Devotional

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Battle Belongs

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We live in a very defensive society. In today’s climate you have to be very careful what you say as to not offend someone. It does feel like we are in a battle with serious consequences. A battle of moral and ethical implications. Biblical values vs world values which are normally diametrically opposed. 

We can work ourselves up with fear and anxiety worry about the outcome of this war. There will be victories on both sides but each time we feel like we are loosing it can be overwhelming as we wonder “where is God in all this?”

The answer. Right where he has always been. 

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday today and forever Hebrews 13:8

Even though scripture says that and factually we know God is there sometimes we can feel like the psalmist in Psalm 69…

Save me, God, for the water has risen to my neck. I have sunk in deep mud, and there is no footing; I have come into deep water,
and a flood sweeps over me. I am weary from my crying; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God.

It is very easy when we feel this way to gear up and fight. But it is God that will fight our battles. We can have confidence that when we go to God on our knees he will hear us. When we are humble and submit to His plan he is always faithful to work things our for our good. (Romans 8:28) Maybe not how we want it but, His way is always better. 

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Kingdom Mindset – Merciful

Looking at attitudes that are befitting of those who follow Christ, I hope you notice that there is a strong sense of humility in each one. Humility is a quality that Jesus exhibited most frequently and at great cost. It was a model that he wants us to follow.

Mercy is a byproduct of being in right relationship with others. The Hebrew word for mercy, (Hessed) that is used here talks about a loyal love that is reserved for one’s closest to you. The challenge for believers is that this is the mercy that is expressed to everyone. When you express mercy to everyone then they should respond in kind to you as well.

If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.

James 2:8

The problem is our version of mercy today is so conditional. We only give mercy if we think the other person is worthy of our mercy. We hold grudges and condemn. It is rare to find someone who give mercy freely.

When we do not give mercy freely, we are holding on to a poison that can be toxic to our soul. The person whom we are withholding mercy or forgiveness from probably doesn’t even realize the stress we are under. We must be careful to guard against that and let go of the wrong and forgive and move on.

“Holding a grudge doesn’t make you strong; it makes you bitter. Forgiving doesn’t make you weak; it sets you free. “ Dave Willis

When we consider and apply this to our thoughts on mercy we can begin to feel a sense of how special giving and receiving genuine mercy can be to both parties.

  • Whom do you need to give mercy?

  • Have you been holding on to a grudge with a friend or family member?

  • How can you begin to show them mercy or faithful love?

You will feel a peace that can come from only God when you give this up and trust in him.

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Kingdom Mindset – Spiritually Hungry

The kingdom mindset is one that is one of continual progression. When God gets a hold of our heart and mind our daily attitudes and action should begin to change. What Jesus is teaching us is that his people are to embody the kingdom of God and that requires a mindset reset.

We continue to see the progression here. Poorness of spirit means we acknowledge our need for God. Mourning helps is see that we can never measure up to God's holy standard. Meekness leads to seeking God’s power and not our own. And therefore blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Our definition of blessed is someone who is secure spiritually, with a clear conscience before God, and a seeking a heavenly perspective. Therefore we are seeking to fill our hinger and thirst with godly things. What does this world hunger and thirst for?

Success. Money. Power. Things that are in opposition of God’s kingdom.

Remember

  • No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Matthew 6:24

  • As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living god. Psalm 42:1-2

  • Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price. Isaiah 55:1

Scripture teaches that our loyalty cannot be divided. If it is then nothing wins out. You will be a mediocre Christian and never gain the true abundant life that God has for you.  As men and women of God we do not seek the things of the world. We seek the things of God and the promises is we are filled.

 I learned one thing in Greek. Present Active Participle.  Meaning a verb with a continuing action. In this case the verse reads like this. Blessed are those who are hungering and thirsting after righteousness…

The worlds way of seeking success and climbing a latter has an ending. God’s way does not. We continue to seek and we continue to find and continue to be filled. This is the great joy of the faith that God does not hide from us he is waiting to be found and to continue to strengthen and encourage us.

Illlustration: When we take a road trip usually about mile 4, someone says I am hungry. I say ok we will stop when we can. When everyone in the car is physically hungry they develop an attitude that has become affectionately know as "Hangry".

I keep saying ok one more exit until they exhibit these qualities: angry, aggressive, and irritable. Finally when I can stand no more of their attitude I pull over and we get some food. Magically something happens. All the complaining and "tudes" stop and there are smiles once again. What changed they were filled with food.

Same spiritually. We have a special diet spiritual that can only be satisfied by God word and God’s people. When we try to fulfill it any other way we end up feeling lost and frustrated. No matter what we do we cannot make progress and we feel hungry and thirsty. It is only when we fill ourselves with the right things that we will truly be satisfied.

Don’t let yourself be spiritually hangry. Find yourself hungering and thirsting after righteousness because the promise is you will be filled. When you are filled with righteousness you are in right relationship with God. God also wants us to be in right relationships with others. When we truly live out and embody the core values of Jesus this will happen naturally.

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Kingdom Mindset – Meekness

As we look at the beatitudes, we see a progression that flows from poor in spirit to mourning then from meekness to seeking God. It all starts with humility. Humility that causes us to turn from our own sinfulness by comparing my sinfulness to God’s holiness then humility that causes me to look upward and seek to please God because how worthy he is.

Humble (Meek) – power under control. Man is certainly powerful and able to do many things on their own. God gave man creativity, ingenuity, and entrepreneur skills that enable us to forge ahead and gain success in the world. While all that is good none of our worldly success means anything when we pass into heaven. When we look to God and see how he is worthy of it all, it causes us to put ourselves in a position of submission and humility.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:1-2

Meekness is not weakness. Emotion out of control destroys and has no place in God’s kingdom. Meekness uses its resources appropriately. It also allows you to be the person you need to be to allow God to shape and mold you into the vessel he chooses. Self-sufficiency or pride leaves no room for change or transformation.

Meekness reminds me of this proverb. “Blessed are the flexible for they will not be bent out of shape”.

We also see that it is only the meek that shall inherit the earth. When Jesus comes back and restores his kingdom it is only those who submit to his authority and leadership that will be able to rule in his new kingdom.

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Kingdom Mindset – Mourning over sin.

The attitudes that should come out of Christian citizens builds upon one another. We start at the bottom by acknowledging our poorness and absolute spiritual bankruptcy apart for Christ. Then we realize of our own sin. From brokenness and humility to repentance.

Blessed are those who mourn. – Because we are aware of our sinfulness and the price, we cannot pay we begin to realize the extent of our sin. When you are made aware of your sin it can be an overwhelming feeling. We are promised that we will be comforted. If we are willing to go through the pain, shame, and guilt of self-discovery then you will be comforted.

Isaiah has a similar experience.

So I said: “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The Lord of hosts.” Isaiah 6:5

Isaiah gives us the perfect glimpse of what a vision of God should do to us. It should cause us to look upward and inward and acknowledge out sinfulness. Not only to acknowledge but to go a step further and mourn over it.

Ill: Nana – Was my favorite person on earth. When she passed away I was devastated even though I knew it was coming. I had spent time at the nursing home with the family and then I left early and she passed after I left. I still remember the soul crushing blow I felt when I heard the news. We gathered as a family before and after the funeral to tell stories and reminisce. When a close family member or friend dies we mourn for them. We spend time thinking about what life was like with them, the good times we had. We remember how they made us feel and we realize there will now be a whole in our lives where they once were.

We are to mourn over our sin. To think of the times we have let God and others down then to move on from that. Not only our sin but the sin of the world around us. We can very easily see and feel the evil that is in our world. We should mourn over that. Mourn that our family, friends, and loved ones are not living the way God wants them too. So its not just our sin that we mourn but it is also the sins of others.

Mourning is not all bad sometimes it causes us to think about how it could be. As we mourn over our sin it should spur us on to do better. To picture what a positive outcome of our faith could look like. Mourning leads to HOPE. 

What should this cause us to do?

  1. Seek personal holiness and repentance.
  2. Seek to live by example in such a way to change the world.

15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 1 peter 3:15

Let’s not forget the reward or promise. You will be comforted. We have a God full of grace that will not continue to hold our sin against us instead he comforts us.

 How

  1. The holy spirit.
  2. The truth of his word.
  3. The people of God.

As we look at the beatitudes, we see a progression that flows from poor in spirit to mourning then from meekness to seeking God. It all starts with humility. Humility that causes us to turn from our own sinfulness by comparing my sinfulness to God’s holiness then humility that causes me to look upward and seek to please God because how worthy he is.

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