"A Shelter in the Time of Storm"
Isaiah 25:1-28:13
Galatians 3:8-22
Psalm 61:1-8
Proverbs 23:17-18
Isaiah 25:4 "But to the poor, O Lord, you are a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, a shelter from merciless men"
Psalm 61:3-4 "For you are my refuge, a high tower where my enemies can never reach me. I shall live forever in your tabernacle; oh, to be safe beneath the shelter of your wings!"
Psalm 91:1 "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the almighty. I will say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.'"
The title of today's DEVO is the name of one of my favorite hymns. The first verse and chorus are as follows:
The Lord's our Rock, in Him we hide,
A Shelter in the time of storm;
Secure whatever ill betide,
A shelter in the time of storm.
Oh, Jesus is a Rock in a weary land,
A weary land, a weary land,
Oh, Jesus is a Rock, in a weary land,
A Shelter in the time of Storm.
Shelter is one of man's basic needs. We are not animals that were created to lay in the yard during a snow storm. God created us with a need for shelter. I believe this physical need is a representation of our spiritual need. We need shelter. My daughter has a devotional that talks about being under the umbrella of your parents and of God. This is a God-ordained shelter.
Where does "shelter" fit into the DREAM? What principle does this need align with? I realized that God's shelter is a part of being "Empowered through Biblical Training". We find shelter and safety in the Word of God. It is the Rock in the weary land.
This might not be where you're at right now, but there may be someone in your circle of influence that needs to hear this from you. There are people all around us struggling through the storms of life. They can't find the Rock. I'm not just talking about those who don't know God. I'm talking about individuals who may have been Christians a long time.
A shelter does you no good if you do not come under it. In Annalese's devotional, it was talking about a parent walking with an umbrella during the rain, and the child stepped out from under it. The result? Well it's a simple concept. The child got wet. The safety was found in keeping in step with the parent.
As we walk with God through life, sometimes we are in a season of peace where the sun is shining, and all is well. We see God, know where he is, but we don't get into the Word, and don't realize we've wandered outside the safety of his principles and commands. I'm not talking about backsliding, I'm just talking about intimacy with Him & time in the word.
When a storm comes up, we find ourselves getting wet. At this point, many different things happen. You've seen it. The complaining. The feeling sorry for yourself. The anger at God.
Where is the shelter found? Under his wings. What are his wings? The covering of his Word and safety of His commands.
In today's reading from the One Year Bible, it seems like Isaiah, Galatians & Psalms are all talking about this. Even Proverbs applies. Proverbs 23:17-18 says, "Don't envy evil men but continue to reverence the Lord all the time, for surely you have a wonderful future ahead of you. There is hope for you yet!" What does it mean to reverence the Lord, but to be in the covering of His word.
Once we realize this, it's frustrating to watch people swimming around in circles in the storm when the Rock is so close. It's right there in the Word. Quit your whining and get to it!
Sometimes the purpose of the storm is to get the "kids" under the umbrella! Isaiah 27:8 says, "...he has punished Israel but a little, exiling her far from her own land as though blown away in a storm from the east. And why did God do it? It was to purge away her sins..." In other words, To bring her under the umbrella!
The principle of Empowered Through Biblical Training is Discipline. Many times we have separate definitions of discipline with punishment being one with a negative connotation. If we think of the definition of Discipline as "to bring into alignment", Punishment itself is not a negative thing, but just a part of the process to get us under the umbrella, under the shadow of His wings.
Galatians 3:11 says, "the man who finds life will find it through trusting God." Trust is a discipline. Sometimes trust isn't the first thought in our head. We have to be disciplined to review the greatness of God and remember all that he has done and will do. We must discipline ourselves to trust the promises of his word.
You may or may not be in a storm right now, but someone around you is. Go to the Rock. Go to the shelter. Show someone where safety is found. It's found in the Word of God.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Showing posts with label Communion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Communion. Show all posts
Friday, September 17, 2010
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
8.18.10 "The Danger of the Familiar"
"The Danger of the Familiar"
Esther 1:1-3:15
I Corinthians 11:17-34
Psalm 35:17-28
Proverbs 21:19-20
Today's reading in I Corinthians is a familiar portion of scripture to many, especially verses 23-30. These are the verses used during a communion service.
In this section Paul is rebuking the Corinthian church for what they've done to the communion service. By the nature of his writing, it's clear that they have been celebrating the communion service on a regular basis. That's a good thing, right? Not really. Somehow over time, the familiarity of the "ritual" has caused the focus to be lost. In verse 17 Paul says, "... it sounds as if more harm than good is done when you meet together for your communion services."
How does a communion service cause more harm than good? There are several reasons, but one is the danger of the familiar. You know what it's like. There are verses you've heard thousands of times. What do they mean to you? "For God so loved the world...." "Go ye into all the world...." "Do this in remembrance of me..."
It's so easy to allow the teaching of the word, and even the practices of the church become mere rituals because we forget what it really means. We get caught in the routine of life and numbed to our purpose, and what God has done for us. How thankful are you today that you know Christ? Have you become so accustomed to being in the light that you've forgotten the loneliness of the darkness?
"Take this and eat it. This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me." Do you remember the setting? Do you remember what was at stake? Do you remember the agony of "his only son".
"This cup is the new agreement between God and you that has been established and set in motion by my blood." Look at your wrist. Imagine a spike being driven through it. Imagine the blood you would lose. Remember the one who went through that for the purpose of setting in motion a new covenant between you and God... so you could be right with God.
What happens when you just go the ritual motions of communion? Do you sense the danger of apathy creeping in? It's like a silent killer gradually snuffing out the flame of gratefulness and reverence.
What happens in your heart as you truly take the time to remember? What posture do you have in your spirit when you really consider what Christ has done for you?
Isn't it humbling? There's an old song that says:
Who am I that The King would bleed and die for?
Who am I that He would pray not my will, but Thine Lord?
The answer I may never know
Why He ever loved me so
That to an old rugged cross He'd go
For who am I?
What happens to us when we genuinely remember? It humbles us. We're in awe of his love. Maybe that's why we become casual about these things. We don't like to be in that humble position.
Paul says in verse 26 "For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup you are re-telling the message of the Lord's death, that he has died for you. Do this until he comes again."
If you are re-telling this message, is there any time that it should be unimportant? is there any time that it should be casual?
Can you see the importance of guarding against the dangers of the familiar? This doesn't only apply to communion. It applies to worship, the preaching of the word, all areas of the Christian walk.
As we mature in true Godly humility we can better keep the course the Lord has laid out for us. When we remember our mission, our purpose, and above all what Christ has done for us, then we will truly guard ourselves from eating and drinking in an "unworthy manner."
Take time today to examine your heart, your motives, your actions. You may not have the opportunity to have a formal communion service, but wherever you are at, you can truly thank Jesus for the price he paid.
Thank you Lord for what you've done!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Esther 1:1-3:15
I Corinthians 11:17-34
Psalm 35:17-28
Proverbs 21:19-20
Today's reading in I Corinthians is a familiar portion of scripture to many, especially verses 23-30. These are the verses used during a communion service.
In this section Paul is rebuking the Corinthian church for what they've done to the communion service. By the nature of his writing, it's clear that they have been celebrating the communion service on a regular basis. That's a good thing, right? Not really. Somehow over time, the familiarity of the "ritual" has caused the focus to be lost. In verse 17 Paul says, "... it sounds as if more harm than good is done when you meet together for your communion services."
How does a communion service cause more harm than good? There are several reasons, but one is the danger of the familiar. You know what it's like. There are verses you've heard thousands of times. What do they mean to you? "For God so loved the world...." "Go ye into all the world...." "Do this in remembrance of me..."
It's so easy to allow the teaching of the word, and even the practices of the church become mere rituals because we forget what it really means. We get caught in the routine of life and numbed to our purpose, and what God has done for us. How thankful are you today that you know Christ? Have you become so accustomed to being in the light that you've forgotten the loneliness of the darkness?
"Take this and eat it. This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me." Do you remember the setting? Do you remember what was at stake? Do you remember the agony of "his only son".
"This cup is the new agreement between God and you that has been established and set in motion by my blood." Look at your wrist. Imagine a spike being driven through it. Imagine the blood you would lose. Remember the one who went through that for the purpose of setting in motion a new covenant between you and God... so you could be right with God.
What happens when you just go the ritual motions of communion? Do you sense the danger of apathy creeping in? It's like a silent killer gradually snuffing out the flame of gratefulness and reverence.
What happens in your heart as you truly take the time to remember? What posture do you have in your spirit when you really consider what Christ has done for you?
Isn't it humbling? There's an old song that says:
Who am I that The King would bleed and die for?
Who am I that He would pray not my will, but Thine Lord?
The answer I may never know
Why He ever loved me so
That to an old rugged cross He'd go
For who am I?
What happens to us when we genuinely remember? It humbles us. We're in awe of his love. Maybe that's why we become casual about these things. We don't like to be in that humble position.
Paul says in verse 26 "For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup you are re-telling the message of the Lord's death, that he has died for you. Do this until he comes again."
If you are re-telling this message, is there any time that it should be unimportant? is there any time that it should be casual?
Can you see the importance of guarding against the dangers of the familiar? This doesn't only apply to communion. It applies to worship, the preaching of the word, all areas of the Christian walk.
As we mature in true Godly humility we can better keep the course the Lord has laid out for us. When we remember our mission, our purpose, and above all what Christ has done for us, then we will truly guard ourselves from eating and drinking in an "unworthy manner."
Take time today to examine your heart, your motives, your actions. You may not have the opportunity to have a formal communion service, but wherever you are at, you can truly thank Jesus for the price he paid.
Thank you Lord for what you've done!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
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