Life Between Brackets!
“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind…..” Luke 9:27.

Lord, you are teaching me that I must always live my life between brackets. No condition of my life is ever permanent. God brings about every condition; He also ends every one. There is a time and season for every part of our life. (Ecclesiastes 3). If I find myself in sorrow today, God will deliver me tomorrow as I turn to Him. God today blesses with victory, spiritual, and material wealth. But if we become prideful this stops the blessings of God.

Why does God give us changing, altering conditions. God does not want just one-track minds in His Kingdom. (I Timothy 6:17 KJV). Too much wealth leads us to “trust in uncertain riches. Too much sorrow leads us to despair. The combination is just right. The land to which the Israelites were traveling was a “land of hills and valleys”. (Deuteronomy 11:11). There cannot be hills without valleys nor can there be great victories without great battles.

That comforts me, Lord. The distressing situation that nags and embarrasses me today must give way to something better (or at least different). Patience says, “Wait, God will set it right.” The ecstasy of God’s blessings must be received with a sober thought; tomorrow it will be gone.

Now I see what your Word means when it says Moses “endured, as seeing the invisible” (Hebrews 11:27). It is in seeing the invisible One that keep me in perfect balance. I cannot endure seeing my brief, ever changing circumstances. I can endure only by looking to the One who ends those circumstances as He molds us. Lord, my vow is this; I will patiently look to the only constant and realty in my life-God Himself. Then I will understand what the psalmist said: The Lord will perfect (bring to completion) that which concerneth me” (Psalm 138:8 KJV).

Enduring Contradictions!
Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. (I Peter 1:13).

I will promise to learn what Jesus’ experience, the contradictions of sinners against Himself. (Heb. 12:3). So often my best friends become a snare. (Matt. 16:23). Jesus had to suffer the contradictions of Simon Peter against Himself. What harder trial than to have your own most loyal supporter consciously become your worst enemy? But Jesus endured it. (Heb.12:3).

This is where I fail so often. I do not endure. When opposed by a brother, I feel sorry for myself, lash out in anger, or shrug the whole thing off with a moral philosophy, “that’s the way things are”. How much better for me to learn something from the contradiction. Why should I waste a valuable commodity like a contradiction when it has so many educational benefits for me?
To be contradicted means I can shape my brother, as he can shape me. It is a diamond cutting diamond. God does not send me a contradiction to harass me only Satan harasses, God educates.
Father God sends those contradictions because there is something in my character, like a lack of patience that needs His correction. And likewise, my contradictor has a defect that God intends to correct using me.

Lord, teach me how to endure, as Jesus did. Teach me that snares and obstacles, traps and offenses are only a means of re-forming my ministry to what you have called me. If I keep my eye on the goal, as Jesus did, (Heb. 12:1-2), I will endure. Traps and snares never bother the disciple who is steadfastly looking at his Pioneer and Guide. When the “contradicted one” is in me and is in control, He will be able to cut through the forests of contradictions like an experienced woodman’s. He has gone before me. Now He turns to give me what He has- the life of unruffled trust.

Remember the way you BELIEVE is the way you will SPEAK. And the way you speak is the way you will LIVE.

Living as Never Seen Death!
Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:55-57

God ‘s purpose for me as his disciple is that I should never see death. Enoch is a great example of a life lived so dependently on God that not even death could touch him. “By faith, Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death.” (Hebrews 11:5). There’s no “dying grace” with Enoch for dying grace is God ‘s final act of charity toward a believer who needs a little extra help in his transition from earth to heaven. I must live so that no dying grace will ever be necessary.

Victory over death does not occur when death lays its hand upon me. It occurs in the continuous stream of life, where death continually shadows me and seeks to frighten me, even though it cannot claim me. I must live as Enoch did, by faith, which continually holds down death. By the time I reach my actual transition, death should be a slain giant dangling at my side. My immortality must be an immediate and continual experience. I must not die and go to heaven, but live and go to heaven. In fact, I must not go to heaven at all, but bring heaven down to earth so that my transition will simply be the continuation of an already heavenly walk.

I must get beyond the point where faith “saves my soul”. Thank God, it does that, but it’s indefinitely more; it creates a way of life in which heaven has already come as not just a distant hope. Some Christians say, “oh if we’re only in heaven”, I can be in heaven, here, and now, by faith. By living, according to God ‘s rules, by letting God visit me personally, by thinking heavenly thoughts, I can be in enwrapped by heaven now; then when the transition comes, it will be just the further opening of everlasting glory!

Remember the way you BELIEVE is the way you will SPEAK. And the way you speak is the way you will LIVE.

Competition with Others!
Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:3).

I must be aware of one of Satan’s subtlest traps-competing with others. Jesus knew nothing of competition; He only knew service. Too often I am like the disciples, striving to see who should be the greatest (Luke 22:24) and forgetting that the greatest of all is he who washes the feet of others.

Competition is really warfare, and the only competitor I have is myself. Competition is Pandora’s box that releases negative feelings toward others. This must be discouraged. But I must encourage negative feelings toward my own pride, laziness, self-will, love of praise, and unwillingness to put myself out for others. I must avoid the trap of comparison, for God’s plan for me is as individual and distinctive as the formulation of a snowflake. A true disciple compares himself with himself and he is able to say, “The Lord has enabled me to grow in that particular discipline.”

Competition is one of Satan’s tactics. The moment God said to him, ‘Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him.” (Job 1:8). Satan was determined to bring down Job. Satan could not stand God’s praise of Job; he wanted it for himself. Whenever I am tempted to pattern my life or behavior after someone else, I must hear Jesus say: “What is that to you? You follow me.” (John 21:22).

Competition ceases the moment I follow Paul’s advice; “Give preference to one another in honor” (Romans 12:10). This kind of striving is for the lowest, not the highest place. Imagine that, striving for the humblest spot! Yet wasn’t this the path chosen by Jesus, who “humbled himself”. Even unto death of the cross? (Philippians 2:5-8). Lord, give me excellent marks in following you!

Remember the way you BELIEVE is the way you will SPEAK. And the way you speak is the way you will LIVE.

YESHUA
Salvation

Many people don’t understand the importance of a name. When people hear your name, what do they think about it? What type of person are you? What have you done to better the lives of others? What’s in the name?

You see, the name Jesus in Hebrew is Yeshua, which means “salvation”. So, when Jesus went to the house of tax collector named Zacharias and said today, “salvation has come to this house” He was making a point because “salvation”, Jesus came to Zachary’s house that day. (Luke 19:9).

The translation also gives us significance verses like surely “God is my salvation”, (Isaiah 12:2) also “the Lord has become my salvation”. (Exodus 25:2). The Hebrew translation of these verses would use the word Yeshua for “salvation”.

We all have a name. Our name identifies us, and for some of us it defines our credibility and even our reputation. But the Scriptures say that only one name can shine light in dark darkness, bring hope to hopelessness, and heal the brokenhearted. His name is Jesus, is our salvation. How would your life change if your identity and reputation was built on the name of Jesus? Can others see Jesus in you?

The Aftermath of Victory!
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. (Romans 8:37).

I must be careful never to let a victory over Satan become my weakness, his prime targets are not victims, but victors. Paul reminds me of this when he says, “And having done all, to stand, stand”. (Ephesians 6:13). In other words, after a notable victory, be even more on your guard. Satan is the great “spoiler” and he loves to suck the honey out of a sweet victory we have won over him.

Think of Sanballat and Nehemiah. After his threats and harassment failed, Sanballat said to Nehemiah, “Come let us meet together….in the plain of Ono”. (Neh. 6:2). He meant, “Why fight each other any longer? I tried to prevent the walls from going up, but I failed. Now let’s be good sports, forget the past, and plan something harmonious for the future”. Satan never quits when he loses. If Nehemiah has listened to Sanballat, all his previous efforts would have been washed away.

I love the word Nehemiah gave in reply, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down” (Neh. 6:3). When Satan comes to neutralize my victory, I am to ignore his statements, and refuse him. Never must I turn from God’s directive (to build walls for His work) to think about Satan’s suggestions. More then that, I must never gloat over my victory over Satan, for gloating represents an abnormal preoccupation with the victory itself, rather than with the work God has given me to do. The victory is only an incident, a battle in the eternal war, and I must quickly arm myself against the next visit from the evil one. Having done that, I must stand, not nakedly, but “in the strength of His might” (Eph. 6:10), for my all-Conqueror stopped Satan’s darts and crushed his armory forever. Remember there can be no great victories without great battles!

Rights & Privileges!
Jesus was God’s Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. Hebrews 5:8

I must learn once and for all the differences between my rights and my privileges. To be called a “son of God” is my right because of what Jesus suffered on the cross of Calvery. (John 1:12), but the expression of that sonship is a privilege that I must earn. Even Jesus, the eternal Son of God, had to earn a better name than the angels (Hebrews 1:4). Sonship with God comes to me through my faith in Jesus Christ, but the glory of my sonship comes to me only when I am faithful to Him who called me and my calling.

How I love the “over-comings” of (Revelation 2 and 3). “To him who overcomes, “said Jesus to His followers, “I will give….” What wonderful blessings He grants and bestows on His servants: the tree of life, hidden manna, power over nations, open praise, a new name, and a throne of glory. And yet w\each of these is not given unconditionally; it is bestowed upon me as I overcome. The overcomer earns the privilege; and unless he does indeed earn it, none will be given, even though he is a son of God.

That is what I read about Jesus. “Therefore…God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name (Philippians 2:9). The glory that Jesus now enjoys is an earned glory, a glory that the Father bestowed upon Him only after He made Himself of no reputation, took upon Himself the form of a servant, became man, and obeyed even to the cross.

So, it must be with me. My sonship with God is the seed out of which I am to reap a harvest of dedicated discipleship, the result of which will be reward, recognition, honor, and praise. God forbid is should ever be said of me, “He did not live up to his birth promise”. Rather, by God’s help, may I hear Him say; “I have counted you worthy of the Kingdom. (2 Thessalonians 1:5). I am in the Kingdom by grace; I am worthy of the Kingdom by obedient sonship.

The Danger of Distraction!
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your trust be evident to all. The Lord is at hand. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:4-7).

Lord, I must avoid at all times the danger of distraction. What I do on earth echoes throughout eternity. The lives I touch and do not touch are usually due to being distracted by other things that blur my true mission in life. The Lord God knows how easy it is for us to be sidetracked from His will in our daily lives. Sometimes my little kingdom totters, my family convulses, and my mind staggers to the edge. Then I must be still and know that God is God. He must be my only refuge, my rock, my defense, and my fortress.

I must avoid running to Egypt which symbolizes the world for help. This is what Israel did when confronted by a fearsome foe (Isaiah 30:1-2). The trouble with running to the world (Egypt) s that it is a “little help”, and a little help can become a wholesale disaster. It is better to trust the Lord fully, and be completely delivered (vv12-13). Egypt was an illusion, a paper tiger, a tree inwardly eaten by worms. She looked formidable, but her looks were deceiving. She had glamour but no strength. If Israel (or I) trust in Egypt, it will become a “shame and …confusion” to me and whoever I touch (v3 KJV).

How often in my desperation have I looked to a person of wealth, so called possessing wisdom and knowledge, maturity and experience and said, “you are my deliverer”, only to discover the wealth, wisdom, and maturity were nothing more than cold ashes. There was no help whatsoever! I was driven in humiliation back to the source of my strength and wisdom, back to God and His everlasting arms.

It is not acting in faith when we have moments of running to Egypt and is certainly a sin to rest my weight and security upon Egypt, rather relying on God. To “be still” means to “relax”, but I must relax upon the solid rock of Jesus and His word. This is not a trust upon the shifting sands of trusting Egypt. Relaxing on Jesus and His word is like Nahum stated, “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knows those who take refuge in Him. (Nahum 1:7).

Working to Conquer Canaan!
Therefore, we must fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. Heb. 4:1.

A disciple must understand the difference between “rest” and “works” if he is to be successful. The Bible says, “We who have believed enter that rest” (Heb. 4:3), but that refers to the rest of not having to strive for our salvation. It does not refer to the rest of not having to strive for our victory. We understand that victory was won at Calvary by Jesus’ redemptive work but we are also exhorted to “fight the good fight of faith.” (I Tim. 6:12).

Too often Christians have a carry-over attitude toward their spiritual life. Because we are saved through faith alone, we feel victory should come the same way. While we trust in God to see us through, we are not exempt from suffering, struggling, and striving in order to achieve victory. The land of Canaan, while promised to the Israelites, had to be fought for, maintained, and worked before it began to yield its fruit of possession to them. So is it with me. Christ has provided me with all things that pertain to life and godliness, (2 Peter 1:4-5) but must be received by faith put into action. They become a reality in my life as I “fight the good fight of faith.” by warfare and hard work.

I conquer Canaan by working on it. I work hard in prayer, self-denial, in witnessing to a hostile world, in facing opposition, in living in accordance with the Word of God, in obeying God’s Word regardless of the obstacles, and in challenging Satan’s right to trespass.

That way of life is anything but easy. But when Canaan begins to yield it fruit, what blessings and what glory! Victory does not come without a battle, but my faith is like Caleb’s, “Give me this mountain…the Lord will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them [the enemy] out, as the Lord said” (Joshua 14:12).

Mannequin Christianity!
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10).

The one thing that God wants to see above all else in me, and that He prizes above all else, is a genuine thirst for Him and His kingdom. He makes this the condition of service. Aaron was chosen as high priest for Israel because his rod “budded” (Numbers 17:8); it sprouted with blossom and fruit because God Himself had miraculously given it life. The lesson is obvious: unless I possess this type of total dedication to Him. I will be fruitless.

God’s people have institutionalized spiritual service. We call a man to be a pastor, and because his is officially a pastor, we expect him to be a mouthpiece for God. Not Necessarily. The title is not the reflection of the type of life God desires, and the office is not the fruit. God does not bless an office or a title; He blesses a person, and He blesses him because he evidences the flow of dedication and integrity in his life.

Jesus Christ was a Priest after the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 5:6). Why? Because Melchizedek was a priest in function, not office. He had no temple, no sanctuary, no ritual; but his life was a continuous outpouring of the life of God in his heart, which blessed others, including Abraham.

Walking in the power of the Holy Spirit is what God requires and what the world craves. Walking in the power of the Holy Spirit is walking in LOVE which fulfills the law (Romans 13:8-10). Nobody, not even an agnostic, will refuse the life and fruit that God gives through His people, but everyone will bitterly denounce the “mannequin” aspect of Christianity, form without life. If I am to serve the world I must have life, the “more abundant” life that Jesus came to offer. Men have no use for “rods” or “sticks” that are beautiful in appearance but helpless to makes things new. God is the Reviver of dry bones and the Restorer of parched deserts; He is the Giver of Life through His Holy Spirit, by whom I become gloriously, overflowingly alive (Ezekiel 37:14).