Job’s Blessings Posted on November 9, 2013 by mikewilkins JOB 42:12-17 NIV 12 The LORD blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the first. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys. 13 And he also had seven sons and three daughters. 14 The first daughter he named Jemimah, the second Keziah and the third Keren-Happuch. 15 Nowhere in all the land were there found women as beautiful as Job’s daughters, and their father granted them an inheritance along with their brothers. 16 After this, Job lived a hundred and forty years; he saw his children and their children to the fourth generation. 17 And so he died, old and full of years. Many people talk about Job’s trials, but few tell the end of his story. This is the same view many have of their own life. They are looking only at their present circumstances, and not looking forward to what the Lord has planned for their future. JAMES 5:11 NIV 11 As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. The devil tried to steal Job’s faith and destroy him (Job 2:7). But God protected Job and brought about blessing in his life. After the devil’s attack, Job not only regained all he previously lost, but gained twice as much as before. Because of God’s blessing, Job lived a long and healthy life with great wealth. Job had the most beautiful daughters in the land, and you can’t have beautiful daughters without a beautiful wife. Job also had the privilege of knowing God better than He did before. This is what the Lord has in mind for you, too. Blessings! It is not God’s plan for you to remain oppressed in any situation of pain or lack. Never forget that God is working, and things will change. Keep your focus on God! Trust in Him! Rejoice in hope, expecting a better future. HEBREWS 6:12 NIV 12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. We have to continue in faith. We can’t be moved by the present (temporary) circumstances, no matter how difficult they may seem. Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment If You Don’t Know What To Believe Posted on November 8, 2013 by mikewilkins JOHN 17:17 NKJ 17 “. . . Your word is truth. According to Jesus, the Word of God is truth. Yet many people proclaim quite different messages — all using the Bible as their text. How can you know who to believe? Jesus also told us that continuing to abide in the Word of God would produce freedom — not bondage. JOHN 8:31-32 NKJ 31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” So, look at the fruit produced by the message proclaimed. Is it freedom? If not, then it must not be the ACCURATE message of Jesus Christ. The true message of Jesus Christ will set people free — not put them in bondage. It truly is good news, and makes people happy when they correctly understand it. JOHN 10:10 NKJ 10 “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. If it produces death, stealing, or destruction, it is not God’s plan for you. Jesus came so you could have life in all the fullness God intended. What you need to do now is simple: 1) Stop listening to lies. Anything that makes you think God does not love you, or that you are hopeless or helpless — is a lie. God is not against you or mad at you. All your troubles have been caused by the devil, and your ignorance, not by God. 2) Listen to the truth. God’s truth is good news. It will build you up — and give you an inheritance. It will give you good things, not take anything good away from you. ACTS 20:32 NKJ 32 “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. Primarily, you need to read the New Testament for yourself. Don’t just depend on others to tell you what God said. And before you read, ask the Lord to teach you and reveal Himself to you. Secondarily, listen to teachers and preachers who feed you the Word of God which builds your faith and makes you love and appreciate God more. Otherwise, quit listening to them. Remember, the accurate message of Jesus makes you free. (Not free to sin without consequences, but free from the bondage and the effects of sin and its curse.) Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment Pride and Selfishness Posted on November 7, 2013 by mikewilkins PHILIPPIANS 2:3-4 NKJ 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Pride and selfishness always go together. A truly humble person cannot be selfish. Pride is self-importance and self-focus — which leads to selfishness which is selfish thinking and selfish acting — the opposite of Jesus’ command of agape love in John 13:34. Pride produces selfishness. All selfishness is a manifestation of pride — thinking you are better, or more important, than others. Pride is the root of selfishness — and thus the root of all evil. Pride is hidden but manifests as selfish acts. JAMES 3:16 TEV 16 Where there is jealousy and selfishness, there is also disorder and every kind of evil. Selfishness causes all evil. All evil proceeds from selfish actions. Selfishness is the only manifest problem, but pride feeds it. Dealing with the root cause of the problem is the only lasting solution. Submitting to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and realizing we are not the center of the Universe, is the answer. Without Jesus, you can do nothing. Apart from His grace, you would not be able to take that next breath of air! Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment Be Heaven’s Ambassador Posted on November 6, 2013 by mikewilkins 2 CORINTHIANS 5:20 LB 20 We are Christ’s ambassadors. God is using us to speak to you: we beg you, as though Christ himself were here pleading with you, receive the love he offers you–be reconciled to God. An ambassador is a resident representative for the head of state of their own country. As citizens of Heaven, we are authorized to represent our King, the Lord Jesus Christ, here on Earth. An ambassador is a very important person. Unless they do their job correctly, misunderstanding can easily develop — and possibly even war. This is Heaven’s problem. Its ambassadors have not always clearly communicated the correct message to Earth’s inhabitants. That is why so many people are “at war with God” instead of enjoying the blessings of peace with God. The problem comes from people misunderstanding God, and not realizing the sin problem has already been dealt with in Christ. 2 CORINTHIANS 5:21 NLT 21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. The logic supporting the plea in verse 20, to be reconciled to God, is found in verse 21: the sin separating us from God has been dealt with through Christ. So we no longer need to hide from God, or fear His judgment. Instead, we can enjoy His gift of being made right with Him. A good ambassador for Heaven must know the message of God, and speak His message — accurately. One way of determining the accurate message of Jesus Christ is found in John 8:31-32. Jesus said His message would make people free — not beat them down or put them in bondage. God has a message that He desires for every person to hear: He loves them, and will help them, if they will only turn to Him. We must communicate that message clearly. This message of God’s love for mankind was displayed in and through a person: Jesus of Nazareth. We learn of Him, and His message, through a book — the Holy Bible. Actually, Jesus Himself was, and is, God’s message. We need only present Jesus to people as He truly was, and is — and they will be drawn to Him, because there is no fault in Him. An ambassador does not speak for himself — he speaks the official policy and message of the country he represents. So we are not here to give our opinion, but to proclaim what God has said in His written Word, the Bible — Heaven’s official message. Posted in Devotional | Leave a comment Don’t Give Up! Posted on November 5, 2013 by mikewilkins 1 CORINTHIANS 10:13 THE MESSAGE 13 No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it. All of us have been tempted to lose hope and give up. But we always have a choice: focus on God and stay in faith, or focus on the problem and give up. Problems — no matter how huge they seem to us — are no problem to God. Nothing is too hard, or complicated, for God to solve. But God wants us to trust Him. So what should you do when you are being tempted and feel like giving in and giving up? Refuse! Just keep your focus on the Lord and rejoice in His faithfulness. Remember that God cannot lie, and will never fail. God will see you through. HEBREWS 10:23 NKJ 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. When the devil tries to steal your faith, he tries to get you to quit speaking in agreement with the Word of God. Don’t let it happen! Hold fast to speaking your faith! Keep on saying what the Word of God says about you and your situation. Don’t be moved by the circumstances. GALATIANS 6:9 NIV 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Don’t grow weary. Keep your eyes on the Lord. His Word will work and produce a harvest of blessing in your life. Don’t doubt it! Posted in Devotional | Leave a comment God Is Good Posted on November 2, 2013 by mikewilkins NAHUM 1:7 NIV 7 The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him, God is not a bad guy. He is not against you. God is not your problem. He is the answer to your problems. The Bible reveals who is responsible for all the bad things that happen — and it is not God! God is not guilty! DEUTERONOMY 32:4 NLT 4 He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect. Everything he does is just and fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is! God has never done anything unfair or unjust. Everything He does is perfect! LUKE 6:35 NLT 35 “Love your enemies! … and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. According to Jesus, God even shows love to His enemies! PSALM 145:8-9 NLT 8 The LORD is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. 9 The LORD is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation. God is kind and merciful, gracious and generous. He desires the best for everyone. Every good thing we have or enjoy is because of God and His love. JAMES 1:17 NLT 17 Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. 1 JOHN 4:8 NLT 8 But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. God is love, and love is defined by giving. God puts the interests of others first. He is not selfish. He is willing to suffer so you will not have to suffer. If you want to know what God is like — look at Jesus Christ. He perfectly revealed God to us. JOHN 1:18 NLT 18 No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us. PSALM 86:5 NLT 5 O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help. JEREMIAH 9:24 NIV 24 but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the LORD. EXODUS 34:6 NLT 6 The LORD passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The LORD! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. PSALM 107:1 NLT 1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment God Cares Posted on October 31, 2013 by mikewilkins 1 PETER 5:7 AMPLIFIED 7 Casting the whole of your care — all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all — on Him; for He cares for you affectionately, and cares about you watchfully. EXODUS 3:7 NIV 7 The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. ISAIAH 63:9 NIV 9 In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. JOHN 11:35 KJV 35 Jesus wept. Of course, the question arises, “If God cares, why doesn’t He do something?” The answer is that God has already done something. Now it is our turn to act. God has redeemed mankind and set us free from the dominion of darkness by the sacrifice of Calvary. Now we must believe God’s Word and act on it. The truth, which you may find hard to accept, is that God is already doing all He can to help you. But often, we are blocking God’s help in our lives by our unbelief and acting contrary to the instructions of God’s Word. The solution is to ask God to help us see the truth and act on it. We should ask God to show us how we can stop hindering Him from blessing us as He desires. Posted in Devotional | Leave a comment Your Every Hair Is Numbered Posted on October 25, 2013 by mikewilkins LUKE 12:7 ICB 7 Yes, God even knows how many hairs you have on your head. Don’t be afraid. You are worth much more than many sparrows. Jesus gave us some insight on how much God is interested in us as humans. God provides for sparrows, and you are MUCH more valuable to God than any sparrow. Valuable enough to monitor every detail about you — even your current hair-count. However God obtains your current hair-count — He does know it. “Why would God waste His time with such useless information?” you may wonder. The point, which so many miss, is simply that God is interested in every detail of your life. Everything. Nothing concerning you is too small to bother God. You are the “apple of His eye” just as any young child is the delight of a good parent. So don’t try to hide from God. Don’t shut Him out of your life. Involve Him in every detail of your day. Talk things over with Him. Ask His advice. Tell Him what you think, and ask for His opinion. And do not fear. The God Who loves you enough to monitor your current hair count will never forsake you or fail you. When you are face-to-face with Him you will see that fully and clearly. So walk in faith today. Trust God. He loves you. Also, be thankful for whatever hair you do or do not have! God made you unique. If He wanted you different — He would have made you different! Posted in Devotional | Leave a comment The Lord Is Good Posted on October 24, 2013 by mikewilkins PSALM 145:8-9 NKJ 8 The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger and great in mercy. 9 The Lord is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all His works. The greatest deception is making people think God is bad. God is not guilty — of anything bad! The devil wants us to believe God is bad: that He is uncaring, that He does bad things to us, and that He is holding out on us – keeping us from enjoying good. But it isn’t true. God loves you more than you can imagine. The devil is a liar — he works by deception. The devil tries to make us believe God is like him, and he is like God, which is, of course, not true. Because of satan’s efforts to distort the truth, many people’s idea of God is actually what the devil is like. PSALM 34:8 NKJ 8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! We must, as Scripture admonishes, taste and see that the Lord is good. Unless you have a relationship with God, you won’t know how good He is. 1 JOHN 4:8 NKJ 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. God is a God of love. He puts the interests of others first. He is not selfish. He desires the best for everyone. Posted in Devotional | 1 Comment Don’t Worry Posted on October 23, 2013 by mikewilkins 1 PETER 5:7 NLT 7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you. Probably the biggest temptation most believers face is the temptation to worry. What is worry? Worry is thinking that leaves God out. Worry is the opposite of faith. Instead of expecting God’s help — you expect the worst. 1 PETER 5:7 CEV 7 God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to him. The Bible has much to say about not worrying. Worry is not appropriate for a child of God. MATTHEW 6:32 CEV 32 Only people who don’t know God are always worrying about such things. Your Father in heaven knows that you need all of these. PHILIPPIANS 4:6 ICB 6 Do not worry about anything. But pray and ask God for everything you need. And when you pray, always give thanks. Posted in Devotional | Leave a comment ← Older posts Verse Of The Day “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” -Isaiah 1:18 listen to chapter Public Domain Powered by BibleGateway Lookup a word or passage in the Bible BibleGateway Include this form on your page Recent Posts Job’s Blessings If You Don’t Know What To Believe Pride and Selfishness Be Heaven’s Ambassador Don’t Give Up! 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