PURITY

Lev 24:2 "Command the children of Israel that they bring to you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to make the lamps burn continually.

      The pure oil and continual light represent the life of the believer. We are to be diligent in keeping ourselves clean that the light of our Lord may shine brightly through us. God says to bring "pressed olive oil" effort or work is pictured here in crushing the olives and in bringing the offering. It is a complete picture of the Christian daily pressing his own life with God's wonderful word to remain clean in the presence of temptation. Note however, that this is to be continually, that God's light might burn for the benefit of those near the light. Are you being crushed for our Savior, then know that the object of God's pressure is to have a light for others.

Heavenly Father thank you for the pressure in our lives that draws us close to You, may we always give a sweet fragrance in response to your touch. May our light be pure and unhindered for you.

SECRETS

Mark 4:11 (KJV) 11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God...
   Attacks, from religious leaders, large crowds pressing, interested in miracles but indifferent to spiritual truth. This sounds just like our world today. The parables Jesus shared held wonderful eternal truth, but even the disciples questioned what He was saying. Is the word of God a mystery to you are there unanswered spiritual questions to which you need an answer? Jesus says, "Unto you it is given to know...", He wants you and I to know Him personally, both now and in Eternity. How? Well, I am glad you asked, in vs. 20 our Lord says, "those who hear... and receive..." we must desire Jesus, hear His words and obey. Do you want Him with all your heart, He will answer, do you desire Him and nothing else, He will cleanse your life, do you want Eternal life, He will give you Himself.

Heavenly Father, thank you that Eternal Life is in Your Son only. May all who call on Your Name today find understanding and receive You by faith. Amen.

WATCHING

Mark 3:2 So they watched Him closely, ... so that they might accuse Him.

   Never has a man been more scrutinized than Jesus Christ. The scribes watched carefully to find fault in this man that they might accuse Him. There are many today who are still looking to accuse Jesus. Watching Jesus is amazing, we see a wonderful example of what man can be with the Power and Presence of God living in him. However, Jesus can only be understood through the eyes of the believer, one who has personal knowledge in Him through redemption.
   The world is very critical of good done in the name of God, good done in the name of personal goodness or in something that edifies man seems all too acceptable. Why would anyone want to challenge the works of the Lord, it is because He stands in opposition to anything that glorifies the flesh. Jesus reminds us that the works of the flesh are rebellion against God, and "rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft!" 1 Samuel 15:23


Heavenly Father thank you for the gift of your Son and thank you that through Him we have Eternal life. You are God and there is no other name given under heaven that men may be saved. Help us to look to Jesus for every Grace and to be thankful for Your provisions in this life.

GOOD NEWS

Mark 1:15 "... Repent, and believe in the gospel."

   Mark is not one of the original disciples, he is however a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ and with a strong pen he writes "Repent and believe..." the redeeming words of our Savior. What are we to repent of, wrong thinking and wrong living! Our hearts are easily turned to our desires and the will to obey God is lost in the easy transition to serving self. To repent there must be the determined action of the will to listen to another voice other than our own. That voice must be the intense calling of the Holy Spirit to our hearts about the wonderful work of Jesus to wash away all sin. To believe there must be the action of faith in our lives trusting what we cannot see, believing what we are hearing in the heart. What are you doing about the urgency to trust Jesus with all your heart?

Heavenly Father help us to embrace this truth of repenting and believing the Good News of Jesus and desire only the life you have planned for us. Will you help us put action to our understanding and trust you with everything.

GOD IS...

Genesis 21:22b "God is with you in all that you do.

    Abraham is identified by those in the world as one that God is with. Facing trials do we immediately turn to God for the answer, or do we find ourselves reasoning through the circumstances? God is looking for the heart tuned to Him, a soul that desires God's Will above all else. The heart tuned to God plays a beautiful melody recognized by many as God's presence. Do others see Christ in you, or just you? Are you letting God work out in your life His will regardless of the circumstances? Let God have every area of your life.

Father use us like You used Abraham, tune our hearts to You and play what pleases You on the strings of our life. Amen

Where Are You

Genesis 22:1 Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am."

    God's call to Abraham was not a wake up call, Abraham was seeking God and being blessed by God. The test comes along the line of Abraham's heart for His possessions. Will we worship what God has blessed us with or will we worship God only. Isaac is a gift from God and gifts often become our treasures, they occupy our thoughts and time. What has God given you that you will offer back to Him?

Heavenly Father thank you for your gift of Jesus and His salvation, thank you for your blessings. Will use what you have given so others may be blessed in them. Amen

Spiritual Clothes

Gen 3:21 Also for Adam and his wife the LORD God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.

      God made clothes of skin for Adam and Eve, they needed more than fig leaves to cover their sin. Adam blamed his wife and God for his sin, and tried to cover his guilt. Just like our fore fathers we still try to get to God our own way, in our own righteousness. There is only one acceptable sacrifice for the sins of man and that is Jesus. We must be clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ through His own blood. we must confess with our mouths and believe in our hearts. Have you confessed do you believe?

Father thank you for the merciful sacrifice of Your Son Jesus. Thank you that there is no other name given under Heaven. Amen

VICTORY

Exodus 32:18 (NKJV) 18 But he said: "It is not the noise of the shout of victory, ...
 
    Today the sound of victory is not heard from the christian, there is not even the sound of war within the church camps. It is just the sound of singing and merriment without God. The problem is two fold, flocks with a desire for the world and a shepherd missing in action.
First, the shepherd may be seeking God but there must be someone in the camp to hold things together. We must find men who are seeking God, men who's hearts are bent on obedience. Second the church desperately needs to seek God and His way, with all it's heart, mind and strength, trusting not the flesh and it's desires but The Word and Truth. Deut. 6:4,5


Father thank you for your Word and the Holy Spirit which teaches us what we need. May we hear and then obey your voice of truth.