me” famous instead of making HIM known.
• GOD wants me to turn to HIM and point to HIS SON so I can be used by HIM to bear fruit.
• GOD knows I need to focus on HIM versus focusing on fame so the world’s waves won’t pull me in.

 

Seeking affirmation can cause me problems. I mean, when I feel I need to be more famous, or “liked” by a crowd, I seek being noticed at every turn. This causes me to think only of myself and barely mention GOD. BUT HE has another way.

 

GOD wants my life to bear HIS fruit. My life is HIS and HE can decide how and when HE wants to use the gifts HE gave me. HE wants me ready and willing to be used by HIM, regardless of my fame. HE loves you and me and never leaves when times are tough. I am glad GOD helps us point people to HIM.

 

Challenge

• What comparisons from the writer sticks out the most to you?
• Have you ever gotten mad at GOD for making someone else famous?
• Will you seek to make JESUS famous to those who are around you and be affirmed that HE loves you just the way you are today?

Safe and Sure

 

Safe and Sure

Hebrews 6: ¹⁸ There are these two things, then, that cannot change and about which God cannot lie. So we who have found safety with him are greatly encouraged to hold firmly to the hope placed before us. ¹⁹ We have this hope as an anchor for our lives. It is safe and sure, and goes through the curtain of the heavenly temple into the inner sanctuary. ²⁰ On our behalf Jesus has gone in there before us and has become a high priest forever, in the priestly order of Melchizedek.

 

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Wanting to be “rich”, I asked a rich person for investment advice. He told me about investing in  penny stocks. I tried it by investing in a random company. I watched the stock go up and my hope was elated. But when the stock went down, my hope receded. I did not sell fast enough and lost the amount I invested.

 

• My hope was based on the performance of a hunch.
• My hope was placed in the thought of getting money.
• My hope was not stable because money would come and go.

 

Paul, the assumed writer, concludes his discussion about GOD’s promises being reliable. Since the purpose of GOD does not change, we can place our hope in HIM. This hope is strong enough to go into the inner sanctuary of GOD.

 

My Observations:

• Hope is important enough to GOD that HE observes it to see if HE is at the center of it.
• Prayer is something that is important to GOD, so much so, that HE keeps each hope filled prayer in a spiritual bowl.
• Faith is something important to GOD and HE looks at it in measures and rewards me for when I exercise it.

 

Humans value money, fame and power. BUT GOD values hope, prayer and faith. These conflict with one another. I mean, when I try to use human methods to “feel” better, I can leave GOD out of the equation and rely on my own plans and abilities. When things go terribly wrong, I lose hope. BUT GOD has a remedy.

 

HE wants me to place my hope in JESUS, who was sinless and died to redeem the world. The tactic of not believing in “sin” or of having “my” truth will not stand up in front of the Living GOD. Only JESUS, who is the High Priest, will have the last word on all that I do. HE will examine my hope, prayers and faith and will deem me as being clean. I am glad I can place my hop in HIM.

 

Challenge

• What does the writer urge you to do?
• Have you ever placed your hope in money or a person or a job and been disappointed?
• Will you place your hope in JESUS, so it can be sternal and know HE has the best for you today?

Known For

Luke 23: ²⁶ As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.

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Rounding first base I advanced to second base. But on my way I tripped and skinned my knee, tearing a hole in my pants. It was kick-baseball so I made it to the base but the pants exposed a bleeding scraped leg. After gym class it was time for our homeroom to go and take pictures. I was chosen to sit in the front row. My bloody knee was immortalized on film forever.

• There are some things I did not want to be known for.
• There are memories that I did not want to keep remembering.
• There are some moments that I wish I wasn’t labeled with.

Simon from Cyrene happened to be at the wrong place at the right time, or was it wrong? He became famous for helping carry JESUS’s cross. While the guards were trying to bully the people, they did not know this simple act would forever label Simon as a helper of JESUS.

• GOD gives me small things to do so HE can be excited forever.
• GOD enables me to serve so HE will give me rewards in heaven.
• GOD wants my focus on HIM so “my” legacy will point towards HIM.

“What will you be known for?” was a question posed to me. After thinking for a while I could not think of anything I cared about that I wanted people talking about after my death. BUT GOD intervened and said “How about ME?” Then it hit me.

Perhaps if I pointed my life to GOD then people would talk about HIM rather than trying to remember me. Bringing people to truly serve GOD is what I want to be known for so GOD will be excited.

• Are you trying to be known?
• Are you seeking fame?
• Will you point your life to GOD and allow HIM to draw people to HIM through you?

Fame News

Luke 4: ¹⁴ Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region. ¹⁵ And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.

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“This is my chance” I said to myself. I ran towards the crowd, climbed up steps from outside the bannister and smiled towards the camera. The news was at the house of someone being arrested and I kept trying to stick my head behind the newscaster. “Did you see me on TV?” I asked everyone I knew.

• There were times when I wanted my moment of fame.
• There were times when I wanted to be noticed.
• There were times when I wanted everyone to know my name.

JESUS was now ready to face the world having been tempted in every way a human could. HE was led by the power of the SPIRIT to teach what the FATHER wanted for HIS children. HIS teaching was fresh and new unlike the church leaders of the day. HE taught the truth and became famous.

• JESUS wants me to speak about HIM.
• JESUS wants me to point at HIS fame, not mine.
• JESUS wants me to bring people to HIM so they may glorify HIM.

All attention should go to JESUS. Even the HEAVENLY FATHER said “This is MY SON who I AM very pleased.” The entire bible is written about JESUS, yet somehow the church leaders tried to make it about humans and their lack of trying or giving.

GOD doesn’t want me to speak on the inadequacies of humanity, though there are many. HE wants me to speak on the gift that JESUS gave me freely, namely mercy and forgiveness for my sins. HE loves me dearly and wants me to teach that HE loves others too.

• Are you seeking the spotlight?
• Do you think you need to be famous in order to be heard?
• Can you stop seeking fame and allow GOD to speak through you on JESUS’s behalf today?

Immediate Fame

Mark 15: ²¹ Then they compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming out of the country and passing by, to bear His cross.

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Sitting alphabetically was not in my favor this time. I wound up sitting around a couple of people who actually were doing the stuff to get my teacher’s attention, not in a good way. My teacher must have noticed something going on this particular day as she summoned me to her desk. Not knowing if I were in trouble or not, I walked timidly to her realm. “Go to the office…” I got nervous. “And get the movie projector.” I was relieved!

• Once I was chosen because of what bullies were doing.
• This one time I was chosen because the bullies were rowdy and I just happened to be there.
• One time I was chosen to do work but it did not seem like work because I was chosen.

Compelled is such a nice word that was used to describe the bullying from the soldiers. A Cyrenian named Simon just happened to be at the wrong place at the right time. He was forced to serve the Living GOD by carrying HIS cross. The guards were totally unaware that their actions would make this family famous.

• GOD tells me to “Take up my cross daily.”
• GOD says to me “Bear one another’s cross.”
• GOD implores me to “Love one another, just as I have loved you.”

The cross represents a painful execution method in this passage, however it means something else daily. GOD wants me to not only have sympathy, but empathy as I go through the pain of life “with” people.

Simon’s immediate fame was ordained by GOD. While the long walk was painful, embarrassing and degrading to Simon’s character, he would now be mentioned as being part of the Great News about CHRIST! GOD wants me to have a part in this as well. Through my circumstances HE adds my reward that HE will give me in heaven.

• Are you going through something difficult?
• Does it look like the bullies have forced you to do something degrading?
• Does it seem hopeless at times?
• Can you allow GOD to use this situation for HIS purpose?

Empty Promises

Isaiah 36: ¹³ Then the commander stood and called out in Hebrew, “Hear the words of the great king, the king of Assyria! ¹⁴ This is what the king says: Do not let Hezekiah deceive you. He cannot deliver you! ¹⁵ Do not let Hezekiah persuade you to trust in the Lord when he says, ‘The Lord will surely deliver us; this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.’

¹⁶ “Do not listen to Hezekiah. This is what the king of Assyria says: Make peace with me and come out to me. Then each of you will eat fruit from your own vine and fig tree and drink water from your own cistern, ¹⁷ until I come and take you to a land like your own—a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards.

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“I’d like to promote you” were the words of one who felt he was on his way up. Two months later he was fired. “If you would just work a little harder then…” were the promises of another manager. I worked harder and she was promoted and I stayed where I was. “I like your style, I want to promote you” were the words of the next boss. Wait, I think I heard these words before.

• Sometimes I had desires that were not in the best direction.
• Sometimes I had desires that were expressed but not understood.
• Sometimes I had desires that were surprisingly miscalculated.

After I heard the empty words from another manager, I thought I would take my career in my own hands. I climbed the ladder only to find dead grass rather than green grass. The fame and fortune was there but something was missing, GOD.

• GOD says to me “Do not be ashamed of me or I will be ashamed of you.”
• GOD says to me “Trust in the LORD with all your heart.”
• GOD says to me “Do not believe in flattering words, believe in the LORD your GOD.”

Companies threaten to take money away or they flatter with giving more money. I bought into the latter and found myself with less time for GOD and more time for work. BUT GOD was gracious. HE was glorious enough to allow me this away time from HIM. HE welcomed me back with open arms and guided me to HIS safety.

• Are you being threatened?
• Does the situation seem hopeless?
• Are you tempted to give up on GOD?
• Can you return back to HIM and believe in HIS deliverance?

Living a life of purpose

2 Peter 1: ¹³ I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, ¹⁴ because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.

¹⁵ And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.

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With new tie in hand I proceeded to the door. The exits all looked the same because in my haste to purchase a replacement for my forgotten tie I failed to note which way I had entered. That was only the beginning of the problem. I walked out and could not find my rental car because I didn’t remember what kind of car it was nor the color. Yes the information was on the key.

After finally finding my car I returned to the hotel. When I woke the next day I could not remember what city I was in. I had travelled too much. I sat on the side of my bed and asked myself, “is this my purpose in life?”

·         When I am overwhelmed I may not be living my life purpose.

·         When I am feeling absolutely miserable I may not be living my life purpose.

·         When I am restless and want something new I may not be living my life purpose.

I made work my purpose for living and quite honestly it only got me more work. Okay, I did get more money and accolades but they soon faded and I wondered “is this it?” BUT GOD has another purpose for me.

·         GOD says remind people about what I have already written on their heart.

·         GOD says make disciples to follow ME instead of following buildings or people.

·         GOD says love those who are difficult to love while loving your family and friends.

Leaving a legacy is nice but leaving people with ways to stop rejecting GOD is better. I used to think there were humans who just had not heard of CHRIST and needed me to tell them, now I believe GOD has written HIS word on every heart and it’s up to each not to reject HIM. I serve as a reminder to follow what they already know.

·         Do you have purpose?

·         Are you living your life’s purpose out?

·         Do you realize GOD has given you talents that only you possess?

·         Can you understand “your presence” can affect the situation?

My Quest for Power!

Luke 14: ¹³ But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, ¹⁴ and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

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The Chief Operating Officer of the Japan division was due to land in a matter of hours. We scurried to do research on his background to ensure our alliance would remain solid. Dinner that evening cost, well let’s just say it was a lot. On the way home, I felt proud that we had struck a good deal.

Dinners like this were a common occurrence and not once did I think about treating someone who could not help my career to this lavish lifestyle.

• When it comes to serving the poor I sometimes give my leftovers.
• When it comes to serving the lame I sometimes cringe, not wanting to see missing limbs or broken bodies.
• When it comes to serving the crippled I sometimes try to assess how they got like that so I can judge their lifestyle justifying my “non-action.”
• When it comes to serving the blind I sometimes fear blindness and I stay as far away from them as possible.

Networking with the rich and powerful was a quest I had for a while. I don’t know when it started but I could sniff out the leaders and get next to them quickly to “show my stuff.” They would embrace me and I would get the best projects and the largest budgets. But what about serving?

• The best reward comes from GOD when I do something for those who cannot repay.
• The best reward comes from GOD who sees what I do for others in secret.
• The best reward comes from GOD especially when I seek those who need help.

It’s real easy to ignore those in need to “get ahead.” I call them the “throw away people.” These are the less fortunate, less powerful and less desirable people who I tried to avoid, not on purpose, they just did not have anything to offer, or so I thought.

GOD wants me to have compassion for the masses so HE steered me in the direction of “seeing” the less fortunate now whereas before I could not see them. Serving them draws to HIM.

• When is the last time you served the poor?
• Will you reach out to the person who is crippled, lame or blind?
• Can you find time to serve the powerless today?
• Will you help someone in need as an act of worshipping GOD?

Fearing GOD is more important!

Luke 12: ⁴ “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. ⁵ But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.

⁶ Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. ⁷ Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

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Interview day had arrived and I was meeting with the entire senior management team. Needless to say I couldn’t sleep the night before. When they called my name fear went through my entire body. “This is my chance” I said to myself which made me more nervous.

For the first time in my life, my hand actually trembled as I sat in the room with the steely eyed intimidating team. Where did this fear come from? I never had it before, why now?

• Lust can drive fear in my life.
• Titles of people can drive fear in my life.
• Losing my stuff can drive fear in my life.
• Bullies can drive fear in my life.
• Wanting to be liked by everyone can drive fear in my life.

I’m not going to be able to please or reach everyone. GOD has specific people who HE wants me to be an example for.  HE wants me to be ready to have words of love, grace and mercy to those who can accept it coming from me. I should not fear this purpose.

• GOD wants me to fear not following HIS ways instead of fearing humans who are in power.
• GOD wants me to fear others facing the consequences of their sins rather than getting my way.
• GOD wants me to fear missing an opportunity to be HIS example because of the sin I just committed.

One problem that I face is GOD is too familiar to me at times. Oh I believe HE should be my friend, but not my pal. What I mean is HE deserves reverence, awe and healthy fear of HIS power. HE is pure love, yet HIS consequences are eternal.

HE despises sin and anything that turns my head away from HIM. HE made me for HIS purposes and that should be the only thing that matters in my life.

• Do you have a healthy fear of GOD?
• Are you more concerned with how you look in front of humans than being worried about how you look to GOD?
• Do you care if people know about your love for JESUS or are you busy lusting?

I want money, power and fame!

Luke 4: ⁵ The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. ⁶ And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. ⁷ If you worship me, it will all be yours.”

 ⁸ Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’”

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Money, power and fame were powerful drivers in my life. One time I imagined myself reading some popular magazine that I was on the cover as I flew off into the sunset on my private jet. But as I started my “climb” to success I began my “descent” into darkness.

• To gain money I would work so hard I would not take time for my family.
• To gain power I would ban together with the unscrupulous until I no longer needed their cunning backbiting behavior.
• To gain fame I would talk about “my” accomplishments no matter what the conversation.

It seemed like I was becoming more and more fearless in the business world and less and less fearful of following GOD’s ways. In fact I was embarrassed to mention one simple name in business, namely “JESUS” who should be the main reason for all of my words.

• GOD wants me to have lots of money as long as I have the sincere heart of giving it away.
• GOD wants me to have extreme power so HE leaves me weak and dependent on HIM.
• GOD wants me to have fame for the more people who know me the more they can hear about JESUS. (Yeah I said HIS name!)

Worldly possessions are nothing if they are not coupled with GOD.  HE doesn’t mind if I have a big house or drive a nice car as long as I open my house to teaching and pick up the meek giving them a ride while treating them with respect.

My purpose has to be to “Serve GOD” with all my mind, body, soul, desires and possessions, then the devil cannot claim he gave me anything.

• What will you do for attention?
• Are you trying to get “noticed” but not in a GODLY way?
• Are you seeking power without GOD’s permission?
• Will you serve at least one person today for GOD?