Scripture: Revelation 19:7
Let us rejoice and be glad and give glory to Him for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.
The grace of God upon our lives is preparing us for a great and glorious day for us to be joined together with the Lamb of God as His Bride (the church). Years of preparation have taken place; not just days, or weeks, or months of preparation; but years, to make us ready to be received by Him.
The lessons that each of us learn during our life prepare us for all that God has for us. Everything that we go through on this earth is a lesson that will build our character into who God wants us to be. Every conversation that we have shows us, if we're ready or not; to move to the next level in God. Every desire of our heart, reveals to us if our relationship with the One in whom we say we love is true.
How we spend our time, lets us know if we are focusing on the temporal, rather than on our eternal purpose, of being joined together with Christ. From the time that we rise in the morning, unto the time that we lay down to rest in the night, we are in preparation stage for that great and glorious day.
Just imagine how glorious the Marriage of the Lamb will be, with all of the preparations of God. God is so good that He took His time to make sure the Bride was completely ready for the Bridegroom. He revealed the Bride to the Bridegroom before she was ready, but He did not join Her to the Bridegroom until she was completely prepared.
Reflection:
The grace of God does not rush anything; and everything is in His timing. He knows exactly when we are ready to move into the next level in our lives; that He has purposed for us. There is no need for us to rush into anything, because He is in control of our destinies. Rushing into something before we are prepared will be detrimental to God's plan for our life. When God says it's time, It's time; and we must be ready, willing, and obedient to move at the sound of His voice.
Blue Letter Bible Commentary: (Smith, 2005)
"THE MARRIAGE FEAST."
I. THE IDEAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GOD AND MAN HAS OFTEN BEEN LIKENED UNTO A MARRIAGE.
A. In the Old Testament, God's relationship to Israel as a husband to a wife.
1. When God said, "Her desire shall be to her husband." He was also expressing His wish for Israel.
a. David considered a man after God's heart not because He was after God's love.
1. "As the deer panteth after the waterbrooks, so panteth my soul..."
2. "There is none upon earth I desire but Thee."
2. When Israel turned to worship other gods, God looked upon it as adultery.
a. He grieved as a husband betrayed.
b. He sought to woo her back.
B. The husband-wife figure taken up in New Testament to show the relation of Christ to His church.
1. Paul speaks of his desire to present the church to Corinth as a chaste virgin to Christ. Espoused to one husband.
a. The church as a bride waiting for the wedding day.
1. Beautiful picture from Old Testament when "Eliezer" (My God is help) "paracletus" is sent by Abraham to get a bride for Isaac.
a. Eliezer tells of vast wealth of Abraham all given to the son.
b. He gave gifts unto Rebekah as a foreshadowing of the wealth.
b. In Ephesian letter as Paul speaks of husband-wife relationships, he then declares, "I speak concerning Christ and His Church."
1. So the church as the bride of Christ espoused to Him awaits the wedding.
II. THE MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB IS COME!
A. "Let us be glad and rejoice."
1. Present us to the Father as His bride, with exceeding joy.
2. Oh, the joy of that day when we stand together with Him.
B. "Let us give honor to Him."
III. BEHOLD THE BRIDE.
A. Filled with joy and excitement.
B. Behold her beautiful white gown.
1. It is of fine linen.
2. The priests were to wear robes of linen. Why?
a. Wool would cause them to perspire, and perspiration speaks of works.
b. Salvation is God's work, not ours.
c. God wants inspiration.
3. "The fine linen is the righteousness of the saints."
a. "And be found in Him, not having my own righteousness which is of the law..."
IV. TWO THINGS SAID TO JOHN.
A. "Blessed" happy are they who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb.
B. These are the true sayings of God.
Strong's Concordance Definitions:
Let us rejoice: 5463
1) to rejoice, be glad
2) to rejoice exceedingly
3) to be well, thrive
4) in salutations, hail!
5) at the beginning of letters: to give one greeting, salute
and be glad: 521
1) to exult, rejoice exceedingly, be exceeding glad
and give: 1325
1) to give
2) to give something to someone
a) of one's own accord to give one something, to his advantage
1) to bestow a gift
b) to grant, give to one asking, let have
c) to supply, furnish, necessary things
d) to give over, deliver
1) to reach out, extend, present
2) of a writing
3) to give over to one's care, intrust, commit
a) something to be administered
b) to give or commit to some one something to be religiously observed
e) to give what is due or obligatory, to pay: wages or reward
f) to furnish, endue
3) to give
a) to cause, profuse, give forth from one's self
1) to give, hand out lots
b) to appoint to an office
c) to cause to come forth, i.e. as the sea, death and Hell are said to give up the dead who have been engulfed or received by them
c) to give one to someone as his own
1) as an object of his saving care
2) to give one to someone, to follow him as a leader and master
3) to give one to someone to care for his interests
4) to give one to someone to whom he already belonged, to return
4) to grant or permit one
a) to commission
glory: 1391
1) opinion, judgment, view
2) opinion, estimate, whether good or bad concerning someone
a) in the NT always a good opinion concerning one, resulting in praise, honour, and glory
3) splendour, brightness
a) of the moon, sun, stars
b) magnificence, excellence, preeminence, dignity, grace
c) majesty
1) a thing belonging to God
a) the kingly majesty which belongs to him as supreme ruler, majesty in the sense of the absolute perfection of the deity
2) a thing belonging to Christ
a) the kingly majesty of the Messiah
b) the absolutely perfect inward or personal excellency of Christ; the majesty
3) of the angels
a) as apparent in their exterior brightness
4) a most glorious condition, most exalted state
a) of that condition with God the Father in heaven to which Christ was raised after he had achieved his work on earth
b) the glorious condition of blessedness into which is appointed and promised that true Christians shall enter after their Saviour's return from heaven
to Him, for the marriage: 1062
1) a wedding or marriage festival, a wedding banquet, a wedding feast
2) marriage, matrimony
of the Lamb: 721
1) a little lamb, a lamb
has come: 2064
1) to come
a) of persons
1) to come from one place to another, and used both of persons arriving and of those returning
2) to appear, make one's appearance, come before the public
2) metaph.
a) to come into being, arise, come forth, show itself, find place or influence
b) be established, become known, to come (fall) into or unto
3) to go, to follow one
and His bride: 1135
1) a woman of any age, whether a virgin, or married, or a widow
2) a wife
a) of a betrothed woman
has made Herself ready: 2090
1) to make ready, prepare
a) to make the necessary preparations, get everything ready
2) metaph.
a) drawn from the oriental custom of sending on before kings on their journeys persons to level the roads and make them passable
b) to prepare the minds of men to give the Messiah a fit reception and secure his blessings
References:
Blue Letter Bible. "Revelation of Jesus Christ 19 - (NASB - New American Standard Bible)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2009. 31 Dec 2009. http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Rev&c=19&t=NASB
Higgins, S. (2009). When God Says It's Time . . . It's Time! Devotions for Thought. Http://www.devotionsforthought.blogspot.com, http://www.higginspublishing.com
Smith, Chuck. "Revelation 19:7-9." The Word for Today. Blue Letter Bible. 1 May 2005. 2009. 31 Dec 2009. http://www.blueletterbible.org/commentaries/comm_view.cfm?
AuthorID=1&contentID=5249&commInfo=26&topic=Revelation&
ar=Rev_19_7
Wednesday
Stay Focused
Scripture: Revelation 15:3
And they sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, "Great and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God, the Almighty; Righteous and true are Your ways, King of the nations!
The mighty acts of God are worthy of all of our praise, because He is true to His Word. There is nothing that our heavenly Father has proclaimed that has not already been done. Even when it appears that something is one way to us in the natural realm; God is in ultimate control of the situation. The enemy would like nothing more than to throw us off track by bringing distractiing thoughts and/or visions into our minds, about something that has been on our hearts. If he can throw us off track long enough, then we will lose focus on what really matters. All the little insignificant things that happen during the course of the day, are just that, insignificant. What God says will be, and there is nothing that the enemy can do to stop it.
There may be, what seems to be, a delay in the manifestation of what God has spoken in our lives; however, we must continue to believe God, no matter what. Let us not be distracted by what we see with our natural eye. Let us not be discouraged by what seems to be happening to slow according to our own personal time clock, because God is the creator of time. He is in complete control. Let us know loose prespective on what really matters in our lives; which is the perfect will of God coming to complete fruition within us.
Reflection:
Spending time in the presence of the Lord, is what is needed to build us up even stronger, for what He has planned for us. Let us embrace the time of learning that He has prepared for us. It may not be an easy road for us to travel, but knowing that God is in control, of our beginning and of our end; will help up to remain in His embrace, and not settle for less than what He has for us. For God is truly a Good God, and everything that He has for His children is Good. Having a focused perspective on the goodness of God, will guide us toward the perfect will of our Heavenly Father for our life.
Prayer:
Father God, I thank you for keeping my mind stayed on you. I thank you that you are in complete control of every single thing, and that nothing that has been created gets past your vision. I thank you for guiding me in the direction that you would have me to go; by your hand on my life. I thank and praise you for being able to hear your voice, and for the sense to follow. I praise you, and worship you, because you are: Holy, righteous, mighty, and true! Thank you for giving me the mind to keep all things in the focus of your perspective, whether large or small; and not being distracted by insignificant issues. In Jesus name. I pray. Amen.
Strong's Concordance Definitions:
and they sang: 103
1) to the praise of anyone, to sing
the song: 5603
1) a song, lay, ode
of Moses: 3475
Moses = "drawing out"
1) the legislator of the Jewish people and in a certain sense the founder of the Jewish religion. He wrote the first five books of the Bible, commonly referred to as the Books of Moses.
the bondservant: 1401
1) a slave, bondman, man of servile condition
a) a slave
b) metaph., one who gives himself up to another's will those whose service is used by Christ in extending and advancing his cause among men
c) devoted to another to the disregard of one's own interests
2) a servant, attendant
of God: 2316
1) a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities
2) the Godhead, trinity
a) God the Father, the first person in the trinity
b) Christ, the second person of the trinity
c) Holy Spirit, the third person in the trinity
3) spoken of the only and true God
a) refers to the things of God
b) his counsels, interests, things due to him
4) whatever can in any respect be likened unto God, or resemble him in any way
a) God's representative or viceregent
1) of magistrates and judges
of the lamb: 721
1) a little lamb, a lamb
saying: 3004
1) to say, to speak
a) affirm over, maintain
b) to teach
c) to exhort, advise, to command, direct
d) to point out with words, intend, mean, mean to say
e) to call by name, to call, name
f) to speak out, speak of, mention
Great: 3173
1) great
a) of the external form or sensible appearance of things (or of persons)
1) in particular, of space and its dimensions, as respects
a) mass and weight: great
b) compass and extent: large, spacious
c) measure and height: long
d) stature and age: great, old
b) of number and quantity: numerous, large, abundant
c) of age: the elder
d) used of intensity and its degrees: with great effort, of the affections and emotions of the mind, of natural events powerfully affecting the senses: violent, mighty, strong
2) predicated of rank, as belonging to
a) persons, eminent for ability, virtue, authority, power
b) things esteemed highly for their importance: of great moment, of great weight, importance
c) a thing to be highly esteemed for its excellence: excellent
3) splendid, prepared on a grand scale, stately
4) great things
a) of God's preeminent blessings
b) of things which overstep the province of a created being, proud (presumptuous) things, full of arrogance, derogatory to the majesty of God
Marvellous: 2298
1) wonderful, marvellous
a) worthy of pious admiration, admirable, excellent
b) passing human comprehension
c) causing amazement joined with terror
d) marvellous
1) extraordinary, striking, surprising
are your works: 2041
1) business, employment, that which any one is occupied
a) that which one undertakes to do, enterprise, undertaking
2) any product whatever, any thing accomplished by hand, art, industry, or mind
3) an act, deed, thing done: the idea of working is emphasised in opp. to that which is less than work
O Lord: 2962
1) he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord
a) the possessor and disposer of a thing
1) the owner; one who has control of the person, the master
2) in the state: the sovereign, prince, chief, the Roman emperor
b) is a title of honour expressive of respect and reverence, with which servants greet their master
c) this title is given to: God, the Messiah
The Almighty: 3841
1) he who holds sway over all things
2) the ruler of all
3) almighty: God
Righteous: 1342
1) righteous, observing divine laws
a) in a wide sense, upright, righteous, virtuous, keeping the commands of God
1) of those who seem to themselves to be righteous, who pride themselves to be righteous, who pride themselves in their virtues, whether real or imagined
2) innocent, faultless, guiltless
3) used of him whose way of thinking, feeling, and acting is wholly conformed to the will of God, and who therefore needs no rectification in the heart or life
a) only Christ truly
4) approved of or acceptable of God
b) in a narrower sense, rendering to each his due and that in a judicial sense, passing just judgment on others, whether expressed in words or shown by the manner of dealing with them
and true: 228
1) that which has not only the name and resemblance, but the real nature corresponding to the name, in every respect corresponding to the idea signified by the name, real, true genuine
a) opposite to what is fictitious, counterfeit, imaginary, simulated or pretended
b) it contrasts realities with their semblances
c) opposite to what is imperfect defective, frail, uncertain
2) true, veracious, sincere
are your ways: 3598
1) properly
a) a way
1) a travelled way, road
b) a travellers way, journey, travelling
2) metaph.
a) a course of conduct
b) a way (i.e. manner) of thinking, feeling, deciding
King: 935
1) leader of the people, prince, commander, lord of the land, king
of the nations: 1484
1) a multitude (whether of men or of beasts) associated or living together
a) a company, troop, swarm
2) a multitude of individuals of the same nature or genus
a) the human family
3) a tribe, nation, people group
4) in the OT, foreign nations not worshipping the true God, pagans, Gentiles
5) Paul uses the term for Gentile Christians
References:
Blue Letter Bible. "Revelation of Jesus Christ 15 - (NASB - New American Standard Bible)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2009. 30 Dec 2009. http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Rev&c=15&t=NASB
Higgins, S. (2009) Stay Focused. Devotions for Thought. Http://www.devotionsforthought.blogspot.com, http://www.higginspublishing.com
And they sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, "Great and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God, the Almighty; Righteous and true are Your ways, King of the nations!
The mighty acts of God are worthy of all of our praise, because He is true to His Word. There is nothing that our heavenly Father has proclaimed that has not already been done. Even when it appears that something is one way to us in the natural realm; God is in ultimate control of the situation. The enemy would like nothing more than to throw us off track by bringing distractiing thoughts and/or visions into our minds, about something that has been on our hearts. If he can throw us off track long enough, then we will lose focus on what really matters. All the little insignificant things that happen during the course of the day, are just that, insignificant. What God says will be, and there is nothing that the enemy can do to stop it.
There may be, what seems to be, a delay in the manifestation of what God has spoken in our lives; however, we must continue to believe God, no matter what. Let us not be distracted by what we see with our natural eye. Let us not be discouraged by what seems to be happening to slow according to our own personal time clock, because God is the creator of time. He is in complete control. Let us know loose prespective on what really matters in our lives; which is the perfect will of God coming to complete fruition within us.
Reflection:
Spending time in the presence of the Lord, is what is needed to build us up even stronger, for what He has planned for us. Let us embrace the time of learning that He has prepared for us. It may not be an easy road for us to travel, but knowing that God is in control, of our beginning and of our end; will help up to remain in His embrace, and not settle for less than what He has for us. For God is truly a Good God, and everything that He has for His children is Good. Having a focused perspective on the goodness of God, will guide us toward the perfect will of our Heavenly Father for our life.
Prayer:
Father God, I thank you for keeping my mind stayed on you. I thank you that you are in complete control of every single thing, and that nothing that has been created gets past your vision. I thank you for guiding me in the direction that you would have me to go; by your hand on my life. I thank and praise you for being able to hear your voice, and for the sense to follow. I praise you, and worship you, because you are: Holy, righteous, mighty, and true! Thank you for giving me the mind to keep all things in the focus of your perspective, whether large or small; and not being distracted by insignificant issues. In Jesus name. I pray. Amen.
Strong's Concordance Definitions:
and they sang: 103
1) to the praise of anyone, to sing
the song: 5603
1) a song, lay, ode
of Moses: 3475
Moses = "drawing out"
1) the legislator of the Jewish people and in a certain sense the founder of the Jewish religion. He wrote the first five books of the Bible, commonly referred to as the Books of Moses.
the bondservant: 1401
1) a slave, bondman, man of servile condition
a) a slave
b) metaph., one who gives himself up to another's will those whose service is used by Christ in extending and advancing his cause among men
c) devoted to another to the disregard of one's own interests
2) a servant, attendant
of God: 2316
1) a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities
2) the Godhead, trinity
a) God the Father, the first person in the trinity
b) Christ, the second person of the trinity
c) Holy Spirit, the third person in the trinity
3) spoken of the only and true God
a) refers to the things of God
b) his counsels, interests, things due to him
4) whatever can in any respect be likened unto God, or resemble him in any way
a) God's representative or viceregent
1) of magistrates and judges
of the lamb: 721
1) a little lamb, a lamb
saying: 3004
1) to say, to speak
a) affirm over, maintain
b) to teach
c) to exhort, advise, to command, direct
d) to point out with words, intend, mean, mean to say
e) to call by name, to call, name
f) to speak out, speak of, mention
Great: 3173
1) great
a) of the external form or sensible appearance of things (or of persons)
1) in particular, of space and its dimensions, as respects
a) mass and weight: great
b) compass and extent: large, spacious
c) measure and height: long
d) stature and age: great, old
b) of number and quantity: numerous, large, abundant
c) of age: the elder
d) used of intensity and its degrees: with great effort, of the affections and emotions of the mind, of natural events powerfully affecting the senses: violent, mighty, strong
2) predicated of rank, as belonging to
a) persons, eminent for ability, virtue, authority, power
b) things esteemed highly for their importance: of great moment, of great weight, importance
c) a thing to be highly esteemed for its excellence: excellent
3) splendid, prepared on a grand scale, stately
4) great things
a) of God's preeminent blessings
b) of things which overstep the province of a created being, proud (presumptuous) things, full of arrogance, derogatory to the majesty of God
Marvellous: 2298
1) wonderful, marvellous
a) worthy of pious admiration, admirable, excellent
b) passing human comprehension
c) causing amazement joined with terror
d) marvellous
1) extraordinary, striking, surprising
are your works: 2041
1) business, employment, that which any one is occupied
a) that which one undertakes to do, enterprise, undertaking
2) any product whatever, any thing accomplished by hand, art, industry, or mind
3) an act, deed, thing done: the idea of working is emphasised in opp. to that which is less than work
O Lord: 2962
1) he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord
a) the possessor and disposer of a thing
1) the owner; one who has control of the person, the master
2) in the state: the sovereign, prince, chief, the Roman emperor
b) is a title of honour expressive of respect and reverence, with which servants greet their master
c) this title is given to: God, the Messiah
The Almighty: 3841
1) he who holds sway over all things
2) the ruler of all
3) almighty: God
Righteous: 1342
1) righteous, observing divine laws
a) in a wide sense, upright, righteous, virtuous, keeping the commands of God
1) of those who seem to themselves to be righteous, who pride themselves to be righteous, who pride themselves in their virtues, whether real or imagined
2) innocent, faultless, guiltless
3) used of him whose way of thinking, feeling, and acting is wholly conformed to the will of God, and who therefore needs no rectification in the heart or life
a) only Christ truly
4) approved of or acceptable of God
b) in a narrower sense, rendering to each his due and that in a judicial sense, passing just judgment on others, whether expressed in words or shown by the manner of dealing with them
and true: 228
1) that which has not only the name and resemblance, but the real nature corresponding to the name, in every respect corresponding to the idea signified by the name, real, true genuine
a) opposite to what is fictitious, counterfeit, imaginary, simulated or pretended
b) it contrasts realities with their semblances
c) opposite to what is imperfect defective, frail, uncertain
2) true, veracious, sincere
are your ways: 3598
1) properly
a) a way
1) a travelled way, road
b) a travellers way, journey, travelling
2) metaph.
a) a course of conduct
b) a way (i.e. manner) of thinking, feeling, deciding
King: 935
1) leader of the people, prince, commander, lord of the land, king
of the nations: 1484
1) a multitude (whether of men or of beasts) associated or living together
a) a company, troop, swarm
2) a multitude of individuals of the same nature or genus
a) the human family
3) a tribe, nation, people group
4) in the OT, foreign nations not worshipping the true God, pagans, Gentiles
5) Paul uses the term for Gentile Christians
References:
Blue Letter Bible. "Revelation of Jesus Christ 15 - (NASB - New American Standard Bible)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2009. 30 Dec 2009. http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Rev&c=15&t=NASB
Higgins, S. (2009) Stay Focused. Devotions for Thought. Http://www.devotionsforthought.blogspot.com, http://www.higginspublishing.com
Tuesday
The Position of Provision & Protection
Scripture: Revelation 12:6
Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God, so that there she would be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.
The year of 2009 has been marked as one of the most difficult years in the history of the United States. There were a record number of losses, from homes, to cars, to jobs, to health, and much more. Unfortunately, many people also lost their lives, unable to deal with the pressures that came along with the economic downfall of our society.
Even though there were many losses in 2009, there were also gains in the Kingdom of God; in that we gained a more closer walk with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Things that we did not understand, we learned to give to Him, trusting that He would take care of us. Yes, 2009 was a difficult year to say the least; but it was also an elevating year in our lives. We learned to depend on the God in whom we serve, in the position of provision and protection.
Reflection:
Let us always remember that no matter how difficult the appearance of things seems, that God will continually provide and protect those that are His.
Prayer:
Father God, I thank you for taking care of me through one of the most difficult times of my life. I thank you for helping me to hold on to you regardless of all of the stresses of life, and the material things that I have lost. What you have allowed me to hold on to is You, and You are all that matters. Things that mattered at the beginning of this year, no longer matter. What matters is my relationship with you, and the love that you have for your creation. I thank you, and praise you for giving me your heart, and your love to express to others; in the form, in which you give it to me to express. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.
Strong's Concordance Definitions:
the woman: 1135
1) a woman of any age, whether a virgin, or married, or a widow
2) a wife
a) of a betrothed woman
fled: 5343
1) to flee away, seek safety by flight
2) metaph. to flee (to shun or avoid by flight) something abhorrent, esp. vices
3) to be saved by flight, to escape safely out of danger
4) poetically, to flee away, vanish
into the wilderness: 2048
1) solitary, lonely, desolate, uninhabited
a) used of places
1) a desert, wilderness
2) deserted places, lonely regions
3) an uncultivated region fit for pasturage
b) used of persons
1) deserted by others
2) deprived of the aid and protection of others, especially of friends, acquaintances, kindred
3) bereft
a) of a flock deserted by the shepherd
b) of a woman neglected by her husband, from whom the husband withholds himself
she had: 2192
1) to have, i.e. to hold
a) to have (hold) in the hand, in the sense of wearing, to have (hold) possession of the mind (refers to alarm, agitating emotions, etc.), to hold fast keep, to have or comprise or involve, to regard or consider or hold as
2) to have i.e. own, possess
a) external things such as pertain to property or riches or furniture or utensils or goods or food etc.
b) used of those joined to any one by the bonds of natural blood or marriage or friendship or duty or law etc, of attendance or companionship
3) to hold one's self or find one's self so and so, to be in such or such a condition
4) to hold one's self to a thing, to lay hold of a thing, to adhere or cling to
a) to be closely joined to a person or a thing
a place: 5117
1) place, any portion or space marked off, as it were from surrounding space
a) an inhabited place, as a city, village, district
b) a place (passage) in a book
2) metaph.
a) the condition or station held by one in any company or assembly
b) opportunity, power, occasion for acting
prepared: 2090
1) to make ready, prepare
a) to make the necessary preparations, get everything ready
2) metaph.
a) drawn from the oriental custom of sending on before kings on their journeys persons to level the roads and make them passable
b) to prepare the minds of men to give the Messiah a fit reception and secure his blessings
by God: 2316
1) a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities
2) the Godhead, trinity
a) God the Father, the first person in the trinity
b) Christ, the second person of the trinity
c) Holy Spirit, the third person in the trinity
3) spoken of the only and true God
a) refers to the things of God
b) his counsels, interests, things due to him
4) whatever can in any respect be likened unto God, or resemble him in any way
a) God's representative or viceregent
1) of magistrates and judges
she would be nourished: 5142
1) to nourish, support
2) feed
3) to give suck, to fatten
4) to bring up, nurture
for 1260 days: 2250
1) the day, used of the natural day, or the interval between sunrise and sunset, as distinguished from and contrasted with the night
a) in the daytime
b) metaph., "the day" is regarded as the time for abstaining from indulgence, vice, crime, because acts of the sort are perpetrated at night and in darkness
2) of the civil day, or the space of twenty four hours (thus including the night)
a) Eastern usage of this term differs from our western usage. Any part of a day is counted as a whole day, hence the expression "three days and three nights" does not mean literally three whole days, but at least one whole day plus part of two other days.
3) of the last day of this present age, the day Christ will return from heaven, raise the dead, hold the final judgment, and perfect his kingdom
4) used of time in general, i.e. the days of his life.
Indepth Biblical Commentary: (Jamieson, Fausset, Brown, 2009).
6. woman fled--Mary's flight with Jesus into Egypt is a type of this.
where she hath--So C reads. But A and B add "there."
a place--that portion of the heathen world which has received Christianity professedly, namely, mainly the fourth kingdom, having its seat in the modern Babylon, Rome, implying that all the heathen world would not be Christianized in the present order of things. prepared of God--literally, "from God." Not by human caprice or fear, but by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, the woman, the Church, fled into the wilderness (Jamieson, etal 2009).
they should feed her--Greek, "nourish her." Indefinite for, "she should be fed." The heathen world, the wilderness, could not nourish the Church, but only afford her an outward shelter. Here, as in Dan 4:26 , and elsewhere, the third person plural refers to the heavenly powers who minister from God nourishment to the Church. As Israel had its time of first bridal love, on its first going out of Egypt into the wilderness, so the Christian Church's wilderness-time of first love was the apostolic age, when it was separate from the Egypt of this world, having no city here, but seeking one to come; having only a place in the wilderness prepared of God ( Rev 12:6, 14 ). The harlot takes the world city as her own, even as Cain was the first builder of a city, whereas the believing patriarchs lived in tents (Jamieson, etal 2009).
Then apostate Israel was the harlot and the young Christian Church the woman; but soon spiritual fornication crept in, and the Church in the seventeenth chapter is no longer the woman, but the harlot, the great Babylon, which, however, has in it hidden the true people of God ( Rev 18:4 ). The deeper the Church penetrated into heathendom, the more she herself became heathenish. Instead of overcoming, she was overcome by the world [AUBERLEN]. Thus, the woman is "the one inseparable Church of the Old and New Testament" [HENGSTENBERG], the stock of the Christian Church being Israel (Christ and His apostles being Jews), on which the Gentile believers have been grafted, and into which Israel, on her conversion, shall be grafted, as into her own olive tree. During the whole Church-historic period, or "times of the Gentiles," wherein "Jerusalem is trodden down of the Gentiles," there is no believing Jewish Church, and therefore, only the Christian Church can be "the woman" (Jamieson, etal 2009).
At the same time there is meant, secondarily, the preservation of the Jews during this Church-historic period, in order that Israel, who was once "the woman," and of whom the man-child was born, may become so again at the close of the Gentile times, and stand at the head of the two elections, literal Israel, and spiritual Israel, the Church elected from Jews and Gentiles without distinction. Eze 20:35, 36 , "I will bring you into the wilderness of the people (Hebrew, 'peoples'), and there will I plead with you . . . like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of Egypt" (compare Notes, see on JF & B for Eze 20:35, 36): not a wilderness literally and locally, but spiritually a state of discipline and trial among the Gentile "peoples," during the long Gentile times, and one finally consummated in the last time of unparalleled trouble under Antichrist, in which the sealed remnant ( Rev 7:1-8 ) who constitute "the woman," are nevertheless preserved "from the face of the serpent" ( Rev 12:14 ) (Jamieson, etal 2009).
thousand two hundred and threescore days--anticipatory of Rev 12:14 , where the persecution which caused her to flee is mentioned in its place: Rev 13:11-18 gives the details of the persecution. It is most unlikely that the transition should be made from the birth of Christ to the last Antichrist, without notice of the long intervening Church-historical period. Probably the 1260 days, or periods, representing this long interval, are RECAPITULATED on a shorter scale analogically during the last Antichrist's short reign. They are equivalent to three and a half years, which, as half of the divine number seven, symbolize the seeming victory of the world over the Church. As they include the whole Gentile times of Jerusalem's being trodden of the Gentiles, they must be much longer than 1260 years; for, above several centuries more than 1260 years have elapsed since Jerusalem fell (Jamieson, etal 2009).
References:
Blue Letter Bible. "Revelation of Jesus Christ 12 - (NASB - New American Standard Bible)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2009. 29 Dec 2009. http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Rev&c=12&t=NASB
Higgins, S. (2009). The Positon of Provision & Protection. Devotions for Thought. Http://www.devotionsforthought.blogspot.com, Http://www.higginspublishing.com
Jamieson, Robert; A.R. Fausset; and David Brown. The Revelation of St. John the Dkivine "Commentary on Revelation 12." . Blue Letter Bible. 19 Feb 2000. 2009. 29 Dec 2009.
http:// www.blueletterbible.org/commentaries/comm_view.cfm?
AuthorID=7&contentID=3108&commInfo=6&topic=Revelation&ar=Rev_12_6
Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God, so that there she would be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.
The year of 2009 has been marked as one of the most difficult years in the history of the United States. There were a record number of losses, from homes, to cars, to jobs, to health, and much more. Unfortunately, many people also lost their lives, unable to deal with the pressures that came along with the economic downfall of our society.
Even though there were many losses in 2009, there were also gains in the Kingdom of God; in that we gained a more closer walk with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Things that we did not understand, we learned to give to Him, trusting that He would take care of us. Yes, 2009 was a difficult year to say the least; but it was also an elevating year in our lives. We learned to depend on the God in whom we serve, in the position of provision and protection.
Reflection:
Let us always remember that no matter how difficult the appearance of things seems, that God will continually provide and protect those that are His.
Prayer:
Father God, I thank you for taking care of me through one of the most difficult times of my life. I thank you for helping me to hold on to you regardless of all of the stresses of life, and the material things that I have lost. What you have allowed me to hold on to is You, and You are all that matters. Things that mattered at the beginning of this year, no longer matter. What matters is my relationship with you, and the love that you have for your creation. I thank you, and praise you for giving me your heart, and your love to express to others; in the form, in which you give it to me to express. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.
Strong's Concordance Definitions:
the woman: 1135
1) a woman of any age, whether a virgin, or married, or a widow
2) a wife
a) of a betrothed woman
fled: 5343
1) to flee away, seek safety by flight
2) metaph. to flee (to shun or avoid by flight) something abhorrent, esp. vices
3) to be saved by flight, to escape safely out of danger
4) poetically, to flee away, vanish
into the wilderness: 2048
1) solitary, lonely, desolate, uninhabited
a) used of places
1) a desert, wilderness
2) deserted places, lonely regions
3) an uncultivated region fit for pasturage
b) used of persons
1) deserted by others
2) deprived of the aid and protection of others, especially of friends, acquaintances, kindred
3) bereft
a) of a flock deserted by the shepherd
b) of a woman neglected by her husband, from whom the husband withholds himself
she had: 2192
1) to have, i.e. to hold
a) to have (hold) in the hand, in the sense of wearing, to have (hold) possession of the mind (refers to alarm, agitating emotions, etc.), to hold fast keep, to have or comprise or involve, to regard or consider or hold as
2) to have i.e. own, possess
a) external things such as pertain to property or riches or furniture or utensils or goods or food etc.
b) used of those joined to any one by the bonds of natural blood or marriage or friendship or duty or law etc, of attendance or companionship
3) to hold one's self or find one's self so and so, to be in such or such a condition
4) to hold one's self to a thing, to lay hold of a thing, to adhere or cling to
a) to be closely joined to a person or a thing
a place: 5117
1) place, any portion or space marked off, as it were from surrounding space
a) an inhabited place, as a city, village, district
b) a place (passage) in a book
2) metaph.
a) the condition or station held by one in any company or assembly
b) opportunity, power, occasion for acting
prepared: 2090
1) to make ready, prepare
a) to make the necessary preparations, get everything ready
2) metaph.
a) drawn from the oriental custom of sending on before kings on their journeys persons to level the roads and make them passable
b) to prepare the minds of men to give the Messiah a fit reception and secure his blessings
by God: 2316
1) a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities
2) the Godhead, trinity
a) God the Father, the first person in the trinity
b) Christ, the second person of the trinity
c) Holy Spirit, the third person in the trinity
3) spoken of the only and true God
a) refers to the things of God
b) his counsels, interests, things due to him
4) whatever can in any respect be likened unto God, or resemble him in any way
a) God's representative or viceregent
1) of magistrates and judges
she would be nourished: 5142
1) to nourish, support
2) feed
3) to give suck, to fatten
4) to bring up, nurture
for 1260 days: 2250
1) the day, used of the natural day, or the interval between sunrise and sunset, as distinguished from and contrasted with the night
a) in the daytime
b) metaph., "the day" is regarded as the time for abstaining from indulgence, vice, crime, because acts of the sort are perpetrated at night and in darkness
2) of the civil day, or the space of twenty four hours (thus including the night)
a) Eastern usage of this term differs from our western usage. Any part of a day is counted as a whole day, hence the expression "three days and three nights" does not mean literally three whole days, but at least one whole day plus part of two other days.
3) of the last day of this present age, the day Christ will return from heaven, raise the dead, hold the final judgment, and perfect his kingdom
4) used of time in general, i.e. the days of his life.
Indepth Biblical Commentary: (Jamieson, Fausset, Brown, 2009).
6. woman fled--Mary's flight with Jesus into Egypt is a type of this.
where she hath--So C reads. But A and B add "there."
a place--that portion of the heathen world which has received Christianity professedly, namely, mainly the fourth kingdom, having its seat in the modern Babylon, Rome, implying that all the heathen world would not be Christianized in the present order of things. prepared of God--literally, "from God." Not by human caprice or fear, but by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, the woman, the Church, fled into the wilderness (Jamieson, etal 2009).
they should feed her--Greek, "nourish her." Indefinite for, "she should be fed." The heathen world, the wilderness, could not nourish the Church, but only afford her an outward shelter. Here, as in Dan 4:26 , and elsewhere, the third person plural refers to the heavenly powers who minister from God nourishment to the Church. As Israel had its time of first bridal love, on its first going out of Egypt into the wilderness, so the Christian Church's wilderness-time of first love was the apostolic age, when it was separate from the Egypt of this world, having no city here, but seeking one to come; having only a place in the wilderness prepared of God ( Rev 12:6, 14 ). The harlot takes the world city as her own, even as Cain was the first builder of a city, whereas the believing patriarchs lived in tents (Jamieson, etal 2009).
Then apostate Israel was the harlot and the young Christian Church the woman; but soon spiritual fornication crept in, and the Church in the seventeenth chapter is no longer the woman, but the harlot, the great Babylon, which, however, has in it hidden the true people of God ( Rev 18:4 ). The deeper the Church penetrated into heathendom, the more she herself became heathenish. Instead of overcoming, she was overcome by the world [AUBERLEN]. Thus, the woman is "the one inseparable Church of the Old and New Testament" [HENGSTENBERG], the stock of the Christian Church being Israel (Christ and His apostles being Jews), on which the Gentile believers have been grafted, and into which Israel, on her conversion, shall be grafted, as into her own olive tree. During the whole Church-historic period, or "times of the Gentiles," wherein "Jerusalem is trodden down of the Gentiles," there is no believing Jewish Church, and therefore, only the Christian Church can be "the woman" (Jamieson, etal 2009).
At the same time there is meant, secondarily, the preservation of the Jews during this Church-historic period, in order that Israel, who was once "the woman," and of whom the man-child was born, may become so again at the close of the Gentile times, and stand at the head of the two elections, literal Israel, and spiritual Israel, the Church elected from Jews and Gentiles without distinction. Eze 20:35, 36 , "I will bring you into the wilderness of the people (Hebrew, 'peoples'), and there will I plead with you . . . like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of Egypt" (compare Notes, see on JF & B for Eze 20:35, 36): not a wilderness literally and locally, but spiritually a state of discipline and trial among the Gentile "peoples," during the long Gentile times, and one finally consummated in the last time of unparalleled trouble under Antichrist, in which the sealed remnant ( Rev 7:1-8 ) who constitute "the woman," are nevertheless preserved "from the face of the serpent" ( Rev 12:14 ) (Jamieson, etal 2009).
thousand two hundred and threescore days--anticipatory of Rev 12:14 , where the persecution which caused her to flee is mentioned in its place: Rev 13:11-18 gives the details of the persecution. It is most unlikely that the transition should be made from the birth of Christ to the last Antichrist, without notice of the long intervening Church-historical period. Probably the 1260 days, or periods, representing this long interval, are RECAPITULATED on a shorter scale analogically during the last Antichrist's short reign. They are equivalent to three and a half years, which, as half of the divine number seven, symbolize the seeming victory of the world over the Church. As they include the whole Gentile times of Jerusalem's being trodden of the Gentiles, they must be much longer than 1260 years; for, above several centuries more than 1260 years have elapsed since Jerusalem fell (Jamieson, etal 2009).
References:
Blue Letter Bible. "Revelation of Jesus Christ 12 - (NASB - New American Standard Bible)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2009. 29 Dec 2009. http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Rev&c=12&t=NASB
Higgins, S. (2009). The Positon of Provision & Protection. Devotions for Thought. Http://www.devotionsforthought.blogspot.com, Http://www.higginspublishing.com
Jamieson, Robert; A.R. Fausset; and David Brown. The Revelation of St. John the Dkivine "Commentary on Revelation 12." . Blue Letter Bible. 19 Feb 2000. 2009. 29 Dec 2009.
http:// www.blueletterbible.org/commentaries/comm_view.cfm?
AuthorID=7&contentID=3108&commInfo=6&topic=Revelation&ar=Rev_12_6
Monday
Hold On Like Never Before
Scripture: Revelation 5:12
"Worty is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing."
The Lord Jesus Christ loved us so much that He was willing to lay down His life for us, in that while we were still sinners (doing what we wanted to do anytime that we felt like doing it), Christ died for us. But Jesus did not just lay down and die for us, he was slaughtered to the point of unrecognizable disfiguration. He was tortured by those that hated Him, because He loves us. He knew that the purpose of His life, was to die for the sin of the world, so that the world through the shedding of His precious blood, might be saved.
The Life of the Lord Jesus Christ is a witness to born again believers, that if Jesus went through on this earth, so shall we. His life was not a bed of roses. People in authority rejected Him, and people of lesser means rejected Him. Even His family did not believe that He was who He said that He was, especially when the hour had come for Him to fulfill His purpose.
His brothers wanted Him to prove who He said that He was, but Jesus refused to be swayed by their lack of faith, because He knew who He was. Therefore, when it was time for Him to fulfill His purpose, He went through the most agonizing, shameful death of all "The Crucifixcion." Each stage of the crucifixion was for a specific purpose of the fulfillment of scripture, therefore, there were no shortcuts that Jesus tried to take. He knew what had to be done to make sure that we could be saved through His death and resurrection.
There are many things that happen to us in life, and times we want to try to take shortcuts in order to make something happen quicker; or just go around the situation altogether. It's human nature to want to bypass things that could be painful to us, or long and drawn out; causing a delay that we want to avoid. However, Jesus set an example for us to follow. Even though He could have called down a legion of angels to help Him, He chose not too; because that would have defeated the purpose in which He had to fulfill. He knew what must take place, and regardless of what He had to endure, He endured it; and gained, power, riches, wisdom, might, honor, glory and blessing.
Reflection:
Shortcuts are not the answer, because we end up missing out on lessons that God is trying to teach us, when we move to fast; and don't wait on Him to release us into what He has promised to us. Therefore, the next time a situation comes up that tempts you to take a shortcut, remember the atoning work of Christ on the cross, and hold on to the Savior of your soul, like never before.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, I thank you for keeping me in the midst of what appears to be the most overwhelming experience of my life. Even though it is difficult for me to see my way, I can look unto you, for you are my help. I can count on you to lead and direct me. When it appears that everything is against me, I can look to calvary and know that because of your sacrifice, that what appears to be; is not. What I see with my natural eye, is just a temporary circumstance, that has been designed to make me into the person you want me to be. I thank you for your presence in my life, and I thank you for your grace, and mercy, that keeps me in the midst of every trial, and every test, to make me stronger in you. Thank you for protecting my mind, my heart and my body as I live my life for you. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.
Strong's Concordance Definitions:
saying: 3004
1) to say, to speak
a) affirm over, maintain
b) to teach
c) to exhort, advise, to command, direct
d) to point out with words, intend, mean, mean to say
e) to call by name, to call, name
f) to speak out, speak of, mention
with a loud: 3173
1) great
a) of the external form or sensible appearance of things (or of persons)
1) in particular, of space and its dimensions, as respects
a) mass and weight: great
b) compass and extent: large, spacious
c) measure and height: long
d) stature and age: great, old
b) of number and quantity: numerous, large, abundant
c) of age: the elder
d) used of intensity and its degrees: with great effort, of the affections and emotions of the mind, of natural events powerfully affecting the senses: violent, mighty, strong
2) predicated of rank, as belonging to
a) persons, eminent for ability, virtue, authority, power
b) things esteemed highly for their importance: of great moment, of great weight, importance
c) a thing to be highly esteemed for its excellence: excellent
3) splendid, prepared on a grand scale, stately
4) great things
a) of God's preeminent blessings
b) of things which overstep the province of a created being, proud (presumptuous) things, full of arrogance, derogatory to the majesty of God
voice: 5456
1) a sound, a tone
a) of inanimate things, as musical instruments
2) a voice
a) of the sound of uttered words
3) speech
a) of a language, tongue
worthy: 514
1) weighing, having weight, having the weight of another thing of like value, worth as much
2) befitting, congruous, corresponding to a thing
3) of one who has merited anything worthy
a) both in a good and a bad sense
is the lamb: 721
1) a little lamb, a lamb
that was slain: 4969
1) to slay, slaughter, butcher
2) to put to death by violence
3) mortally wounded
to receive: 2983
1) to take
a) to take with the hand, lay hold of, any person or thing in order to use it
1) to take up a thing to be carried
2) to take upon one's self
b) to take in order to carry away
1) without the notion of violence, i,e to remove, take away
c) to take what is one's own, to take to one's self, to make one's own
1) to claim, procure, for one's self
a) to associate with one's self as companion, attendant
2) of that which when taken is not let go, to seize, to lay hold of, apprehend
3) to take by craft (our catch, used of hunters, fisherman, etc.), to circumvent one by fraud
4) to take to one's self, lay hold upon, take possession of, i.e. to appropriate to one's self
5) catch at, reach after, strive to obtain
6) to take a thing due, to collect, gather (tribute)
d) to take
1) to admit, receive
2) to receive what is offered
3) not to refuse or reject
4) to receive a person, give him access to one's self,
a) to regard any one's power, rank, external circumstances, and on that account to do some injustice or neglect something
e) to take, to choose, select
f) to take beginning, to prove anything, to make a trial of, to experience
2) to receive (what is given), to gain, get, obtain, to get back
power: 1411
1) strength power, ability
a) inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth
b) power for performing miracles
c) moral power and excellence of soul
d) the power and influence which belong to riches and wealth
e) power and resources arising from numbers
f) power consisting in or resting upon armies, forces, hosts
and riches: 4149
1) riches, wealth
a) abundance of external possessions
b) fulness, abundance, plenitude
c) a good i.e. that with which one is enriched
and wisdom: 4678
1) wisdom, broad and full of intelligence; used of the knowledge of very diverse matters
a) the wisdom which belongs to men
1) spec. the varied knowledge of things human and divine, acquired by acuteness and experience, and summed up in maxims and proverbs
2) the science and learning
3) the act of interpreting dreams and always giving the sagest advice
4) the intelligence evinced in discovering the meaning of some mysterious number or vision
5) skill in the management of affairs
6) devout and proper prudence in intercourse with men not disciples of Christ, skill and discretion in imparting Christian truth
7) the knowledge and practice of the requisites for godly and upright living
b) supreme intelligence, such as belongs to God
1) to Christ
2) the wisdom of God as evinced in forming and executing counsels in the formation and government of the world and the scriptures
and might: 2479
1) ability, force, strength, might
and honor: 5092
1) a valuing by which the price is fixed
a) of the price itself
b) of the price paid or received for a person or thing bought or sold
2) honour which belongs or is shown to one
a) of the honour which one has by reason of rank and state of office which he holds
b) deference, reverence
and glory: 1391
1) opinion, judgment, view
2) opinion, estimate, whether good or bad concerning someone
a) in the NT always a good opinion concerning one, resulting in praise, honour, and glory
3) splendour, brightness
a) of the moon, sun, stars
b) magnificence, excellence, preeminence, dignity, grace
c) majesty
1) a thing belonging to God
a) the kingly majesty which belongs to him as supreme ruler, majesty in the sense of the absolute perfection of the deity
2) a thing belonging to Christ
a) the kingly majesty of the Messiah
b) the absolutely perfect inward or personal excellency of Christ; the majesty
3) of the angels
a) as apparent in their exterior brightness
4) a most glorious condition, most exalted state
a) of that condition with God the Father in heaven to which Christ was raised after he had achieved his work on earth
b) the glorious condition of blessedness into which is appointed and promised that true Christians shall enter after their Saviour's return from heaven
and blessing: 2129
1) praise, laudation, panegyric: of Christ or God
2) fine discourse, polished language
a) in a bad sense, language artfully adapted to captivate the hearer: fair speaking, fine speeches
3) an invocation of blessing, benediction
4) consecration
5) a (concrete) blessing, benefit
References:
Blue Letter Bible. "Revelation of Jesus Christ 5 - (NASB - New American Standard Bible)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2009. 28 Dec 2009. http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Rev&c=5&t=NASB
Higgins, S. (2009). Like Never Before. Devotions for Thought. Http://www.devotionsforthought.blogspot.com, Http://www.higginspublishing.com
"Worty is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing."
The Lord Jesus Christ loved us so much that He was willing to lay down His life for us, in that while we were still sinners (doing what we wanted to do anytime that we felt like doing it), Christ died for us. But Jesus did not just lay down and die for us, he was slaughtered to the point of unrecognizable disfiguration. He was tortured by those that hated Him, because He loves us. He knew that the purpose of His life, was to die for the sin of the world, so that the world through the shedding of His precious blood, might be saved.
The Life of the Lord Jesus Christ is a witness to born again believers, that if Jesus went through on this earth, so shall we. His life was not a bed of roses. People in authority rejected Him, and people of lesser means rejected Him. Even His family did not believe that He was who He said that He was, especially when the hour had come for Him to fulfill His purpose.
His brothers wanted Him to prove who He said that He was, but Jesus refused to be swayed by their lack of faith, because He knew who He was. Therefore, when it was time for Him to fulfill His purpose, He went through the most agonizing, shameful death of all "The Crucifixcion." Each stage of the crucifixion was for a specific purpose of the fulfillment of scripture, therefore, there were no shortcuts that Jesus tried to take. He knew what had to be done to make sure that we could be saved through His death and resurrection.
There are many things that happen to us in life, and times we want to try to take shortcuts in order to make something happen quicker; or just go around the situation altogether. It's human nature to want to bypass things that could be painful to us, or long and drawn out; causing a delay that we want to avoid. However, Jesus set an example for us to follow. Even though He could have called down a legion of angels to help Him, He chose not too; because that would have defeated the purpose in which He had to fulfill. He knew what must take place, and regardless of what He had to endure, He endured it; and gained, power, riches, wisdom, might, honor, glory and blessing.
Reflection:
Shortcuts are not the answer, because we end up missing out on lessons that God is trying to teach us, when we move to fast; and don't wait on Him to release us into what He has promised to us. Therefore, the next time a situation comes up that tempts you to take a shortcut, remember the atoning work of Christ on the cross, and hold on to the Savior of your soul, like never before.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, I thank you for keeping me in the midst of what appears to be the most overwhelming experience of my life. Even though it is difficult for me to see my way, I can look unto you, for you are my help. I can count on you to lead and direct me. When it appears that everything is against me, I can look to calvary and know that because of your sacrifice, that what appears to be; is not. What I see with my natural eye, is just a temporary circumstance, that has been designed to make me into the person you want me to be. I thank you for your presence in my life, and I thank you for your grace, and mercy, that keeps me in the midst of every trial, and every test, to make me stronger in you. Thank you for protecting my mind, my heart and my body as I live my life for you. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.
Strong's Concordance Definitions:
saying: 3004
1) to say, to speak
a) affirm over, maintain
b) to teach
c) to exhort, advise, to command, direct
d) to point out with words, intend, mean, mean to say
e) to call by name, to call, name
f) to speak out, speak of, mention
with a loud: 3173
1) great
a) of the external form or sensible appearance of things (or of persons)
1) in particular, of space and its dimensions, as respects
a) mass and weight: great
b) compass and extent: large, spacious
c) measure and height: long
d) stature and age: great, old
b) of number and quantity: numerous, large, abundant
c) of age: the elder
d) used of intensity and its degrees: with great effort, of the affections and emotions of the mind, of natural events powerfully affecting the senses: violent, mighty, strong
2) predicated of rank, as belonging to
a) persons, eminent for ability, virtue, authority, power
b) things esteemed highly for their importance: of great moment, of great weight, importance
c) a thing to be highly esteemed for its excellence: excellent
3) splendid, prepared on a grand scale, stately
4) great things
a) of God's preeminent blessings
b) of things which overstep the province of a created being, proud (presumptuous) things, full of arrogance, derogatory to the majesty of God
voice: 5456
1) a sound, a tone
a) of inanimate things, as musical instruments
2) a voice
a) of the sound of uttered words
3) speech
a) of a language, tongue
worthy: 514
1) weighing, having weight, having the weight of another thing of like value, worth as much
2) befitting, congruous, corresponding to a thing
3) of one who has merited anything worthy
a) both in a good and a bad sense
is the lamb: 721
1) a little lamb, a lamb
that was slain: 4969
1) to slay, slaughter, butcher
2) to put to death by violence
3) mortally wounded
to receive: 2983
1) to take
a) to take with the hand, lay hold of, any person or thing in order to use it
1) to take up a thing to be carried
2) to take upon one's self
b) to take in order to carry away
1) without the notion of violence, i,e to remove, take away
c) to take what is one's own, to take to one's self, to make one's own
1) to claim, procure, for one's self
a) to associate with one's self as companion, attendant
2) of that which when taken is not let go, to seize, to lay hold of, apprehend
3) to take by craft (our catch, used of hunters, fisherman, etc.), to circumvent one by fraud
4) to take to one's self, lay hold upon, take possession of, i.e. to appropriate to one's self
5) catch at, reach after, strive to obtain
6) to take a thing due, to collect, gather (tribute)
d) to take
1) to admit, receive
2) to receive what is offered
3) not to refuse or reject
4) to receive a person, give him access to one's self,
a) to regard any one's power, rank, external circumstances, and on that account to do some injustice or neglect something
e) to take, to choose, select
f) to take beginning, to prove anything, to make a trial of, to experience
2) to receive (what is given), to gain, get, obtain, to get back
power: 1411
1) strength power, ability
a) inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth
b) power for performing miracles
c) moral power and excellence of soul
d) the power and influence which belong to riches and wealth
e) power and resources arising from numbers
f) power consisting in or resting upon armies, forces, hosts
and riches: 4149
1) riches, wealth
a) abundance of external possessions
b) fulness, abundance, plenitude
c) a good i.e. that with which one is enriched
and wisdom: 4678
1) wisdom, broad and full of intelligence; used of the knowledge of very diverse matters
a) the wisdom which belongs to men
1) spec. the varied knowledge of things human and divine, acquired by acuteness and experience, and summed up in maxims and proverbs
2) the science and learning
3) the act of interpreting dreams and always giving the sagest advice
4) the intelligence evinced in discovering the meaning of some mysterious number or vision
5) skill in the management of affairs
6) devout and proper prudence in intercourse with men not disciples of Christ, skill and discretion in imparting Christian truth
7) the knowledge and practice of the requisites for godly and upright living
b) supreme intelligence, such as belongs to God
1) to Christ
2) the wisdom of God as evinced in forming and executing counsels in the formation and government of the world and the scriptures
and might: 2479
1) ability, force, strength, might
and honor: 5092
1) a valuing by which the price is fixed
a) of the price itself
b) of the price paid or received for a person or thing bought or sold
2) honour which belongs or is shown to one
a) of the honour which one has by reason of rank and state of office which he holds
b) deference, reverence
and glory: 1391
1) opinion, judgment, view
2) opinion, estimate, whether good or bad concerning someone
a) in the NT always a good opinion concerning one, resulting in praise, honour, and glory
3) splendour, brightness
a) of the moon, sun, stars
b) magnificence, excellence, preeminence, dignity, grace
c) majesty
1) a thing belonging to God
a) the kingly majesty which belongs to him as supreme ruler, majesty in the sense of the absolute perfection of the deity
2) a thing belonging to Christ
a) the kingly majesty of the Messiah
b) the absolutely perfect inward or personal excellency of Christ; the majesty
3) of the angels
a) as apparent in their exterior brightness
4) a most glorious condition, most exalted state
a) of that condition with God the Father in heaven to which Christ was raised after he had achieved his work on earth
b) the glorious condition of blessedness into which is appointed and promised that true Christians shall enter after their Saviour's return from heaven
and blessing: 2129
1) praise, laudation, panegyric: of Christ or God
2) fine discourse, polished language
a) in a bad sense, language artfully adapted to captivate the hearer: fair speaking, fine speeches
3) an invocation of blessing, benediction
4) consecration
5) a (concrete) blessing, benefit
References:
Blue Letter Bible. "Revelation of Jesus Christ 5 - (NASB - New American Standard Bible)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2009. 28 Dec 2009. http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Rev&c=5&t=NASB
Higgins, S. (2009). Like Never Before. Devotions for Thought. Http://www.devotionsforthought.blogspot.com, Http://www.higginspublishing.com
Sunday
The Evident Glory of God
Scripture: Revelation 4:11
Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.
There is only One that is worthy to receive honor and power and glory for all that He has done. There is no one that can claim the preeminence of God. He alone is the Alpha and the Omega. He is the first and the last. He is the One which was, which is, and which is to come. He is : the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords. In Him were all things made, and without Him nothing would exist. By His own will He created the world, and all that is within it. There is nothing that exists that God did not create.
At daybreak when the sky opens up with splendor, and the sun raises to its peak; we can look unto our Creator, and give Him all the glory. For His love is expressed daily through His beautiful creation; in which He allows us to partake of. The glory of His handiwork brightens the spirits of man, from the depths of the concerns of this World. Reflecting on the creation of Gods' daily expressions of love, lifts the position of the heart of a man, from the mundane, into the elements of splendor and excitement. Whether it is sunshine, or whether it be rain, Gods' glory is evident just the same.
Reflection:
When our spirits are low, let us look around us, and soak in the very essence of the Spirit of God, and all of His goodness; through taking a deep breath, and meditating on how good He truly is. Let us not be discouraged because of the cares of life; but encouraged because of the creator of life. For He alone is worthy, to receive, glory, honor, and power, for all that He has done. For this is the day that Lord has made, let us be glad and rejoice in it.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, I thank you for waking me up this morning, and allowing me to experience your glorious creation. You have allowed me to experience life another day; and to see the glorious manifestation of your handiwork. I praise you, for no matter how I feel on the inside, I can meditate on your creation to lift my spirits, in the midst of what appears to be an insurmountable temporary situation. I thank you, and I praise you, for touching and lifting my spirit; through the work of hands, that you alone created, through your will, and your spoken word. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.
Strong's Concordance Definitions:
Worthy: 514
1) weighing, having weight, having the weight of another thing of like value, worth as much
2) befitting, congruous, corresponding to a thing
3) of one who has merited anything worthy
a) both in a good and a bad sense
are You, our Lord: 2962
1) he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord
a) the possessor and disposer of a thing
1) the owner; one who has control of the person, the master
2) in the state: the sovereign, prince, chief, the Roman emperor
b) is a title of honour expressive of respect and reverence, with which servants greet their master
c) this title is given to: God, the Messiah
and our God: 2316
1) a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities
2) the Godhead, trinity
a) God the Father, the first person in the trinity
b) Christ, the second person of the trinity
c) Holy Spirit, the third person in the trinity
3) spoken of the only and true God
a) refers to the things of God
b) his counsels, interests, things due to him
4) whatever can in any respect be likened unto God, or resemble him in any way
a) God's representative or viceregent
1) of magistrates and judges
to receive: 2983
1) to take
a) to take with the hand, lay hold of, any person or thing in order to use it
1) to take up a thing to be carried
2) to take upon one's self
b) to take in order to carry away
1) without the notion of violence, i,e to remove, take away
c) to take what is one's own, to take to one's self, to make one's own
1) to claim, procure, for one's self
a) to associate with one's self as companion, attendant
2) of that which when taken is not let go, to seize, to lay hold of, apprehend
3) to take by craft (our catch, used of hunters, fisherman, etc.), to circumvent one by fraud
4) to take to one's self, lay hold upon, take possession of, i.e. to appropriate to one's self
5) catch at, reach after, strive to obtain
6) to take a thing due, to collect, gather (tribute)
d) to take
1) to admit, receive
2) to receive what is offered
3) not to refuse or reject
4) to receive a person, give him access to one's self,
a) to regard any one's power, rank, external circumstances, and on that account to do some injustice or neglect something
e) to take, to choose, select
f) to take beginning, to prove anything, to make a trial of, to experience
2) to receive (what is given), to gain, get, obtain, to get back
glory: 1391
1) opinion, judgment, view
2) opinion, estimate, whether good or bad concerning someone
a) in the NT always a good opinion concerning one, resulting in praise, honour, and glory
3) splendour, brightness
a) of the moon, sun, stars
b) magnificence, excellence, preeminence, dignity, grace
c) majesty
1) a thing belonging to God
a) the kingly majesty which belongs to him as supreme ruler, majesty in the sense of the absolute perfection of the deity
2) a thing belonging to Christ
a) the kingly majesty of the Messiah
b) the absolutely perfect inward or personal excellency of Christ; the majesty
3) of the angels
a) as apparent in their exterior brightness
4) a most glorious condition, most exalted state
a) of that condition with God the Father in heaven to which Christ was raised after he had achieved his work on earth
b) the glorious condition of blessedness into which is appointed and promised that true Christians shall enter after their Saviour's return from heaven
and honor: 5092
1) a valuing by which the price is fixed
a) of the price itself
b) of the price paid or received for a person or thing bought or sold
2) honour which belongs or is shown to one
a) of the honour which one has by reason of rank and state of office which he holds
b) deference, reverence
and power: 1411
1) strength power, ability
a) inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth
b) power for performing miracles
c) moral power and excellence of soul
d) the power and influence which belong to riches and wealth
e) power and resources arising from numbers
f) power consisting in or resting upon armies, forces, hosts
for You created: 2936
1) to make habitable, to people, a place, region, island
a) to found a city, colony, state
2) to create
a) of God creating the worlds
b) to form, shape, i.e. to completely change or transform
all things: 3956
1) individually
a) each, every, any, all, the whole, everyone, all things, everything
2) collectively
a) some of all types
and because: 1223
1) through
a) of place
1) with
2) in
b) of time
1) throughout
2) during
c) of means
1) by
2) by the means of
2) through
a) the ground or reason by which something is or is not done
1) by reason of
2) on account of
3) because of for this reason
4) therefore
5) on this account
of Your will: 2037
1) what one wishes or has determined shall be done
a) of the purpose of God to bless mankind through Christ
b) of what God wishes to be done by us
1) commands, precepts
2) will, choice, inclination, desire, pleasure
they existed: 1510
1) to be, to exist, to happen, to be present
References:
Blue Letter Bible. "Revelation of Jesus Christ 4 - (NASB - New American Standard Bible)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2009. 27 Dec 2009. http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Rev&c=4&t=NASB
Higgins, S. (2009). Sunshine or Rain. Devotions for Thought. Http://www.devotionsforthought.blogspot.com, http://www.higginspublishing.com
Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.
There is only One that is worthy to receive honor and power and glory for all that He has done. There is no one that can claim the preeminence of God. He alone is the Alpha and the Omega. He is the first and the last. He is the One which was, which is, and which is to come. He is : the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords. In Him were all things made, and without Him nothing would exist. By His own will He created the world, and all that is within it. There is nothing that exists that God did not create.
At daybreak when the sky opens up with splendor, and the sun raises to its peak; we can look unto our Creator, and give Him all the glory. For His love is expressed daily through His beautiful creation; in which He allows us to partake of. The glory of His handiwork brightens the spirits of man, from the depths of the concerns of this World. Reflecting on the creation of Gods' daily expressions of love, lifts the position of the heart of a man, from the mundane, into the elements of splendor and excitement. Whether it is sunshine, or whether it be rain, Gods' glory is evident just the same.
Reflection:
When our spirits are low, let us look around us, and soak in the very essence of the Spirit of God, and all of His goodness; through taking a deep breath, and meditating on how good He truly is. Let us not be discouraged because of the cares of life; but encouraged because of the creator of life. For He alone is worthy, to receive, glory, honor, and power, for all that He has done. For this is the day that Lord has made, let us be glad and rejoice in it.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, I thank you for waking me up this morning, and allowing me to experience your glorious creation. You have allowed me to experience life another day; and to see the glorious manifestation of your handiwork. I praise you, for no matter how I feel on the inside, I can meditate on your creation to lift my spirits, in the midst of what appears to be an insurmountable temporary situation. I thank you, and I praise you, for touching and lifting my spirit; through the work of hands, that you alone created, through your will, and your spoken word. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.
Strong's Concordance Definitions:
Worthy: 514
1) weighing, having weight, having the weight of another thing of like value, worth as much
2) befitting, congruous, corresponding to a thing
3) of one who has merited anything worthy
a) both in a good and a bad sense
are You, our Lord: 2962
1) he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord
a) the possessor and disposer of a thing
1) the owner; one who has control of the person, the master
2) in the state: the sovereign, prince, chief, the Roman emperor
b) is a title of honour expressive of respect and reverence, with which servants greet their master
c) this title is given to: God, the Messiah
and our God: 2316
1) a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities
2) the Godhead, trinity
a) God the Father, the first person in the trinity
b) Christ, the second person of the trinity
c) Holy Spirit, the third person in the trinity
3) spoken of the only and true God
a) refers to the things of God
b) his counsels, interests, things due to him
4) whatever can in any respect be likened unto God, or resemble him in any way
a) God's representative or viceregent
1) of magistrates and judges
to receive: 2983
1) to take
a) to take with the hand, lay hold of, any person or thing in order to use it
1) to take up a thing to be carried
2) to take upon one's self
b) to take in order to carry away
1) without the notion of violence, i,e to remove, take away
c) to take what is one's own, to take to one's self, to make one's own
1) to claim, procure, for one's self
a) to associate with one's self as companion, attendant
2) of that which when taken is not let go, to seize, to lay hold of, apprehend
3) to take by craft (our catch, used of hunters, fisherman, etc.), to circumvent one by fraud
4) to take to one's self, lay hold upon, take possession of, i.e. to appropriate to one's self
5) catch at, reach after, strive to obtain
6) to take a thing due, to collect, gather (tribute)
d) to take
1) to admit, receive
2) to receive what is offered
3) not to refuse or reject
4) to receive a person, give him access to one's self,
a) to regard any one's power, rank, external circumstances, and on that account to do some injustice or neglect something
e) to take, to choose, select
f) to take beginning, to prove anything, to make a trial of, to experience
2) to receive (what is given), to gain, get, obtain, to get back
glory: 1391
1) opinion, judgment, view
2) opinion, estimate, whether good or bad concerning someone
a) in the NT always a good opinion concerning one, resulting in praise, honour, and glory
3) splendour, brightness
a) of the moon, sun, stars
b) magnificence, excellence, preeminence, dignity, grace
c) majesty
1) a thing belonging to God
a) the kingly majesty which belongs to him as supreme ruler, majesty in the sense of the absolute perfection of the deity
2) a thing belonging to Christ
a) the kingly majesty of the Messiah
b) the absolutely perfect inward or personal excellency of Christ; the majesty
3) of the angels
a) as apparent in their exterior brightness
4) a most glorious condition, most exalted state
a) of that condition with God the Father in heaven to which Christ was raised after he had achieved his work on earth
b) the glorious condition of blessedness into which is appointed and promised that true Christians shall enter after their Saviour's return from heaven
and honor: 5092
1) a valuing by which the price is fixed
a) of the price itself
b) of the price paid or received for a person or thing bought or sold
2) honour which belongs or is shown to one
a) of the honour which one has by reason of rank and state of office which he holds
b) deference, reverence
and power: 1411
1) strength power, ability
a) inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth
b) power for performing miracles
c) moral power and excellence of soul
d) the power and influence which belong to riches and wealth
e) power and resources arising from numbers
f) power consisting in or resting upon armies, forces, hosts
for You created: 2936
1) to make habitable, to people, a place, region, island
a) to found a city, colony, state
2) to create
a) of God creating the worlds
b) to form, shape, i.e. to completely change or transform
all things: 3956
1) individually
a) each, every, any, all, the whole, everyone, all things, everything
2) collectively
a) some of all types
and because: 1223
1) through
a) of place
1) with
2) in
b) of time
1) throughout
2) during
c) of means
1) by
2) by the means of
2) through
a) the ground or reason by which something is or is not done
1) by reason of
2) on account of
3) because of for this reason
4) therefore
5) on this account
of Your will: 2037
1) what one wishes or has determined shall be done
a) of the purpose of God to bless mankind through Christ
b) of what God wishes to be done by us
1) commands, precepts
2) will, choice, inclination, desire, pleasure
they existed: 1510
1) to be, to exist, to happen, to be present
References:
Blue Letter Bible. "Revelation of Jesus Christ 4 - (NASB - New American Standard Bible)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2009. 27 Dec 2009. http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Rev&c=4&t=NASB
Higgins, S. (2009). Sunshine or Rain. Devotions for Thought. Http://www.devotionsforthought.blogspot.com, http://www.higginspublishing.com
Saturday
Perpetual Position of Praise
Scripture: Psalm 119:164
Seven times a day I praise You, Because of Your righteous ordinances.
By committing to put the Lord first, we express to the Lord that He is first and foremost in our lives, and that nothing comes before Him. Yes, it can be a challenge to think about our daily schedule before we even have a chance to open our eyes. However, we must reprogram our emotions, and our physical bodies, to do what we want them to do. Making a conscious effort to praise the Lord with our whole heart, and minds before we even roll out of bed.
When we begin our day with praise: on our minds, in our hearts, and on our lips, we develop a perpetual position of praise; because God is dependable, reliable, trustworthy, just, and righteous. He is not double-minded in any way, shape or form. He is a God of integrity, that says and does exactly what He says he will do.
Many distractions will come throughout our day. However, we must learn to reprogram the direction of our thoughts; by thinking on the goodness of Jesus. Let us think about how He loved us so much that He dedicated His life to us; so that we would know how to get back to our heavenly Father. He was, and is the master teacher; of how to be loving, selfless, caring, and giving. He alone is worthy of all of our attention. He alone is worthy to receive the love, that He has given us to love Him with. He is the one that wakes us in the morning with His loving care, to experience life, as He has designed it. He deserves to be at the forefront of our minds, in praise, worship and adoration.
Reflection:
Remembering that the blessings of the Lord Maketh rich and added no sorrow with it; reminds us to praise Him. Remembering that His mercy and His grace are throughout all generations; reminds us to praise Him. Remembering that He is the only true and living God, and He loves His children unconditionally; reminds us to praise Him. Remembering that He does not put pressure on us whatsoever; but His yoke is easy, and His burden is light, reminds us to praise Him.
For He is merciful, loving, and caring. He is a Holy God that is true to His Word. When we think about the goodness of the Lord, and all that He has done for us; our souls' desire will be to praise Him throughout the course our days.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, I thank you for dedicating your life to me, so that I would know how to live this life that you have given me. I thank you for your grace, and your mercy. I thank you for teaching me, and guiding me in your word on a daily basis. I thank and praise you for continually being a compass to my eyes, so that I will not be lost in darkness. I thank and praise you for holding me through the midnight hours, and speaking to me in my inner ear. I thank and praise you for giving rest to me from the cares of my day. I thank and praise you for showing me how to love, and showing me how to care for others. You are the compass of my soul, and I praise you, for all that you have done; and continually do for me. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.
Strong's Concordance Definitions:
Seven: 1761
1) seven (cardinal number)
a) as ordinal number
b) in combination - 17, 700 etc
A Day: 3117
1) day, time, year
a) day (as opposed to night)
b) day (24 hour period)
1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1
2) as a division of time
a) a working day, a day's journey
c) days, lifetime (pl.)
d) time, period (general)
e) year
f) temporal references
1) today
2) yesterday
3) tomorrow
I praise: 1984
1) to shine
a) (Qal) to shine (fig. of God's favour)
b) (Hiphil) to flash forth light
2) to praise, boast, be boastful
a) (Qal)
1) to be boastful
2) boastful ones, boasters (participle)
b) (Piel)
1) to praise
2) to boast, make a boast
c) (Pual)
1) to be praised, be made praiseworthy, be commended, be worthy of praise
d) (Hithpael) to boast, glory, make one's boast
e) (Poel) to make a fool of, make into a fool
f) (Hithpoel) to act madly, act like a madman
You, Because: 5921
1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against
a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards
b) above, beyond, over (of excess)
c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence)
d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition)
e) over (of suspension or extension)
f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity)
g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to,, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion)
h) to (as a dative)
Of Your righteous: 6664
1) justice, rightness, righteousness
a) what is right or just or normal, rightness, justness (of weights and measures)
b) righteousness (in government)
1) of judges, rulers, kings
2) of law
3) of Davidic king, Messiah
4) of Jerusalem as seat of just government
5) of God's attribute
c) righteousness, justice (in case or cause)
d) rightness (in speech)
e) righteousness (as ethically right)
f) righteousness (as vindicated), justification (in controversy), deliverance, victory, prosperity
1) of God as covenant-keeping in redemption
2) in name of Messianic king
3) of people enjoying salvation
4) of Cyrus
Ordinances: 4941
1) judgment, justice, ordinance
a) judgment
1) act of deciding a case
2) place, court, seat of judgment
3) process, procedure, litigation (before judges)
4) case, cause (presented for judgment)
5) sentence, decision (of judgment)
6) execution (of judgment)
7) time (of judgment)
b) justice, right, rectitude (attributes of God or man)
c) ordinance
d) decision (in law)
e) right, privilege, due (legal)
f) proper, fitting, measure, fitness, custom, manner, plan
References:
Blue Letter Bible. "Book of Psalms 119 - (NASB - New American Standard Bible)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2009. 26 Dec 2009. http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Psa&c=119&t=NASB
Higgins, S. (2009). Perpetual Positon of Praise. Devotion for Thought. Http://www.devotionsforthought.blogspot.com, http://www.higginspublishing.com
Seven times a day I praise You, Because of Your righteous ordinances.
By committing to put the Lord first, we express to the Lord that He is first and foremost in our lives, and that nothing comes before Him. Yes, it can be a challenge to think about our daily schedule before we even have a chance to open our eyes. However, we must reprogram our emotions, and our physical bodies, to do what we want them to do. Making a conscious effort to praise the Lord with our whole heart, and minds before we even roll out of bed.
When we begin our day with praise: on our minds, in our hearts, and on our lips, we develop a perpetual position of praise; because God is dependable, reliable, trustworthy, just, and righteous. He is not double-minded in any way, shape or form. He is a God of integrity, that says and does exactly what He says he will do.
Many distractions will come throughout our day. However, we must learn to reprogram the direction of our thoughts; by thinking on the goodness of Jesus. Let us think about how He loved us so much that He dedicated His life to us; so that we would know how to get back to our heavenly Father. He was, and is the master teacher; of how to be loving, selfless, caring, and giving. He alone is worthy of all of our attention. He alone is worthy to receive the love, that He has given us to love Him with. He is the one that wakes us in the morning with His loving care, to experience life, as He has designed it. He deserves to be at the forefront of our minds, in praise, worship and adoration.
Reflection:
Remembering that the blessings of the Lord Maketh rich and added no sorrow with it; reminds us to praise Him. Remembering that His mercy and His grace are throughout all generations; reminds us to praise Him. Remembering that He is the only true and living God, and He loves His children unconditionally; reminds us to praise Him. Remembering that He does not put pressure on us whatsoever; but His yoke is easy, and His burden is light, reminds us to praise Him.
For He is merciful, loving, and caring. He is a Holy God that is true to His Word. When we think about the goodness of the Lord, and all that He has done for us; our souls' desire will be to praise Him throughout the course our days.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, I thank you for dedicating your life to me, so that I would know how to live this life that you have given me. I thank you for your grace, and your mercy. I thank you for teaching me, and guiding me in your word on a daily basis. I thank and praise you for continually being a compass to my eyes, so that I will not be lost in darkness. I thank and praise you for holding me through the midnight hours, and speaking to me in my inner ear. I thank and praise you for giving rest to me from the cares of my day. I thank and praise you for showing me how to love, and showing me how to care for others. You are the compass of my soul, and I praise you, for all that you have done; and continually do for me. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.
Strong's Concordance Definitions:
Seven: 1761
1) seven (cardinal number)
a) as ordinal number
b) in combination - 17, 700 etc
A Day: 3117
1) day, time, year
a) day (as opposed to night)
b) day (24 hour period)
1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1
2) as a division of time
a) a working day, a day's journey
c) days, lifetime (pl.)
d) time, period (general)
e) year
f) temporal references
1) today
2) yesterday
3) tomorrow
I praise: 1984
1) to shine
a) (Qal) to shine (fig. of God's favour)
b) (Hiphil) to flash forth light
2) to praise, boast, be boastful
a) (Qal)
1) to be boastful
2) boastful ones, boasters (participle)
b) (Piel)
1) to praise
2) to boast, make a boast
c) (Pual)
1) to be praised, be made praiseworthy, be commended, be worthy of praise
d) (Hithpael) to boast, glory, make one's boast
e) (Poel) to make a fool of, make into a fool
f) (Hithpoel) to act madly, act like a madman
You, Because: 5921
1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against
a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards
b) above, beyond, over (of excess)
c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence)
d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition)
e) over (of suspension or extension)
f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity)
g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to,, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion)
h) to (as a dative)
Of Your righteous: 6664
1) justice, rightness, righteousness
a) what is right or just or normal, rightness, justness (of weights and measures)
b) righteousness (in government)
1) of judges, rulers, kings
2) of law
3) of Davidic king, Messiah
4) of Jerusalem as seat of just government
5) of God's attribute
c) righteousness, justice (in case or cause)
d) rightness (in speech)
e) righteousness (as ethically right)
f) righteousness (as vindicated), justification (in controversy), deliverance, victory, prosperity
1) of God as covenant-keeping in redemption
2) in name of Messianic king
3) of people enjoying salvation
4) of Cyrus
Ordinances: 4941
1) judgment, justice, ordinance
a) judgment
1) act of deciding a case
2) place, court, seat of judgment
3) process, procedure, litigation (before judges)
4) case, cause (presented for judgment)
5) sentence, decision (of judgment)
6) execution (of judgment)
7) time (of judgment)
b) justice, right, rectitude (attributes of God or man)
c) ordinance
d) decision (in law)
e) right, privilege, due (legal)
f) proper, fitting, measure, fitness, custom, manner, plan
References:
Blue Letter Bible. "Book of Psalms 119 - (NASB - New American Standard Bible)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2009. 26 Dec 2009. http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Psa&c=119&t=NASB
Higgins, S. (2009). Perpetual Positon of Praise. Devotion for Thought. Http://www.devotionsforthought.blogspot.com, http://www.higginspublishing.com
Friday
The Perfect Gift of Love
Scripture: I John 3:23
This is His commandment that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.
Today is a blessed day in which we have been granted the privilege to remember the birth of Christ, and what His birth means to the world. Through the birth of Jesus Christ, we have been given the opportuniy to receive Him into our hearts as our personal Lord and Savior for the abundant life on earth; and eternal salvation in Heaven.
We have been given the awesome gift of love, straight from the heart of God; for the everlasting salvation of our souls. God has shown us how much He loves us, by giving us the precious life of His Son. All God commands of us, is that we believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ. As we believe on the name, we become more like Him. We begin to: act like Him, talk like him, move like Him, and to be like Him in everything that we do. We become as He is in our thinking, and we begin to desire the things of His heart.
When we truly believe in Him, He will transform us into the image of His dear Son; and we will be a light to a world that does not know the love of God. With the love of God so graciously planted into our hearts, we can love one another, as we continue to show the love of God to the world. This love comes only from God, who gives us the ability to love, as He loves.
Reflection:
If you have not had the experience of receiving the perfect gift of Love "Jesus Christ," into your heart as your personal Lord and Savior, ask Him right now; to come into your heart; and He will come into your heart, and give you His love; which will enable you to love Him, to love yourself, and to love others (Romans 10:9).
Prayer:
Father God, I thank you for the precious gift of love that you have given to me; but not just to me, to the entire world. I thank you for continually changing me, day-by-day into an image of your love, to touch the lives of those that have never had a father; or, have never had the experience of a spritual Father in You. I thank you for the opportunity to serve in such a magnitude as to express your love to others. In Jesus Name, I pray, Amen.
Strong's Concordance Definitions:
is His commandment: 1785
1) an order, command, charge, precept, injunction
a) that which is prescribed to one by reason of his office
2) a commandment
a) a prescribed rule in accordance with which a thing is done
1) a precept relating to lineage, of the Mosaic precept concerning the priesthood
2) ethically used of the commandments in the Mosaic law or Jewish tradition
that we believe: 4100
1) to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in
a) of the thing believed
1) to credit, have confidence
b) in a moral or religious reference
1) used in the NT of the conviction and trust to which a man is impelled by a certain inner and higher prerogative and law of soul
2) to trust in Jesus or God as able to aid either in obtaining or in doing something: saving faith
3) mere acknowledgment of some fact or event: intellectual faith
2) to entrust a thing to one, i.e. his fidelity
a) to be intrusted with a thing
in the name: 3686
1) name: univ. of proper names
2) the name is used for everything which the name covers, everything the thought or feeling of which is aroused in the mind by mentioning, hearing, remembering, the name, i.e. for one's rank, authority, interests, pleasure, command, excellences, deeds etc.
3) persons reckoned up by name
4) the cause or reason named: on this account, because he suffers as a Christian, for this reason
of His Son: 5207
1) a son
a) rarely used for the young of animals
b) generally used of the offspring of men
c) in a restricted sense, the male offspring (one born by a father and of a mother)
d) in a wider sense, a descendant, one of the posterity of any one,
1) the children of Israel
2) sons of Abraham
e)) used to describe one who depends on another or is his follower
1) a pupil
2) son of man
a) term describing man, carrying the connotation of weakness and mortality
b) son of man, symbolically denotes the fifth kingdom in Daniel 7:13 and by this term its humanity is indicated in contrast with the barbarity and ferocity of the four preceding kingdoms (the Babylonian, the Median and the Persian, the Macedonian, and the Roman) typified by the four beasts. In the book of Enoch (2nd Century) it is used of Christ.
c) used by Christ himself, doubtless in order that he might intimate his Messiahship and also that he might designate himself as the head of the human family, the man, the one who both furnished the pattern of the perfect man and acted on behalf of all mankind. Christ seems to have preferred this to the other Messianic titles, because by its lowliness it was least suited to foster the expectation of an earthly Messiah in royal splendour.
3) son of God
a) used to describe Adam (Lk. 3:38)
b) used to describe those who are born again (Lk. 20:36) and of angels and of Jesus Christ
c) of those whom God esteems as sons, whom he loves, protects and benefits above others
1) in the OT used of the Jews
2) in the NT of Christians
3) those whose character God, as a loving father, shapes by chastisements (Heb. 12:5-8)
d) those who revere God as their father, the pious worshippers of God, those who in character and life resemble God, those who are governed by the Spirit of God, repose the same calm and joyful trust in God which children do in their parents (Rom. 8:14, Gal. 3:26 ), and hereafter in the blessedness and glory of the life eternal will openly wear this dignity of the sons of God. Term used preeminently of Jesus Christ, as enjoying the supreme love of God, united to him in affectionate intimacy, privy to his saving councils, obedient to the Father's will in all his acts
Jesus: 2424
Jesus = "Jehovah is salvation"
1) Jesus, the Son of God, the Saviour of mankind, God incarnate
2) Jesus Barabbas was the captive robber whom the Jews begged Pilate to release instead of Christ
3) Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses' successor (Ac. 7:45, Heb. 4:8)
4) Jesus, son of Eliezer, one of the ancestors of Christ (Lu. 3:29)
5) Jesus, surnamed Justus, a Jewish Christian, an associate with Paul in the preaching of the gospel
(Col. 4:11)
Christ: 5547
Christ = "anointed"
1) Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God
2) anointed
and love: 25
1) of persons
a) to welcome, to entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly
2) of things
a) to be well pleased, to be contented at or with a thing
one another: 240
1) one another, reciprocally, mutually
Just: 2531
1) according as
a) just as, even as
b) in proportion as, in the degree that
2) since, seeing that, agreeably to the fact that
3) when, after that
as He commanded: (1325)
1) to give
2) to give something to someone
a) of one's own accord to give one something, to his advantage
1) to bestow a gift
b) to grant, give to one asking, let have
c) to supply, furnish, necessary things
d) to give over, deliver
1) to reach out, extend, present
2) of a writing
3) to give over to one's care, intrust, commit
a) something to be administered
b) to give or commit to some one something to be religiously observed
e) to give what is due or obligatory, to pay: wages or reward
f) to furnish, endue
3) to give
a) to cause, profuse, give forth from one's self
1) to give, hand out lots
b) to appoint to an office
c) to cause to come forth, i.e. as the sea, death and Hell are said to give up the dead who have been engulfed or received by them
c) to give one to someone as his own
1) as an object of his saving care
2) to give one to someone, to follow him as a leader and master
3) to give one to someone to care for his interests
4) to give one to someone to whom he already belonged, to return
4) to grant or permit one
a) to commission
References:
Blue Letter Bible. "John's First Epistle - 1 John 3 - (NASB - New American Standard Bible)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2009. 25 Dec 2009. http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=1Jo&c=3&t=NASB
Higgins, S. (2009). The Perfect Gift of Love. Devotions for Thought. Http://www.devotionsforthought.blogspot.com, http://www.higginspublishing.com
This is His commandment that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.
Today is a blessed day in which we have been granted the privilege to remember the birth of Christ, and what His birth means to the world. Through the birth of Jesus Christ, we have been given the opportuniy to receive Him into our hearts as our personal Lord and Savior for the abundant life on earth; and eternal salvation in Heaven.
We have been given the awesome gift of love, straight from the heart of God; for the everlasting salvation of our souls. God has shown us how much He loves us, by giving us the precious life of His Son. All God commands of us, is that we believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ. As we believe on the name, we become more like Him. We begin to: act like Him, talk like him, move like Him, and to be like Him in everything that we do. We become as He is in our thinking, and we begin to desire the things of His heart.
When we truly believe in Him, He will transform us into the image of His dear Son; and we will be a light to a world that does not know the love of God. With the love of God so graciously planted into our hearts, we can love one another, as we continue to show the love of God to the world. This love comes only from God, who gives us the ability to love, as He loves.
Reflection:
If you have not had the experience of receiving the perfect gift of Love "Jesus Christ," into your heart as your personal Lord and Savior, ask Him right now; to come into your heart; and He will come into your heart, and give you His love; which will enable you to love Him, to love yourself, and to love others (Romans 10:9).
Prayer:
Father God, I thank you for the precious gift of love that you have given to me; but not just to me, to the entire world. I thank you for continually changing me, day-by-day into an image of your love, to touch the lives of those that have never had a father; or, have never had the experience of a spritual Father in You. I thank you for the opportunity to serve in such a magnitude as to express your love to others. In Jesus Name, I pray, Amen.
Strong's Concordance Definitions:
is His commandment: 1785
1) an order, command, charge, precept, injunction
a) that which is prescribed to one by reason of his office
2) a commandment
a) a prescribed rule in accordance with which a thing is done
1) a precept relating to lineage, of the Mosaic precept concerning the priesthood
2) ethically used of the commandments in the Mosaic law or Jewish tradition
that we believe: 4100
1) to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in
a) of the thing believed
1) to credit, have confidence
b) in a moral or religious reference
1) used in the NT of the conviction and trust to which a man is impelled by a certain inner and higher prerogative and law of soul
2) to trust in Jesus or God as able to aid either in obtaining or in doing something: saving faith
3) mere acknowledgment of some fact or event: intellectual faith
2) to entrust a thing to one, i.e. his fidelity
a) to be intrusted with a thing
in the name: 3686
1) name: univ. of proper names
2) the name is used for everything which the name covers, everything the thought or feeling of which is aroused in the mind by mentioning, hearing, remembering, the name, i.e. for one's rank, authority, interests, pleasure, command, excellences, deeds etc.
3) persons reckoned up by name
4) the cause or reason named: on this account, because he suffers as a Christian, for this reason
of His Son: 5207
1) a son
a) rarely used for the young of animals
b) generally used of the offspring of men
c) in a restricted sense, the male offspring (one born by a father and of a mother)
d) in a wider sense, a descendant, one of the posterity of any one,
1) the children of Israel
2) sons of Abraham
e)) used to describe one who depends on another or is his follower
1) a pupil
2) son of man
a) term describing man, carrying the connotation of weakness and mortality
b) son of man, symbolically denotes the fifth kingdom in Daniel 7:13 and by this term its humanity is indicated in contrast with the barbarity and ferocity of the four preceding kingdoms (the Babylonian, the Median and the Persian, the Macedonian, and the Roman) typified by the four beasts. In the book of Enoch (2nd Century) it is used of Christ.
c) used by Christ himself, doubtless in order that he might intimate his Messiahship and also that he might designate himself as the head of the human family, the man, the one who both furnished the pattern of the perfect man and acted on behalf of all mankind. Christ seems to have preferred this to the other Messianic titles, because by its lowliness it was least suited to foster the expectation of an earthly Messiah in royal splendour.
3) son of God
a) used to describe Adam (Lk. 3:38)
b) used to describe those who are born again (Lk. 20:36) and of angels and of Jesus Christ
c) of those whom God esteems as sons, whom he loves, protects and benefits above others
1) in the OT used of the Jews
2) in the NT of Christians
3) those whose character God, as a loving father, shapes by chastisements (Heb. 12:5-8)
d) those who revere God as their father, the pious worshippers of God, those who in character and life resemble God, those who are governed by the Spirit of God, repose the same calm and joyful trust in God which children do in their parents (Rom. 8:14, Gal. 3:26 ), and hereafter in the blessedness and glory of the life eternal will openly wear this dignity of the sons of God. Term used preeminently of Jesus Christ, as enjoying the supreme love of God, united to him in affectionate intimacy, privy to his saving councils, obedient to the Father's will in all his acts
Jesus: 2424
Jesus = "Jehovah is salvation"
1) Jesus, the Son of God, the Saviour of mankind, God incarnate
2) Jesus Barabbas was the captive robber whom the Jews begged Pilate to release instead of Christ
3) Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses' successor (Ac. 7:45, Heb. 4:8)
4) Jesus, son of Eliezer, one of the ancestors of Christ (Lu. 3:29)
5) Jesus, surnamed Justus, a Jewish Christian, an associate with Paul in the preaching of the gospel
(Col. 4:11)
Christ: 5547
Christ = "anointed"
1) Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God
2) anointed
and love: 25
1) of persons
a) to welcome, to entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly
2) of things
a) to be well pleased, to be contented at or with a thing
one another: 240
1) one another, reciprocally, mutually
Just: 2531
1) according as
a) just as, even as
b) in proportion as, in the degree that
2) since, seeing that, agreeably to the fact that
3) when, after that
as He commanded: (1325)
1) to give
2) to give something to someone
a) of one's own accord to give one something, to his advantage
1) to bestow a gift
b) to grant, give to one asking, let have
c) to supply, furnish, necessary things
d) to give over, deliver
1) to reach out, extend, present
2) of a writing
3) to give over to one's care, intrust, commit
a) something to be administered
b) to give or commit to some one something to be religiously observed
e) to give what is due or obligatory, to pay: wages or reward
f) to furnish, endue
3) to give
a) to cause, profuse, give forth from one's self
1) to give, hand out lots
b) to appoint to an office
c) to cause to come forth, i.e. as the sea, death and Hell are said to give up the dead who have been engulfed or received by them
c) to give one to someone as his own
1) as an object of his saving care
2) to give one to someone, to follow him as a leader and master
3) to give one to someone to care for his interests
4) to give one to someone to whom he already belonged, to return
4) to grant or permit one
a) to commission
References:
Blue Letter Bible. "John's First Epistle - 1 John 3 - (NASB - New American Standard Bible)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2009. 25 Dec 2009. http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=1Jo&c=3&t=NASB
Higgins, S. (2009). The Perfect Gift of Love. Devotions for Thought. Http://www.devotionsforthought.blogspot.com, http://www.higginspublishing.com
Thursday
Accept, or Reject
Scripture: John 19:7 (NASB)
The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and by that law He ought to die because He made Himself out {to} {be} the Son of God."
Jesus did not make himself out to be anything other than who He was; the Son of God. However, the people rejected Him, because He was not what they expected. He did not look the way they wanted Him to look. He did not have what they expected Him to have. He was not forceful, but humble. He came in the spirit of meekness, which they viewed as weakness. They refused to accept Jesus for who He was; but that did not change His identity, nor His pupose.
Just because someone does no accept us for who we are, does not mean that we are not, who God says we are. Our identity, nor our pupose is not changed based on the negative words that someone speaks in our lives, or how they treat us. However, there will be those that reject us, and our purpose; based on what they expect. If we do not meet their idealistic standards; they'll convince themselves that we are not who God says we are. If we don't have the car, or if we don't have the house; or if we don't have money in the bank; acceptance turns quickly into rejection, because of the inability to completely trust God for what He knows, as best.
Unfortunately, there are individuals with expectations that are limited to their own personal experiences, and what they can fathom within their own mind. They want to live in the false reality they have created for themselves, and completely erase the memory of your assignment in their life. The temperature gage of what appears to be impossible, created in the mind of God, does not even get hot; because of the lack of unbelief in Him to blow ones' mind, through the acceptance, and the reveleation of what He has already set up.
Reflection:
When the expectation of man, comes face-to-face with the purpose of God; we must make a decision to accept, or reject what God has before us. If we reject the purpose of someone that has been assigned to our life, we reject God's very best for us; and we end up with a substitute fix, with a temporary high, throwing us further and further off-track: leaving us empty for the next fix, that we will settle for. The repetitive cycle of abuse of someone's purpose, and of oursleves; can only lead us further, and further away from the perfect will of God. We must ask ourselves, do we really want God's best?
Prayer:
Dear Lord, help me to see as you see, and to receive all that you have for me. I place my will, my trust, and every one of my desires into the palm of your hand; knowing that you know me, from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet. I thank you for the ability that you have placed within me, now, to receive what you have revealed to me, as what is best. I give you glory, and I give you honor; for you alone are worthy of revealing the purpose of a thing, and the fullness thereof. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.
Strong's Concordance Definitions:
The Jews: 2453
1) Jewish, belonging to the Jewish nation
2) Jewish as respects to birth, origin, religion
him, "We have: 2192
1) to have, i.e. to hold
a) to have (hold) in the hand, in the sense of wearing, to have (hold) possession of the mind (refers to alarm, agitating emotions, etc.), to hold fast keep, to have or comprise or involve, to regard or consider or hold as
2) to have i.e. own, possess
a) external things such as pertain to property or riches or furniture or utensils or goods or food etc.
b) used of those joined to any one by the bonds of natural blood or marriage or friendship or duty or law etc, of attendance or companionship
3) to hold one's self or find one's self so and so, to be in such or such a condition
4) to hold one's self to a thing, to lay hold of a thing, to adhere or cling to
a) to be closely joined to a person or a thing
A law: 3551
1) anything established, anything received by usage, a custom, a law, a command
a) of any law whatsoever
1) a law or rule producing a state approved of God
a) by the observance of which is approved of God
2) a precept or injunction
3) the rule of action prescribed by reason
b) of the Mosaic law, and referring, acc. to the context. either to the volume of the law or to its contents
c) the Christian religion: the law demanding faith, the moral instruction given by Christ, esp. the precept concerning love
d) the name of the more important part (the Pentateuch), is put for the entire collection of the sacred books of the OT
He ought: 3784
1) to owe
a) to owe money, be in debt for
1) that which is due, the debt
2) metaph. the goodwill due
To die: 599
1) to die
a) of the natural death of man
b) of the violent death of man or animals
c) to perish by means of something
d) of trees which dry up, of seeds which rot when planted
e) of eternal death, to be subject to eternal misery in hell
He made: 4160
1) to make
a) with the names of things made, to produce, construct, form, fashion, etc.
b) to be the authors of, the cause
c) to make ready, to prepare
d) to produce, bear, shoot forth
e) to acquire, to provide a thing for one's self
f) to make a thing out of something
g) to (make i.e.) render one anything
1) to (make i.e.) constitute or appoint one anything, to appoint or ordain one that
2) to (make i.e.) declare one anything
h) to put one forth, to lead him out
i) to make one do something
1) cause one to
j) to be the authors of a thing (to cause, bring about)
2) to do
a) to act rightly, do well
1) to carry out, to execute
b) to do a thing unto one
1) to do to one
c) with designation of time: to pass, spend
d) to celebrate, keep
1) to make ready, and so at the same time to institute, the celebration of the passover
1) a son
a) rarely used for the young of animals
b) generally used of the offspring of men
c) in a restricted sense, the male offspring (one born by a father and of a mother)
d) in a wider sense, a descendant, one of the posterity of any one,
1) the children of Israel
2) sons of Abraham
e)) used to describe one who depends on another or is his follower
1) a pupil
2) son of man
a) term describing man, carrying the connotation of weakness and mortality
b) son of man, symbolically denotes the fifth kingdom in Daniel 7:13 and by this term its humanity is indicated in contrast with the barbarity and ferocity of the four preceding kingdoms (the Babylonian, the Median and the Persian, the Macedonian, and the Roman) typified by the four beasts. In the book of Enoch (2nd Century) it is used of Christ.
c) used by Christ himself, doubtless in order that he might intimate his Messiahship and also that he might designate himself as the head of the human family, the man, the one who both furnished the pattern of the perfect man and acted on behalf of all mankind. Christ seems to have preferred this to the other Messianic titles, because by its lowliness it was least suited to foster the expectation of an earthly Messiah in royal splendour.
3) son of God
a) used to describe Adam (Lk. 3:38)
b) used to describe those who are born again (Lk. 20:36) and of angels and of Jesus Christ
c) of those whom God esteems as sons, whom he loves, protects and benefits above others
1) in the OT used of the Jews
2) in the NT of Christians
3) those whose character God, as a loving father, shapes by chastisements (Heb. 12:5-8)
d) those who revere God as their father, the pious worshippers of God, those who in character and life resemble God, those who are governed by the Spirit of God, repose the same calm and joyful trust in God which children do in their parents (Rom. 8:14, Gal. 3:26 ), and hereafter in the blessedness and glory of the life eternal will openly wear this dignity of the sons of God. Term used preeminently of Jesus Christ, as enjoying the supreme love of God, united to him in affectionate intimacy, privy to his saving councils, obedient to the Father's will in all his acts
God: 2316
1) a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities
2) the Godhead, trinity
a) God the Father, the first person in the trinity
b) Christ, the second person of the trinity
c) Holy Spirit, the third person in the trinity
3) spoken of the only and true God
a) refers to the things of God
b) his counsels, interests, things due to him
4) whatever can in any respect be likened unto God, or resemble him in any way
a) God's representative or viceregent
1) of magistrates and judges
e) to perform: to a promise
References:
"Gospel of John 19 - (NASB - New American Standard Bible)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2009. 24 Dec 2009. http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Jhn&c=19&t=NASB
Higgins, S. (2009). Accept, or Reject. Devotions for Thought. http://www.devotionsforthought.blogspot.com/, http://www.higginspublishing.com/
The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and by that law He ought to die because He made Himself out {to} {be} the Son of God."
Jesus did not make himself out to be anything other than who He was; the Son of God. However, the people rejected Him, because He was not what they expected. He did not look the way they wanted Him to look. He did not have what they expected Him to have. He was not forceful, but humble. He came in the spirit of meekness, which they viewed as weakness. They refused to accept Jesus for who He was; but that did not change His identity, nor His pupose.
Just because someone does no accept us for who we are, does not mean that we are not, who God says we are. Our identity, nor our pupose is not changed based on the negative words that someone speaks in our lives, or how they treat us. However, there will be those that reject us, and our purpose; based on what they expect. If we do not meet their idealistic standards; they'll convince themselves that we are not who God says we are. If we don't have the car, or if we don't have the house; or if we don't have money in the bank; acceptance turns quickly into rejection, because of the inability to completely trust God for what He knows, as best.
Unfortunately, there are individuals with expectations that are limited to their own personal experiences, and what they can fathom within their own mind. They want to live in the false reality they have created for themselves, and completely erase the memory of your assignment in their life. The temperature gage of what appears to be impossible, created in the mind of God, does not even get hot; because of the lack of unbelief in Him to blow ones' mind, through the acceptance, and the reveleation of what He has already set up.
Reflection:
When the expectation of man, comes face-to-face with the purpose of God; we must make a decision to accept, or reject what God has before us. If we reject the purpose of someone that has been assigned to our life, we reject God's very best for us; and we end up with a substitute fix, with a temporary high, throwing us further and further off-track: leaving us empty for the next fix, that we will settle for. The repetitive cycle of abuse of someone's purpose, and of oursleves; can only lead us further, and further away from the perfect will of God. We must ask ourselves, do we really want God's best?
Prayer:
Dear Lord, help me to see as you see, and to receive all that you have for me. I place my will, my trust, and every one of my desires into the palm of your hand; knowing that you know me, from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet. I thank you for the ability that you have placed within me, now, to receive what you have revealed to me, as what is best. I give you glory, and I give you honor; for you alone are worthy of revealing the purpose of a thing, and the fullness thereof. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.
Strong's Concordance Definitions:
The Jews: 2453
1) Jewish, belonging to the Jewish nation
2) Jewish as respects to birth, origin, religion
him, "We have: 2192
1) to have, i.e. to hold
a) to have (hold) in the hand, in the sense of wearing, to have (hold) possession of the mind (refers to alarm, agitating emotions, etc.), to hold fast keep, to have or comprise or involve, to regard or consider or hold as
2) to have i.e. own, possess
a) external things such as pertain to property or riches or furniture or utensils or goods or food etc.
b) used of those joined to any one by the bonds of natural blood or marriage or friendship or duty or law etc, of attendance or companionship
3) to hold one's self or find one's self so and so, to be in such or such a condition
4) to hold one's self to a thing, to lay hold of a thing, to adhere or cling to
a) to be closely joined to a person or a thing
A law: 3551
1) anything established, anything received by usage, a custom, a law, a command
a) of any law whatsoever
1) a law or rule producing a state approved of God
a) by the observance of which is approved of God
2) a precept or injunction
3) the rule of action prescribed by reason
b) of the Mosaic law, and referring, acc. to the context. either to the volume of the law or to its contents
c) the Christian religion: the law demanding faith, the moral instruction given by Christ, esp. the precept concerning love
d) the name of the more important part (the Pentateuch), is put for the entire collection of the sacred books of the OT
He ought: 3784
1) to owe
a) to owe money, be in debt for
1) that which is due, the debt
2) metaph. the goodwill due
To die: 599
1) to die
a) of the natural death of man
b) of the violent death of man or animals
c) to perish by means of something
d) of trees which dry up, of seeds which rot when planted
e) of eternal death, to be subject to eternal misery in hell
He made: 4160
1) to make
a) with the names of things made, to produce, construct, form, fashion, etc.
b) to be the authors of, the cause
c) to make ready, to prepare
d) to produce, bear, shoot forth
e) to acquire, to provide a thing for one's self
f) to make a thing out of something
g) to (make i.e.) render one anything
1) to (make i.e.) constitute or appoint one anything, to appoint or ordain one that
2) to (make i.e.) declare one anything
h) to put one forth, to lead him out
i) to make one do something
1) cause one to
j) to be the authors of a thing (to cause, bring about)
2) to do
a) to act rightly, do well
1) to carry out, to execute
b) to do a thing unto one
1) to do to one
c) with designation of time: to pass, spend
d) to celebrate, keep
1) to make ready, and so at the same time to institute, the celebration of the passover
1) a son
a) rarely used for the young of animals
b) generally used of the offspring of men
c) in a restricted sense, the male offspring (one born by a father and of a mother)
d) in a wider sense, a descendant, one of the posterity of any one,
1) the children of Israel
2) sons of Abraham
e)) used to describe one who depends on another or is his follower
1) a pupil
2) son of man
a) term describing man, carrying the connotation of weakness and mortality
b) son of man, symbolically denotes the fifth kingdom in Daniel 7:13 and by this term its humanity is indicated in contrast with the barbarity and ferocity of the four preceding kingdoms (the Babylonian, the Median and the Persian, the Macedonian, and the Roman) typified by the four beasts. In the book of Enoch (2nd Century) it is used of Christ.
c) used by Christ himself, doubtless in order that he might intimate his Messiahship and also that he might designate himself as the head of the human family, the man, the one who both furnished the pattern of the perfect man and acted on behalf of all mankind. Christ seems to have preferred this to the other Messianic titles, because by its lowliness it was least suited to foster the expectation of an earthly Messiah in royal splendour.
3) son of God
a) used to describe Adam (Lk. 3:38)
b) used to describe those who are born again (Lk. 20:36) and of angels and of Jesus Christ
c) of those whom God esteems as sons, whom he loves, protects and benefits above others
1) in the OT used of the Jews
2) in the NT of Christians
3) those whose character God, as a loving father, shapes by chastisements (Heb. 12:5-8)
d) those who revere God as their father, the pious worshippers of God, those who in character and life resemble God, those who are governed by the Spirit of God, repose the same calm and joyful trust in God which children do in their parents (Rom. 8:14, Gal. 3:26 ), and hereafter in the blessedness and glory of the life eternal will openly wear this dignity of the sons of God. Term used preeminently of Jesus Christ, as enjoying the supreme love of God, united to him in affectionate intimacy, privy to his saving councils, obedient to the Father's will in all his acts
God: 2316
1) a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities
2) the Godhead, trinity
a) God the Father, the first person in the trinity
b) Christ, the second person of the trinity
c) Holy Spirit, the third person in the trinity
3) spoken of the only and true God
a) refers to the things of God
b) his counsels, interests, things due to him
4) whatever can in any respect be likened unto God, or resemble him in any way
a) God's representative or viceregent
1) of magistrates and judges
e) to perform: to a promise
References:
"Gospel of John 19 - (NASB - New American Standard Bible)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2009. 24 Dec 2009. http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Jhn&c=19&t=NASB
Higgins, S. (2009). Accept, or Reject. Devotions for Thought. http://www.devotionsforthought.blogspot.com/, http://www.higginspublishing.com/
Wednesday
He Chose You, First!
Scripture: John 15:16
"You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you."
God is so Good. He makes it so clear to us that we are His chosen. He hand picked us for His purpose. He has given us authority to walk this earth for His name sake. Therefore, it does not matter how educated that we are, or, are not. It does not matter if we have everything together or not. It does not matter if we don't have everything perfectly organized, when He chooses us or not. When Jesus chose us, He made a public declaration, that we are who He wants! We, the children of God, are the chosen of God; selected personally by Him. He has entrusted to us, His Word; to be an example of His love to each other, and to the world. We are blessed in that He chose us.
Reflection:
Most of us have had the experience of being on some type of sports team at school. During the selection process, usually the best players are chosen first. At the very end, the worst players are reluctantly chosen, because there is supposed to be a certain amount of players on the team; and everyone must participate.
However, God did not choose us last. He chose us before the foundation of the world, while we were yet in our mother's womb; He chose us. Therefore, He chose us first! The Lord God is amazing, and makes us feel like we're on top of the world, by loving us in spite of our shortcomings and/or weaknesses.
Not only did He choose us first; He has given us the authority to act on His behalf. Just like He gave Moses the authority to bring the children of Israel out of Egypt, regardless of the speech impediment that Moses had. God still used him, because He was chosen for that purpose. No one else could fit the shoes that God had designed for him to walk in, not even his brother Aaron, who had a purpose to fulfill himself.
The authority that He has given us, includes the power of prayer; to ask anything in the name of Jesus, and He will give it to us. He will reward us with answered prayer, when we walk in His word, and are obedient to His will. Therefore, don't be afraid to ask the Lord for anything, because He loves you; and wants the best for you. All you have to do is ASK.
Prayer:
Lord God, I thank you that I was not second choice with you. I thank you for choosing me, and giving me the authority to walk this earth; and be an example of Your love to the world. You are such an awesome God, and I love you with the love that you, have given me to love you with.
I thank you for the authority that you have given to me: to speak, to act, and to work in the building up of your kingdom. I thank you in advance for hearing me when I pray, and answering the petitions of my heart. I thank you for choosing me before the foundations of the world. I know that no matter what I have on my mind, I can talk to you about it; and you will hear me and direct my steps, every step of the way. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.
Strong's Concordance Definitions:
You did not choose: 1586
1) to pick out, choose, to pick or choose out for one's self
a) choosing one out of many, i.e. Jesus choosing his disciples
b) choosing one for an office
c) of God choosing whom he judged fit to receive his favours and separated from the rest of mankind to be peculiarly his own and to be attended continually by his gracious oversight
1) i.e. the Israelites
d) of God the Father choosing Christians, as those whom he set apart from the irreligious multitude as dear unto himself, and whom he has rendered, through faith in Christ, citizens in the Messianic kingdom: (James 2:5) so that the ground of the choice lies in Christ and his merits only
You, and appointed: 5087
1) to set, put, place
a) to place or lay
b) to put down, lay down
1) to bend down
2) to lay off or aside, to wear or carry no longer
3) to lay by, lay aside money
c) to set on (serve) something to eat or drink
d) to set forth, something to be explained by discourse
2) to make
a) to make (or set) for one's self or for one's use
3) to set, fix establish
a) to set forth
b) to establish, ordain
That you would go: 5217
1) to lead under, bring under
2) to withdraw one's self, to go away, depart
And bear: 5342
1) to carry
a) to carry some burden
1) to bear with one's self
b) to move by bearing; move or, to be conveyed or borne, with the suggestion of force or speed
1) of persons borne in a ship over the sea
2) of a gust of wind, to rush
3) of the mind, to be moved inwardly, prompted
c) to bear up i.e. uphold (keep from falling)
1) of Christ, the preserver of the universe
2) to bear, i.e. endure, to endure the rigour of a thing, to bear patiently one's conduct, or spare one (abstain from punishing or destroying)
3) to bring, bring to, bring forward
a) to move to, apply
b) to bring in by announcing, to announce
c) to bear i.e. bring forth, produce; to bring forward in a speech
d) to lead, conduct
Fruit: 2590
1) fruit
a) the fruit of the trees, vines, of the fields
b) the fruit of one's loins, i.e. his progeny, his posterity
2) that which originates or comes from something, an effect, result
a) work, act, deed
b) advantage, profit, utility
c) praises, which are presented to God as a thank offering
d) to gather fruit (i.e. a reaped harvest) into life eternal (as into a granary), is used in fig. discourse of those who by their labours have fitted souls to obtain eternal life
Would remain: 3306
1) to remain, abide
a) in reference to place
1) to sojourn, tarry
2) not to depart
a) to continue to be present
b) to be held, kept, continually
b) in reference to time
1) to continue to be, not to perish, to last, endure
a) of persons, to survive, live
c) in reference to state or condition
1) to remain as one, not to become another or different
2) to wait for, await one
That whatever: 3739
1) who, which, what, that
You ask: 154
1) to ask, beg, call for, crave, desire, require
Of the Father: 3962
1) generator or male ancestor
a) either the nearest ancestor: father of the corporeal nature, natural fathers, both parents
b) a more remote ancestor, the founder of a family or tribe, progenitor of a people, forefather: so Abraham is called, Jacob and David
1) fathers i.e. ancestors, forefathers, founders of a nation
c) one advanced in years, a senior
2) metaph.
a) the originator and transmitter of anything
1) the authors of a family or society of persons animated by the same spirit as himself
2) one who has infused his own spirit into others, who actuates and governs their minds
b) one who stands in a father's place and looks after another in a paternal way
c) a title of honour
1) teachers, as those to whom pupils trace back the knowledge and training they have received
2) the members of the Sanhedrin, whose prerogative it was by virtue of the wisdom and experience in which they excelled, to take charge of the interests of others
3) God is called the Father
a) of the stars, the heavenly luminaries, because he is their creator, upholder, ruler
b) of all rational and intelligent beings, whether angels or men, because he is their creator, preserver, guardian and protector
1) of spiritual beings and of all men
c) of Christians, as those who through Christ have been exalted to a specially close and intimate relationship with God, and who no longer dread him as a stern judge of sinners, but revere him as their reconciled and loving Father
d) the Father of Jesus Christ, as one whom God has united to himself in the closest bond of love and intimacy, made acquainted with his purposes, appointed to explain and carry out among men the plan of salvation, and made to share also in his own divine nature
1) by Jesus Christ himself
2) by the apostles
In my Name: 3686
1) name: univ. of proper names
2) the name is used for everything which the name covers, everything the thought or feeling of which is aroused in the mind by mentioning, hearing, remembering, the name, i.e. for one's rank, authority, interests, pleasure, command, excellences, deeds etc.
3) persons reckoned up by name
4) the cause or reason named: on this account, because he suffers as a Christian, for this reason
He may give to you: 1325
1) to give
2) to give something to someone
a) of one's own accord to give one something, to his advantage
1) to bestow a gift
b) to grant, give to one asking, let have
c) to supply, furnish, necessary things
d) to give over, deliver
1) to reach out, extend, present
2) of a writing
3) to give over to one's care, intrust, commit
a) something to be administered
b) to give or commit to some one something to be religiously observed
e) to give what is due or obligatory, to pay: wages or reward
f) to furnish, endue
3) to give
a) to cause, profuse, give forth from one's self
1) to give, hand out lots
b) to appoint to an office
c) to cause to come forth, i.e. as the sea, death and Hell are said to give up the dead who have been engulfed or received by them
c) to give one to someone as his own
1) as an object of his saving care
2) to give one to someone, to follow him as a leader and master
3) to give one to someone to care for his interests
4) to give one to someone to whom he already belonged, to return
4) to grant or permit one
a) to commission
References:
Blue Letter Bible. "Gospel of John 15 - (NASB - New American Standard Bible)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2009. 23 Dec 2009. < http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Jhn&c=15&t=NASB
Higgins, S. (2009). He Chose You, First! Devotions for Thought. Http://www.devotionsforthought.blogspot.com, http://www.higginspublishing.com
"You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you."
God is so Good. He makes it so clear to us that we are His chosen. He hand picked us for His purpose. He has given us authority to walk this earth for His name sake. Therefore, it does not matter how educated that we are, or, are not. It does not matter if we have everything together or not. It does not matter if we don't have everything perfectly organized, when He chooses us or not. When Jesus chose us, He made a public declaration, that we are who He wants! We, the children of God, are the chosen of God; selected personally by Him. He has entrusted to us, His Word; to be an example of His love to each other, and to the world. We are blessed in that He chose us.
Reflection:
Most of us have had the experience of being on some type of sports team at school. During the selection process, usually the best players are chosen first. At the very end, the worst players are reluctantly chosen, because there is supposed to be a certain amount of players on the team; and everyone must participate.
However, God did not choose us last. He chose us before the foundation of the world, while we were yet in our mother's womb; He chose us. Therefore, He chose us first! The Lord God is amazing, and makes us feel like we're on top of the world, by loving us in spite of our shortcomings and/or weaknesses.
Not only did He choose us first; He has given us the authority to act on His behalf. Just like He gave Moses the authority to bring the children of Israel out of Egypt, regardless of the speech impediment that Moses had. God still used him, because He was chosen for that purpose. No one else could fit the shoes that God had designed for him to walk in, not even his brother Aaron, who had a purpose to fulfill himself.
The authority that He has given us, includes the power of prayer; to ask anything in the name of Jesus, and He will give it to us. He will reward us with answered prayer, when we walk in His word, and are obedient to His will. Therefore, don't be afraid to ask the Lord for anything, because He loves you; and wants the best for you. All you have to do is ASK.
Prayer:
Lord God, I thank you that I was not second choice with you. I thank you for choosing me, and giving me the authority to walk this earth; and be an example of Your love to the world. You are such an awesome God, and I love you with the love that you, have given me to love you with.
I thank you for the authority that you have given to me: to speak, to act, and to work in the building up of your kingdom. I thank you in advance for hearing me when I pray, and answering the petitions of my heart. I thank you for choosing me before the foundations of the world. I know that no matter what I have on my mind, I can talk to you about it; and you will hear me and direct my steps, every step of the way. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.
Strong's Concordance Definitions:
You did not choose: 1586
1) to pick out, choose, to pick or choose out for one's self
a) choosing one out of many, i.e. Jesus choosing his disciples
b) choosing one for an office
c) of God choosing whom he judged fit to receive his favours and separated from the rest of mankind to be peculiarly his own and to be attended continually by his gracious oversight
1) i.e. the Israelites
d) of God the Father choosing Christians, as those whom he set apart from the irreligious multitude as dear unto himself, and whom he has rendered, through faith in Christ, citizens in the Messianic kingdom: (James 2:5) so that the ground of the choice lies in Christ and his merits only
You, and appointed: 5087
1) to set, put, place
a) to place or lay
b) to put down, lay down
1) to bend down
2) to lay off or aside, to wear or carry no longer
3) to lay by, lay aside money
c) to set on (serve) something to eat or drink
d) to set forth, something to be explained by discourse
2) to make
a) to make (or set) for one's self or for one's use
3) to set, fix establish
a) to set forth
b) to establish, ordain
That you would go: 5217
1) to lead under, bring under
2) to withdraw one's self, to go away, depart
And bear: 5342
1) to carry
a) to carry some burden
1) to bear with one's self
b) to move by bearing; move or, to be conveyed or borne, with the suggestion of force or speed
1) of persons borne in a ship over the sea
2) of a gust of wind, to rush
3) of the mind, to be moved inwardly, prompted
c) to bear up i.e. uphold (keep from falling)
1) of Christ, the preserver of the universe
2) to bear, i.e. endure, to endure the rigour of a thing, to bear patiently one's conduct, or spare one (abstain from punishing or destroying)
3) to bring, bring to, bring forward
a) to move to, apply
b) to bring in by announcing, to announce
c) to bear i.e. bring forth, produce; to bring forward in a speech
d) to lead, conduct
Fruit: 2590
1) fruit
a) the fruit of the trees, vines, of the fields
b) the fruit of one's loins, i.e. his progeny, his posterity
2) that which originates or comes from something, an effect, result
a) work, act, deed
b) advantage, profit, utility
c) praises, which are presented to God as a thank offering
d) to gather fruit (i.e. a reaped harvest) into life eternal (as into a granary), is used in fig. discourse of those who by their labours have fitted souls to obtain eternal life
Would remain: 3306
1) to remain, abide
a) in reference to place
1) to sojourn, tarry
2) not to depart
a) to continue to be present
b) to be held, kept, continually
b) in reference to time
1) to continue to be, not to perish, to last, endure
a) of persons, to survive, live
c) in reference to state or condition
1) to remain as one, not to become another or different
2) to wait for, await one
That whatever: 3739
1) who, which, what, that
You ask: 154
1) to ask, beg, call for, crave, desire, require
Of the Father: 3962
1) generator or male ancestor
a) either the nearest ancestor: father of the corporeal nature, natural fathers, both parents
b) a more remote ancestor, the founder of a family or tribe, progenitor of a people, forefather: so Abraham is called, Jacob and David
1) fathers i.e. ancestors, forefathers, founders of a nation
c) one advanced in years, a senior
2) metaph.
a) the originator and transmitter of anything
1) the authors of a family or society of persons animated by the same spirit as himself
2) one who has infused his own spirit into others, who actuates and governs their minds
b) one who stands in a father's place and looks after another in a paternal way
c) a title of honour
1) teachers, as those to whom pupils trace back the knowledge and training they have received
2) the members of the Sanhedrin, whose prerogative it was by virtue of the wisdom and experience in which they excelled, to take charge of the interests of others
3) God is called the Father
a) of the stars, the heavenly luminaries, because he is their creator, upholder, ruler
b) of all rational and intelligent beings, whether angels or men, because he is their creator, preserver, guardian and protector
1) of spiritual beings and of all men
c) of Christians, as those who through Christ have been exalted to a specially close and intimate relationship with God, and who no longer dread him as a stern judge of sinners, but revere him as their reconciled and loving Father
d) the Father of Jesus Christ, as one whom God has united to himself in the closest bond of love and intimacy, made acquainted with his purposes, appointed to explain and carry out among men the plan of salvation, and made to share also in his own divine nature
1) by Jesus Christ himself
2) by the apostles
In my Name: 3686
1) name: univ. of proper names
2) the name is used for everything which the name covers, everything the thought or feeling of which is aroused in the mind by mentioning, hearing, remembering, the name, i.e. for one's rank, authority, interests, pleasure, command, excellences, deeds etc.
3) persons reckoned up by name
4) the cause or reason named: on this account, because he suffers as a Christian, for this reason
He may give to you: 1325
1) to give
2) to give something to someone
a) of one's own accord to give one something, to his advantage
1) to bestow a gift
b) to grant, give to one asking, let have
c) to supply, furnish, necessary things
d) to give over, deliver
1) to reach out, extend, present
2) of a writing
3) to give over to one's care, intrust, commit
a) something to be administered
b) to give or commit to some one something to be religiously observed
e) to give what is due or obligatory, to pay: wages or reward
f) to furnish, endue
3) to give
a) to cause, profuse, give forth from one's self
1) to give, hand out lots
b) to appoint to an office
c) to cause to come forth, i.e. as the sea, death and Hell are said to give up the dead who have been engulfed or received by them
c) to give one to someone as his own
1) as an object of his saving care
2) to give one to someone, to follow him as a leader and master
3) to give one to someone to care for his interests
4) to give one to someone to whom he already belonged, to return
4) to grant or permit one
a) to commission
References:
Blue Letter Bible. "Gospel of John 15 - (NASB - New American Standard Bible)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2009. 23 Dec 2009. < http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Jhn&c=15&t=NASB
Higgins, S. (2009). He Chose You, First! Devotions for Thought. Http://www.devotionsforthought.blogspot.com, http://www.higginspublishing.com
Tuesday
The Purpose of Peter
Scripture John 13:36
Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, where are You going?" Jesus answered, "Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you will follow later."
The time had come for Jesus to be glorified, and even though He had a heavy heart because the hour had come for Him to fulfill His purpose, He was committed to doing the Father's will (John 12:22). He was also committed to making sure that the disciples took care of one another. He showed them what humility and love was throughout His entire life; but especially at the Last Supper, when He washed their feet. Even though He was in a state of sorrow because of the events that would soon unfold, He continued to serve those that He had spent years with in ministry. He loved them unto the very end, and stayed true to His Word by offering Himself up for the sin of the entire world.
Simon Peter was zealous when it came to the Lord Jesus Christ. When he realized that Jesus was going to wash his feet, he insisted that the Lord not wash his feet. But the Lord explained to Simon Peter, that if he did not wash his feet, that he would have no part of Jesus. Simon Peter "said to Him, "Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head (John 13:9). Jesus then explained to him, that only his feet needed to be washed to be clean; but not everyone was clean (referring to Judas, who would soon betray Jesus into the hands of those that sought His life).
Simon Peter loved the Lord. However, he was still afraid of man, and what man could do to him. Jesus knew that Simon Peter was still shaky; when it came to standing up for whom, and what he believed in. That's why at certain times in the Word of God, Jesus called him Simon (meaning shaky), and other times he called him "Peter", meaning Rock. That's why Jesus stated to Simon Peter that he could not follow him now, but he would follow Him later. Thus referring to Simon Peter denying the Lord Jesus Christ three times, and falling away because of his fear of what man would do to him.
Therefore, when he denied the Lord Jesus Christ three times, he seen himself for the sinner he was. At that moment in time Simon Peter was not ready for the call, and all that it would entail. But he would be ready at a later date in time. Even though Jesus knew that Simon Peter was shaky, and He knew in advance that he would deny him in the presence of a crowd; Jesus still loved him.
Jesus knew what was in Simon Peter, but he also knew what was in Peter. Peter had a designated purposed to fulfill, and his present state of fear, was of no effect on his call. Therefore, when it was time, Peter would be one of the most dedicated and sold out Christians named among the disciples. But Simon Peter, had to hit rock bottom in his walk with Christ, to realize how much the Lord Jesus Christ really loved him. The love that Jesus had for His disciples, and the example of His life, left an undeniable mark on their hearts, and on their souls; that would change the world for His glory.
Reflection:
Simon Peter is a perfect example of having a personal fight within his own flesh; and having to hit rock bottom, in order to understand the Love of Christ to some extent. He realized a portion of the Love of Christ, when Jesus came back for him, and accepted him as if he had not denied Him. Jesus was not concerned with the denial of Peter. He was concerned with the Purpose of Peter. The Love of God is so deep, that it cannot be completely comprehended by the mind of man. However, what we have been priviledged to understand, is humbling to say the least.
Jesus looks past all of our imperfections, and our fralties. He looks beyond the weakness of our flesh, and loves us to the depths of His soul. This kind of love is the most powerful love there is, and there is no love on earth that can match it. For God is Love, and He can only be who He says He is.
Strong's Concordance Definitions: John 13:36
Simon: 4613
Peter = "a rock or stone"
1) Peter was one of the apostles
2) Simon called Zelotes or the Kanaites
3) Simon, father of Judas who betrayed Jesus.
4) Simon Magus, the Samaritan wizard
5) Simon the tanner, Ac. 10
6) Simon the Pharisee, Luke 7:40-44
7) Simon of Cyrene who carried the cross of Christ
8) Simon the cousin of Jesus, the son of Cleophas
9) Simon the leper, so called to distinguish him from others of the same name
Peter: 4074
Peter = "a rock or a stone"
1) one of the twelve disciples of Jesus
Said: 3004
1) to say, to speak
a) affirm over, maintain
b) to teach
c) to exhort, advise, to command, direct
d) to point out with words, intend, mean, mean to say
e) to call by name, to call, name
f) to speak out, speak of, mention
to Him, "Lord: 2962
1) he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord
a) the possessor and disposer of a thing
1) the owner; one who has control of the person, the master
2) in the state: the sovereign, prince, chief, the Roman emperor
b) is a title of honour expressive of respect and reverence, with which servants greet their master
c) this title is given to: God, the Messiah
Are You going; 5217
1) to lead under, bring under
2) to withdraw one's self, to go away, depart
You cannot: 1410
1) to be able, have power whether by virtue of one's own ability and resources, or of a state of mind, or through favourable circumstances, or by permission of law or custom
2) to be able to do something
3) to be capable, strong and powerful
Follow: 190
1) to follow one who precedes, join him as his attendant, accompany him
2) to join one as a disciple, become or be his disciple
a) side with his party
Me now: 3568
1) at this time, the present, now
Later: 5305
1) latter, later, coming after, the second
2) afterward, after this, later, lastly
References:
Blue Letter Bible. "Gospel of John 13 - (NASB - New American Standard Bible)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2009. 22 Dec 2009. < http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Jhn&c=13&t=NASB.
Higgins, S. (2009). The Depths of His Soul . Devotions for Thought. http://www.devotionsforthought.blogspot.com/, http://www.higginspublishing.com/
Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, where are You going?" Jesus answered, "Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you will follow later."
The time had come for Jesus to be glorified, and even though He had a heavy heart because the hour had come for Him to fulfill His purpose, He was committed to doing the Father's will (John 12:22). He was also committed to making sure that the disciples took care of one another. He showed them what humility and love was throughout His entire life; but especially at the Last Supper, when He washed their feet. Even though He was in a state of sorrow because of the events that would soon unfold, He continued to serve those that He had spent years with in ministry. He loved them unto the very end, and stayed true to His Word by offering Himself up for the sin of the entire world.
Simon Peter was zealous when it came to the Lord Jesus Christ. When he realized that Jesus was going to wash his feet, he insisted that the Lord not wash his feet. But the Lord explained to Simon Peter, that if he did not wash his feet, that he would have no part of Jesus. Simon Peter "said to Him, "Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head (John 13:9). Jesus then explained to him, that only his feet needed to be washed to be clean; but not everyone was clean (referring to Judas, who would soon betray Jesus into the hands of those that sought His life).
Simon Peter loved the Lord. However, he was still afraid of man, and what man could do to him. Jesus knew that Simon Peter was still shaky; when it came to standing up for whom, and what he believed in. That's why at certain times in the Word of God, Jesus called him Simon (meaning shaky), and other times he called him "Peter", meaning Rock. That's why Jesus stated to Simon Peter that he could not follow him now, but he would follow Him later. Thus referring to Simon Peter denying the Lord Jesus Christ three times, and falling away because of his fear of what man would do to him.
Therefore, when he denied the Lord Jesus Christ three times, he seen himself for the sinner he was. At that moment in time Simon Peter was not ready for the call, and all that it would entail. But he would be ready at a later date in time. Even though Jesus knew that Simon Peter was shaky, and He knew in advance that he would deny him in the presence of a crowd; Jesus still loved him.
Jesus knew what was in Simon Peter, but he also knew what was in Peter. Peter had a designated purposed to fulfill, and his present state of fear, was of no effect on his call. Therefore, when it was time, Peter would be one of the most dedicated and sold out Christians named among the disciples. But Simon Peter, had to hit rock bottom in his walk with Christ, to realize how much the Lord Jesus Christ really loved him. The love that Jesus had for His disciples, and the example of His life, left an undeniable mark on their hearts, and on their souls; that would change the world for His glory.
Reflection:
Simon Peter is a perfect example of having a personal fight within his own flesh; and having to hit rock bottom, in order to understand the Love of Christ to some extent. He realized a portion of the Love of Christ, when Jesus came back for him, and accepted him as if he had not denied Him. Jesus was not concerned with the denial of Peter. He was concerned with the Purpose of Peter. The Love of God is so deep, that it cannot be completely comprehended by the mind of man. However, what we have been priviledged to understand, is humbling to say the least.
Jesus looks past all of our imperfections, and our fralties. He looks beyond the weakness of our flesh, and loves us to the depths of His soul. This kind of love is the most powerful love there is, and there is no love on earth that can match it. For God is Love, and He can only be who He says He is.
Strong's Concordance Definitions: John 13:36
Simon: 4613
Peter = "a rock or stone"
1) Peter was one of the apostles
2) Simon called Zelotes or the Kanaites
3) Simon, father of Judas who betrayed Jesus.
4) Simon Magus, the Samaritan wizard
5) Simon the tanner, Ac. 10
6) Simon the Pharisee, Luke 7:40-44
7) Simon of Cyrene who carried the cross of Christ
8) Simon the cousin of Jesus, the son of Cleophas
9) Simon the leper, so called to distinguish him from others of the same name
Peter: 4074
Peter = "a rock or a stone"
1) one of the twelve disciples of Jesus
Said: 3004
1) to say, to speak
a) affirm over, maintain
b) to teach
c) to exhort, advise, to command, direct
d) to point out with words, intend, mean, mean to say
e) to call by name, to call, name
f) to speak out, speak of, mention
to Him, "Lord: 2962
1) he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord
a) the possessor and disposer of a thing
1) the owner; one who has control of the person, the master
2) in the state: the sovereign, prince, chief, the Roman emperor
b) is a title of honour expressive of respect and reverence, with which servants greet their master
c) this title is given to: God, the Messiah
Are You going; 5217
1) to lead under, bring under
2) to withdraw one's self, to go away, depart
You cannot: 1410
1) to be able, have power whether by virtue of one's own ability and resources, or of a state of mind, or through favourable circumstances, or by permission of law or custom
2) to be able to do something
3) to be capable, strong and powerful
Follow: 190
1) to follow one who precedes, join him as his attendant, accompany him
2) to join one as a disciple, become or be his disciple
a) side with his party
Me now: 3568
1) at this time, the present, now
Later: 5305
1) latter, later, coming after, the second
2) afterward, after this, later, lastly
References:
Blue Letter Bible. "Gospel of John 13 - (NASB - New American Standard Bible)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2009. 22 Dec 2009. < http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Jhn&c=13&t=NASB.
Higgins, S. (2009). The Depths of His Soul . Devotions for Thought. http://www.devotionsforthought.blogspot.com/, http://www.higginspublishing.com/
Monday
Your Breakthrough Is At The Door!
Scripture John 9: 1-3
As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth, and His disciples asked Him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind? Jesus answered, "It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.
Many times when we experience a setback or some type of delay in our lives, we feel that it may be something that we have personally done to prevent us from receiving what has been promised to us. This is when the enemy will try to come in an discourage us from believing the promises of God; by planting seeds of doubt, and unbelief.
This doubt and unbelief can come into our minds: or it can come in an email, or through a phone call that we receive; or from a loved one who does not understand our situation. However, we must remember, that no matter what, all the promises of God are yea and amen; not maybe.
God is not double-minded in anything that He speaks. If He gave you a promise, you can believe He will bring it to pass. It is also important that we remember that the promise(s) that God has made to us, are not based on anything that we do, or don't do; because God would not get the glory, if we had anything to do with it. His promises are based on who He is, and rooted in the foundation of His unchangeable Word.
God is dependable, reliable, trustworthy, honest, loving, caring, faithful and solid in everything that He says. We can count on our heavenly Father to be who He says He is; and to do, what He says He will do! Regardless of what the outer appearance of things are; our belief level must remain intact to the One who created us; and not falter to the tricks and schemes of the enemy, to make us loose hope, and give up on our promise(s). Even when a situation looks as if the promise(s) will not manifest, God will turn the situation around for our good because we love Him, and He will be glorified in the breakthrough that He releases.
Reflection:
The Breakthrough is at the door, waiting for our unshakable faith to answer with full acceptance of the promise(s) manifesting in our lives. It is time for us to rise to the occasion, and receive all that has been promised to us, and not to be afraid of the miracles that God has already given to us; for His glory.
Live today like it's the last day of your life. Bless those around you. Love like you've never loved. Say what's on your heart; and do not be afraid of the response. Forgive as you have been forgiven, and maximize every minute of your day, by believing the promise(s) of God for your life.
Dictionary Definitions: Breakthrough
1. a military movement or advance all the way through and beyond an enemy's front-line defense.
2. an act or instance of removing or surpassing an obstruction or restriction; the overcoming of a stalemate: The president reported a breakthrough in the treaty negotiations.
3. any significant or sudden advance, development, achievement, or increase, as in scientific knowledge or diplomacy, that removes a barrier to progress: The jet engine was a major breakthrough in air transport.
Strong's Concordance Definitions: Scripture John 9:3
Jesus: 2424
Jesus = "Jehovah is salvation"
1) Jesus, the Son of God, the Saviour of mankind, God incarnate
2) Jesus Barabbas was the captive robber whom the Jews begged Pilate to release instead of Christ
3) Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses' successor (Ac. 7:45, Heb. 4:8)
4) Jesus, son of Eliezer, one of the ancestors of Christ (Lu. 3:29)
5) Jesus, surnamed Justus, a Jewish Christian, an associate with Paul in the preaching of the gospel (Col. 4:11)
Answered: 611
1) to give an answer to a question proposed, to answer
2) to begin to speak, but always where something has preceded (either said or done) to which the remarks refer
Sinned: 264
1) to be without a share in
2) to miss the mark
3) to err, be mistaken
4) to miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honour, to do or go wrong
5) to wander from the law of God, violate God's law, sin
But: 235
1) but
a) nevertheless, notwithstanding
b) an objection
c) an exception
d) a restriction
e) nay, rather, yea, moreover
f) forms a transition to the cardinal matter
The Works: 2041
1) business, employment, that which any one is occupied
a) that which one undertakes to do, enterprise, undertaking
2) any product whatever, any thing accomplished by hand, art, industry, or mind
3) an act, deed, thing done: the idea of working is emphasised in opp. to that which is less than work
Of God: 2316
1) a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities
2) the Godhead, trinity
a) God the Father, the first person in the trinity
b) Christ, the second person of the trinity
c) Holy Spirit, the third person in the trinity
3) spoken of the only and true God
a) refers to the things of God
b) his counsels, interests, things due to him
4) whatever can in any respect be likened unto God, or resemble him in any way
a) God's representative or viceregent
1) of magistrates and judges
Should be made manifest: 5319
1) to make manifest or visible or known what has been hidden or unknown, to manifest, whether by words, or deeds, or in any other way
a) make actual and visible, realised
b) to make known by teaching
c) to become manifest, be made known
d) of a person
1) expose to view, make manifest, to show one's self, appear
e) to become known, to be plainly recognised, thoroughly understood
1) who and what one is
Recommended Reading:
One Month To Live by Kerry & Chris Shook
References:
Blue Letter Bible. "Gospel of John 9 - (KJV - King James Version)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2009. 21 Dec 2009. http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Jhn&c=9&t=KJV
Dictionary.com. LLC. (2009). Breakthrough. Retrieved on December 21, 2009
from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/breakthrough
Higgins, S. (2009). The Breakthrough Is At The Door! Devotions for Thought. Http://www.devotionsforthought.blogspot.com, http://www.higginspublishing.com
As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth, and His disciples asked Him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind? Jesus answered, "It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.
Many times when we experience a setback or some type of delay in our lives, we feel that it may be something that we have personally done to prevent us from receiving what has been promised to us. This is when the enemy will try to come in an discourage us from believing the promises of God; by planting seeds of doubt, and unbelief.
This doubt and unbelief can come into our minds: or it can come in an email, or through a phone call that we receive; or from a loved one who does not understand our situation. However, we must remember, that no matter what, all the promises of God are yea and amen; not maybe.
God is not double-minded in anything that He speaks. If He gave you a promise, you can believe He will bring it to pass. It is also important that we remember that the promise(s) that God has made to us, are not based on anything that we do, or don't do; because God would not get the glory, if we had anything to do with it. His promises are based on who He is, and rooted in the foundation of His unchangeable Word.
God is dependable, reliable, trustworthy, honest, loving, caring, faithful and solid in everything that He says. We can count on our heavenly Father to be who He says He is; and to do, what He says He will do! Regardless of what the outer appearance of things are; our belief level must remain intact to the One who created us; and not falter to the tricks and schemes of the enemy, to make us loose hope, and give up on our promise(s). Even when a situation looks as if the promise(s) will not manifest, God will turn the situation around for our good because we love Him, and He will be glorified in the breakthrough that He releases.
Reflection:
The Breakthrough is at the door, waiting for our unshakable faith to answer with full acceptance of the promise(s) manifesting in our lives. It is time for us to rise to the occasion, and receive all that has been promised to us, and not to be afraid of the miracles that God has already given to us; for His glory.
Live today like it's the last day of your life. Bless those around you. Love like you've never loved. Say what's on your heart; and do not be afraid of the response. Forgive as you have been forgiven, and maximize every minute of your day, by believing the promise(s) of God for your life.
Dictionary Definitions: Breakthrough
1. a military movement or advance all the way through and beyond an enemy's front-line defense.
2. an act or instance of removing or surpassing an obstruction or restriction; the overcoming of a stalemate: The president reported a breakthrough in the treaty negotiations.
3. any significant or sudden advance, development, achievement, or increase, as in scientific knowledge or diplomacy, that removes a barrier to progress: The jet engine was a major breakthrough in air transport.
Strong's Concordance Definitions: Scripture John 9:3
Jesus: 2424
Jesus = "Jehovah is salvation"
1) Jesus, the Son of God, the Saviour of mankind, God incarnate
2) Jesus Barabbas was the captive robber whom the Jews begged Pilate to release instead of Christ
3) Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses' successor (Ac. 7:45, Heb. 4:8)
4) Jesus, son of Eliezer, one of the ancestors of Christ (Lu. 3:29)
5) Jesus, surnamed Justus, a Jewish Christian, an associate with Paul in the preaching of the gospel (Col. 4:11)
Answered: 611
1) to give an answer to a question proposed, to answer
2) to begin to speak, but always where something has preceded (either said or done) to which the remarks refer
Sinned: 264
1) to be without a share in
2) to miss the mark
3) to err, be mistaken
4) to miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honour, to do or go wrong
5) to wander from the law of God, violate God's law, sin
But: 235
1) but
a) nevertheless, notwithstanding
b) an objection
c) an exception
d) a restriction
e) nay, rather, yea, moreover
f) forms a transition to the cardinal matter
The Works: 2041
1) business, employment, that which any one is occupied
a) that which one undertakes to do, enterprise, undertaking
2) any product whatever, any thing accomplished by hand, art, industry, or mind
3) an act, deed, thing done: the idea of working is emphasised in opp. to that which is less than work
Of God: 2316
1) a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities
2) the Godhead, trinity
a) God the Father, the first person in the trinity
b) Christ, the second person of the trinity
c) Holy Spirit, the third person in the trinity
3) spoken of the only and true God
a) refers to the things of God
b) his counsels, interests, things due to him
4) whatever can in any respect be likened unto God, or resemble him in any way
a) God's representative or viceregent
1) of magistrates and judges
Should be made manifest: 5319
1) to make manifest or visible or known what has been hidden or unknown, to manifest, whether by words, or deeds, or in any other way
a) make actual and visible, realised
b) to make known by teaching
c) to become manifest, be made known
d) of a person
1) expose to view, make manifest, to show one's self, appear
e) to become known, to be plainly recognised, thoroughly understood
1) who and what one is
Recommended Reading:
One Month To Live by Kerry & Chris Shook
References:
Blue Letter Bible. "Gospel of John 9 - (KJV - King James Version)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2009. 21 Dec 2009. http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Jhn&c=9&t=KJV
Dictionary.com. LLC. (2009). Breakthrough. Retrieved on December 21, 2009
from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/breakthrough
Higgins, S. (2009). The Breakthrough Is At The Door! Devotions for Thought. Http://www.devotionsforthought.blogspot.com, http://www.higginspublishing.com
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