31 May 2005 Devotion for Today "Dramatic Messages" Ezekiel 4

31 May 2005  Devotion for Today “Dramatic Messages”   Ezekiel 4

 

Creative arts ministry is a very effective way of getting across the message of God’s Word.  Such builds the awareness of who God is and introduces those who may have never heard of Christ to start reading the Bible for themselves.  Once in a while we will employ the use of Christian drama, puppets, or some other creative genre that people will respond to much more readily than a “sermon.”  I do not downplay the importance of the sermon.  But there are times when people’s hearts are just not open to being “preached at.”  And while this may say more about those who are hearing than the effectiveness of the speaker, it behooves one to find another way of communicating a message that needs to be communicated.

 

Ezekiel understood the importance of doing creative ministry.    We find him in this chapter not speaking one audible word, yet he still communicates through a series of object lessons: 

¹ "You also, son of man, take a clay tablet and lay it before you, and portray on it a city, Jerusalem. ²Lay siege against it, build a siege wall against it, and heap up a mound against it; set camps against it also, and place battering rams against it all around. ³Moreover take for yourself an iron plate, and set it as an iron wall between you and the city. Set your face against it, and it shall be besieged, and you shall lay siege against it. This will be a sign to the house of Israel. ⁴"Lie also on your left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it. According to the number of the days that you lie on it, you shall bear their iniquity. ⁵For I have laid on you the years of their iniquity, according to the number of the days, three hundred and ninety days; so you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Israel. ⁶And when you have completed them, lie again on your right side; then you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days. I have laid on you a day for each year. ⁷"Therefore you shall set your face toward the siege of Jerusalem; your arm shall be uncovered, and you shall prophesy against it. ⁸And surely I will restrain you so that you cannot turn from one side to another till you have ended the days of your siege. (Ezekiel 4:1-8)

            At first, we find the prophet playing in the dirt, building and making a model city- the city represented there is Jerusalem.  It almost appears that Ezekiel is playing “army man” like I did as a boy with soldiers, laying siege to the city.  The ones laying the siege are the Chaldeans- the Babylonians.  As the crowd gathers around, Ezekiel takes a frying pan and places it between himself and the model besieged city- symbolizing judgment- and places human symbols within it demonstrating that the people of the city are going to get “fried,” as it were by God’s judgment for their wicked ways.   Then the prophet lies on his side for 390 days for each day representing each year of unsubmissive refusal to stand up to the obedience which God requires.  Lying or reclining on your left side was turning away one’s face from fellowship- a gesture of rudeness to the Jews.  Then he was to turn over to his right side for forty days, representing the punishment they would have to bear for as many years.

            Ezekiel continues in the chapter with a few more object lessons- one is actually more graphic than I would like to discuss.  There is no doubt that the prophet is getting his point across.  Yet I wonder if those who were observing truly caught the message in their heart.  Ezekiel’s presentations may have been inspiring, perhaps even entertaining- yet the people still did not respond in repentance.  They would carry the visage of the prophet’s dramatic lessons in their minds the entire way to Babylon in chains reminding them that they should have repented, but they did not.

            All around us God is trying to get our attention through the dramatic outplay of events that go on around us, but we are impervious to them.  Instead of being awed and inspired by them, they ought to cause us to change our behavior and get right with God.  How is God trying to get your attention today? 

 

 

Rev. Jeffery C. Russell
Salem Baptist Church
Elizabeth City, NC
jefferyrussell@earthlink.net

 

website:   http://25621.lifewaylink.com
http://jeffrussellsblog.blogspot.com
http://devotionfortoday.blogspot.com/

26 May 2005 Devotion for Today "Rothenburg" Ezekiel 3:16-19

26 May 2005  Devotion for Today  “Rothenburg”  Ezekiel 3:16-19

 

As I read this passage of Scripture from Ezekiel I am reminded of the many trips to the medieval city of Rothenburg-ob-Tauber in Germany.  It was about 90 minutes from our home in Hanau, and each time we would have guests we would take them there.  This beautiful, picturesque town still had its ancient walls, fachwerk timbered town houses, and cobblestone squares and streets.  It was not difficult to imagine what life had been like in the Middle Ages.  Its many watchtowers still stood sentinel throughout the city.  Most memorable, however, to me was the old glockenspiel clock on the Rathaus (city hall) which not only told time, but told the story of the time when, back in the Thirty Years War of the early seventeenth century, General Tilly, the commander of the Emperor’s troops, laid siege and eventually captured the city.  He commanded that the city be burned to the ground.  The Burgermeister did not want his city to fall to the sword, and pleaded with the general to spare the city.  General Tilly commanded a huge fass (drinking vessel) comparable to about five gallons of beer be brought to the Burgermeister to drink.  If he successfully drank that volume of beer, the city would be spared.  The Burgermeister promptly accepted the challenge, and drank the contents of the fass in about an hour.  Then he passed out unconscious.  But his action spared the city and it remains to this day because of his faithfulness to watch over his citizens and not to surrender his city to destruction.

            Please read now these words from Ezekiel, the prophet:

                ¹⁶Now it came to pass at the end of seven days that the word of the LORD came to me, saying, ¹⁷"Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me: ¹⁸When I say to the wicked, "You shall surely die,' and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. ¹⁹Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.”  Ezekiel 3:16-19

 

Ezekiel is called by God to be a watchman.  A watchman is not only someone standing in a watchtower or on night guard duty.  He is standing ready to give his life, if necessary, and to be alert to signal when danger or when the enemy approaches.   Too many so-called “watchmen” are all too willing to switch sides when they see the enemy at the gates.  The Great Wall of China is a testimony not to the engineering skill of the ancient Chinese as it is a symbol of the treachery of the human heart- for the Mongols conquered China by bribing the ones who stood watch on the wall.  Ezekiel was not that kind of watchman.  He was to warn his people even when the message was not popular.  He was to warn them of God’s judgment when they were unwilling to listen.  He was told however that even if the people would not listen, that his soul would be delivered because he had done what God wanted him to do.

 

To be the kind of watchman that God called Ezekiel to be was no easy task.  Thousands of God’s servants are on the wall right now, crying out the danger that you may be in if you do not heed the message.  Don’t condemn them for it.  Don’t shun them or withhold your fellowship from them.  They need your love and support, but they will do their job nonetheless.  Pray for them that they do not fall asleep on the wall, so that they will be faithful to pray for you.   Do this and you will have a blessed day.

 

 

Rev. Jeffery C. Russell
Salem Baptist Church
Elizabeth City, NC
jefferyrussell@earthlink.net

 

website:   http://25621.lifewaylink.com
http://jeffrussellsblog.blogspot.com
http://devotionfortoday.blogspot.com/

25 May 2005 Devotion for Today "Eating Words" Ezekiel 2:2-3, 7-10

25 May 2005  Devotion for Today  “Eating Words”  Ezekiel 2:2-3, 7-10

 

            Have you ever had to “eat your words?”  These are words we wished we had not said, words we have spoken when we were out of line, or words that we thought were true only to find out later that they weren’t.  Similar expressions convey the same idea: “put your foot in your mouth,” “eating crow,” etc.  Whatever expression you use to convey this embarrassing situation, it always makes one feel foolish, ashamed, and hopefully resolved to check out the facts before saying something again.

            Ezekiel, however, is charged to eat words.  Not his own words-but God’s words.  In chapter two we read about Ezekiel’s call to the prophetic ministry. 

            “And He said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak to you.” Then the Spirit entered me when He spoke to me, and set me on my feet: and I heard Him who spoke to me… “You shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or whether they refuse, for they are rebellious.  But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.”  Now when I looked, there was a hand stretched out to me: and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. Then He spread it before me: and there was writing on the inside and on the outside, and written on it were lamentations and mourning and woe.”   Ezekiel 2:2-3, 7-10

            Ezekiel needed to open wide his mouth and take what the Lord had given him.  That is submission.  When we do not submit, we are described by God as rebellious-and such the prophet already described in this passage.  We thing of rebelliousness like an out-of-control teenager who wants his or her own way, who pitches fits of fury and holds the whole family captive to his or her anger until they get what they want.  We think of rebellion as an uprising mounted with the likes of Pancho Villa or Che’ Guevarra.   These are extreme examples of rebellion, to be sure.  And there is something about rebellion that man idealizes- such as the member of the Rebellion against the Galactic Empire in a “Star Wars” movie.  But rebellion is identified in our hearts whenever we refuse to be submissive to God’s Word or God’s Will.  When we think- “I’ll do it, but not right now because I’m busy,” we are rebellious.  When we say, “That’s your interpretation,” that is rebellion.  When we do things like “Its okay because its not hurting anyone, everybody does it, or we are not sure what that Scripture means,” we are rebellious and out of line with the Spirit of God.

            Before Ezekiel could be called as a prophet, he had to learn to submit by eating God’s Words- consuming them as we would eat Cherrios for breakfast.  Ask yourself today, what are you eating?  Receive God’s Word into your mouth today and to be sure you are on the way to doing His Will.  Have a blessed day!

 

 

 

Rev. Jeffery C. Russell
Salem Baptist Church
Elizabeth City, NC
jefferyrussell@earthlink.net

 

website:   http://25621.lifewaylink.com
http://jeffrussellsblog.blogspot.com
http://devotionfortoday.blogspot.com/

24 May 2005 Devotion for Today "Rebuilding Faith" Ezekiel 1:1-3

24 May 2005   Devotion for Today  “Rebuilding Faith”  Ezekiel 1:1-3

            Ravi Zacharias tells the story of a young Christian in Vietnam. He writes, “I was ministering in Vietnam in 1971 and one of my interpreters, a young Christian, translated for me to the American forces. We became very close as we traveled the countryside. Then I was to return home we never knew if our pass would ever cross again.” Seventeen years later Zacharias received a telephone call from his interpreter. He tells the story. “Shortly after Vietnam fail I was imprisoned on accusations of helping the Americans. My jailer told me my Christianity was stupid and I was restricted to hearing communist propaganda in France and Vietnamese. After weeks of that, I began to have doubts about my faith. Maybe I had been lied to. Maybe God doesn’t exist. So I determined that when I awoke the next day, I would not pray anymore or think of my faith.”

            “The next morning I was assigned the chore of cleaning the prison bathroom. As I was doing so, my eye caught what seemed to be English print on a piece of paper. I picked it up, claimed it off and that night when all of the prisoners had gone to bed I begin to read it. It read, and we know that all things work together for the good to them that love God. For I am convinced that nothing shall separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. After reading that, I repented asked God to forgive me and this was the first night I had determined not pray.”

            Indeed here was a man who needed to have his faith rebuilt.

            Today I undertake to write a series of devotionals on Ezekiel.  I have put off Ezekiel for the same reason I have put off doing devotionals on Revelation and other apocalyptic themes.  There is such a tendency to get lost in the interpretation of the symbolism that I lose focus on the message.  Indeed there is a message in the symbolism. There is a message for the future.  But there is also a message for the present, because without understanding what God wants us to do in the present, the future is irrelevant.  We have no way to shape the future if we are not heeding to God in obedience now.

In Ezekiel 1:1-3 we read:  “Now it came about in the thirtieth year, on the fifth day of the fourth month, while I was by the river Chebar among the exiles, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God. On the fifth of the month in the fifth year of King Jehoiachin's exile, the word of the LORD came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and there the hand of the LORD came upon him.)” 

Ezekiel’s circumstances were beyond desperate.  He may have resigned himself to his fate in the hands of his Babylonian captors.  Nevertheless, Ezekiel’s heart is still inclined to the Lord God, and not only does Ezekiel determine to submit to the Babylonians, but he also submits himself first to God.  One of the first things that God does in Ezekiel’s life is to rebuild his faith.  Ezekiel never lost his faith or hope in God, but it needed to be renovated, restored, and rebuilt.  Sometimes God has to tear down our old visions- especially when they are visions of what we want God to do, or when those visions contain too much of ourselves and not enough of God.  Once God rebuilt Ezekiel’s faith, He was then to impart new and fresh visions to Ezekiel which in turn were to be shared with his fellow captors.

Has it been a long time since you sensed God’s work in your heart?  Perhaps your faith needs to be rebuilt also.  Submit your plans to God and allow Him to run them through the “shredder”.  Then you will receive the vision God wants you to have which will be so much better than the old ones.  Have a blessed day.

 

 

Rev. Jeffery C. Russell
Salem Baptist Church
Elizabeth City, NC
jefferyrussell@earthlink.net

 

website:   http://25621.lifewaylink.com
http://jeffrussellsblog.blogspot.com
http://devotionfortoday.blogspot.com/

23 May 2005 Devotion for Today "Worthy" 2 Thessalonians 1:11

 23 May 2005  Devotion for Today   "Worthy"  2 Thessalonians 1:11

One of my favorite praise choruses that I like to sing in church
goes like this:

"Worthy, You are worthy,
King of Kings, Lord of Lords,
You are Worthy.
Worthy, You are worthy,
King of Kings, Lord of Lords,
I worship You."

When I sing this song, I feel like I express almost everything that
is in my heart about what I want to say to Jesus.  I say almost,
because the limitations of the human soul are incapable of completely
uttering what our Savior really deserves to hear.  Never the less
that is what worship is-expressing as much praise as we imperfect
sinners are capable of rendering to a worthy God. 

In our devotional text today in 2 Thessalonians 1:11, the Apostle
Paul makes a curious phrase: "Therefore we also pray always for you
that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all
the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power."
Why would he say pray that God would make them worthy, when he knows
full well that, as imperfect people, they are not?  We know that none
of us is worthy or inherently deserving of salvation-or anything that
comes from God-for that matter. Everything that we have is of pure
grace.  To count means to consider.  What Paul is really saying here
that in his prayers that the Thessalonian church would understand
their proper place in the way that they see themselves before God.
Paul had just finished encouraging the church as they encountered a
great deal of persecution from the Roman authorities.  When one goes
through persecution and extreme difficulties, there is a sense, brought
on by the devil, that one deserves such difficulties and that they
had the persecution coming to them.  They may feel as though God does
not like them, or they must not be doing something right or else God
would be blessing them.  The collective self-esteem of the Thessalonians
must not have been very high when Paul wrote to them.

This is Paul prays in this way, so that they understand that they are
valued so much more highly by God-not because of their own righteousness-
but because of who they now are under the blood of Jesus Christ.  And
today, when we sing praises to God, and attribute to Him all that we
are, we express the power of that new relationship and position that
we now have with Him.  Its all because of the righteousness of Jesus
Christ being given to us by Him.  We are not necessarily worthy, but
we are made as though we are. Have a blessed day.

Rev. Jeffery C. Russell
Salem Baptist Church
Elizabeth City, NC
jefferyrussell@earthlink.net

 

website:   http://25621.lifewaylink.com
http://jeffrussellsblog.blogspot.com
http://devotionfortoday.blogspot.com/

20 May 2005 Devotion for Today "Corny Story" Romans 12:3-5

20 May 2005  Devotion for Today  "Corny Story"  Romans 12:3-5

 

The corn is just beginning to sprout in Weeksville.  You can see it popping out just above the surface.  Soon its stalks will be growing high and hopefully so will the yields that they produce.  I read the following story yesterday in a "preacher magazine" that I thought I would

share with you.

            James Bender, in his book How to Talk Well (New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., 1994) relates the story of a farmer who grew award-winning corn. Each year he entered his corn in the state fair where it won a blue ribbon. One year a newspaper reporter interviewed him and learned something interesting about how he grew it.

            The reporter discovered that the farmer shared his seed corn with his neighbors. “How can you afford to share your best seed corn with your neighbors when they are entering corn in competition with yours each year?” the reporter asked.

            “Why sir,” said the farmer, “didn’t you know? The wind picks up pollen from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field. If my neighbors grow inferior corn, cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of my corn. If I am to grow good corn, I must help my neighbors grow good corn.”

            He is very much aware of the connectedness of life. His corn cannot improve unless his neighbor’s corn also improves.

            So it is in other dimensions. Those who choose to be at peace must help their neighbors to be at peace. Those who choose to live well must help others to live well, for the value of a life is measured by the lives it touches. And those who choose to be happy must help others to find happiness, for the welfare of each is bound up with the welfare of all.

            The lesson for each of us is this: if we are to grow good corn, we must help our neighbors grow good corn.

            We find this lesson in Romans 12:3-5  3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

            The church is not a corporation where everyone strives and competes to be ahead of each other or to impress one another. We are not here to play the game “one-upsman.”  The church is a family where all the members benefit from one another.  Indeed the relationship is even closer than that, it is a body where if one member of the body hurts, everyone hurts.  If one experiences joy and feels good, all the members of that body share in

that.  Like corn story I shared with you today, do all that you can to share the best of yourself with others, because what benefits you give them, you get back that much more.

Have a blessed day!

 

Rev. Jeffery C. Russell
Salem Baptist Church
Elizabeth City, NC
jefferyrussell@earthlink.net

 

website:   http://25621.lifewaylink.com
http://jeffrussellsblog.blogspot.com
http://devotionfortoday.blogspot.com/

18 May 2005 Devotion for Today "A Second Chance" John 21:15-19

18 May 2005  Devotion for Today  “A Second Chance”   John 21:15-19

            Have you ever needed a second chance? A College football coach was faced with the possibility that his star player might be declared ineligible for academic reasons. So he pleaded with the chemistry professor not to flunk the athlete. “Tell you what, coach,” said the professor. “I’ll ask him a question in your presence. If he gets it right, I’ll pass him.” The athlete was called in and the professor queried, “What’s H2O?” “Water,” replied the player. Frantically the coach cried out: “Give him another chance! Please give him another chance!”

Well, I think we can all think of times when we needed a second chance.

And we were so grateful to receive it. I am sure if you are like me, you hate to fail.

You hate not getting it right. Sometimes, it is hard to know what to do with failure.

When a vice-president of IBM came up with an idea to set up a separate division, he was given permission by the CEO, Thomas Watson. When he put the plan in motion, he promptly lost ten million dollars. He came in and told Mr. Watson that he was resigning, and when Watson asked why, the vice-president said, “Because this thing was such a miserable failure.” Watson responded, “You’re not resigning after I just spent ten million dollars on your education.”

Well, that is an attitude that we all appreciate. And it is the reaction that we often long for. We are glad for a new opportunity to get it right. 

In John 21 we read about where Jesus gave someone a second chance.  It was Simon Peter whom Jesus restored after he had betrayed his Master.

                ¹⁵So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?"

    He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You."

    He said to him, "Feed My lambs."

    ¹⁶He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?"

    He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You."

    He said to him, "Tend My sheep."

    ¹⁷He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?"

    And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You."

    Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep. ¹⁸Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish." ¹⁹This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me."

            Jesus can take your failure and make you a success. He can turn it around for you.

If you have failed Him, you do not need to stay in that pattern. You can know His grace.

For… Jesus can take your old life and give you a new one. Jesus offered Peter new opportunity. He forgave Him and sent Him on to new responsibility. Perhaps, you need a new start today. Perhaps, you have fallen behind. Jesus is here today to make you a new creation, old things will pass away, all things become new. Jesus is offering you the opportunity to change. He is offering you the opportunity today. He is pursuing you. He is out to rescue you. He is ready to make your failures like successes. Now, the question is, “Are you willing?”  Perhaps an even more important question is, “How many chances do you need?”

            Have a blessed day.

 

 

Jeff Russell
Devotion for Today
Salem Baptist Church
Elizabeth City, NC
jefferyrussell@earthlink.net
salembaptistch@earthlink.net
Web address: http://25621.lifewaylink.com

18 May 2005 Devotion for Today "A Second Chance" John 21:15-19

18 May 2005  Devotion for Today  “A Second Chance”   John 21:15-19

            Have you ever needed a second chance? A College football coach was faced with the possibility that his star player might be declared ineligible for academic reasons. So he pleaded with the chemistry professor not to flunk the athlete. “Tell you what, coach,” said the professor. “I’ll ask him a question in your presence. If he gets it right, I’ll pass him.” The athlete was called in and the professor queried, “What’s H2O?” “Water,” replied the player. Frantically the coach cried out: “Give him another chance! Please give him another chance!”

Well, I think we can all think of times when we needed a second chance.

And we were so grateful to receive it. I am sure if you are like me, you hate to fail.

You hate not getting it right. Sometimes, it is hard to know what to do with failure.

When a vice-president of IBM came up with an idea to set up a separate division, he was given permission by the CEO, Thomas Watson. When he put the plan in motion, he promptly lost ten million dollars. He came in and told Mr. Watson that he was resigning, and when Watson asked why, the vice-president said, “Because this thing was such a miserable failure.” Watson responded, “You’re not resigning after I just spent ten million dollars on your education.”

Well, that is an attitude that we all appreciate. And it is the reaction that we often long for. We are glad for a new opportunity to get it right. 

In John 21 we read about where Jesus gave someone a second chance.  It was Simon Peter whom Jesus restored after he had betrayed his Master.

                ¹⁵So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?"

    He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You."

    He said to him, "Feed My lambs."

    ¹⁶He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?"

    He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You."

    He said to him, "Tend My sheep."

    ¹⁷He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?"

    And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You."

    Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep. ¹⁸Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish." ¹⁹This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me."

            Jesus can take your failure and make you a success. He can turn it around for you.

If you have failed Him, you do not need to stay in that pattern. You can know His grace.

For… Jesus can take your old life and give you a new one. Jesus offered Peter new opportunity. He forgave Him and sent Him on to new responsibility. Perhaps, you need a new start today. Perhaps, you have fallen behind. Jesus is here today to make you a new creation, old things will pass away, all things become new. Jesus is offering you the opportunity to change. He is offering you the opportunity today. He is pursuing you. He is out to rescue you. He is ready to make your failures like successes. Now, the question is, “Are you willing?”  Perhaps an even more important question is, “How many chances do you need?”

            Have a blessed day.

 

 

Jeff Russell
Devotion for Today
Salem Baptist Church
Elizabeth City, NC
jefferyrussell@earthlink.net
salembaptistch@earthlink.net
Web address: http://25621.lifewaylink.com

17 May 2005 Devotion for Today "Blessed are the Meek" Matthew 5:5

<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="COLOR: navy"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">17 May 2005<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;&nbsp; </SPAN>Devotion for Today<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>“Blessed are the Meek”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>Matthew 5:5<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="COLOR: navy"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>&nbsp;</FONT></o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="COLOR: navy"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;</SPAN><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </SPAN>According to Bill Farmer's newspaper column, J. Upton Dickson was a fun-loving fellow who said he was writing a book entitled Cower Power. He also founded a group of submissive people. It was called DOORMATS. That stands for "Dependent Organization of Really Meek And Timid Souls -- if there are no objections." Their motto was: "The meek shall inherit the earth -- if that's okay with everybody." Their symbol was the yellow traffic light.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>That is the opinion many people have of the beatitude which Jesus presents to us today. They think that Jesus must have meant this when he said that the meek were blessed (happy). What was Jesus speaking of?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="COLOR: navy"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;</SPAN><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </SPAN>There is much confusion about meekness.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>Many equate Meekness with weakness. Many associate meekness with an attitude of allowing everyone to run over you because you are afraid of them. This is not meekness. In fact, some of the strongest men who have ever lived have been meek. Look at a list of some people that the Bible says were meek and see the fallacy of such thought. <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="COLOR: navy"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;</SPAN><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </SPAN>Moses was a great leader. You don’t get to be the leader of this rebellious lot by being a pushover.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>Yet in<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>Numbers 12:3 - “<B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.”</B><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;&nbsp; </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><SPAN style="COLOR: navy"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Now don’t get the wrong idea about Moses. Here was a man, by God’s grace, stood up to mighty Pharaoh.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>And its true, Moses was a man with a fierce temper—He was not the kind of guy you could push around.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>In fact it was his temper which had betrayed him during the time in the wilderness—but when God said, in effect, <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">“Now look, Moses, in order to teach the whole world how much loss sin can bring, I’m not going to let you enter the land; the people will go in, but you won’t,” </B>But Moses did not curse God in furious protest; quietly, if sadly, he accepted God’s decision. That’s meekness. Meekness, for a child of God, means accepting uncomplainingly what comes, knowing that it comes from the hand of God who orders all things. What he sends, we accept in faith even if it hurts, knowing that it’s for our and others’ good.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="COLOR: navy"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Those who are meek—that is, prepared to forego their rights in this world, if that’s what God requires of them.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>Tomorrow I will have more to say about meekness.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="COLOR: navy"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Have a blessed day!<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="COLOR: navy"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>(apologies for no devotion yesterday, my server was down)</FONT></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="COLOR: navy"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3></FONT></SPAN>&nbsp;</P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="COLOR: navy"></SPAN>&nbsp;</P></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Rev. Jeffery C. Russell<BR>Salem Baptist Church<BR>Elizabeth City, NC <BR><A href="mailto:jefferyrussell@earthlink.net">jefferyrussell@earthlink.net</A></FONT></DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>website:&nbsp;&nbsp; <A href="http://25621.lifewaylink.com">http://25621.lifewaylink.com</A><BR><A href="http://jeffrussellsblog.blogspot.com">http://jeffrussellsblog.blogspot.com</A><BR><A href="http://devotionfortoday.blogspot.com/">http://devotionfortoday.blogspot.com/</A></FONT></DIV>

12 May 2005 Devotion for Today "Wartburg" Psalm 27

 12 May 2005 Devotion for Today  "Wartburg"  Psalm 27

One Saturday I took my family on a two-hour drive to the city
of Eisenach-just over the old iron curtain in the state of Thuringia.
Eisenach is reknown for its history.  We toured the old house where
the famous composer Johann Sebastian Bach was born in 1685.  On the
outskirts of the city, high upon a mountain, is the impressive fortress
castle Wartburg.  Up until now we have visited many castles in Germany,
but none so awe-inspiring.  The reason is because this is the castle
where the great reformer Martin Luther resided for ten months in the
year 1521.  After the Diet of Worms where Luther was on trial for heresy
and told to recant his beliefs on the penalty of death, Luther was "kidknapped"
and taken to Wartburg for his protection by his host, Fredrich
the Wise, Elector of Saxony.  Here, in this fortification built high
upon a rock, Luther translated the New Testament
into the German language.  Inspired by the impressive castle, He also
wrote the triumphant hymn "A Mighty Fortress is our God."  To think that
we were walking in the same places where Luther lived nearly 500 years
ago gave me gooseflesh.  Because of Luther's obedience to God's will in
his life, we all have the opportunity to read Scripture for ourselves
and may respond freely to God's salvation by grace through faith in Jesus
Christ.  If ever a period of brief confinement brought true freedom, it
was in Wartburg.

David, the Psalmist, echoes this statement in Psalm 27:4-6, "One
thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek afer; that I may dwell
in the house of the Lord all the days of my life to behold the beauty
if the Lord, and to enquire in His Temple.  For in the time of trouble
He shall hide me in His pavillion: in the secret of His tabernacle shall
He hide me; He shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be
lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in
His tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises
unto the Lord." 

Some prisons are of man's making. You may feel confined, and may
not like where you are or what you are doing. But God can turn these things
into great fortresses of refuge.  He will set you up upon a rock!  Have
a blessed day.

 

From 23 April 2002

 

 

Rev. Jeffery C. Russell
Salem Baptist Church
Elizabeth City, NC
jefferyrussell@earthlink.net

 

website:   http://25621.lifewaylink.com
http://jeffrussellsblog.blogspot.com
http://devotionfortoday.blogspot.com/

11 May 2005 Devotion for Today "Blessed Mourning" Matthew 5:4

<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore"><IMG height=13 alt=* src="PicExportError" width=13><SPAN style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>11 May 2005<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>Devotion for Today<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>“Blessed Mourning”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>Matthew 5:4</FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3></FONT></FONT>&nbsp;</P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3>Have you ever asked yourself, "How seriously does God really take my sin"? </FONT></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Enough to send Jesus to die for it! In God’s eyes, nothing short of the death of His son could remedy the problem of sin. While we sometimes joke about it.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>The other day we were at a livestock auction and there was this little child- about a year and a half old, jabbering on about something.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>He stumbled and fell, and in the presence of everybody around him, evoked a curse word because he fell.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>Well, everyone around him thought that was so funny.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>But I saw nothing funny about it.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>Can you imagine that this child’s first utterance of the name of God used only as a conjunction with the act of somebody going to Hell?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>He will never, unless God’s grace intervenes, know the God of grace and forgiveness.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>Because of the sorry parental influence he had, unless God intervenes, that child will probably go to Hell one day himself. But they all thought that was so funny!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>Sin is no laughing matter. It’s not to God, and it shouldn’t be to us. Put yourself in God’s position </FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </SPAN>In Matthew 5:4, Jesus says, “Blessed are they that mourn.”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>Instead of trivilializing and making light of sin, Jesus says that we will be blessed when we recognize our sinfulness the way God does, and see it as He sees it.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>When sin breaks our heart, we will be blessed because we will be comforted.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>God will forgive us and comfort us in all our afflictions.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>These afflictions are the tendencies to sin and do certain things that God will deliver us from if we allow Him to do so.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>Part of doing that is by hating the sin as much as He does, instead of justifying our sin and minimizing its effects upon us or others.</FONT></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;</SPAN><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </SPAN>Can you imagine allowing your own child to be beaten, tortured, spit upon, ridiculed, hanging on a cross to die? This shows not only the depth of God’s love for us, but it also shows the ugly nature of sin and its results. Never allow sin to harden you so that you don’t see its consequences Ask God to allow the Holy Spirit to convict you When this happens, seek forgiveness The righteous robes of Christ will cover you.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>Have a blessed day.</FONT></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3></FONT>&nbsp;</P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">&nbsp;</P></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Rev. Jeffery C. Russell<BR>Salem Baptist Church<BR>Elizabeth City, NC <BR><A href="mailto:jefferyrussell@earthlink.net">jefferyrussell@earthlink.net</A></FONT></DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>website:&nbsp;&nbsp; <A href="http://25621.lifewaylink.com">http://25621.lifewaylink.com</A><BR><A href="http://jeffrussellsblog.blogspot.com">http://jeffrussellsblog.blogspot.com</A><BR><A href="http://devotionfortoday.blogspot.com/">http://devotionfortoday.blogspot.com/</A></FONT></DIV>

10 May 2005 Devotion for Today "Last Words" Malachi 4:1-6

10 May 2005  Devotion for Today  “Last Words”   Malachi 4:1-6

 

If you had any last words for the people that you love, what would they be?  Many do not have the opportunity to say what they would like to say in a time such as this.  Indeed the process of death overtakes them before they are aware.   Their lucid moments elude them so that they cannot express what they would wish to say, indeed if they wish to say anything at all.  My father’s words to me and to his family were “I love you!”  Those were such sweet words to me that I will hold in my memory forever.  Another dear church member this year spoke of seeing the appearing of a “glorious church” prior to his going home to be with the Lord.   Not everyone emits so sweetly at the end.  I’ve heard others breathe their last in profanity, while others say nothing at all.  The lesson for all of us is to keep our words gracious and loving at all times because we do not know when they will be our last. 

 

In Malachi we find the last words of God for at least 400 years.  They were the last words not because God would be dying, but because of the disobedience of the people of Israel there would be a spiritual derth that would last until the birth of His Son Jesus Christ.  But God’s words are clear and concise: judgment for the wicked, but blessedness, healing, and restoration for those who desire to follow Him.  Chapter four concludes the prophecy of Malachi, and all the prophesies predating the New Testament with these words:

“For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, and all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up," Says the Lord of hosts, "That will leave them neither root nor branch. ² But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings;  And you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves.  ³ You shall trample the wicked, for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day that I do this," says the Lord of hosts. ⁴ "Remember the Law of Moses, My servant, which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel, With the statutes and judgments. ⁵ Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. ⁶ And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”  (Malachi 4:1-6)

One theme we find throughout this passage:  God’s Word is consistent, unchanging, unyielding.  It does not respond to the cultural demands to bend with the winds and the changing tides.  Yet God continually desires to turn His heart to His children when we repent and desire to be with Him. 

What words would you be known for as your life comes to a close?  Would they be as consistent as the words you have spoken throughout your life?  Have a blessed day.

 

Rev. Jeffery C. Russell
Salem Baptist Church
Elizabeth City, NC
jefferyrussell@earthlink.net

 

website:   http://25621.lifewaylink.com
http://jeffrussellsblog.blogspot.com
http://devotionfortoday.blogspot.com/

09 May 2005 Devotion for Today "Those Who Do.Those Who Don't" Malachi 3:16-18

09 May 2005  Devotion for Today “Those Who Do…Those Who Don’t”  Malachi 3:16-18

 

Have you ever come in contact with someone who says that they went to church for a long time, got involved in the programs of the church, made a decision for Jesus Christ, but through a period of years they have come to believe that it didn’t do much for them, so they no longer attend church or any spiritual activities. Some probably will not say that out loud but this is a prevailing attitude among some people. God helps those who help themselves, and God didn’t do much for me. As a matter of fact my life was more difficult when I was serving God, so who needs God, the church, Christianity? It is a burden. What is the use? I have been guilty in my heart of saying at times, "What good does it do to preach the Word? I mean look at the lives of the people! No change, no difference.  Still the very reasons I gave myself for not preaching the Word are the same reasons that I need to preach the Word of God!
            Skeptics argue, "What are we getting out of it?" The skeptics are serving God as a mere duty and when it becomes too troublesome they abandon God. These people argue that God was obligated to pay them something in return for them showing up and going through the motions. Their expectations were not met so they questioned God’s pay off. Their conclusion was "We’re no better off!"
            Are we serving out of duty or out of love? If out of duty, if no tangible results, then we abandon God.  H.B. London says "Lord, I need You to help me to see satisfactions in service, to enjoy partnership with You, to delight in studying, seeking, and speaking for You; and rescue me from the prison of merely doing my duty. Amen."
This shows great insight. This is not just a problem with them; it can also be a problem with us. Our attitude can be this way sometimes. Look at my neighbors, look at my co-workers, look at the people on TV, they don’t go to church nor have any faith, they are godless and look they are better off. They are happy go lucky and they make more money and are rewarded for their immorality. We Christians probably have not said this but we have thought it from time to time.
            However, when we do all that we believe that a Christian should and it is clear that we are not better off in this world than others, we have less money, less prestige, less power, low social standing, this is the point where many lose their motivation and maybe even lose their faith.

Malachi 3:¹⁶Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, And the LORD listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him
For those who fear the LORD And who meditate on His name. ¹⁷"They shall be Mine," says the LORD of hosts, "On the day that I make them My jewels.And I will spare them
As a man spares his own son who serves him." ¹⁸Then you shall again discern Between the righteous and the wicked, Between one who serves God  And one who does not serve Him.”

            Some people are serving God not to glorify Him, but for their own selfish interests and personal advantage. When their selfish interest and personal advantage are not met to their satisfaction, then they no longer serve God.  The prophet Malachi had the same concerns for the affluent society he found in his day.  After the return of the exiles, the Israelites rebuilt their shattered country and God blessed it abundantly.  People thrived.  But the more they thrived, the less they thought about the same Lord who blessed them.  It is no different in our nation today.  People showed up at the Temple or the synagogue when there was nothing else more worthy of their concern at the moment.  Eventually the worship of God fell out of relevance altogether.

            Yet there were a faithful remnant- the same faithful remnant that lives today.  Lovers of God with all their heart, soul and mind who demonstrate not just with their lips, but with their lives that it is still worth it all to follow Christ.  Perhaps we do not see the results now, but we will one day.  That is the promise of God who has never yet backed out on any of His promises.  The dividends will be reaped in everlasting life.

            Have a blessed day!

Rev. Jeffery C. Russell
Salem Baptist Church
Elizabeth City, NC
jefferyrussell@earthlink.net

 

website:   http://25621.lifewaylink.com
http://jeffrussellsblog.blogspot.com
http://devotionfortoday.blogspot.com/

05 May 2005 Devotion for Today "Stick'em Up, God!" Malachi 3:10

05 May 2005  Devotion for Today  “Stick’em Up, God!”  Malachi 3:10

 

            A little boy was chastised by his mother for taking the largest piece of pie at the dinner table. “Son. Why did you take the largest piece of pie and leave the smaller pieces for our company?” she asked. “I’m sorry, Mom,” her son replied. “Which piece would you have taken?” “I would have taken the smallest piece,” she answered.  “Well Mom,” the little boy said with a smile that covered his face, “it’s still there!”

            Often our lack of faith causes us to take the biggest pieces for ourselves and leave the smallest pieces for God.  

            Although the Mosaic Law remained in effect for 15 centuries, from the time of Moses to the time of Christ’s death at Calvary, the people often ignored, defied, or buried it.  When their spiritual life was low, their giving fell off, and when they were spiritually revived, their giving rose again.God sent prophets, such as Malachi, to warn them about their backslidings and invite them to return to Him. With their return, God promised to meet them in reconciliation.  “But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’ Will man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’ In tithes and offerings.”  Malachi 3:10
            I want us to ask ourselves this question this morning…and it is only between us and God……are we robbing God?…are we robbing God by failing to bring our tithes and offerings to the designated place at the designated time?…or can we feel confident that we are obeying the Lord?

            It is true, tithing helps the church. As the church, we are commissioned by Jesus Christ to go into all the world and preach the Gospel.  Money is needed to pay for the upkeep of the building, to basically just keep the lights on and the air conditioning going, to pay employees, to support missionaries, and to carry out countless other expenses associated with ministry. A tithing church will be able not only to pay its bills but also to expand its outreach.
            Yes, tithing makes good sense. But God also gives a caution to those of us who reject His call for proportionate giving. “Will a man rob God?” The verb “rob” here literally means “to cover” and thus to defraud and steal. “Robbing God” means keeping back from God what rightfully belongs to Him.  When we withhold what is rightfully His, we in effect say “Stick’em up, God!”   Who would want to put themselves in a position like that?   Wise Christians will faithfully and honestly face this a Scriptural caution against God’s judgment. We must be aware that our tithe belongs to the Lord.
            Tithing is not only a command from God, but it is also one of the opportunities He offers us as His adopted children.  Tithing is good business. When we tithe, we go into business with God. He becomes our partner. Now it isn’t 50-50, or even 90-10…
…because God owns everything, and we are allowed to give 10 percent back to Him.
In return, God promises to pour out a blessing. The money we give to God is not lost.
We will see it again. We will see it in lives that are changed, in souls that are saved, in mouths that are fed, in pews that are filled.  The biggest beneficiary of consistent, methodical giving is yourself, myself.  We develop a sense of inner integrity which only   God alone can know……and that is the deepest satisfaction of all!!!

“Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not.”  My Old Testament Professor used to joke: “Abel brought the Lord Filet Mignon……Cain brought the Lord some old broccoli.”
            What are we bringing God?   Have a blessed day!

 

 

Rev. Jeffery C. Russell
Salem Baptist Church
Elizabeth City, NC
jefferyrussell@earthlink.net

 

website:   http://25621.lifewaylink.com
http://jeffrussellsblog.blogspot.com
http://devotionfortoday.blogspot.com/

04 May 2005 Devotion for Today "The God Who Doesn't Change" Malachi 3:5-7

04 May 2005  Devotion for Today  “The God Who Doesn’t Change”  Malachi 3:5-7

 

In a world kept chaotic by change, you will eventually discover that this is one of the most precious qualities of God. He doesn’t change. Do you ever feel like just holding up your hands and screaming, “Time out!” and make everything stop? How many times has a spouse pointed a finger at his or her life partner and shouted, “You’ve changed! You’re not the person I married!” How many times have you heard about employees who loved working for their company – maybe they’ve even worked there for several decades - and the company gets bought out and the people change and the mission changes and the atmosphere changes and all of a sudden the employees mournfully reminisce about the “good old days”?
            Countries are reconfigured and entire governments are ousted in a carefully executed coup. NFL quarterbacks grow “old” age 36 and retire; statesmen die; matriarchs pass on. We are lost in a sea of change. As soon as we think we’ve learned how to parent babies, we have to learn how to discipline toddlers. When we get really good with toddlers, we’ve suddenly got preadolescents; when we get really good with preadolescents, we’ve got these strange creatures called teenagers. We never quite catch up.
            Just because your team won the World Series last year doesn’t mean they’ll win it this year. Even worse, just because a friend was true or a spouse pledged her love doesn’t guarantee that that loyalty and pledge will be honored 10 years from now.
Things change. We change. Experts tell us the most successful people are the ones who learn to cope with change. But I’m convinced the best way to cope with change, ironically enough, is to get to know a God who doesn’t change, One who provides an anchor in the swirling seas of change.

            Some people think that God is like a genie in a bottle. You get 2 or 3 good wishes out of him and then it’s all over. I’m here to tell you, He’s no genie in a bottle. He doesn’t run out of compassion and He’s not short on power! When you need His help, He’ll do it again.  One never-changing aspect of God’s character is that He is always there for you-ready to help you when you need Him. 

 

            The prophet Malachi writes in chapter 3: ⁵ And I will come near you for judgment; I will be a swift witness Against sorcerers, Against adulterers, Against perjurers, Against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans, And against those who turn away an alien- Because they do not fear Me," Says the Lord of hosts. ⁶ "For I am the Lord, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob. ⁷ Yet from the days of your fathers You have gone away from My ordinances And have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you," Says the Lord of hosts.

Think about the God whom you serve.  Is your God unchangeable? Is He limited in what He knows? Does He make plans at the last minute, reacting to all the surprises that come His way. 2. Or is He high and lifted up, exalted. Can we agree with God’s Words in Isaiah 55:8-9 : "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.¨ 3. Or is your God easy to understand, just a slightly inflated version of yourself?  Be blessed today with the knowledge that while everything in life seems to change around you with dizzying speed, God is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Rev. Jeffery C. Russell
Salem Baptist Church
Elizabeth City, NC
jefferyrussell@earthlink.net

 

website:   http://25621.lifewaylink.com
http://jeffrussellsblog.blogspot.com
http://devotionfortoday.blogspot.com/

03 May 2004 Devotion for Today "The Purifier" Malachi 3:1-4

03 May 2004  Devotion for Today  “The Purifier”  Malachi 3:1-4

            Would you believe once again I was met with something getting into my garbage can this morning? In fact the mess was even worse than yesterday’s even though I was certain I had secured the cans with lids firmly battened down tight.  Some larger animal- I presume a dog-or something with the intelligence to knock the can over to get at the goodies inside.  Of course, family members hurriedly rushed off to work and to school and had no time to do anything but to call the situation to my attention.  Remembering my devotional from yesterday, I did not grumble so much today.  Instead I secured two large plastic bags and set to work.  In fact I was able to hum a tune of praise to the Lord while doing so.  The job finished, I returned to the house to clean up.  The smell of the residue on my hands was sickening, however.  I must have washed several times to rid the smell of garbage off my hands.  I have a busy day today, and I must look (and smell) presentable.  O why won’t this smell come off.  Finally I resorted to pouring some cologne on my hands.  Only then did I discover that I had mistaken my wife’s bottle of cologne for mine.  I consoled myself into thinking that perhaps the sweet female perfume would cover over the putrid stench to the same degree as to neutralize both odors.  It did not.  I only hope that the perfumey-garbagy smell will subside in time for my monthly minister’s fellowship luncheon later in the morning!

            Malachi’s words were quite apropos this morning in chapter 3 as the prophet describes the purifying influence of the presence and Words of the Lord:

"Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming," Says the Lord of hosts. ² "But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire And like launderers' soap. ³ He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, And purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer to the Lord An offering in righteousness. ⁴ "Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem Will be pleasant to the Lord, As in the days of old, As in former years.”

         
            In this passage the prophet tells of the Messenger of the Covenant, who is the prophecy of the coming Messiah.  Among many things His role will be to purify the hearts and minds of Israel and make them clean and pure as a refiner’s fire and as a launderer’s soap.  Not many have observed a refiner’s fire, but many know the smell and feel of launderer’s soap- particularly homemade lye soap which was quite common in my West Virginia homeland until recent generations made the factory made varieties more popular.  I was talking to my grandmother the other day about lye soap.  Her aunt-the one who raised her- used to make it.  My grandmother would assist her in the making of it.  It was a curious compound of boiled ashes, beef or pork tallow or bacon grease, and water.  Its texture was quite coarse to the skin- no conditioners or moisturizers in those days!  The soap was clumped together in bricks and left to dry.  True, the soap was not pleasant to use- but she said nothing made you feel cleaner afterward.  She also said people did not bathe as often in the old days as people do now.  I suppose that is how effective the lye soap was back then.

            Yet the soap that the Lord will use will wash us clean from the inside.  As Wesley’s hymn says, “His blood will make the foulest clean.”  Have a blessed day!

 

Rev. Jeffery C. Russell
Salem Baptist Church
Elizabeth City, NC
jefferyrussell@earthlink.net

 

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