The Bible NETWork ~ Impacting the World for Christ one post at a time!

*NOTE* These devotionals are Word for You Today Devotionals reprinted for your edification & enjoyment from the First Baptist Jacksonville, Florida website.
Thank you Eeyore!

“I must be about my Father’s business.” Lk 2:49
KEEP YOUR PRIORITIES IN PLACE

As a boy of twelve, Jesus said, “I must be about my Father’s business.” During His ministry
He said, “I must work the works of him that sent me” (Jn 9:4). Before He died He
said, “I have finished the work which You have given Me to do” (Jn 17:4 NKJV). Jesus knew
His purpose and priorities, and He lived by them. The question is, do you? You can’t have
it all. You must understand your God-given purpose and keep it in front of you continually.
That way you will know what you must sacrifice, and what you must give yourself to.
Only a clear picture of who you are and where you want to go can help you prioritize
what you need to do. We all make choices. The question is, are you going to make choices
that bring you closer to your goal or take you further away from it? If you don’t understand
your life’s purpose you won’t be capable of making the right choices. Clarity of vision
creates clarity of priorities. Speaking to pastors, Vance Havener said: “It is one of the ironies
of ministry that the very man who works in God’s name is often hardest put to find time
for God. The parents of Jesus lost Him in church, and they were not the last ones to lose
Him there.” Ray Ortlund said: “We must first be fully committed to Christ, then to one
another in Christ, and finally to the work of Christ in the world.” The best way to keep
your priorities in place is to make prayer and God’s Word your top priority.

“They speak a vision of their own heart, not from the mouth of the
Lord.” Jer 23:16 NKJV
FAITH AND FANTASY (1)

Many people have been sold a bill of goods when it comes to dreams. The saying, “If
you believe it, you can achieve it,” is simply not true. Just about every child dreams
of being able to fly like a bird, but it’s not going to happen, no matter how much they imagine
it. Ever watch American Idol? Some of the contestants are clueless when it comes to
their ability. They sing off key, they screech, they bellow, and they howl. And when they’re
told that they’re not good enough by the judges, these wannabe stars throw tantrums
and say, “That’s just your opinion. I’m great.” We all need a reality check. Faith is not fantasy.
It’s not mind over matter. It’s not having a lottery mindset. People who think this way
believe that if they somehow show up at the right place, at the right time, and make the
right connections, then presto!—their fantasy will come true. Wouldn’t it be nice if it were
that easy? But it isn’t. Ralph Waldo Emerson observed: “Shallow men believe in luck…
strong men believe in cause and effect.” When God gives you a dream you need faith to
bring it to pass. So the question you need to ask yourself is, “Is my dream from God?”
When it is, you’ll have the necessary gifts and talents to fulfill it. And what you lack, God
will provide in additional relationships and resources. The trouble with chasing a fantasy
is, while you’re doing it you’re not fulfilling the dream God has given you for your life.

They speak a vision of their own heart, not from the mouth of the
Lord.” Jer 23:16 NKJV
FAITH AND FANTASY (2)

Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you” (Mt 7:7 NKJV). But that promise is qualified
by this condition: what you’re asking for must be in harmony with God’s will
(See 1Jn 5:14). When you sign a legal contract you cannot afford to overlook the fine
print. And as someone with a dream, you can’t afford to overlook reality. If you do, reality
will stop you cold in your tracks. When God gives you a dream, He gives you all that’s
needed to fulfill it. The more unrealistic your dream, the more you’ll be tempted to depend
upon things you cannot control (such as luck). You must balance the boldness of
dreaming with the reality of your situation. Yes, you need to reach far beyond what you
think you’re capable of, but at the same time, base what you do on your strengths and
other factors within your control. The more concerned you become with things you can’t
control, the less you will do to improve the things you can control. And when you do that,
you start living in a fantasy world. When God gives you a dream it will play to your
strengths. Catherine B. Hales observed: “We spend most of our twenties discovering all of
the hundreds of things we can be. But as we mature into our thirties, we begin to discover
all of the things we will never be. The challenge for us is to reach our forties and beyond
and put it all together—to know our capabilities and recognize our limitations—and become
the best we can be.”

“My soul thirsts for You…in a…land where there is no water.”
Ps 63:1 NAS
THIRSTY FOR GOD

Mark Roberts writes: “On a mountain hike…we spotted a peak that seemed to be just
a couple of miles further, so we headed for it. By the time we conquered it we’d used
up most of our water. Our return…was mercifully downhill, but there wasn’t even a tiny
spring to slake our nagging thirst…I spent three hours longing for water, thinking of
nothing else besides how wonderful it would feel to get a drink.” When David wrote, “My
soul thirsts for You…in a dry and weary land where there is no water,” his enemies were
pressing in on him and he wondered if God had forgotten him. Ever been there? Your pain
is unbearable and God feels distant? Just as physical thirst is your body’s way of telling you
that you need water, inside you there’s a spiritual thirst only God can quench. And He
will: “[When you] require Me [as a vital necessity]…[you will] find Me when you search…
with all your heart” (Jer 29:13 AMP). Half-hearted efforts won’t cut it! One Bible teacher
says: “The only way to know God is…first-hand. Those who are content to know Him
through a second-hand relationship don’t really know Him…They want others to pray for
them rather than praying themselves…to provide the verse rather than reading it themselves.
They’re content with a TV church, or a sermon on the Internet…Every person needs
to test God…to see if He is who He says…if His promises are true…if He’ll answer your
prayers…if He’ll be there when you need Him…if He’ll give you wisdom, strength, endurance
and perseverance…He is, they are, and He will—every time.”

There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure…
trials.” 1Pe 1:6 NLT
DON’T GIVE UP!

In the 1950s Mary Kay Ash was the first woman to sit on the board of directors at the
World Gift Company. But it wasn’t all smooth sailing! Although she’d earned a place
in the corporate world, her associates refused to take her seriously and accused her of
“thinking like a woman.” Frustrated, she retired in 1963 to write a book designed to help
women in business. Sitting at her kitchen table, she listed all the positives about the companies
where she’d worked, as well as the things that could be improved. In doing so she
created a marketing plan for her ideal company. Her accountant and her attorney discouraged
her, but with her husband’s support she created a new cosmetic line, recruited
and trained an all-female sales force. Her motto was, “God first, family second, career
third.” When her husband died unexpectedly, she stayed on track and launched her new
company. From a storefront in Dallas and a $5,000 investment, Mary Kay Cosmetics
earned $200,000 the first year, quadrupled it the next, and when it went public in1968
sales were over $10 million. Mary Kay wrote three best sellers, her business model is
taught at Harvard, Fortune Magazine named her company one of the Ten Best Companies
for Women, as well as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work for in America. When she
died in 2001, she had 800,000 independent beauty consultants in thirty-seven countries
with annual sales over $2 billion. Never underestimate someone with vision and determination!
When you face adversity don’t give up. “There is wonderful joy ahead.”

“Which always causeth us to triumph in Christ.” 2Co 2:14
MORE THAN CONQUERORS (1)

Jesus said, “Here on earth you will have many trials” (Jn 16:33 NLT). Having problems
doesn’t mean you’re a fake, a failure, or the focus of God’s displeasure. The storm tested
both the believer’s and the unbeliever’s house (See Mt 7:24-27). But the believer overcame
it. So what’s God’s goal? To make you an overcomer, not an escape artist! “Thanks be
unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ.” Yes, God will deliver you, but first
He will develop you. There are problems you can’t avoid and must deal with, such as:
Your physical heredity. In a society obsessed with “looks,” are you unhappy about yours?
Feel too tall, too short, unattractive, not athletic; you’re apple-shaped, pear-shaped, your
nose is all wrong? Got freckles, double chin, protruding ears? Tried to darken it, lighten it,
accentuate it, hide it, reduce it, enlarge it, but it never looks the way you wish? Beware of
our culture’s carnal norms. “They measure themselves by one another and compare themselves
with one another…without understanding” (2Co10:12 ESV). The Bible points out
that “sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator…saying, ‘Stop, you’re doing it
wrong!’” (Isa 45:9 NLT). Look your best, but accept what you can’t change. God doesn’t
make mistakes. Don’t be like those “without understanding.” “People judge by outward
appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1Sa16:7 NLT). Adopt God’s standard, not
man’s. Start appreciating yourself.

“Which always causeth us to triumph in Christ.” 2Co 2:14
MORE THAN CONQUERORS (2)

Sometimes you have to overcome your family environment. None of us come from an
ideal family. We all experience things like rejection; physical, emotional, verbal and
sexual abuse; poverty; rage; drug addiction; alcoholism; divorce; etc. Years later we still
struggle with things like low self-worth, marital failure, loneliness, depression, addiction,
anxiety, anger control, and dysfunctional parenting. But having a bad start doesn’t mean
you can’t have a great finish. Your life today is more than what happened yesterday; it’s
about what you do with what happened yesterday. Consider Jephthah’s family background.
He was born to a prostitute, kicked out of the house by his brothers, robbed of his
rightful inheritance, disappointed in religious leaders, a refugee and rebel living in a cave
(See Jdg 11). But unbowed, he defied defeat, trained a motley militia of rejects, delivered
Israel from their enemies, and made it into faith’s hall of fame with Abraham, Moses and
David (See Heb11). How did he do it? He started where he was, he took what he had, and
he did what he could. By faith he seized his God-given opportunity. You are more than the
product of your environment. Whatever happened back then, you’re now “a new person.
The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2Co 5:17 NLT). Live in the new and renounce
the old! “You have already won a big victory…for the Spirit in you is far stronger than anything
in the world (your environment)” (1Jn 4:4 TM).

“Which always causeth us to triumph in Christ.” 2Co 2:14
MORE THAN CONQUERORS (3)

Few things can discourage you like children who don’t follow in your path. As Christian
parents we long to see our children serve God. If you’ve prayed, lived your faith before
them as best you could and yet they choose another path, your heartache can be deep.
But others have travelled the path before you. Isaac saw his son Jacob surrender to God,
while his other son Esau rejected Him. Aaron, the high priest, had two sons who offered
“strange fire” on God’s altar. Manoah lived through the suicide of his son, Samson. Even
the prophet Samuel’s sons “didn’t take after him; they were out for what they could get
for themselves, taking bribes, corrupting justice” (1Sa 8:2-3 TM). You’re not alone in your
concern for your children, and it’s too early for guilt, or for giving up on them. Remember:
(1) God alone can save. “Salvation is of the Lord” (Jnh 2:9). Don’t try to take on God’s responsibility,
or accept guilt that’s not yours. Because He knows our hearts, God knows
how and when to “close the deal” with your child. So instead of worrying, keep lifting up
their names before Him in prayer. (2) Let God shoulder the load. Your part is to pray and
believe God for them, then to get out from under the burden. He can carry it; you can’t!
(See 1Pe 5:7) (3) If they’re alive, there’s hope. (See Jer 31:17). God can arrange circumstances
and turn their stubborn hearts around, if you will only trust Him.

“Love…keeps going to the end.” 1Co 13:4-7 TM
STAYING WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE QUITTING

When Ed and Alice went for marriage counseling the therapist asked Alice, “What
first attracted you to Ed?” She replied, “His strong, silent temperament.” The counselor
continued, “So why do you want a divorce?” Alice answered, “His strong, silent
temperament!” Sometimes what drew us together ends up a major irritant. In every relationship
there are times when it would be easier to quit than to hang in. But short of
physical and emotional abuse, there are advantages to working through your issues. For
example, there are: (1) Emotional benefits. Contrary to what Hollywood’s culture would
have us believe, divorced people are more likely to feel depressed due to loneliness. In fact,
many say although there were disagreements in the relationship, they miss having somebody
to come home to. (2) Health benefits. Emotional stress leads to physical problems, and
being in a relationship, especially a good marriage, can be beneficial for your health. It’s
like having your own nurse or therapist. (3) Community benefits. What your kids see influences
their future choices. Staying in your marriage teaches them how to work through
relationship challenges. Couples with strong marriages are helping to build a nation of
loving, responsible parents who can guide their children onto the right track. “Love…keeps
going to the end.” Author Christy Scannell says, “When [my husband and I ] got married,
we agreed it was for life…Weeks before our wedding we made a pact to work out whatever
problems came our way…Yes, we fight. We accuse. We toss barbs…but we won’t
be moving out or filing papers…whatever happens we’re staying.”

“Meditate on it day and night.” Jos 1:8 NIV
MEDITATE AND RUMINATE

Pastor, are you an emaciated chef? Are you serving healthy meals to your congregation
every Sunday, while you yourself are starving to death spiritually? Have you
allowed the business side of the church to steal your prayer life and rob you of time spent
in the Scriptures building yourself up? One of the great dangers of ministry is giving out,
but not taking in. Financially, when you give out more than you take in you end up bankrupt.
And the same thing can happen to you spiritually. When Joshua replaced Moses as
the leader of Israel, God said the same thing to him three times: “Be strong and of good
courage” (vv. 6, 7, 9). Then He explained to Joshua where his strength and courage would
come from: “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate
on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it.
For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success” (NKJV).
Note the words, “you will make your way prosperous.” You have a role to play in both
your strength and your success. What is it? To “meditate on [God’s Word] day and night.”
To meditate is to ruminate. Cows are ruminants. They chew the cud, swallow it, bring it
back up and chew it some more, and each time they do they get something more out of
it. So chew on God’s Word. Think about it. Process it. If you want to be spiritually healthy,
meditate and ruminate on the Scriptures!

“The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom.”
Isa 11:2 NKJV
THE “SPIRIT OF WISDOM”

During His earthly ministry Jesus needed “the Spirit of wisdom” when it came to
making decisions and dealing with the enemy. As believers, that same Spirit lives
in us. James 3:15 NKJV says there are four kinds of wisdom. Earthly wisdom, which
isn’t always dependable because “Sometimes what seems right is really a road to death”
(Pr 16:25 CEV). Sensual wisdom, which is based on emotions that can lead to confusion,
hurt, and jealousy. Demonic wisdom, which is selfish, lustful, and ungodly. Godly wisdom,
which “[comes] from above is…pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy
and good fruits, without partiality and… hypocrisy” (Jas 3:17 NKJV). The Bible says, “[When]
you need wisdom, ask…God, and he will give it to you” (Jas 1:5 NLT). And when you’re
praying, ask yourself these questions: (a) “Are my motives pure, or will I be ashamed of
them later on?” (b) “Will my decision result in mercy and compassion, or strife and stress?”
(c) “Have I considered all the people who’ll be affected by the outcome?” (d) “Am I willing
to submit to what God wants, or am I determined to plow on regardless?” (e) “Will the end
result cause me to have a harsh attitude, or will it produce an environment where love, joy,
peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control can grow?”
(See Gal 5:22-23). (f) “Is it fair and impartial, or does it favor a particular person or group?”
(g) “Can I in good conscience pursue this particular course of action, or does it involve
some level of deceit and selfishness?”

“I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.”
Jn 5:30 NKJV
HOW’S YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD? (1)

The relationship Jesus had with His Father is the kind of relationship that He wants
you to have with Him. Three things describe that relationship. For the next few days
let’s look at each of them: (1) Intimacy. Jesus said, “The Father loves the Son and shows
him all he does” (Jn 5:20 NIV). You interact with many people throughout the day, but you
only share your heart with those you trust, and with whom you have a close relationship.
So, how close are you to God right now? Close enough to hear when He speaks to you?
Close enough to know when you’ve said or done something which has grieved Him?
Close enough to feel the warmth of His presence? The truth is, you are as close to God
right now as you desire to be, decide to be, and discipline yourself to be. Nothing is born
unless there is first an act of intimacy between two people, and intimacy is based on one
word: “desire.” How much do you desire God? David said, “O God, you are my God,
earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you” (Ps 63:1 NIV). Do you desire His house?
“They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of
delights” (Ps 36:8 NIV). Do you desire His Word? “I have not departed from the commands
of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread”
(Job 23:12 NIV).

“I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.”
Jn 5:30 NKJV
HOW’S YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD? (2)

Three things describe Christ’s relationship with His Father: intimacy, dependency and
obedience. Today let’s look at His dependency on God. “The Son can do nothing of
Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like
manner” (v.19 NKJV). Jesus knew He couldn’t do anything without His Father, so He didn’t
bother to try. We, on the other hand, sing, “Without Him I can do nothing,” then go out and
act like it all depends on us. If we succeed, we often become so conceited that nobody
can stand us. And if we fail, it’s usually because we collapsed under the weight of an
assignment God didn’t give us in the first place. Have you ever wondered why Jesus never
struggled with insecurity or battled the fear of failure like we do? Because it never even
occurred to Him that He couldn’t do something that His Father had already assured Him
He could do. When you know you have heard from God you can face any obstacle or
enemy with confidence. God will never give you an assignment that does not require His
wisdom and undergirding strength. Indeed, every act of God in your life is designed to
increase, not decrease your dependence on Him. You say, “But I have talent. I can do a
lot of things!” Yes, but you can do nothing that matters in God’s eyes. So before you begin
your day, kneel and pray, “Lord, I’m counting on You, and I don’t have a backup plan!”

“I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.”
Jn 5:30 NKJV
HOW’S YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD? (3)

The third thing that describes Christ’s relationship with His Father is obedience. Jesus
said: “As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own
will but the will of the Father who sent Me.” Jesus neither considered nor consulted His own
will in the matter. Instead He focused like a laser on one thing—doing the will of God, no
more and no less. Note the words, “As I hear.” When you have heard from God the discussion
is over; it’s time to act. God’s not going to change His mind, so you need to start
changing yours and “get with the program.”
When you make Jesus the Lord of your life, you give up three basic rights: (a) What
it will cost you. (b) Where it will take you. (c) The extent to which it will change you. In
order to enjoy a relationship with Jesus similar to the one which He had with His Father,
that’s the price tag! You say, “That sounds very demanding.” Yes, but it’s also very protective.
When God told His people to do something, He also told them why: “That it
might go well with you” (See Dt 5:33, 6:3, 12:28). God’s not trying to cramp your style,
make your life hard or put you in a straitjacket. He’s a Father who wants only the best for
His children. Isn’t that what every good parent wants? So when you walk in obedience,
God’s best is what you will get.

“If by grace, then it is no longer by works.” Ro 11:6 NIV
GOD’S GRACE

Paul writes: “And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no
longer be grace.” Dr. Gerald Mann tells the fascinating story of how he got his doctorate
in Greek. There were only six students in his class. The professor had never given
anyone an A. On the first day he held up a Greek textbook and to their amazement he
announced, “I have already written your grades and no matter how much you study or
what you score, I have given every one of you an A!” Dr. Mann said, “Out of six students,
five of us learned more Greek in that class than we ever thought possible. The other fellow
just got by and never really applied himself.” Understand this: Grace is the power to excel,
or license to just get by. Either way, you’re accepted and considered righteous in God’s eyes
the moment you trust in Christ. Why would God arrange it that way? Because the love He
gives us is unconditional, and only a response of love can satisfy Him. What an amazing
truth; God makes Himself vulnerable to the rejection of people like us! Perhaps you’re
wondering, “How can I prove that I truly love God?” That’s easy: you’ll love your brother
and sister (See 1Jn 4:21). You’ll love God’s Word (See Ps 119:97). You’ll love spending time
in prayer (See Jer 29:12). Grace, rightly understood, doesn’t prevent holiness, it produces
it. “The grace of God that brings salvation…teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and
worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives” (Tit 2:11-12 NIV).