Getting Good Enough!

Oftentimes when inviting people to church, they will respond with something like, “I’m just not good enough to go to church. Let me get my act together and then I will join you.” You have possibly been told the same thing or maybe you are reading this and similar excuses keep you from attending.

The truth is not one of us is “good enough” to enter the presence of GOD—within ourselves. Paul wrote: “There is no one righteous, not even one“ (Romans 3:10). Nothing you and I can do to ourselves will make us “good enough.” There is nothing good in man. Man’s heart and ways are bent towards doing what is evil and wrong.

Only as we recognize our sinfulness and our need for a Savior, do we begin to crack the door open to understanding. Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:8-9: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”

It is only through the blood of Jesus Christ that we become “good enough.” Jesus did for you and I what we could never do for ourselves. He paid the price with His own life—His own blood. Getting good enough involves turning to Jesus Christ, asking for forgiveness of your sins, accepting His sacrifice as the sufficient payment for your sins and surrendering your life completely over to Him.

Don’t live your life making excuses. Eternity is a long time. Your decision today could make the eternal difference you need right now. Getting good enough comes through Jesus Christ. Surrender to Him.

Take that First Step!

The army uses the slogan: “Be All You Can Be!” to draw in fresh recruits.Behind that slogan is the impetus to take a step forward in order to become something more than you already all—even more than you could ever be otherwise. But to do so, you’ve got to take the initiative to take that first step!

Moses had been out in the wilderness tending sheep for forty years. He was now well along in years and had become content to simply be a shepherd. But GOD had something more in store for his life.

GOD had much bigger plans for Moses than he could’ve ever imagined. When GOD spoke to Moses through the burning bush, he laid out a great adventure to still be carried out even in his old age.

As part of the adventure initiative, GOD also spoke to Moses’ brother Aaron and sent him out into the wilderness to meet up with Moses. The Scripture says it like this: “The LORD said to Aaron, ‘Go into the wilderness to meet Moses.’ So he met Moses at the mountain of God and kissed him” (Exodus 4:27).

When they got together, Moses informed Aaron of GOD’s plans and back to Egypt they both went. You see, Moses would have never had his adventure of a lifetime serving GOD had he refused to take that first step. And, of course, you know the rest of the story.

GOD has bigger plans for you as well. I always tell people, “If you still have breath in your lungs, GOD’s not through with you yet. He’ll take you on to glory when He is, so keep busy for Him now.”

You may feel insecure about yourself. You may feel inadequate. You may feel that GOD could never use somebody with the past you have. Moses killed a man. Moses couldn’t talk well in front of people. But, GOD used Him in spite of his past and inadequacies and He will do the same with you!

Today, I want to encourage you to “Be All You Can Be” (and so much more) in the army of the LORD. Simply “Take that First Step” in faith and GOD will be right there moving you into the adventure of a lifetime He has for you—in service to His Kingdom!

He’s Still Workin’ on Me!

I remember as a child singing the little chorus: “He’s still workin’ on me. To make me what I ought to be. It took him just a week to make the moon and the stars….” We seemed to sing it with an anticipation of the day when we got older and GOD finished up with His work on us.

As I was reading Scripture this morning, I found myself encouraged once again by Paul’s admonition in Philippians 1:6: “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.“  It took me back to the “He’s still workin’ on me….” song. I began thinking that no matter how mature I may consider myself to be in Christ, He still isn’t finished—He’s still sanding off the rough edges, cleaning up all the gouges.

Paul was nearing the end of his life when he penned the words in Philippians and I realize quickly that he was far advanced in his spiritual maturity in comparison to me. But, he still recognized that GOD wasn’t finished workin’ on him and that He would continue workin’ until the day Paul entered glory.

It’s exciting to know that GOD still has greater things to do. It’s so thrilling to realize that He isn’t giving up—in the midst of my failures and circumstances and situations—GOD is still workin’. Even when I fail Him, He continues workin’—molding and making me—perfecting me for His glory.

Just a word of encouragement today, hang in there, continue to serve GOD. Don’t get down and depressed over your times of failure. Rather,understand and hang on to the promise that He’s still workin’ on you and even in those times, He can turn them out for His good. And when He’s all done—He’s gonna take you to glory, there to be with Him forever!

Scheming to Harm Me!

Nehemiah had returned to Jerusalem from Babylonian captivity to begin to rebuild the city of Jerusalem. As he worked, he was under constant bombardment from the enemy. Notice what Nehemiah 6:1-2 says:  “When word came to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left in it—though up to that time I had not set the doors in the gates—Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: ‘Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.’ But they were scheming to harm me.”

Initially, they simply ridiculed him with hopes of discouraging him as they done to others in the past. But, Nehemiah was determined to complete his task. As he neared completion of the wall, their growing fears ignited a desire to bring harm to him. What set Nehemiah apart from others that had gone out to rebuild the wall? The others listened to the ridicule, allowed it to get to them, became discouraged, and finally left the task unfinished.

Nehemiah was different. He had a passion in his heart to see Jerusalem return to her former glory. He understood GOD had called him to a special mission and he was determined to fulfill God’s call. He rejected every attempt of the enemy to get him off task.

God has called you to something special. First, He has called you to “come out from among them and be separate” (2 Corinthians 6:17). But He also has called you to do specific works of service for the sake of His Kingdom. However, the enemy doesn’t want you following through. He will begin with ridicule and the offering of other tasks. But, as you remain on task, he will begin scheming to harm you.

So, what can you do? Frances Knight gives this tremendous advice: “It is important for us to acknowledge our adversary and know his strategy” (Christianity Alive with Prayer Power, p. 316). Her advice continues: “We must recognize what is happening before we get caught up in a vicious cycle of sinister plots.” So, you must always stay ahead of the enemy by knowing him, his schemes, and his actions in order to avoid falling prey to the harm he desires to bring upon you.

Get on task with GOD; stay on task with GOD; complete GOD’s work for your life!

Your Fears Become Your Destiny!

From the moment they walked out of Egyptian captivity, the Israelites grumbled and complained. Their fears of what could possibly lie ahead continued to overwhelm them. Although they had just witnessed the mighty power of GOD carried out right before their eyes, all they could do was grumble and complain. Fears built upon fears creating a grim future outlook in their minds.

Finally, GOD became fed up with their lack of confidence in His abilities to continue to deliver them. He said to Moses and Aaron: “How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites. So tell them, ‘As surely as I live,’ declares the LORD, ‘I will do to you the very thing I heard you say: In this wilderness your bodies will fall’“ (Numbers 14:26-29).

Their compounding fears continued to haunt and plague them to the point that GOD finally allowed their fears to shape their destiny. GOD gave them exactly what they desired—to die in the wilderness.

As he stood on the edge of the Promised Land, Joshua, the new leader of the nation, recognized that the fears of the former Israelites had become their destiny. They had died before seeing this day of victory. To discourage such a thing from happening again, he addressed the nation with these words: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).

You are possibly facing fears in your life today? Fears of the unknown—fears of what tomorrow holds. Fears develop into bigger fears if they are allowed to continue. Whatever fears are plaguing you, it is time to release them from your life. It is time to be strong and courageous and to trust that GOD will be with you wherever you may go.

If you continue to allow yourself to dwell on your fears, they will eventually shape and become your destiny. Release your fears today, in Jesus’ name, and allow faith in GOD to re-shape your destiny to a life of victory.

Just Lost Your Best Friend!

For three years, the disciples had followed Jesus. They left their jobs, their families, their homes—everything—to become a part of what the Great Teacher was speaking of. But all of a sudden, all their dreams and hopes were shattered as Jesus was crucified. They were lost in their shattered dreams. Everything they had hoped for was over. They’d just lost their best friend!

There was nothing else to do but just go back fishing. John records it this way: “‘I’m going out to fish,’ Simon Peter told them, and they said, ‘We’ll go with you.’ So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus” (John 21:3-4). So in the midst of their chaotic situation, they choose to return to the only thing they know how to do.

You know their feelings. You’ve been there. You’ve experienced similar situations—situations where you thought life was on track and going great—but all of a sudden it’s all shattered and falling apart. Whatever the reason may be, it’s like you’ve just lost you best friend! You’ve lost all hope and find yourself returning to your old way of life—your old habits are calling; the old places you used to frequent are calling; life like it used to be is looking better all the time.

That was the disciples. As they went out in the boat that day, God hadn’t abandoned them. He was still there for them. They retrieved their nets and nothing! Jesus, standing on the seashore, hollered at them to try the other side. They didn’t recognize Jesus but did as He said and they caught more than they could drag in. As they came ashore they recognized Jesus. And as He spoke words of life and love into them, they began to realize their mission wasn’t over, it was just beginning. Their best friend hadn’t left them. On the Day of Pentecost, God put things in motion through them to evangelize the world.

God isn’t through with you either. Don’t look back. Don’t turn back. Stay the course God has put you on. Your best friend, Jesus, is still right there with you no matter how the circumstances may appear. Simply trust!

Just Hang On!

Israel found themselves in a difficult situation—surrounded and outnumbered by their enemy—doomed to defeat and destruction—without hope. When Saul heard of the grave situation GOD’s people were in, the Scripture says, “the Spirit of God came upon him in power and he burned with anger” (1 Sam 11:6). 

Saul sent messengers back to them with these words of assurance, “By the time the sun is hot tomorrow, you will be delivered” (1 Sam 11:9). When he and his fighting men arrived on scene, they utterly destroyed Israel’s enemy. Although defeat appeared inevitable in the eyes of the Israelites, Saul encouraged them to just hang on, victory was on its way!

We often find ourselves in difficult situations—financial, health-related, marriage, lost loved ones, any mountain standing in your path. These situations grow bigger and bigger as the enemy taunts us with them. Soon, we find ourselves overwhelmed by their immensity. And before long, we are ready to throw up our hands in surrender and just give up.

Peter wrote: “Be sober! Be on the alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour” (1 Pet 5:8). Satan is out to devour and destroy anyone who will listen to him. What often begins as a little issue soon becomes a major problem as Satan continues to twist and lie to us. Before long, our problem overwhelms us and we find ourselves at the door of defeat—ready to give up.

This is the time to re-focus our attention. Understand our position in GOD. John tells us: “you belong to God. So you have won the victory… because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). Satan’s bite is averted as we recognize that greater is the One who is in me, than the one who is roaring outside me. The GOD in you is bigger than any mountain you are facing, bigger than any situation you come against. Your battle belongs to Him and He will conquer your enemies before your eyes.

So, today, just hang on and trust GOD’s promises for your victory over everything that the enemy brings against you.

Worth the Wait!

Our impatience often hinders our receipt of the fullness of GOD’s blessings that He has prepared for us! Consider Elisha for a moment. Scripture tells us that he had connected himself to the prophet Elijah as his personal attendant. He served him quietly for a long while—watching, learning, waiting patiently.

As Elijah’s life on earth was rapidly drawing to a close, Elijah tells him: “Stay here, Elisha; the LORD has sent me to Jericho.” But Elisha was not content to continue life just being who he was or what he had. He know GOD had so much more for him and he was determined to receive all the blessings God had stored up for him. He responded to Elijah by saying: “As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you” (2 Kings 2:4).

Three times Elijah encouraged Elisha to stay put but he refused. Finally, Elijah asked what he could do for him and Elisha responded: “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit” (2 Kings 2:9). And, because he remained committed to receive all GOD had for him, he received Elijah’s mantel and the long-awaited “double portion.”

It’s important to recognize that Elisha was not waiting on a blessing for personal profit or gain. He was waiting upon a special blessing of anointing to enable him to carry out GOD’s purpose and plan—to impact others for the sake of the Kingdom of GOD.

As you are waiting upon GOD’s special blessing on your life, consider what your motive is—consider what you wish to gain and what your heart’s true intentions are when you are asking things of GOD.

Contrary to popular teachings and beliefs, GOD’s blessings are not for our personal gain but to enable us to carry out “GOD-SIZED” acts of ministry toward others for the building of GOD’s Kingdom. GOD has a “double portion” waiting for you. He is waiting patiently for you to get your motivation right and to make an “Elisha-type” commitment to receive it. And when His blessing comes through, you will find it will definitely be “worth the wait”!

Come On In!

In the Old Testament, GOD established a means whereby the sins of the nation of Israel could be “covered over” by a once-a-year event performed by the High Priest. On the Day of Atonement, the High Priest would take the blood of the required sacrifice and go behind the huge veil in the tabernacle and later in the temple and offer it up to GOD in the Most Holy Place. This act could only be carried out by the High Priest and on only one specific day a year. The general population of people had no direct access to GOD, it was only through the priest.

Today, that’s all different. Scripture tells us: “when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (Mt 27:50-51). At that moment, and from that moment on, access into the presence of GOD was granted to all humanity, through the sacrifice and shed blood of Jesus Christ.

For a better understanding, consider the words of the writer to the Hebrews: “since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God” (He 10:19-22). The great priest he is referring to is Jesus Christ.

GOD is saying, “Come on in” to all peoples through Jesus Christ. You no longer need any man, priest, pastor, preacher, missionary, Mother Mary or anyone else to intervene for you or to be an intermediary for you—everyone is invited into the Lord’s presence by Jesus Christ.

Fact is, there is no human being who can get you there. Jesus paid the price. Jesus made the way. Stop trusting in rituals and deceits of the church that teach otherwise. Follow Jesus and answer the bidding of the Lord to “Come On In!” You can enjoy His presence and fellowship in a personal way through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Come on in!

Worrying Will Get You Nowhere!

Glenn Turner, a foreign athlete from years gone by once said: “Worrying is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do, but it gets you nowhere.” In year’s past, I have found myself overcome with anxiety about upcoming events in life. The anxieties my mind would create would hinder my sleep, my ability to concentrate, even my ability to carry on life in normalcy. Long story short, the reason for the anxiety rarely resulted in a situation as bad as the spell of anxiety itself. You can relate, I am sure.

Jesus addressed this particular situation with these words: “don’t worry about your life, what you will eat; or about the body, what you will wear. For life is more than food and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they don’t sow or reap; they don’t have a storeroom or a barn; yet God feeds them. Aren’t you worth much more than the birds? Can any of you add a cubit to his height by worrying? If then you’re not able to do even a little thing, why worry about the rest?” (Luke 12:22-26)

You arise in the morning to discover that the tomorrow you worried so much about yesterday is not as bad as your thoughts led you to believe it would be. Our worry has a way of making tomorrow’s problems and troubles seem so much bigger than they turn out to be. Our imaginations run wild and our anxieties build. The little thing becomes gigantic as we conintue to allow it to overwhelm us. Overwhelming anxiety and worry is a chief cause of suicide in our society today.

Think about it, Jesus tells us “don’t worry about your life!” He’s got this. He’s got your back. He is here for you and He will take you through the problems and bring you out victorious on the other side. What you feed, will grow. If you feed your anxieties, you will worry more and more. If you feed your faith and trust, it will grow. Trust God to give you the grace to overcome the troubles of the tomorrows. Worrying will get you nowhere but frustrated and troubled. Trust God today!